ʿAbd Allāh ibn Jaʿfar ( ar, عبد الله بن جعفر; 699 or 702/704), was a companion and relative of the Islamic prophet

Muhammad Muhammad ( ar, مُحَمَّد; 570 – 8 June 632 Common Era, CE) was an Arab religious, social, and political leader and the founder of Islam. According to Muhammad in Islam, Islamic doctrine, he was a prophet Divine inspiration, di ...

, a nephew of

Ali ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib ( ar, عَلِيّ بْن أَبِي طَالِب; 600 – 661 CE) was the last of four Rightly Guided Caliphs to rule Islam (r. 656 – 661) immediately after the death of Muhammad, and he was the first Shia Imam. ...

and a half-brother of

Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr Muḥammad ibn Abī Bakr ( ar, محمد بن أبي بكر, 631–658), was the youngest son of the first Islamic caliph Abu Bakr. His mother was Asma bint Umais, who was a widow of Ja'far ibn Abi Talib prior to her second marriage with Abu Bakr. ...

. He was loyal to

Ahl al-Bayt Ahl al-Bayt ( ar, أَهْل ٱلْبَيْت, ) refers to the family of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, but the term has also been extended in Sunni Islam to apply to all descendants of the Banu Hashim (Muhammad's clan) and even to all Muslims. ...

in spite of his absence at the

Battle of Karbala The Battle of Karbala ( ar, مَعْرَكَة كَرْبَلَاء) was fought on 10 October 680 (10 Muharram in the year 61 AH of the Islamic calendar) between the army of the second Umayyad Caliph Yazid I and a small army led by Husayn ...

. He is reported to have said: ”Thanks to God Almighty, I could not support

al-Husayn ibn Ali Abū ʿAbd Allāh al-Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib ( ar, أبو عبد الله الحسين بن علي بن أبي طالب; 10 January 626 – 10 October 680) was a grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and a son of Ali ibn Abi ...

at Karbala, but my two sons (

Awn AWN may stand for: * Awn Access to Justice Network in Gaza Strip, Legal Aid Network operate in Gaza Strip, Palestine * Animation World Network, an online organization for animators * Avant Window Navigator, a dock-like bar that tracks open windows ...

and

) did." According to

Richard Francis Burton Sir Richard Francis Burton (; 19 March 1821 – 20 October 1890) was a British explorer, writer, orientalist scholar,and soldier. He was famed for his travels and explorations in Asia, Africa, and the Americas, as well as his extraordinary kn ...

he is widely recognized as the most sympathetic amongst Arabs. His grave is situated near

Aqil ibn Abi Talib ʿAqīl ibn Abī Ṭālib (lit. "Aqil the Son of Abu Talib"; full name , ar, أبو يزيد عقيل بن أبي طالب بن عبد المطّلب بن هاشم), , was a cousin of the Islamic prophet Muhammad () and an older brother of Ali ...

and

Abu Sufyan ibn al-Harith Abū Sufyān ibn al-Ḥārith ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib ( ar, أبو سفيان بن الحارث بن عبد المطلب), born al-Mughīra (), was a Companions of the Prophet, companion and first cousin of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.Abdalmal ...

(the grandson of

Abd al-Muttalib Shayba ibn Hāshim ( ar, شَيْبَة بْن هَاشِم; 497–578), better known as ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib, ( ar, عَبْد ٱلْمُطَّلِب , lit=Servant of Muttalib) was the fourth chief of the Quraysh tribal confederation. He was ...

) in

Jannat al-Baqi ''Jannat al-Baqīʿ'' ( ar, ٱلْبَقِيْع, "The Baqi'") is the oldest and the first Islamic cemetery of Medina in the Hejazi region of present-day Saudi Arabia. It is located to the southeast of the Prophet's Mosque, which contains the gr ...

Grave abdullah bin Jafar(left)and Akil bin abi Talib

Early life

He was the son of

Ja'far ibn Abi Talib Jaʿfar ibn Abī Ṭālib ( ar, جعفر بن أبي طالب September 629), also known as Jaʿfar al-Ṭayyār ( ar, جعفر الطيّار, lit=Ja'far the Flyer) was a companion and cousin of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, and an older brot ...

and

Asma bint Umais Asmāʾ bint ʿUmays ( ar, أَسْمَاء بِنْت عُمَيْس) was a companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. She is known for having married three companions of the Prophet: Ja'far ibn Abi Talib, Abu Bakr and Ali. Family She was a ...

