Anonymous user
Ja'far b. Abi Talib: Difference between revisions
m
adding references.
imported>Shakeri mNo edit summary |
imported>Mortezanazarzadeh m (adding references.) |
||
| Line 35: | Line 35: | ||
He was appointed as the commander of the Muslim Army in the [[Battle of Muta]], in which he was later [[martyr]]ed. His tomb is in [[Jordan]]. | He was appointed as the commander of the Muslim Army in the [[Battle of Muta]], in which he was later [[martyr]]ed. His tomb is in [[Jordan]]. | ||
==Birth and | ==Biography== | ||
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. | ===Birth and lineage=== | ||
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.<ref>Abū l-Faraj al-Iṣfahānī, ''Maqātil al-ṭālibīyyīn'', p. 3.</ref> | |||
{{Family tree of the Prophet (s)}} | {{Family tree of the Prophet (s)}} | ||
== | ===Teknonyms=== | ||
Ja'far's [[ | Ja'far's [[teknonym]] was Abu 'Abd Allah because he had a son called Abd Allah.<ref>Abū l-Faraj al-Iṣfahānī, ''Maqātil al-ṭālibīyyīn'', p. 3.</ref> His other teknonym was Abu l-Masakin (the father of the poor), because he supported and helped the poor.<ref>Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī, ''al-Iṣāba'', vol. 7, p. 309; Ibn Athīr, ''Usd al-ghāba'', vol. 1, p. 288; Ibn ʿInaba, ''ʿUmdat al-ṭālib'', p. 35.</ref> After his death by the loss of his two hands, he was called Tayyar (the flying one) and Dhu l-Janahayn (the one with two wings). | ||
It is reported that the Prophet (s) said, "One night I entered the heavens and saw that Ja'far was flying with the angels."<ref> | It is reported that the Prophet (s) said, "One night I entered the heavens and saw that Ja'far was flying with the angels."<ref>Majlisī, ''Biḥār al-anwār'', vol. 22, p. 277.</ref> There is a hadith from [[Imam al-Baqir (a)]] to the effect that God honors Ja'far for four things he avoided during Jahiliyya (the age of ignorance before Islam). It was aked, "What are they?" He answered, "Ja'far avoided drinking wine, lying, fornication, and idolatory." The Prophet (s) prayed for him and said, "May God give you two wings, with which to fly in the company of the angels."<ref>Ṣadūq, ''ʿIlal al-sharāʾiʿ'', vol. 2, p. 558.</ref> | ||
He is also called "Dhu l-Hijratayan" (the one who migrated twice), as he migrated once to [[Abyssinia]] and then to [[Medina]]. | He is also called "Dhu l-Hijratayan" (the one who migrated twice), as he migrated once to [[Abyssinia]] and then to [[Medina]].<ref>Ibn ʿInaba, ''ʿUmdat al-ṭālib'', p. 35.</ref> | ||
== | === Wives and Children === | ||
Ja'far was married to [[Asma' bt. 'Umays | Ja'far was married to [[Asma' bt. 'Umays]]. [[Ibn 'Inaba]] enumerates eight children for them,<ref>Ibn ʿInaba, ''ʿUmdat al-ṭālib'', p. 36.</ref> including [['Abd Allah b. Ja'far|Abd Allah]], Awn, Muhammad, and Ahmad.<ref>Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī, ''al-Iṣāba'', vol. 1, p. 325.</ref> | ||
== | ===Guardianship by His Uncle=== | ||
When [[Abu Talib | When [[Abu Talib]] became very destitute, Ja'far was given to the care of his uncle [[Abbas b. Abd al-Muttalib]].<ref>Ṭabarī, ''Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk'', vol. 2, p. 58; Ibn Hishām, ''al-Sīra al-nabawīyya'', vol. 1, p. 162.</ref> Ja'far lived with his uncle until he accepted Islam and became independent. | ||
== | ==Conversion to Islam== | ||
