Part 47

When Tastar came under the total control of the Mujahideen, Yazdagard prepared his famous general Mardan Shah for combat and placed a huge army under his command.

When ‘Umar Farooq 4 heard that the Iranians had made elaborate preparations and a huge army had been mobilised to face the Muslims, he was worried. Finally, after a great deal of thought, he deputised ‘Ali +t to take charge of the Caliphate and himself set out at the head of the Muslim forces. But because of the timely intervention and advice of ‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Auf <, he gave up this idea and placed the army under the command of the experienced general Nu’man bin Magqran and sent him to face the Iranians. Since this was going to be a difficult encounter he sent Jareer ¢ to help him. By the Grace of Allah and the united efforts of these two great generals the Muslims triumphed.

During the caliphate of ‘Uthman #% Jareer was nominated to the post of Governor of Hamdan.

When ‘Ali % became Caliph, he sent Jareer bin’ Abdullah bin Jabir # to Damascus as a_ representative of the Caliphate at Al-Madinah. He was to negotiate with Amir Mu‘awiyah .& and persuade him to swear allegiance to him. But the talks did not produce any results; after discussions with his comrades, Amir Mu’awiyah # refused to accept ‘Ali 4 as the new Caliph. Jareer 2, while informing ‘Ali < of the refusal of Amir Mu’awiyah #: to accept him, pointed out to him that he had made arrangements for military defence as well. Some of the comrades expressed displeasure at this. When Jareer bin ‘Abdullah 2 saw this attitude, he was deeply upset and grieved. He thought it best not to get involved and moved to Kufah with his family. He spent the rest of his life in quiet retirement at Qargeesiya and did not participate in the battles of Jamal and Safain.

In 54 Hijrah he passed away at his place of residence and went to Paradise, at peace with himself. A hundred Ahadith are connected with him. Of these eight are unanimously agreed upon by eminent scholars.

The outward beauty and inner beauty of character of Jareer # were in complete harmony and accord. When his hair turned gray he took to dying it with henna, and looked even more impressive. All who saw him envied him his imposing personality.

“Come back to your Lord, well-pleased (yourself) and wellpleasing (unto Him)!” (89:28)

Ja‘far bin Abi Talib Once Jibreel $8) said to the Prophet &

“After he was martyred Allah 3 gave him two wings in the place of his arms which had been cut off; he can fly wherever he pleases in the

company of angels. ”

Ja‘far bin Abi Talib 2

He was the first cousin of the Prophet # and the brother of ‘Ali 4. He was ten years older than him. He was always there to help the poor, the orphans and those in need. He was a distinguished and true Muslim, who was the very image of generosity and munificence. He also had _ the distinction of migrating twice, once to Ethiopia and once to Al-Madinah. When the Muslims migrated to Ethiopia, the Prophet % appointed him leader of the caravan.

He was the Mujahid who enjoyed flying with the angels in Paradise with the two wings he was given by Allah %& in the place of the arms he had lost in Jihad.

His recitation of the Noble Qur’an was so melodious that it stirred the souls of those who heard him. He was a popular orator whose eloquence and mastery over the Arabic language and his daring rebuttals and prompt ripostes in debate stunned even as skilled and famous a politician as ‘Amr bin ‘Aas.

The Prophet # told Ja’far bin Abi Talib .g that he resembled him in appearance and character, and he was overjoyed to hear this. The Prophet # had also given him the titles of ‘Winged Being’, ‘TwoWings’, and ‘Father of the Poor.’ He had also elevated his status by kissing his forehead. When the Prophet 3 heard of his martyrdom, he was grieved and tears rolled down his cheeks. It was then that Jibreel sez gave the news to the Prophet 3 of the joyful flights of Ja’far bin Abi Talib with the angels in Paradise. When the nightingale of the court of the Prophet %, Hassan bin Thabit .%, heard of his martyrdom he expressed his love for the family of the Prophet # by extemporaneously reciting a poem in his honour.

