Ja'far ibn Abi Talib

Spokesman Before the Negus

Ja’far ibn Abi Talib was the elder brother of Ali and a cousin of the Prophet ﷺ, whom he closely resembled. He led the Muslim emigrants in Abyssinia, and when the Quraysh sent envoys to demand their return, it was Ja’far who answered for them before the Negus — describing how they had lived in ignorance, oppression and idolatry until Allah sent a Messenger of known truthfulness who called them to worship Him alone, to speak the truth, keep kinship, and shun bloodshed and vice. Asked to recite something of the revelation, he recited the opening of Surah Maryam, and the Negus and his bishops wept until their beards were wet, and the king refused to surrender the Muslims to the Quraysh. 1 Seerat-e-Mustafa · Vol 1 · pp. 102–103 — Idris Kandhlawi — Ja'far's address before the Negus, his recitation of Surah Maryam, and the Negus's refusal to give up the Muslims.

‘I Do Not Know Which Gives Me More Joy’

Ja’far returned from Abyssinia with fifteen Companions on the very day of the conquest of Khaybar. The Prophet ﷺ kissed him on the forehead and said:

“I do not know which gives me more joy — the conquest of Khaybar or the arrival of Ja’far.”

Martyrdom at Mu’ta

At the Battle of Mu’ta in 8 AH, the Prophet ﷺ had named three commanders in turn. When Zayd ibn Haritha was martyred, Ja’far seized the army’s flag and pressed forward into the enemy until he too fell a martyr; Abdullah ibn Rawaha then took the flag after him and was likewise martyred. 3 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 1 · pp. 513–514 — Kandhlawi — at Mu'ta, Ja'far takes the flag after Zayd's martyrdom and is killed; Abdullah ibn Rawaha takes it after him.

He fought reciting his poetry, was struck so that both his hands were cut off, and clutched the flag to his bosom until he fell. Ninety-plus wounds were counted on his body — all on the front. 4 Seerat-e-Mustafa · Vol 2 · pp. 130–131 — Idris Kandhlawi — Ja'far at Mu'ta: poetry recitation, both hands cut, clutched flag to his bosom, 90+ wounds all on the front.

The Prophet ﷺ saw the battle from his minbar in Madinah and announced the martyrdoms in real time — Zayd, then Ja’far, then Ibn Rawaha — before the news could come by any human messenger. 5 Seerat-e-Mustafa · Vol 2 · pp. 130–131 — Idris Kandhlawi — the Prophet ﷺ sees Mu'ta from his minbar; announces each martyrdom in real time.

Virtues in the Hadith

It was reported that Ja’far’s arms were cut from him as he held the flag, and that Allah gave him two wings in their place in Paradise — so that Ibn Umar would greet his son with the honour of his father:

السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا ابْنَ ذِي الْجَنَاحَيْنِ

”Peace be upon you, O son of the two-winged one (Dhul-Janahayn).”

Sahih al-Bukhari 3709 · Book 62 (Virtues of the Companions), Hadith 59 · USC-MSA: Vol. 5, Book 57, Hadith 58 · narrated by Ibn Umar

Legacy

Ja’far is remembered as at-Tayyar, “the one who flies,” and Dhul-Janahayn, “the possessor of two wings” — a martyr who gave his life and his arms in the cause of Allah, and whose generosity to the poor earned him also the love of those he served.