He was the second man who accepted Islam, his brother [[Imam 'Ali (a)|'Ali (a)]] being the first. Seeing that his son, 'Ali (a), was praying with the [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]], [[Abu Talib]] told Ja'far to pray on the left side of the Prophet.<ref>Ibn | He was the second man who accepted Islam, his brother [[Imam 'Ali (a)|'Ali (a)]] being the first. Seeing that his son, 'Ali (a), was praying with the [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]], [[Abu Talib]] told Ja'far to pray on the left side of the Prophet.<ref>Ibn Athīr, ''Usd al-ghāba'', vol. 1, p. 287.</ref> Some have also said that he was the 26th or the 32nd man to believe in Islam.<ref>Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī, ''al-Iṣāba'', vol. 2, p. 592.</ref> Ibn Sa'd reports that he accepted Islam before the Prophet (s) entered Bayt Arqam.<ref>Ibn Saʿd, ''al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā'', vol. 4, p. 34.</ref> | ||
== | ==Rank== | ||
According to the Islamic sources, Ja'far had a high rank. | According to the Islamic sources, Ja'far had a high rank. | ||
It is reported that the [[Prophet (s)]] said, "People are created from different trees. Ja'far and I are created from the same tree, and we have the same substance."<ref> | It is reported that the [[Prophet (s)]] said, "People are created from different trees. Ja'far and I are created from the same tree, and we have the same substance."<ref>Abū l-Faraj al-Iṣfahānī, ''Maqātil al-ṭālibīyyīn'', p. 10; Maghribī, ''Sharḥ al-akhbār'', vol. 3, p. 205.</ref> In another hadith, he said, "Ja'far, you are like me in appearance and behavior."<ref>Majlisī, ''Biḥār al-anwār'', vol. 22, p. 276.</ref> This similarity was so much that sometimes people greeted Ja'far by saying, "Assalamu Alaykum, O the messenger of God!" Ja'far replied,"I am not the messenger of God, but Ja'far."<ref>Amīn, ''Aʿyān al-Shīʿa'', vol. 4, p. 125.</ref> | ||
The [[Prophet (s)]] liked him very much. He donated a portion of booty from the [[Battle of Badr]] to Ja'far, although Ja'far had not attended it. Returning from the [[Battle of Khaybar]], the Prophet (s) met Ja'far, who had just come from [[Abyssinia]], hugged him, and kissed the point between his eyes, saying,"I don't know what to celebrate: meeting Ja'far or our triumph in Khaybar?" Then, he taught him a prayer, which is known as the [[Prayer of Ja'far al-Tayyar]]. | The [[Prophet (s)]] liked him very much. He donated a portion of booty from the [[Battle of Badr]] to Ja'far, although Ja'far had not attended it.<ref>Wāqidī, ''al-Maghāzī'', vol. 1, p. 156.</ref> Returning from the [[Battle of Khaybar]], the Prophet (s) met Ja'far, who had just come from [[Abyssinia]], hugged him, and kissed the point between his eyes, saying,"I don't know what to celebrate: meeting Ja'far or our triumph in Khaybar?"<ref>Ibn Saʿd, ''al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā'', vol. 4, p. 35.</ref> Then, he taught him a prayer, which is known as the [[Prayer of Ja'far al-Tayyar]].<ref>Ḥurr al-ʿĀmilī, ''Wasāʾil al-Shīʿa'', vol. 8, p. 49.</ref> | ||
[[Imam | [[Imam Ali (a)]] liked him so much that [[Abd Allah b. Ja'far]] said, "Whenever I wanted something from my uncle, I abjured him by the name of my father, Ja'far, and he accepted."<ref>Amīn, ''Aʿyān al-Shīʿa'', vol. 4, p. 126.</ref> | ||
===Characteristics=== | ===Characteristics=== | ||
