Al-Ju'fi Family
| Lineage | Tribe of Madhhij. |
|---|---|
| Geography | |
| Origin | Yemen |
| Residence | Kufa |
| Well-known Figures | |
| Figures | Jabir b. Yazid al-Ju'fi |
The Family of al-Juʿfī (Arabic: آل الجعفي) was one of the famous Yemeni families that resided in Kufa. Some of the members of this family were with the Prophet (s) in the Battle of Badr, and some of them joined him in the Year of Delegations (9 AH). The al-Ju'fis played active roles in some of the key events after the advent of Islam.
There are no signs of the presence of al-Ju'fis among the companions of Imam al-Hasan (a), Imam al-Husayn (a), or Imam al-Sajjad (a). However, since the time of Imam al-Baqir (a), an increasing number of al-Ju'fis converted to Shiism. This conversion reached its climax at the time of Imam al-Sadiq (a). Jabir b. Yazid al-Ju'fi was the most well-known member of this family among the companions of Imam al-Baqir (a) and Imam al-Sadiq (a).
Background
Al-Ju'fi is the name of a clan of the tribe of Madhhij.[1] This clan is sometimes referred to as a tribe because of its greatness and importance. The name al-Ju'fi seems to have derived from the name of the clan's father, al-Ju'fi b. Sa'd al-'Ashira b. Malik, whose descendants expanded through his two sons Marran and Harim.
During the Time of the Prophet (s) and the Early Caliphs
Some of the members of al-Ju'fi clan were with the Prophet (s) at the Battle of Badr, and some others joined him in the Year of Delegations (9 AH)/630-1. The Ju'fis were influential in some key events after the advent of Islam, such as 'Ubayd Allah b. Hurr al-Ju'fi, known also as al-Sha'ir al-Fatik (the Brave Poet), who was a supporter of 'Uthman and joined Mu'awiya in the Battle of Siffin. However, according to al-Najashi, he narrated a book from Imam Ali (a). 'Ubayd Allah's sons, Sadaqa, Barra, and Ash'ar also participated in the event of Dayr al-Jamajim in 82 AH. The "ancient Yemenis," another name for al-Ju'fi clan together with the other clans of the tribe of Madhhij, participated in the Battle of Qadisiyya (14 AH)/635.
Inclination to Shiism
In Shiite rijal sources, the first Ju'fi that appears among the companions of the Imams (a) is Harith b. Qays al-Ju'fi, counted as a companion of Imam Ali (a). No Ju'fis appear among the companions of Imam al-Hasan (a), Imam al-Husayn (a), or Imam al-Sajjad (a). However, at the time of Imam al-Baqir (a), a number of Ju'fis appear in the list of the Imam's (a) companions. This number increases and reaches its climax at the time of Imam al-Sadiq (a). The names of some of these individuals are mentioned by al-Najashi and al-Tusi. The most well-known Shiite Ju'fi among the companions of Imam al-Baqir (a) and Imam al-Sadiq (a) was Jabir b. Yazid al-Ju'fi.
Notes
- ↑ Ibn Ḥazm, ‘’Jamharat ansāb al-ʿArab’’, 1982, p. 476-477
References
- Ibn Hazm.Jamhara Ansab al-Arab