@ Abu Bakr Siddiq

@ ‘Ali bin Abi Talib &

@ Zaid bin Harithah ‘Uthman bin ‘Affan 4

Zubair bin Awam ‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Auf 4 Sa‘d bin Abi Waqas

Talhah bin ‘Ubaidullah Abu ‘Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah Abu Salamah

Argam bin Abi Arqam - ‘Uthman bin Madh’oon bin Habib 4 Qadamah bin Madh’oon ‘Abdullah bin Madh’‘oon #. ‘Ubaidah bin Harith #

Sa’eed bin Zaid te

Fatimah bint Khattab us 41 +, Asma’ bint Abi Bakr ys a) 2, Khabab bin Aratt -é

@ ‘Umair bin Abi Wagas

@ ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ood @ Mas‘ood Qari #

@ Saleet bin ‘Amr

@ ‘Ayash bin Abi Rabee’ah 4 @ Asma’ bint Salamah Ys 5! 2) @ Khanees bin Hathafah

@ ‘Amer bin Rabee‘ah

@ ‘Abdulla bin Jahash

@ Abu Ahmad bin Jahash #

And after them Ja’far bin Abi Talib # entered the fold of Islam. He was distinguished in three ways. He was a member of the Prophet's family. He was a member of that distinguished band of people who accepted [slam first. And he sacrificed his life for Allah 9%. There is a tradition attributed to ‘Abdullah bin Ja’far, Abu Musa Ash’ari & and ‘Amr bin ‘Aas that the Prophet # used to call Ja’far bin Abi Talib ‘Abu Al-Masakeen’, (Father of the Poor).

There were four brothers in the family and there was a difference of ten years between each of them. Talib bin Abi Talib was the eldest. The next was ‘Ageel, then there was Ja’far 4. And the youngest was ‘Ali bin Abi Talib #. Abu Huraira quotes the Prophet 3 as saying that he saw Ja’far bin Abi Talib -¢ flying in Paradise with the angels. He also says:

“Whenever we felt very hungry Ja‘far 4% would take us home and serve us anything that he happened to have at home. He delighted in feeding the poor and the destitute and serving them.”

“Jafar te was a member of his family and resembled him in appearance and character.”

‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ood .% and Umm-ul-Mo'ntineen Umm Salamah ,,2, + 4! narrate that the second caravan migrating to Ethiopia consisted of eighty three people. Among these oppressed emigrants were such

notable Companions as Ja’far bin Abi Talib %, Abu Musa Ash‘ari <, ‘Abdullah bin Arfah 4 and ‘Uthm4n bin Madh’oon bin Habib

Umm Salamah 4—+ 4 2, writes that when the Quraish came to know that this band of migrants were leading peaceful and serene lives in Ethiopia, they were furious. Plotting to inflame the Ethiopian emperor Najashi against these Muhdjireen and have them thrown out, they sent their craftiest statesman, ‘Amr bin ‘Aas and ‘Abdullah bin Abi Rabee‘ah with plenty of expensive gifts to the court of Emperor Najashi. They were also instructed to meet the courtiers, ministers, noblemen and religious leaders, and give them gifts in order to bring them around to their point of view. These two men did as they had been instructed. When they felt confident that the preliminaries had been smoothed out and well prepared, and the important personages of the kingdom would help them, they decided to put in an appearance at the court.

One fine day feeling very smug and sure that their objective was well within reach, they went to meet Emperor Najashi. Najashi was seated on his throne in full regal splendour and all the nobles were assembled in the court. ‘Amr bin ‘Aas and ‘Abdullah bin Abi Rabee’ah wished him by prostrating on the floor in from of him. Pleased with them he asked them to sit on either side of him. Very humbly they said:

“Your Highness our people have sent these gifts for you, kindly

honour us by accepting them.”

“Emperor Najashi nodded and the gifts were accepted. Taking this to be an opportune moment, they again bowed low and said, “We have great regard for you; in fact because of our deep love for you and your country, we are taking the liberty of warning you that a few trouble makers from our country have taken refuge in your peaceful land. They have turned traitors to the religion of their forefathers and have fled our land and come here. It is because of their subversion that today brother has turned against brother and there are rifts and differences between members of the same family. Our sincere advice is that