Hadith #221

Arabic Text

English Translation

Wahb ibn Jarir narrated to us, my father narrated to us. He said: I heard Muhammad ibn Abi Ya'qub narrating from al-Hasan ibn Sa'd, from 'Abdullah ibn Ja'far (رضي الله عنهما), who said: the Messenger of Allah ﷺ dispatched an army and appointed Zayd ibn Harithah as their commander. He said: If Zayd is killed or martyred, your commander is Ja'far. If he is killed or martyred, your commander is 'Abdullah ibn Rawahah. They met the enemy. Zayd took the banner and fought until he was killed. Then Ja'far took the banner and fought until he was killed. Then 'Abdullah ibn Rawahah took it and fought until he was killed. Then Khalid ibn al-Walid took the banner, and Allah granted him victory. The news reached the Prophet ﷺ, and he went out to the people, praised Allah, and said: Your brothers met the enemy. Zayd took the banner and fought until he was killed, or martyred. Then Ja'far ibn Abi Talib took the banner after him and fought until he was killed, or martyred. Then 'Abdullah ibn Rawahah took the banner and fought until he was killed, or martyred. Then the banner was taken by a sword from among the swords of Allah: Khalid ibn al-Walid, and Allah granted him victory. He waited, then gave the family of Ja'far three days before visiting them. Then he came to them and said: Do not weep for my brother after today, or after tomorrow. Call my brother's two sons for me. We were brought to him as though we were chicks. He said: Call a barber for me. The barber came and shaved our heads. Then he said: As for Muhammad, he resembles our uncle Abu Talib. As for 'Abdullah, he resembles me in appearance and character. Then he took my hand and raised it, and said: O Allah, be a successor to Ja'far in his family, and bless 'Abdullah in his dealings. He said this three times. Then our mother came and mentioned our orphanhood to him, and she began to plead to him. He said: Do you fear poverty for them when I am their guardian in this world and the Hereafter?