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Jafar ibn Abi Talib (Arabic: جعفر ابن أبي طالب) (AKA Jafar Tayyar) was the son of Abu Talib ibn 'Abdul Muttalib (the uncle of the Islamic Prophet Mohammed) and his uncle Abbas ibn 'Abdul Muttalib was the one who raised him, for his father was a poor man and had to support a big family. He was also the brother of Ali ibn Abi Talib, the first Shia Imam and fourth Sunni Caliph. Jafar was One of the bravest of the Holy Prophet's followers and the brother of Hazrat Ali.
There was a great resemblance between Jafar and the Islamic Prophet Mohammed, both in his appearance and ethics. The Islamic Prophet Mohammed called him “The father of the poor” because he used to help and support the poor with all he has of money.
Jafar left his Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib’s house when he became a young man and got married to Asma binte Umays. They were among the very first persons to embrace Islam, and they were devoted followers of Islam. They suffered a lot from the harsh treatment of Quraish, but they accepted this with patience because they knew that the road to Paradise is not easy.
Quraish restricted their movements and freedom until they could not bear it anymore. That is why Jafar went to the Islamic Prophet Mohammed and took his permission to immigrate to Abyssinia along with a small group of Sahabas (Companions of Islamic Prophet Mohammad).
They settled down in this new land under the protection of the Negus, and for the first time since they had become Muslims they knew what freedom was, and could worship Allah without any hindrances. However, Quraish would not let them enjoy freedom and peace for long; soon they sent Amr ibn al-Aas and Abdullah ibn Abu Rabiah (who became Muslims later) in order to negotiate with Negus and get all the Muslims back to Makkah.
They took a lot of presents to the Negus, which pleased him a lot, and then told him that there is a group of wicked men moving about freely in his country and asked him to capture them before they cause any harm to his kingship as they did in Quraish. But the Negus refused to do that until he calls them and questions them regarding Quraish’s allegations. So he asked the group Muslims, among which was Jafar ibn Abu Talib, to come and meet him and the Muslims chose Jafar to be their spokesman.
The Negus asked them “what is this religion that has cut you off from your people, and made you in no need of our religion”..?
Jafar answered him saying “we were living in darkness and this religion came and commanded us to speak the truth, to honor our promises, to be kind to our relations, to cease all forbidden acts, to abstain from bloodshed. To avoid obstinacies and false witness, nor to appropriate an orphan's property or slander chaste women, the Islamic Prophet Mohammed ordered us to worship Allah only and not to associate any god with Him, to uphold Salat, to give Zakat and fast in the month of Ramadan, so we believed in him and what he brought to us from Allah and we follow him in what he has asked us to do and we keep away from what he forbade us from doing.”
The Negus was eager to know more about what Jafar said, and so he asked Jafar to read him a part from what the Islamic Prophet Mohammed brought concerning Allah. Jafar recited for him the first portion of Surah Maryam, which narrates the story of Jesus and his mother Mary. On hearing the words of the Quran, the Negus was moved, and said that he will never harm them.
However the two Quraish emissaries did not stop at that, they went to the Negus again and told him that the Muslims say that Jesus is a slave, and asked him to call them and ask them what they think of Jesus.
The Negus called the Muslims and asked them, so Jafar answered him saying, "Our Prophet says that Jesus is Allah’s prophet." The Negus gave back the gifts to Amr so he and his companion left broken and frustrated.
In Abyssinia
Jafar and his wife Asma spent about ten years in Abyssinia, which became a second home for them. There, Asma gave birth to three children whom they named Abdullah, Muhammad and Awn. In the seventh year of the Hijra, Jafar and his family left Abyssinia with a group of Muslims and headed for Medina.
On their arrival at Medina, Muhammad (peace be upon him) was returning from the battle of Khaibar and on seeing Ja'far he was very happy and said, "I don't know which event is more cheerful - Ja'far's coming or the Conquest of Khaibar!".
Muslims in general and the poor among them specifically were as happy with the return of Jafar as Muhammad was. And quickly Jafar became a well known as a person who was much concerned with the welfare of the poor.
In the Battle of Mu'tah
Jafar did not stay in Medina for long. In the eighth year of the Hijra, the Islamic Prophet Mohammed mobilized an army to confront Byzantine forces in Syria, because a Byzantine governor had treacherously killed one of his emissaries. He appointed Zayd ibn Harithah as commander of the army and gave the following instructions: "If Zayd is wounded or killed, Jafar ibn Abu Talib would take over the command. If Jafar ibn Abu Talib is killed or wounded, then your commander would be Abdullah ibn Rawahah. If Abdullah ibn Rawahah is killed, then let the Muslims choose for themselves a commander."
Despite all the hardship they faced, the Muslim army battled with Byzantines. Zayd ibn Harithah, the beloved companion of the Islamic Prophet Mohammed, was among the first Muslims who got killed in the battle. Jafar ibn Abu Talib then assumed command. Mounted on his horse, he penetrated deep into the Byzantine ranks. As he spurred his horse on, he called out: "How wonderful is Paradise as it draws near! How pleasant and cool is its drink! Punishment for the Byzantines is not far away!" Jafar continued to fight vigorously but was eventually slain.
In the battle of Mauta, Ja'far Tayyar carried the Banner of Islam and in that battle he was out-numbered by the enemies and killed. When the two arms of one of the Holy Prophet (S.W.)'s bravest followers and his army’s standard-bearer Hadrat Ja'far Tayyar, the brother of Hadrat Ali (A.S.) were cut off in the battle of Mauta and he was martyred, and the news reached the Holy Prophet (S.W.) he cried and prayed for Ja'far's soul and the angel Gabriel came down and consoled (the Prophet), saying "Ja'far was a brave and loyal soldier. God has given him everlasting life, and in place of two arms which were cut off in the battle, the Lord has given him a pair of wings".
The news of the death of the three commanders reached the Islamic Prophet Mohammed in Medina. The pain and grief he felt was intense. He went to Jafar's house and met his wife Asma. She was somehow prepared to receive her absent husband. Asma said: "When the Messenger of Allah approached us, I saw a veil of sadness shrouding his noble face and I became very apprehensive. But I did not dare ask him about Jafar for fear that I would hear some unpleasant news. He greeted and asked, 'Where are Jafar's children?' I called them for him and they came and crowded around him happily, each one wanting to claim him for himself. He leaned over and hugged them while tears flowed from his eyes.
O Messenger of Allah,' I asked, 'why do you cry? Have you heard anything about Jafar and his two companions?
Yes,' he replied. 'They have attained martyrdom. The smiles and the laughter vanished from the faces of the little children when they heard their mother crying and wailing.
Sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren
- Abdullah ibn Ja'far married Zaynab binte Ali. Their sons were martyred in the battle of Karbala.
- Muhammad ibn Ja'far.
- Awn ibn Ja'far and he married Umm Kulthum binte Ali.