Jabir b. Abd Allah al-Ansari: Difference between revisions

==Lineage==

Jabir b. 'Abd Allah was the son of 'Amr, son of Haram b. Ka'b b. Ghanm b. Salama; he was from the tribe of [[Khazraj]].

The first evidence on Jabir is related to his attendance in the second [[Pledge of al-'Aqaba]] with his father in 1 BH/622. He was the youngest person who witnessed [[Banu Aws]] and [[Banu Khazraj]]'s oath of allegiance to [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]]<ref>Ibn Qutayba, ''al-Ma'arif'', P.307; Al-Dhahabi, ''Siyar a'lam al-nubala''', Vol.3, P.192</ref>. Considering the time of his death and his lifetime, he could have been around 16 on the time.

His father was among the twelve [[Naqib|naqibs]] of the Prophet (s) who were chosen as a representative to their own tribes. 'Abd Allah took part in the [[Battle of Badr]] and was martyred in the [[Battle of Uhud]]<ref>Al-Baladhuri, ''Ansab al-ashraf'', Vol.1, P.286; Ibn 'Asakir, ''Tarikh madinat Damishq'', Vol.11, P.208,211</ref>.

In the third year after [[Hijra]] and prior to the [[Battle of Dhat al-Riqa']], Jabir married to a widow called Suhayma, the daughter of Mas'ud b. Aws. He wanted a wife who could take care of his nine sisters, after his father's martyrdom in the [[Battle of Uhud]]<ref>Ibn Sa'd, al-Tabaqat al-kubra'', Vol.8, P.248</ref>. At the time, Jabir was dealing with financial problems and he had to pay off his father's debts. On the way back from the [[Battle of Dhat al-Riqa']] in [[4]]/626, Prophet Muhammad (s) solved his financial problems and sought for his forgiveness<ref>Ibn Sa'd, ''al-Tabaqat al-kubra'', Vol.2, Part.1, P.43-4</ref>.

'Abd al-Rahman, Muhammad<ref>Ibn Qutayba, al-Ma'arif, P.307</ref>, Mahmud, 'Abd Allah<ref>Ibn Hazm, ''Jamharat ansan al-'arab'', P.359</ref> and 'Aqil<ref>al-Mizzi, ''Tahdhib al-kamal fi asma' al-rijal''Vol.4, P.446</ref> are the names of Jabir's children.

Some historical accounts mentioned a number of Jabir's descendants who were settling in [[Africa]] (around [[Tunisia]])<ref>Ibn Hazm, ''Jamharat ansan al-'arab'', P.359</ref> and [[Bukhara]]<ref>Ibn Athir, ''al-Kamil fi al-tarikh'', Vol.10, P.545</ref>. Also several descendants of Jabir settled in [[Iran]], the most important of which is [[Shaykh Murtada Ansari]] who is a prominent contemporary [[Shi'a]] scholar in [[fiqh]] and [[usul]]<ref>Qumi, ''Tuhfat al-ahbab fi nawadir athar al-ashab'', P.40</ref>.

Due to the number of his children, different kunyas were attributed to Jabir; "Abu 'Abd Allah" is considered the most famous kunya of Jabir<ref>Ibn 'Abd al-Barr, ''al-Isti'ab fi ma'rifat al-ashab'', Vol.1, P.220</ref>.

In his young ages, Jabir attended in a large number of the battles ([[ghazwa]] and [[sariyya]]). The number of the battles he has participated is different in historical reports. As he said, he attended 19 out of 27 ghazwas alongside [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]], and also attended several sariyyas.

 

Jabir did not participate in the battles of [[Battle of Uhud|Uhud]] and [[Battle of Badr|Badr]] in order to obey his father's order and manage his crowded family's affairs. Although in a number of historical accounts, he was named as a person who carried water in the Battle of Badr.

 

The [[Battle of Hamra' al-Asad]], in the [[4]]/625, was the first battle that Jabir has participated in. It took place after the Battle of Uhud. As Prophet Muhammad (s) said, only the soldiers attended the Battle of Uhud were allowed to participate in this battle. However Jabir was the only exception, after Prophet Muhammad (s) accepted his excuse.

According to some of the historical accounts, Jabir had a friendly relationship with [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]]. When Jabir became ill, Prophet went to visit him. It is said Jabir thought he's going to die then he wanted to divide his bequest to his sisters, so he asked Prophet Muhammad (s) about its rules. However the Prophet promised him a long life. Answering to the question of Jabir on dividing the bequest a verse was sent down to the Prophet (s) which is known as the [[al-Kalala verse]] (Qur'an 4:176).

There is no information on Jabir b. 'Abd Allah attitude toward the first caliph, [[Abu Bakr]]. It's probable that he was among [[Ansar]] (Helpers) and [[Muhajirun]] (Emigrants) in [[Medina]]. After some time he joined the supporters of [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] and [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]].

In a historical account, Jabir has explained his participation in Khalid b. Walid's army, when they surrounded [[Damascus]]. However, it is not clear whether Jabir was engaged in conquering [[Iraq]] or he joined them in other regions.