Abu Nu'aym al-Isfahani says, "Ja'far b. Abi Talib was a powerful orator, who was also generous, brave, and mystical." [[Ibn Qudama]] says that he was tolerant and humble.<ref>Ibn | Abu Nu'aym al-Isfahani says, "Ja'far b. Abi Talib was a powerful orator, who was also generous, brave, and mystical."<ref>Iṣfahānī, ''Ḥilyat al-awlīyāʾ'', vol. 1, p. 114.</ref> [[Ibn Qudama]] says that he was tolerant and humble.<ref>Ibn Qudāma, ''al-Tabyīn'', p. 115.</ref> Al-Dhahabi says that Ja'far b. Abi Talib was high-ranking, the master of the martyrs and soldiers.<ref>Dhahabī, ''Siyar aʿlām al-nubalāʾ'', vol. 1, p. 206.</ref> | ||
===Qur'anic Verses on Ja'far=== | ===Qur'anic Verses on Ja'far=== | ||
One of Ja'far's honors is that some of the Qur'anic verses refer to him. In his interpretation of Qur'an 33:23 ("Of the believers are men who are true to that which they covenanted with Allah. Some of them have paid their vow by death (in battle), and some of them are still are waiting"), [[ | One of Ja'far's honors is that some of the Qur'anic verses refer to him. In his interpretation of Qur'an 33:23 ("Of the believers are men who are true to that which they covenanted with Allah. Some of them have paid their vow by death (in battle), and some of them are still are waiting"), [[Ali b. Ibrahim al-Qummi]] reports a hadith from [[Imam al-Baqir (a)]] to the effect that the former group includes [[Hamza]] and Ja'far.<ref>Qummī, ''Tafsīr al-Qummī'', vol. 2, p. 188.</ref> Al-Qummi also believes that the Qur'an 22:39 ("Permission is given unto those who fight because they have been wronged") refers to Imam Ali (a), Hamza, and Ja'far.<ref>Qummī, ''Tafsīr al-Qummī'', vol. 2, p. 84.</ref> | ||
==Immigration to Abyssinia== | ==Immigration to Abyssinia== | ||
Five years after the [[Prophet (s)]] started his mission ([[614]] C.E.), as a consequence of being annoyed by [[pagan]]s of [[Mecca]], and upon a commandment from the Prophet (s), a group of Muslims migrated from Mecca to [[Abyssinia]] to take refuge from persecution. Ja'far led the group, which was composed of 82 men and some women and children. The Prophet (s) said to these people, "Take refuge in Abyssinia. Their king is a righteous man, who does not wrong anyone. Travel there until God makes an opening for Muslims."<ref> | Five years after the [[Prophet (s)]] started his mission ([[614]] C.E.), as a consequence of being annoyed by [[pagan]]s of [[Mecca]], and upon a commandment from the Prophet (s), a group of Muslims migrated from Mecca to [[Abyssinia]] to take refuge from persecution.<ref>Ibn Hishām, ''al-Sīra al-nabawīyya'', vol. 1, p. 323.</ref> Ja'far led the group, which was composed of 82 men and some women and children.<ref>Majlisī, ''Biḥār al-anwār'', vol. 18, p. 412.</ref> The Prophet (s) said to these people, "Take refuge in Abyssinia. Their king is a righteous man, who does not wrong anyone. Travel there until God makes an opening for Muslims."<ref>Majlisī, ''Biḥār al-anwār'', vol. 18, p. 412.</ref> | ||
