Ja'far ibn Abi Talib

Jafar ibn Abi Talib (c.590629 CE), also known as Jafar al-Tayyar, was a companion of
the Islamic prophet Muhammad and an older brother of Ali.

Early life
Ja'far was the third son of Abu Talib ibn Abdul Muttalib and Fatima bint Asad, hence a
cousin of Muhammad. His older brothers wereTalib and Aqil; his younger brothers were Ali
and Tulayq;[2] and his sisters were Fakhita, Jumana and Rayta.[3]
When there was a drought in Mecca, Abu Talib could not afford to support his family. His
brother Abbas therefore took charge of the young Ja'far.[4]
Ja'far was an early convert to Islam.[5] He married Asma bint Umays, who converted to Islam
in 614-615

Flight to Abyssinia
When the Muslims were harassed in Mecca, several of them migrated to Abyssinia. Jafar
joined the second flight in 616.[7] There they obtained the protection of the Negus, Ashama
ibn Abjar, and could worship God unhindered.[8]
Jafar and Asma lived in Abyssinia for about twelve years. Three sons were born to them
there: Abdullah, Muhammad and Awn

The Quraysh Delegation

The Quraysh, suspicious of their motives for leaving Arabia, sent Abdullah ibn Abi Rabiah
and 'Amr ibn al-'As to negotiate with Negus to bring the emigrants back to Mecca. They
gave presents of leather-goods to the Negus and his officials and gave him a bad report of
the Muslims.[9] The Negus replied that he had promised protection to the Muslims and
therefore could not hand them over without hearing their side of the story. When the
Muslims were called to answer to the Negus, Jafar was their spokesman. [10]
The Negus asked them what was the religion for which they had forsaken their people,
without entering into his religion or any other.[10]

Jafar replied: We were an uncivilised people. God sent us an apostle who commanded us
to speak the truth, be faithful to our engagements, mindful of the ties of kinship and kindly
hospitality, and to refrain from crimes and bloodshed. He forbade us to commit
abominations and to speak lies, and to devour the property of orphans, to vilify chaste
women. He commanded us to worship God alone and not to associate anything with Him,
and he gave us orders about prayer, alms and fasting [enumerating the commands of
Islam]. So we believed in him and what he brought to us from Allah; and we follow what he
asked us to do and we avoid what he forbade us to do. [11]
The Negus asked if Jafar had with him anything that Muhammad had received from God.
Jafar recited for him the first portion of SurahMaryam, which narrates the story
of Jesus and his mother Mary. On hearing the words of the Quran, the Negus wept until his
beard was wet and the bishops wept until their scrolls were wet. The Negus said that he
would never harm the Muslims.[12]
The two Quraysh delegates alleged that the Muslims called Jesus a created being, so the
Negus asked Jafar what he thought of Jesus. Jafar answered: Our prophet says he is
Gods slave, apostle, spirit and word, which he cast into Mary the blessed virgin. [12]
At this the Negus returned the gifts of the Quraysh, calling them bribes, and they left his
presence crestfallen. The Muslims continued to live with the Negus comfortably in the best
security.

Overseas Preaching
It is said that Jafar left Abyssinia to preach in other countries. He accompanied Sa'd ibn Abi
Waqqas and others in their mission to the Chittagong-Manipur-Tibet-Khotan-China region.
The Muslims of the oasis-city of Khotan (in the Xinjiang Province, six miles south of the
Taklamakan Desert,[14] west of Tibet) trace their origin to Jafar, a cousin of Muhammad.
[15]

Thereafter Jafar returned to Abyssinia.

Arnold claims that there is not the slightest historical base for this legend

Return to Arabia
In summer 628 the last of the Muslim immigrants departed from Abyssinia to join the Muslim
community in Medina. Jafar and his family were among them.[17]
On arriving at Medina, Jafar heard that Muhammad was in Khaybar. Jafar immediately set
out to join the army and arrived just as Muhammad had won the battle. Muhammad greeted
him with the words: I dont know which event makes me happier the arrival of Jafar or
the conquest of Khaybar![18]
Jafar was famous for his acts of charity in Medina. Abu Hurairah recalled: The most
generous of all the people to the poor was Jafar ibn Abi Talib. He used to take us to his
home and offer us what was available therein. He would even offer us an empty folded
leather container (of butter) which we would split and lick whatever was in it.

The Battle of Mutah

In September 629 Muhammad mobilized an army to confront Byzantine forces in Syria,
[20]

because a Byzantine governor had killed one of his emissaries.[21] He appointed Zayd ibn

Harithah as commander of the army and instructed: If Zayd is wounded or killed, Jafar ibn
Abu Talib will take over the command. If Jafar is killed or wounded, Abdullah ibn
Rawahah will take his place. If Abdullah is killed, then let the Muslims appoint themselves a
commander.[21]
The Muslims met the Byzantines at Muta, [22] where they were heavily outnumbered.[20] Zayd
ibn Harithah was among the first Muslims to be killed in the battle, and Jafar then took over
his standard and assumed command.[20] 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![citation needed] Jafar fought until both his arms were cut off, [citation needed] but he was eventually
killed.[22] A Roman struck him and cut him in two halves. One half fell on the grape vine, and
roughly thirty wounds were found on it. The body of Jafar held seventy-two scars between
his shoulders, where he had been either struck by a sword or pierced by a spear

Death
When the news reached Muhammad, he wept and prayed for Jafars soul. [citation needed] He later
reported that the angel Gabriel came down to console him, saying: Jafar was a brave and
loyal soldier. God has given him everlasting life, and in place of his arms which were cut off
in the battle, the Lord has given him a pair of wings. [citation needed] Thereafter Jafar had the
byname Zul Janaheen (the Winged).[24]
Jafars widow Asma recalled: Gods Messenger came to me and asked, Where are Jafars
children? I brought them to him and he embraced them and smelled them, then his eyes
welled up and he cried. O Gods Messenger, I asked, Have you heard something about
Jafar? Yes, he replied. He was killed today. I stood up and screamed, and the women
came to me. The Prophet began to say, O Asma, do not speak obscene words or beat your
chest! Her son Abdullah remembered: He said, O Asma, will you not rejoice? Indeed,
God most high has made two wings for Jafar, that he may fly with them in Paradise! Then
Muhammad told his daughter Fatima, Prepare food for the family of Jafar, for they are
preoccupied today.[25]
Jafars tomb is located in Al-Mazar, near Kerak, Jordan. It is enclosed in an ornate shrine of
gold and silver made by the Dawoodi Bohras 52nd Dai, Mohammed Burhanuddin