Ja'far b. Abi Talib: Difference between revisions

It is said that Ja'far was born twenty years before the [[Prophet (s)]] started his mission. He belonged to the [[Banu Hashim]] clan in the [[Quraysh]] tribe. His father, [[Abu Talib]], was a notable Qurayshi figure and his mother was [[Fatima bt. Asad]]. His older brothers were [[Talib b. Abi Talib|Talib]] and [[Aqil b. Abi Talib|Aqil]] and his younger brother was [[Imam 'Ali (a)|'Ali (a)]]. It is said that these four brothers were 10 years apart.

After the [[Battle of Khaybar]] and Ja'far's return from [[Abyssinia]], the [[Prophet (s)]] appointed him as the commander of the Islamic Army in [[Jumada al-Awwal]] of the year 8 AH/September,629. He went to war against the Byzantine Army in Muta. He said, "If Ja'far is killed, [[Zayd b. Haritha]] will take over the commandment; and if he is killed, [['Abd Allah b. Rawaha]] will replace him." Some believe that Zayd b. Haritha was the first commander and Ja'far was the second.

Ja'far was killed in the [[Battle of Mūta]] in [[Jumada al-Awwal]] of the year 8 AH/September,629. [[Abu l-Faraj al-Isfahani]], believes that Ja'far was the first child of Abu Talib to be martyred for Islam.<ref>al-Isfahani, P.3</ref> [[Al-Tabari]] says, "After Zayd martyred, Ja'far took over the commandment of war. When he saw that he was surrounded by the enemy, he got off from his horse and cut off its legs [so that it would not fall into the hands of the enemy]. Then he fought until his hands were cut off and he died."<ref>Al-Tabari, Vol.2, P.321</ref> It is mostly believed that he was then 41 years old and was the tenth person to die in this battle.

Ja'far and other Muslims who were killed in [[Battle of Muta|that battle]] were buried in Mazār, near Mūtah, [[Jordan]]. Muslims honor his grave. Ja'far, [['Abd Allah b. Rawaha]] and [[Zayd b. Haritha]] were buried in one tomb, which was then hidden.