Jabir was an [['Arif]] in the time of 'Umar b. al-Khattab. 'Arif, the chief member of each tribe or clan, were chosen by caliph as the mutual connector between the caliph and the tribe.

There is very few information about Jabir's activities in the time of the [[third Caliph]]. We only know, on the last days of Uthman's [[caliphate]], when the Egyptian protesters head toward [[Medina]], Jabir and fifty other members of [[Ansar]] were ordered by the Caliph to negotiate with the protestors and persuade them to return to [[Egypt]].

Jabir has fought alongside with [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] in the [[Battle of Siffin]]. In the last days of Imam 'Ali's (a) caliphate, [[Mu'awiya]] army attacked and plundered cities, including [[Medina]], to take the [[oath of allegiance]] from people. [[Busr b. Artat]] was the one who attacked Medina in 40/660 to take an oath of allegiance from people including Banu Salama, the tribe of Jabir. Jabir thought taking oath of allegiance to [[Busr b. Artat]] would be going astray. So he hid in [[Umm Salama]]'s house, Prophet Muhammad's wife. Finally, in order to avoid bloodshed, Jabir took Umm Salama's advice and took an oath of allegiance to Busr.

Jabir was well aware of [[Qur'an]] and [[sunna]], so he was annoyed by the wrongdoings and [[bid'a|bid'as]] (innovations) of [[Umayyads]]. It was so unbearable to him that he wished to become deaf in order to not hearing the news of bid'as.

When [[Mu'awiya]] came to power he decided to transfer the [[minbar]] (pulpit) of Prophet Muhammad (s) to [[Damascus]] in [[50]]/670-1. Jabir was among those who dissuaded him and changed his mind.

[[Al-Hajjaj b. Yusuf]] was the governor of [[Hijaz]] from [[72]]/691-2 to 75/694-5. He went to [[Medina]] in 74/693 and stayed there for two months, where he treated people with contempt. He also tortured several [[Companions]] of Prophet Muhammad (s) including Jabir b. 'Abd Allah. The only reaction of Jabir was changing his behavior toward him. He also said al-Hajjaj must not attend his [[funeral prayer]].

Jabir traveled to [[Egypt]] in [[50]]/670-1 where a number of Egyptians have narrated hadith from him. [[Maslama b. Mukhallad al-Ansari]], a tribal member of Jabir, was the governor of Egypt in that time. As Ibn Manda said in his accounts, Jabir traveled to [[Syria]] and Egypt along with Maslama.

According to hadith sources, Jabir traveled to Syria in order to acquire a hadith on [[qisas]] (retaliation) from [['Abd Allah b. Unays]]; the exact time is unknown. He traveled to Syria in the time of Mu'awiya, but Mu'awiya ignored him. Jabir was upset, so he refused a 600 Dinar gift from Mu'awiya and returned to [[Medina]]. Considering the behavior of Mu'awiya toward Jabir, [[Umayyad]] caliphs constantly treated the people of Medina with contempt which was originated from the murder of the third Caliph, [['Uthman b. Affan|'Uthman]].

Jabir has narrated a great deal of hadith from [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]], hence he is considered the guardian of [[sunna]] and a mukthir (a person who has narrated abundant number of hadith). His narrations are considered as one of the highest referred ones among Islamic sects in [[narration]], [[sira]] and history. Jabir was also knowledgeable in [[fiqh]] and he has being issued fatwa. Therefore, [[al-Dhahabi]] identified him as [[mujtahid]] and [[faqih]] (jurist).

In addition to narrating hadith directly from Prophet Muhammad (s), Jabir also has narrated hadith from [[Companions]] and [[Followers]]. He has narrated hadith from [['Ali b. Abi Talib (a)]], [[Ammar b. Yasir]], [[Talha b. 'Ubayd Allah]], [[Mu'adh b. Jabal]], and [[Abu Sa'id al-Khudri]].

Jabir was so immersed in learning theology that he traveled to [[Syria]] in order to acquire hadith from one of Companions. This enthusiasm led Jabir to live the last years of his life in [[Mecca]]. He fairly analyzed hadiths and avoided any biased comment or attitude in narrating [[hadith]]. For example, he stated how narrators of [[Khazraj]] have distorted a hadith from Prophet Muhammad (s) on admiring the judgment of [[Sa'd b. Mu'adh]] on [[Banu Qurayza]]; Sa'd b. Mu'adh was the chief member of [[Aws]].

[[Imam al-Baqir (a)]] directly, and [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]] and [[Imam al-Kazim (a)]] indirectly have narrated hadiths of Prophet Muhammad (s) from Jabir b. 'Abd Allah.

Jabir has narrated well-known hadiths of [[Shi'a]], including [[hadith al-Ghadir]], [[hadith al-Thaqalayn]], [[hadith of the City of Knowledge]], [[Hadith al-Manzila]], [[hadith of Radd al-Shams]] and [[hadith of Sadd al-Abwab]].

Jabir has also narrated [[hadith al-Lawh]], a famous and important hadith in which Prophet Muhammad (s) has declared the names of twelve Imams and described [[Imam al-Mahdi (a)]]. It is regarded as the most well-known hadith that Jabir has narrated from Prophet Muhammad (s).