Upon learning about the entrance of the Muslim group, [[Negus]] called them to the court. Ja'far b. Abi Talib said to Negus, "I will tell you what I have heard from my leader, the Prophet (s)." Then as a spokesperson of Islam, he said, "A prophet has emerged among us to call us to avoid idolatory, usury, wronging others, unjust bloodshed, adultery, and fornication. He has invited us to prayer, [[zakat]] (charity), justice and kindness to neighbors." Then, Negus asked him, "Do you have anything from what the Prophet (s) has brought you from God?" Ja'far read verses from the Sura 19 ([[Sura Maryam|Maryam]]) which was about the story of [[Mary]] and [[Jesus (a)]]. Negus wept after he heard these verses.<ref> | Upon learning about the entrance of the Muslim group, [[Negus]] called them to the court. Ja'far b. Abi Talib said to Negus, "I will tell you what I have heard from my leader, the Prophet (s)." Then as a spokesperson of Islam, he said, "A prophet has emerged among us to call us to avoid idolatory, usury, wronging others, unjust bloodshed, adultery, and fornication. He has invited us to prayer, [[zakat]] (charity), justice and kindness to neighbors." Then, Negus asked him, "Do you have anything from what the Prophet (s) has brought you from God?" Ja'far read verses from the Sura 19 ([[Sura Maryam|Maryam]]) which was about the story of [[Mary]] and [[Jesus (a)]]. Negus wept after he heard these verses.<ref>Majlisī, ''Biḥār al-anwār'', vol. 18, p. 415.</ref> Meccan unbelievers had tried to persuade Negus with gifts to reject the Muslim group; but he refused their request. Muslims could live safely in that land.<ref>Amīn, ''Aʿyān al-Shīʿa'', vol. 4, p. 123.</ref> | ||
Muslims stayed in Abyssinia until the year [[6]]/628. Just before the [[Battle of Khaybar]], the Prophet (s) asked Negus to return the Muslims. He accepted, embraced Islam, and sent Ja'far and others, including [['Amr b. Umayya al-Damri]], in two ships to [[Medina]]. | Muslims stayed in Abyssinia until the year [[6]]/628. Just before the [[Battle of Khaybar]], the Prophet (s) asked Negus to return the Muslims. He accepted, embraced Islam, and sent Ja'far and others, including [['Amr b. Umayya al-Damri]], in two ships to [[Medina]].<ref>Ibn ʿAsākir, ''Tārīkh madīnat Damascus'', vol. 45, p. 430.</ref> | ||
== | ==Commander of the Islamic Army== | ||
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 I]] of the year [[8]]/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, [[ | 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 I]] of the year [[8]]/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."<ref>Ṭūsī, ''al-Amālī'', p. 141; Abū l-Faraj al-Iṣfahānī, ''Maqātil al-ṭālibīyyīn'', p. 6.</ref> Some believe that Zayd b. Haritha was the first commander and Ja'far was the second.<ref>Ibn Kathīr, ''al-Bidāya wa l-nihāya'', vol. 4, p. 275.</ref> | ||
==Martyrdom== | ==Martyrdom== | ||
[[File:Ja'far b. Abi Talib-2.jpg|thumbnail|The grave of Ja'far b. Abi Talib, [[Jordan]]]] | [[File:Ja'far b. Abi Talib-2.jpg|thumbnail|The grave of Ja'far b. Abi Talib, [[Jordan]]]] | ||
Ja'far was killed in the [[Battle of Muta]] in Jumada I of the year 8/629. [[Abu l-Faraj al-Isfahani]], believes that Ja'far was the first child of Abu Talib to be martyred for Islam.<ref>al- | Ja'far was killed in the [[Battle of Muta]] in Jumada I of the year 8/629.<ref>Amīn, ''Aʿyān al-Shīʿa'', vol. 4, p. 118.</ref> [[Abu l-Faraj al-Isfahani]], believes that Ja'far was the first child of Abu Talib to be martyred for Islam.<ref>Abū l-Faraj al-Iṣfahānī, ''Maqātil al-ṭālibīyyīn'', 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>Ṭabarī, ''Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk'', 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.<ref>Majlisī, ''Biḥār al-anwār'', vol. 22, p. 126.</ref> | ||
