Introduction:
Abdullah’s father was Jafar ibn abi Talib. Therefore, his father was the cousin of prophet Mohammad. Jafar was born in Makkah. When the prophet received the first revelation, embraced Islam. Therefore Jafar was a pioneer in Islam. Abdullah’s Muslim mother was a pioneer in Islam too. Prophet Mohammad allowed his followers to migrate to Abyssinia. There, the king was fair and kind. Hence, some Muslims went to the country to maintain their faith. This was the first migration in Islam. Among the migrants was Jafar and his wife Asmaa. Also, there were Uthman ibn Affan and his wife Ruqayya bint prophet Mohammad.
The odds of traveling:
The migrants, including Jafar, used the unbeaten track to migrate. They suffered a lot during their migration to Abyssinia. They withstood all these hardships for the sake of Allah, Islam and prophet Mohammad. When they sailed, there were two trading ships which carried them for half a dinar for each passenger. This was in Rajab, the fifth year after the first revelation. Strangely, the Makkan elite chased the migrants in an attempt to restore them. However, Allah saved the migrants who had sailed before the arrival of Quraysh. Finally, they arrived safely in Abyssinia. they comfortably settled in the country.
A new born baby in Abyssinia:
The Quraish sent gifts to the courtsmen. They asked the king to return the rebels back home. However, the king refused to do so before he listened to the Muslims. Jafar went to the king and explained his faith. Jafar assured the king that it was the same religion of Jesus Christ. After that, Jafar recited some verses of the holy Quran. He recited the first ayat of surah Maryam. When the king and the clergymen had heard it, they said it was the same source of the words of Christ and Mousa. Eventually, the king vowed to protect the Muslims in his country and granted them asylum.
Worry and anxiety:
No doubt that Muslims were worried about the Quraish attempts to restore them. Pregnant Asmaa bint Umais and her husband were even more worried. However, Allah protected them against the evil plans of the Quraish. Asmaa delivered and gave birth to her baby boy. Jafar gave the baby the name of Abdullah. They slaughtered two sheep in celebration of the boy. The Muslims were invited to the banquet and they enjoyed it. Abdullah was the first baby to be born in Abyssinia. Meanwhile, the king’s wife gave birth also. They called the king’s son Abdullah as well. Jafar and his wife lived happily in Abyssinia.
The journey back to al-Madina:
Jafar and his wife were homesick. Abdullah had two other brothers in Abyssinia. They all hoped to see prophet Mohammad again. They knew that Quraish was defeated in a lot of battles. The accord of al-Hudaibia ended the armed struggle between Muslims and Quraish. Prophet Mohammad took the initiative, thanked the king and sent him to restore the migrants. The king answered the prophet’s request. He sent them in two ships after the conquest of Khaibar. The migrants amounted to seventy men and women. They covered the sea and landed close to al-Madina. They walked for one day and arrived at it when prophet Mohammad was at Khaybar.
The prophet was happy to see the Jafars:
When they arrived at al-Madina, prophet Mohammad was very happy to see the Jafars. Prophet Mohammad was happy about their arrival and the conquest of Khaybar. War looties goes to the participants in the war. However, Jafar arrived when looties was being distributed. The Muslims wanted to include Jafar in the lists taking looties. Prophet Mohammad discussed it with his companions who agreed to the suggestion. Abdullah ibn Jafar grew up seeing his father’s kindness to the poor. prophet Mohammad gave Jafar the title of the father of the poor. This was mainly because Jafar used to mix with the poor.
The military company of Mu’tah:
Prophet Mohammad sent messengers to the rulers of the neighboring countries. Prophet Mohammad sent a messenger to Busra. The prophet’s messenger was killed. Prophet Mohammad decided to make them pay for it. Consequently, prophet Mohammad marched an army for the mission. The army leader was Jafar. The prominent Sahaba were in that army. It wasn’t a very big army. Prophet Mohammad said that the leader would be Zaid ibn haritha. then Jafar, then Abdullah ibn Rawaha. If Abdullah was killed, they would choose a leader amongst them. The prophet saw them off and made dua for them. He also advised them to maintain the ethics of war.
The fighting at Mu’tah:
The enemy forces were about a hundred thousand men. A man called Malik led them. The Muslims were about three thousand men. After discussions and consultations, the Muslims decided to fight regardless of the consequences. Zaid was killed. Jafar was also killed. Jafar was holding the flag with his right hand. His right hand was cut off. Then, he held it with his left hand which was also cut off. Jafar killed his own horse before his death, so as not to give the enemy the chance of benefiting from the horse. It was reported that Jafar received more than ninety stabs all over his body before he finally died.
