The biography of Ja`far ibn Abu Talib

All praise be to Allah and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone who has no partner and I bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger.

These are parts from the biography of this celebrity and one of the nation's heroes. He is one of the venerable Companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) to extract from his biography lessons and examples.

That Companion was among the first people who embraced Islam one of those who migrated twice: The first to Abyssinia and the second to Medina. He was one of the Muslim leaders in the Battle of Mu'tah and the cousin of the Prophet (peace be upon him).

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said about him in the Hadith that was reported by Al Bukhari in his Sahih: "You look like me in facial appearance and morals."[1]

Adh-Dhahaby said: The Prophet (peace be upon him) was delighted when Ja`far came from Abyssinia and felt sorrow a lot when he was martyred.[2]

He was the champion of martyrs and the celebrity of Mujahedeen, Ja`far ibn Abu Talib ibn `Abd Manaf ibn `Abdul-Muttalib Al Qurashy, the Hashemite. He was Abu `Abdullah who was nicknamed by the father of the needy and the elder brother of `Ali ibn Abu Talib.

At-Tirmidhy reported in "his Sunan" from the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "No man has ever put on a sandal, or got on mounts, or trodden the earth, after the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) better than Ja`far ibn Abu Talib.[3] meaning: in generosity.

That Companion had heroic situations refer to his great courage and support to this religion. Of these great situations: After returning from Abyssinia, which lasted for ten years away from his family and country, the Prophet (peace be upon him) has just finished opening Khaybar for Islam, so he was glad greatly with his coming, but this joy did not last for long.

Actions were abundant and time was short, therefore the Prophet (peace be upon him) sent him with the Muslim army heading to the Levant (the region covering Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine) to fight the Romans who were three thousands and assigned Zayd ibn Harithah as their commander and if he is killed, Ja`far ibn Abu Talib will be the leader and if he is killed, then `Abdullah ibn Rawahah will take power.

The battle has started and because of inadequacy between the Muslim army and their enemy, Muslims showed heroic deeds and great sacrifices. In the beginning of the battle and after a fierce battle, Zayd ibn Harithah was killed and the flag was handed to Ja`far ibn Abu Talib whose horse was stabbed and he was one of the good horsemen of Arabs.

Ibn Ishaq said: He was the first man to be stabbed in Islam[4] He was holding the banner with his right hand, so they cut his right hand. Then he held the banner with his left hand, so they cut his left arm.

Then he embraced the banner to his chest, so they gathered around and killed him.[5] Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Think not of those who are killed in the Way of Allâh as dead. Nay, they are alive, with their Lord, and they have provision. * They rejoice in what Allâh has bestowed upon them of His Bounty and rejoice for the sake of those who have not yet joined them, but are left behind (not yet martyred) that on them no fear shall come, nor shall they grieve." [Surat Al `Imran: 169- 170].

Imam Muslim reported in his Sahih from the Hadith of `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) about this Ayah: "Think not of those who are killed in the Way of Allâh as dead. Nay, they are alive, with their Lord, and they have provision."

He said: We asked about the meaning of this Ayah and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: The souls of the martyrs live in the bodies of green birds who have their nests in chandeliers hung from the Throne of the Almighty. They eat the fruits of Paradise from wherever they like then nestle in these chandeliers. Once their Lord cast a glance at them and said: Do you want anything? They said: What more shall we desire? We eat the fruit of Paradise from wherever we like..."[6]

Al Bukhari reported in his Sahih from the Hadith of Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) told the people about the death of Zayd, Ja`far, and Ibn Rawahah before they were killed. He said: "Zayd took over the flag and was martyred. Then it was taken by Ja`far who was martyred as well. Then `Abdullah ibn Rawaha took the flag but he too was martyred and at that time the eyes of Allah's Messenger were full of tears. Then Khalid ibn Al Walid took the flag without being nominated as a chief (before hand) and was blessed with victory."[7]

Al Bukhari reported in his Sahih from the Hadith of `Abdullah ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: I was present amongst them in that battle and we searched for Ja`far ibn Abu Talib and found his body amongst the bodies of the martyrs, and found over ninety wounds over his body, caused by stabs or shots (of arrows). [8]

In another narration: Nothing of it was in his back[9].

Allah has said the truth when He says: "Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allâh [i.e. they have gone out for Jihâd (holy fighting), and showed not their backs to the disbelievers]; of them some have fulfilled their obligations (i.e. have been martyred); and some of them are still waiting, but they have never changed [i.e. they never proved treacherous to their covenant which they concluded with Allâh] in the least." [Surat Al Ahzab: 23].

Al Hakim reported in Al Mustadrak and At-Tirmidhy in his Sunan from the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Ja`far ibn Abu Talib passed by me while he was in an assembly of angels and his wings were anointed with blood and his heart was white."[10]

In another narration: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Ja`far ibn Abu Talib flies with Gabriel and Michael and he has two wings."[11]

Allah replaced his two amputated hands in the battle with two wings flying with them in Paradise with angels. This is a great merit of Ja`far (may Allah be pleased with him). It is reported in Sahih Al Bukhari that when Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) greeted `Abdullah ibn Ja`far, he used to say: peace be upon you, O the son of the one who has two wings.[12]

Of his great qualities what was reported by Al Bukhari in his Sahih from the Hadith of Al Bara' (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "You look like me in facial appearance and morals."[13]

After the martyrdom or Ja`far and the return of the army to Al Madinah (Medina), the Prophet (peace be upon him) entered on Asma' bint `Amis, the wife of Ja`far, and called the children of Ja`far, smelt, kissed them, and his eyes were fill of tears out of sorrow for his Muslim brother Ja`far.

Thereupon, Asma' said: O Messenger Allah, have you heard anything bad about Ja`far? He said: Yes, he was killed. Do not weep over my brother after this day. He said: Call to me the children of my brother. We were brought to him as if we were chicken. He said: Call a barber to me. He then commanded him to shave our heads. Then he said: As for Muhammad, he looks like our uncle Abu Talib and `Abdullah looks like me in facial appearance and morals.

Then he held my hand, raised it, and said: O Allah, compensate the family of Ja`far for their father and bless the pledge of `Abdullah ibn Ja`far (thrice).

The narrator said: Our mother came and mentioned to him our orphanhood. Thereupon, he said: Do you afraid of poverty while I am their guardian in this world and in the Hereafter?[14] Imam Ahmad narrated in his Musnad from the Hadith of `Abdullah ibn Ja`far that he said: When the news of Ja`far's death came, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Make food for the family of Ja`far because there came something to distract them or something came to them to make them busy." [15]

Of his great morals: Generosity, openhandedness, philanthropy. It was reported in Sahih Al Bukhari from the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: I used to lay (sleep) on the ground on my liver (abdomen) because of hunger. I used to ask people about the meaning of Ayahs while I know its meaning so that they may feed me. The best of people to the needy was Ja`far ibn Abu Talib who used to take us home to have food to the extent that when he did not find anything in home, he would give us `Ukkah [16] which contain nothing to split them into two halves to lick them.[17]

Ja`far (may Allah be pleased with him) was killed in 8 AH while he was in young age. Some historians said: He was killed in the age of several and thirty.

May Allah be pleased with Ja`far and reward him the best for Islam and Muslims and gather us with him in the abode of His Honor with the prophets, the highly truthful people, the martyrs, and the righteous, indeed those have the best companionship.

Praised be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds [i.e., people] and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his Companions.