[[Al-Shaykh al-Saduq]] reports that after Ja'far's martyrdom, the Prophet (s) visited his family and wept and hugged Ja'far's children and condoled them. It is reported that [[Asma' bt. 'Umays]] and [[Ka'b b. Malik]] composed dirges for Ja'far. | [[Al-Shaykh al-Saduq]] reports that after Ja'far's martyrdom, the Prophet (s) visited his family and wept<ref>Ṣadūq, ''Man lā yaḥḍuruh al-faqīh'', vol. 1, p. 177.</ref> and hugged Ja'far's children and condoled them.<ref>Wāqidī, ''al-Maghāzī'', vol. 2, p. 766.</ref> It is reported that [[Asma' bt. 'Umays]] and [[Ka'b b. Malik]] composed dirges for Ja'far.<ref>Abū l-Faraj al-Iṣfahānī, ''Maqātil al-ṭālibīyyīn'', p. 8-9.</ref> | ||
==Tomb== | ==Tomb== | ||
Ja'far and other Muslims who were martyred in that battle were buried in Mazar, near Muta, [[Jordan]]. Muslims honor his grave. Ja'far, [['Abd Allah b. Rawaha]] and [[Zayd b. Haritha]] were buried in one tomb, which was then hidden. | Ja'far and other Muslims who were martyred in that battle were buried in Mazar, near Muta, [[Jordan]]. Muslims honor his grave. Ja'far, [['Abd Allah b. Rawaha]] and [[Zayd b. Haritha]] were buried in one tomb, which was then hidden.<ref>Ibn ʿInaba, ''ʿUmdat al-ṭālib'', p. 36.</ref> | ||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
| Line 94: | Line 95: | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
{{references}} | {{references}} | ||
* | *Abū l-Faraj al-Iṣfahānī, ʿAlī b. al-Ḥusayn. ''Maqātil al-ṭālibīyyīn''. Najaf: al-Maktaba al-Ḥaydarīyya, 1385 AH. | ||
* | *Amīn al-ʿĀmilī, Sayyid Muḥsin al-. ''Aʿyān al-Shīʿa''. Beirut: Dār al-Taʿāruf, [n.d]. | ||
* | *Dhahabī, Muḥammad b. Aḥmad al-. ''Siyar aʿlām al-nubalāʾ''. Beirut: Muʾassisat al-Risāla, 1413 AH. | ||
* | *Ḥurr al-ʿĀmilī, Muḥammad b. al-Ḥasan al-. ''Wasāʾil al-Shīʿa''. Qom: Āl al-Bayt, [n.d]. | ||
* | *Ibn ʿAsākir, ʿAlī b. al-Ḥasan. ''Tārīkh madīnat Damascus''. Beirut: Dār al-Fikr, 1415 AH. | ||
* | *Ibn Athīr, ʿAlī b. Muḥammad. ''Usd al-ghāba''. Beirut: Dār al-Kitāb al-ʿArabī, [n.d]. | ||
* | *Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī, Aḥmad b. ʿAlī. ''Al-Iṣāba fī tamyīz al-ṣaḥāba''. Beirut: Dār al-Kutub al-ʿIlmīyya, 1415 AH. | ||
* | *Ibn Hishām, ʿAbd al-Malik. ''Al-Sīra al-nabawīyya''. Cairo: Madanī, 1383 AH. | ||
* | *Ibn ʿInaba, Aḥmad. ''ʿUmdat al-ṭālib''. Najaf: al-Maktaba al-Ḥaydarīyya, 1380 AH. | ||
* | *Ibn Kathīr, Ismāʿīl b. ʿUmar. ''Al-Bidāya wa l-nihāya''. Beirut: Dār Iḥyāʾ al-Turāth al-ʿArabī, 1408 AH. | ||
*Ibn Qudāma, ʿAbd Allāh. ''Al-Tabyīn fī ansāb al-qurashīyyīn''. Beirut: [n.p], 1408 AH. | |||
*Ibn Saʿd, Muḥammad b. Manīʿ. ''Al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā''. Beirut: Dār al-Ṣādir, [n.d]. | |||
*Maghribī, Qāḍī Nuʿmān al-. ''Sharḥ al-akhbār''. Qom: Daftar-i Intishārāt-i Islāmī, 1414 AH. | |||
*Majlisī, Muḥammad Bāqir al-. ''Biḥār al-anwār''. Beirut: Muʾassisat al-Wafāʾ, 1403 AH. | |||
*Qummī, ʿAlī b. Ibrāhīm al-. ''Tafsīr al-Qummī''. Qom: Dār al-Kitāb, 1404 AH. | |||
*Ṣadūq, Muḥammad b. ʿAlī al-. ''ʿIlal al-sharāʾiʿ''. Najaf: al-Maktaba al-Ḥaydarīyya, 1380 AH. | |||
*Ṣadūq, Muḥammad b. ʿAlī al-. ''Man lā yaḥḍuruh al-faqīh''. Qom: Daftar-i Intishārāt-i Islāmī, 1363 Sh. | |||
*Ṭabarī, Muḥammad b. Jarīr al-. ''Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk''. Beirut: Muʾassisat al-Aʿlamī, 1403 AH. | |||
*Ṭūsī, Muḥammad b. al-Ḥasan al-. ''Al-Amālī''. Qom: Dār al-Thiqāfa, 1414 AH. | |||
*Wāqidī, Muḥammad b. ʿUmar al-. ''Al-Maghāzī''. Beirut: Aʿlamī, 1409 AH. | |||
{{end}} | {{end}} | ||