. They had emigrated to

Abyssinia The Ethiopian Empire (), also formerly known by the exonym Abyssinia, or just simply known as Ethiopia (; Amharic and Tigrinya: ኢትዮጵያ , , Oromo: Itoophiyaa, Somali: Itoobiya, Afar: ''Itiyoophiyaa''), was an empire that historica ...

in 616, and Abd Allah and his two brothers were born there.Muhammad ibn Saad. ''Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir'' vol. 8. Translated by Bewley, A. (1995). ''The Women of Madina''. London: Ta-Ha Publishers. Abd Allah was the first of Muslims to be born in the land of Abyssinia After the birth of Abd Allah in Abyssinia (Habesha Presently Ethiopia), the king of the Kingdom of Aksum (

Najashi Armah ( gez, አርማህ) or Aṣḥamah ( ar, أَصْحَمَة), commonly known as Najashi ( ar, النَّجَاشِيّ, translit=An-najāshī), was the ruler of the Kingdom of Aksum who reigned from 614–631 CE. He is primarily known th ...

) was blessed with a son too. He immediately asked the parents of Abd Allah ibn Ja'far about the name of their child. Upon knowing the name of Ja'far's family, King of Abyssinia also chose the name “Abd Allah” for his first son. It is also stated that Asma bint Umays was the nursing mother of son of Abyssinian King. The younger brother of Abd Allah appears to be the first child in the Muslim history who was named Muhammad after the Prophet of Islam. The family returned to Arabia in 628 and settled in

Medina Medina,, ', "the radiant city"; or , ', (), "the city" officially Al Madinah Al Munawwarah (, , Turkish: Medine-i Münevvere) and also commonly simplified as Madīnah or Madinah (, ), is the Holiest sites in Islam, second-holiest city in Islam, ...

Muhammad's Supplication & instruction

In addition to Ibn Hajar's reference, it is said that after 3 days of Ja'far's death Muhammad went to the house of Asma and called for the children of Ja'far. He then said about each of them “As for Muhammad, he resembles our uncle Abi Talib. As for Abd Allah, he resembles me in terms of both my appearance and character. Afterward, Muhammad took the right hand of Abd Allah and said “O Allah, provide a successor for Ja'far in his family, and bless Abd Allah in his business, and repeated this appeal to Almighty thrice. Muhammad instructed the sons of Abi Talib, namely Ja'far, Aqil and Ali that they should arrange marriages of their children with their cousins.

Marriage and Family Life

Ali had particularly wished that his daughters should marry Ja'far's sons. When Abd Allah asked for Zaynab's hand, Ali accepted it. Abd Allah and Zaynab had two children. * * According to Shaykh Muhammad Abbas Qummi, he had 20 sons from different wives, including five children from Zaynab bint Ali. Daira-e-Maarif Islamia (Circle of Islamic Knowledge) of

University of the Punjab The University of the Punjab (Urdu, pnb, ), also referred to as Punjab University, is a public, research, coeducational higher education institution located in Lahore, Pakistan. Punjab University is the oldest public university in Pakistan. ...

(pages 568-70, Vol.X) describes that Zaynabi is a progeny of Abd Allah’s son Ali through Zaynab bint Ali Abd Allah ibn Ja'far was one of the richest people in Medina and a famous

philanthropist Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives, for the Public good (economics), public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private goo ...

who was called as “Bahr al-Joud” which means an ocean of charity. When Ali became the Caliph in 656 and moved from Medina to

Kufa Kufa ( ar, الْكُوفَة ), also spelled Kufah, is a city in Iraq, about south of Baghdad, and northeast of Najaf. It is located on the banks of the Euphrates River. The estimated population in 2003 was 110,000. Currently, Kufa and Najaf ...

, Zaynab and Abd Allah joined him.

