Jabala ibn al-Ayham, or Gabala, was a Byzantine patrician and the last phylarch of the Ghassanids, a tribe of Arab Christians who ruled Syria. He reverted to Islam, and accompanied Umar ibn al-Khattab on his travels. He was also a special guest at Umar's house in Madinah.
One day, Jabala went on the Hajj pilgrimage. As Jabala was performing Tawaf around the Ka'bah, his pilgrim scarf was accidentally stepped on by a poor Arab man who was from the Banu Fazara. Jabala was angry, and without letting the man explain himself, he punched the man in the face. The Arab's nose was broken, and it hurt very badly. The Arab lodged a complaint with Umar, who then sent for Jabala and asked him whether the charge levied against him by the Arab was true. Jabala said, “This rascal trod on my reverence for the Kaaba, but for the prohibition to shed blood within the sacred premises, I would have slain the man on the spot, instead of merely thrashing him.” Umar then asked the Fazari man to explain himself, who said on oath that due to extraordinary rush, he stepped on the scarf of Jabala accidentally. Turning to Jabala, Umar then said, “Do you agree that what happened was accidental, or did this man deliberately offend you.”
Jabala said, “I am not concerned with that. It might have been accidental, but the fact remains that he trod on my scarf, thereby uncovering me. It must be taken in consideration that I am a prince, while he is a mere peasant.” Umar chided him, saying, “In Islam, there is no distinction between a prince and a peasant. You cannot take the law in your own hands merely on the ground that you are a prince, and he is a peasant.”
Jabala was angry, and he said, “I had thought that Islam would add to my dignity and prestige, and here Islam is becoming an instrument for my humiliation.” So, Umar said, “The law must have its own course, and I am obliged to do justice. There are two alternatives; either patch up with the man and satisfy him, or be prepared to face my verdict.” When Jabala saw that Umar was serious in invoking the penal provisions of Shari'ah law, he said, “Give me one day to ponder over the matter.”
Umar deferred his judgement for one day. At night, Jabala secretly left for Syria. From there, he proceeded to travel to Constantinople, where he entered the court of the Byzantine Roman emperor Heraclius. At the court of Heraclius, he said, “I denounce Islam because it does not discriminate between a peasant and a commoner.” The following day, Umar was told that Jabala had slipped away. So, he allowed the poor Fazari Arab an adequate compensation from the Bayt al-Mal.
Jabala participated in battles against Muslims. Before the Battle of Yarmuk, Jabala attempted to negotiate terms with the Muslims. He warned the Muslims against fighting the Byzantines, and even invited them to keep all their war booty on the condition that they withdraw to Arabia. Ubada ibn al-Samit, one of the Sahabah, told him, “Our fighters and heroes see death as gain and life as burdensome.” Ubada informed Jabala that his tribe must either embrace Islam, pay Jizyah tax, or else face battle. Jabala was infuriated. He declined to revert, and declared he would fight for Rome.
The Byzantines, which included Jabala, lost the battle of Yarmuk. A few years later, in year 53 of the Hijrah, during the caliphate of Muawiyah, he was seen enjoying life and was extremely wealthy. But he died in the same year as well, possibly due to natural causes. He died as an apostate and a disbeliever.
Source:
Al-Bidayah wan Nihayah by Imam Ibn Kathir, volume 8 and 12 (about Jabala)
The Islamic Conquest of Syria: Futuhusham the inspiring History of the Sahabah's Conquest of Syria by Muhammad ibn Umar al-Waqidi (about Jabala and the Battle of Yarmuk)
Encyclopaedia of Islam, the entry on Jabala ibn al-Ayham (additional information about Jabala, and his identification with Gabala the patrician)
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