Jabir b. 'Abd Allah had a teaching circle in the [[al-Masjid al-Nabawi]]. He also dictated hadiths and taught a number of [[Tabi'un]]. [[Sa'id b. al-Musayyib]], [[Hasan b. Muhammad b. al-Hanafiyya]], [['Ata' b. Abi Rabah]], [[Mujahid b. Jabr]], [['Amr b. Dinar]], [['Amir b. Sharahil al-Sha'bi]] and [[Hasan al-Basri]] have narrated hadiths from Jabir b. 'Abd Allah.

[[Al-Dhahabi]] identified him as the jurist of [[Medina]]. [[Musa b. 'Ali b. Muhammad al-Amir]] has obtained a complete report of Jabir's opinion in [[fiqh]] from different narration sources. It was published under the name of ''Jabir b. 'Abd Allah wa fiqhihi''.

Numerous quotations were narrated from Jabir on [[tafsir]] (interpretation) of [[Qur'an]], which are alike in many ways with Tafsir of [[Shi'a]] on some verses.

Jabir is admired in [[twelver]] Shi'a [[rijal]] sources. Because Jabir was praised in well-known hadiths, his reliability is accepted in Shi'a sources.

He is regarded as a companion of [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]], including [[Imam 'Ali (a)]], [[Imam al-Hasan (a)]], [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]], [[Imam al-Sajjad (a)]], and [[Imam al-Baqir (a)]]. But it should be noticed that when Jabir has passed away in the time of 'Ali b. Husayn's (a) [[imamate]], Muhammad b. 'Ali (a) was only a child or a teenager. Thus Jabir cannot be considered as a companion of Imam al-Baqir (a).

Although Jabir was not a supporter of Imam 'Ali (a) in the [[Event of al-Saqifa]], after some time he joined Imam 'Ali (a) and remained a true supporter of him. [[Al-Kashshi]] considered him one of the members of [[Shurtat al-Khamis]] who were a group of devoted fighters dedicated their lives to Imam 'Ali (a).

According to the sources of [[Sunni Muslims]], Jabir has narrated 1540 hadith, [[Sahih al-Bukhari]] and [[Sahih Muslim]] both accord with 58 hadiths. [[Ahmad b. Hanbal]] has collected hadiths which were narrated by Jabir in his ''[[Musnad Ahmad|Musnad]]''. According to 'Abd Allah b. Ahmad b. Muhammad b. Hanbal, the hand written [[musnad]] (collection of hadith) of Jabir b. 'Abd Allah is preserved in al-Khazanat al-Rabat in [[Morocco]], which is probably hadiths narrated by Jabir in ''Musnad Ahmad b. Hanbal''.

Jabir b. 'Abd Allah considered [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] as the criterion for judgment at the time of the [[Prophet (s)]], and [[hypocrite|hypocrites]] are got known by their hate towards 'Ali (a). He advised [[Ansar]] to grow their children with the love of 'Ali (a). He said that whoever not recognize 'Ali (a) as the best mankind, he has done ingratitude towards God. Jabir's famous quotation on Imam 'Ali (a) is: "'Ali (a) is the best mankind", inspired Ja'far b. Ahmad al-Qummi, Shi'a author, to narrate one third of his hadith from Jabir in his book ''Nawadir al-athar fi 'Ali khayr al-bashar''.

At the time of the [[Event of Karbala]], Jabir was an old man living in [[Medina]]. Giving a speech to [['Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad]]'s soldiers, [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]] introduced him as his witness. Jabir was the first one who visited [[Karbala]], in [[Arba'in]].

:"You will have a long life so that you will meet one of my descendants whose name will be my name; he is called [[Revealer of Knowledge]]. When you meet him, send my salam (greetings) to him."

Thus Jabir was eagerly looking for him. sometimes he call "O! the revealer of knowledge" in the [[Masjid al-Nabi]]. Finally he found [[Imam al-Baqir (a)|Muhammad b. 'Ali (a)]], who was a teenager and not an Imam yet; he recalled the saying of the Prophet (s), kissed al-Baqir (a) and sent the salam (greetings) of Prophet Muhammad (s) to him.

Jabir has lived the last year of his lifetime near the [[Ka'ba]] in [[Mecca]]. Some members of [[Tabi'un]] including [['Ata' b. Abi Rabah]] and [['Amr b. Dinar]] have met him in that time. Jabir became blind during the last years of his life and then he passed away in [[Medina]]. Al-Mizzi gave some reports on the time of Jabir's demise; the reports are different from 68/687-8 to 79/698-9. According to a group of historians and [[hadith narrator|hadith narrators]], Jabir passed away in [[78]]/697-8 at the age of 94. It's said that [[Aban b. 'Uthman]], the governor of Medina, performed the funeral prayer on his dead body.

* The material for this article is mainly taken from [http://fa.wikishia.net/view/%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%B1_%D8%A8%D9%86_%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D9%87_%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C جابر بن عبدالله الأنصاري] in Farsi Wikishia.