His wife’s journey with Husayn ibn Ali

It is related that Zaynab already forecast the journey (journey to

Karbala Karbala or Kerbala ( ar, كَرْبَلَاء, Karbalāʾ , , also ;) is a city in central Iraq, located about southwest of Baghdad, and a few miles east of Lake Milh, also known as Razzaza Lake. Karbala is the capital of Karbala Governorat ...

) before her marriage and permission for accompanying with her brother was obtained during marriage negotiations. With regard to Absent of Abd Allah in

, it is said it was due to his poor eye sighting consequently he was unable to bear the rigidities of journey and war. Knowing Husayn's journey to Kufa, Zaynab, the wife of Abd Allah ibn Ja'far begged her husband's permission to accompany her brother. Realizing anxiousness of her husband she stated that: Abd Allah then granted his permission and sent their two sons for the destined journey. Abd Allah was concurrently married to Layla bint Mas'ud. With reference to books ‘Nasab e Quraish Page-83’ and ‘Jameerath ul Nasab by Ibn Hazm page 62’ it is described that Layla bint Mas'ud ibn Khalid was “al-Zawja al-Thaniya (second wife)” through this marriage he had two daughters (Umm Muhammad and Umm Abiha) and four sons (Yahya, Harun, Salih and Musa).

Career

Battles

With regard to his presence in the

Battle of the Camel The Battle of the Camel, also known as the Battle of Jamel or the Battle of Basra, took place outside of Basra, Iraq, in 36 AH (656 CE). The battle was fought between the army of the fourth caliph Ali, on one side, and the rebel army led by ...

, it is indicated that at the end of Battle, while entrusting the return of

Aisha Aisha ( ar, , translit=ʿĀʾisha bint Abī Bakr; , also , ; ) was Muhammad's third and youngest wife. In Islamic writings, her name is thus often prefixed by the title "Mother of the Believers" ( ar, links=no, , ʾumm al-mu'min, muʾminīn), ...

to Medina under security of her brother

ordered for payment of 12,000 Dirhams to Aisha. Abd Allah thinking that the amount was too little, brought out a larger sum for Aisha. According to

Ibn A'tham al-Kufi Abū Muḥammad Aḥmad ibn Aʿtham al-Kūfī al-Kindī ( ar, أبو محمد أحمد بن أعثم الكوفي) was a 9th-century Arab Muslim historian, poet and preacher (''qāṣṣ'') active in the late 8th and early 9th centuries. He was a ...

Battle of Siffin The Battle of Siffin was fought in 657 CE (37 AH) between Ali ibn Abi Talib, the fourth of the Rashidun Caliphs and the first Shia Imam, and Mu'awiya ibn Abi Sufyan, the rebellious governor of Syria. The battle is named after its location S ...

he was commanding the infantry in the army of Ali ibn Abi Talib together with his cousins

Muslim ibn Aqil Muslim ibn Aqil al-Hashimi ( ar, مُسْلِم ٱبْن عَقِيل ٱلْهَاشِمِيّ ') was the son of Aqil ibn Abi Talib and a member of the clan of Banu Hashim, thus, he is a cousin of Husayn ibn Ali. The people of Kufa called upon ...

Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyya Muḥammad ibn ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib () also known as Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥanafīyya () (15 AH – 81 AH; AD 637 – 700) and surnamed Abū al-Qāsim. He was the third son of Ali ibn Abi Talib (the fourth rightly-guided caliph and the firs ...

and step brother

Politics

He was a staunch supporter of his uncle Ali in the

civil war A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

. He maintained a reputation for liberality and patronage in Medina, earning him the nickname “the Ocean of Generosity”. online re

/ref> After the demise of Ali ibn Abi Talib, Abd Allah ibn Ja'far together with his cousins Hasan ibn Ali, Hasan and

Husayn Hussein, Hussain, Hossein, Hossain, Huseyn, Husayn, Husein or Husain (; ar, حُسَيْن ), coming from the triconsonantal root Ḥ-S-i-N ( ar, ح س ی ن, link=no), is an Arabic name which is the diminutive of Hassan, meaning "good", "h ...

participated in washing the body and dressed him for burial in three robes without a Kurta (a long shirt). In addition to some spy reporting to Ali ibn Abi Talib that

Qays ibn Sa'd Qays ibn Sa'd ( ar, قيس بن سعد) was a prominent leader of the Muslim army. He was known for his defense in battles. He was one of the companions of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Qays was also one of the companions of Ali ibn Abi Talib.Ma ...

