Sheikh Ubaidullah

Shiekh Ubaidullah (born c. 663 AD) was a Muslim Arab saint from Medina. He is believed to be a close relative of Abu Bakr from whom Ubaidullah learnt about Islam in an environment free from desire and greed of materialism for developing his moral and spiritual beliefs.[1]

Sheikh Ubaidullah
Personal
Born41 AH/663 AD
Medina, Hejaz
Died
Andrott, Lakshadweep, India
ReligionIslam
EraIslamic golden age
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Early life

The name Ubaidullah is an indirect Quranic name that means “little servant of Allah”. Ubaidullah is the diminutive form of the name Abdullah and is formed from Ubaid (“little servant”), -u- (“of”) and Allah (“God”).[2]

Nothing is known about the early life of the saint except his lineage which is traced to Caliph Abu Bakr, the Ist rightly guided Caliph, of whom he is believed to be in some close relation[3]

Career

By profession, the Saint is believed to be a merchant before undertaking the holy mission to preach Islam.

Tradition has it that Saint Ubaidullah, once praying in the Holy prophet's mosque in Medina fell asleep and saw a dream in which he saw Prophet Muhammad and was told by the Prophet to go to distant lands from the east of Jeddah to preach Islam to the people.[4]

He interpreted the dream as a divine vision from Allah for his salvation and the people of those distant lands, so he proceeded to Jeddah where he travelled across the ocean for accomplishing his mission.[5]

Preaching Islam in Lakshadweep India

On his journey his vessel capsized in a storm and he had to continue his journey by drifting on a plank till he reached Amini in AH 41 (663 AD). He started his act of preaching from Amini and was able to convert the Pondambelli family despite the initial linguistic challenges. After facing opposition there he left Amini with some of his new Muslim fellows and moved to Andrott where he got significantly high conversions. He then went to Kawaratti and Agatti, preaching there and then came back to Amini. This time unlike his first arrival in Amini, he was welcomed and via his preaching could successfully influence and convert almost the whole of population to Islam. At last stage of his life, he travelled to Andrott where he lived the rest of his life preaching and teaching. Ubaidullah never went back to his home land of Hijaz and devoted his life for dawah.[4] Sheikh Ubaidullah advanced Islam in Lakshadweep (now in India) Islands by delivering sermons before the islanders.

Dealth and Legacy

Apparently, the saint died at Andrott Island with his remains buried in Juma Mosque.[6][7]

Juma Mosque, one of the top attractions in Lakshadweep is said to have been built during his time.

His tiring work was rewarded as 97% of the population in Lakshadweep are Muslims at present.[8]

References
  1. education, Study IQ, Genetic study of Lakshadweep people, Know interesting facts about its Islands, Current Affairs 2019 (in Turkish), retrieved 2019-09-07
  2. "Ubaidullah - Islamic Name Meaning - Baby Names for Muslims". Retrieved 2019-09-07.
  3. GHAZANFAR, S. M. (1995). "HISTORY OF ECONOMIC THOUGHT: THE SCHUMPETERIAN 'GREAT GAP', THE 'LOST' ARAB-ISLAMIC LEGACY, AND THE LITERATURE GAP". Journal of Islamic Studies. 6 (2): 234–253. doi:10.1093/jis/6.2.234. ISSN 0955-2340.
  4. "History | Lakshadweep | India".
  5. "Transparent Blue Islands - Indian Express". archive.indianexpress.com. Retrieved 2020-07-26.
  6. "Andrott | Lakshadweep | India". Retrieved 2020-07-26.
  7. "Androth Islands Of Lakshadweep". Webindia123.com. Retrieved 2020-07-26.
  8. "Lakshadweep". www.indstu.com. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
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