The prophet caresses Abdullah’s head:
When prophet Mohammad had heard the news of Jafar’s death, he met Abdullah and wept. The prophet’s tears wetted his beard. Prophet Mohammad made dua for Jafar’s children. He went to Jafar’s wife, saw the children and wept for their tragedy. When Asmaa saw the prophet weeping, she asked him about Jafar. He told her that Jafar had been killed. She screamed in agony and the women gathered. Prophet Mohammad advised Asmaa to be patient and endure her calamity. After that, prophet Mohammad went to his daughter Fatima and asked her to prepare some food for the Jafar family. They were too sad to prepare food.
Jafar flies in heaven and paradise:
Prophet Mohammad gave a piece of good news to the family of Jafar. The Prophet told Jafar’s wife some good news. He told her that Allah replaced Jafar’s two cut off arms with two wings, with which he flew in paradise. She asked prophet Mohammad to tell people about the honor of her husband. Allah’s Prophet held Abdulla’s hand, went to the mosque, climbed the minber and had Abdullah sit next to him on it. The Prophet climbed down the minber and ordered some food to be prepared and sent to Jafar’’s house. The Prophet of Allah invited Abdullah and his brothers to have lunch with him.
وأخبر النبي زوجة جعفر ببعض الأخبار الجيدة.
Abdullah with prophet Mohammad:
Prophet Mohammad invited Jafar’s children to his house. They went with him to his wives’ compartments. Once, Abdullah said that he rode the same donkey behind prophet Mohammad. Prophet Mohammad told Abdullah some secrets. Also, Abdullah narrated that prophet Mohammad ordered his companions not to mourn Jafar any more. This was because Jafar was a martyr for the sake of Islam. After that, prophet Mohammad ordered the hairdresser to give the children haircuts. Prophet Mohammad made dua for the children. Their mother complained to prophet Mohammad that their supporter had died. He assured her that he himself was their supporter.
Abdullah ibn Jafar, the businessman:
Prophet Mohammad saw Abdullah bargaining about the price of a sheep. He made dua for Abdullah. Ever since, Abdullah was always profitable. Ibn Jafar and ibn al-Zubair made pledges to prophet Mohammad at the age of seven. Whenever prophet Mohammad returned home after a long travel, he would meet the children, amongst whom was Abdullah ibn Ja’far. Ibn Jafar said he heard prophet Mohammad say Jafar resembled him both in appearance and character. Abdullah looked most like his father. Also, prophet Mohammad said that Abdullah was created out of the same clay as prophet Mohammad and that his father flew with angels in paradise.
The marriage of ibn Jafar:
Al-Hassan, al-Husain and Abdullah ibn Jafar proposed to the daughter of al-Mussaiab Ibn Najiia. Al-Mussaiab Ibn Najiia said he would consult Ali ibn abi Talib who recommended ibn Jafar as a suitor to his daughter. Whenever Abu Bakr distributed money, he would start with the prophet’s household. An Arab wanted to be among them. However, the guards stopped the Arab . When kid ibn Jafar arrived, he was admitted. When Abu Bakr saw Abdullah, Abu Bakr welcomed him, saying “welcome son of the flying martyr”. Abdullah went to Abu Bakr who gave him one thousand dirhams. On his part, Abdullah gave it to the Arab.
Abdullah ibn Jafar and ibn Omar:
Abdullah ibn Omar loved ibn Jafar a lot. People asked ibn Umar about it. He said that if they had seen his father, they would have loved Abdullah. Ibn Jafar was famous for his matchless generosity. He would spend all he had even when he did not have any money. Once, a woman presented a cooked hen to ibn Jafar. He accepted it and rewarded the woman with wheat, dates and money. Once, ibn Jafar wanted to buy a cow. However, its owner gave it to him as a present. After a few days, porters knocked on the man’s door. They carried wheat, oil, clothes and money.
I fear to change my habit:
Al-Hassan and al-Husain, sons of Ali ibn abi Talib, told ibn Jafar that he was extravagant. Ibn Jafar said that he feared if changed his custom, Allah would change His. Poets and men of letters knew Abdullah ibn Jafar’s generosity. They wrote poetry praising him for his rewards. A dark complexioned poet praised ibn Jafar. People said that he was dark complexioned. Ibn Jafar said that his praise was very fair. Once, a poet visited ibn Jafar when he had a fever. Ibn Jafar gave the poet a lot of money. Ibn Jafar was a role model for generous people.
The death of Abdullah ibn Jafar:
Ibn Jafar died after the year eighty H. It was called the year of Jihaf. a torrent flooded Makkah, drifting the pilgrims and the camels with their loads. This was in the caliphate of Abdulmalik ibn Marawan. Ibn Jafar was ninety years old then. The body of ibn Jafar was carried to al-Madina and buried there. The governor of al-Madina wept and mourned ibn Jafar. People followed his coffin till he was buried at al-Baqi’. Truly, Abdullah ibn Jafar ibn abi Talib was one of the children around prophet mohammad who were well brought up at the hands of prophet Mohammad himself.