, his governor at Egypt had given allegiance to

Mu'awiya I Mu'awiya I ( ar, معاوية بن أبي سفيان, Muʿāwiya ibn Abī Sufyān; –April 680) was the founder and first caliph of the Umayyad Caliphate, ruling from 661 until his death. He became caliph less than thirty years after the deat ...

, he received his letter which was written in perspective of affairs emerged on account of a conspiracy caused by opponent of Ali. Ali called his sons and Abd Allah ibn Ja'far and consulted the matter. Upon advice of Abd Allah, Ali wrote a letter ordering Qays ibn Sa'd to seek the people to give their allegiance as the Muslims have done (after the 3rd Caliph). But, if they do not, then fight them. The governor of Egypt against this communication wrote a letter to Ali ibn Abi Talib. Then Abd Allah ibn Ja'far requested his father in law to replace Qays ibn Sa'd with Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr as governor of Egypt and pleaded that if he really has gone over to Mu'awiya, he will refuse to give up Egypt. However, according to Tabari it was a poor advice consequent to meeting of Qays ibn Sa'd with Ali during the period of killing of Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr. Once a Chief of Iraqi village asked Abd Allah ibn Ja'far to recommend his case before Caliph Ali for accomplishment. He did so and matter of that chief was satisfied by Ali ibn Abi Talib. As a gratification the chief sent 40,000 Dirhams through some people to Abd Allah, who refused the money saying that we do not sell our good deeds

His vision for Husayn

Knowing the death of his two sons in the

, people were offering condolences to Abd Allah, one of his Mawili (Abu al-Lislas companion said that “this is what we have met and what has come upon us through Husayn ibn Ali” on this statement he struck him with his sandal and told that I am pleased that my two sons killed with my brother and cousin. By God! If I had been present with him, I would have preferred not to leave him in order that I would be killed with him. He then seeking attention of people consoling him, said that “Praise be to God, Who has made life hard, console Husayn ibn Ali with my own hands, my two sons consoled him.

Letter to Husayn

Ibn Khaldun Ibn Khaldun (; ar, أبو زيد عبد الرحمن بن محمد بن خلدون الحضرمي, ; 27 May 1332 – 17 March 1406, 732-808 AH) was an Arab The Historical Muhammad', Irving M. Zeitlin, (Polity Press, 2007), p. 21; "It is, of ...

in chapter 2 volume II title “Yazid-I” from 60 to 64 AH, it is described that Abd Allah sent a letter through his sons

and

, to Husayn, requesting that “for God sake come back. It is my advice to you in anxiety that you would be killed and Ahl al-Bayt destroyed. As a result, earth’s light will come to an end, there would be no leader for Muslims. Please do not hurry in journey, I would be reaching there after this letter." Later he went to

Amr ibn Sa'id Abū Umayya ʿAmr ibn Saʿīd ibn al-ʿĀṣ al-Umawī ( ar, عمرو بن سعيد بن العاص بن أمية الأموي; died 689/90), better known as al-Ashdaq (), was a member of Banu Umayya, general and a contender for the caliphal throne ...

who was Yazid's governor of Mecca and asked him to write a letter to Husayn offering him a guarantee of harmless behavior assuring him kindness and open-handedness. "Show trust to him in your letter and request him to return." This letter was replied by Husayn too.

References

External links

*https://web.archive.org/web/20070319112108/http://www.jafariyanews.com/articles/2k5/13june_syedaZaynab.htm biography *https://web.archive.org/web/20110716082212/http://www.dartabligh.org/months/jamadilawwal/janabe_zainab%28a.s%29.html *https://web.archive.org/web/20091230032022/http://home.earthlink.net/~downloadquran/Maqtal_al-Husain.pdf (See Maqtal al-Husayn page 213). {{DEFAULTSORT:Abdullah Ibn Jafar Year of birth missing 680 deaths Banu Hashim Sahabah hadith narrators Burials at Jannat al-Baqī