Islamic Landmarks
This is the tomb of Jafar-bin-Abi Talib (رضي الله عنه), the second amir appointed by the Prophet (ﷺ) to lead the Muslim army in the battle of Mu’ta.
- Jafar (رضي الله عنه) was the paternal cousin of the Prophet (ﷺ) and the older brother of Ali (رضي الله عنه).
- He had a special love for the poor and often mingled and associated with them.
- He was amongst the first of the companions to emigrate to Abyssinia (Ethiopia) during the persecution of the Quraysh. He was the spokesman of the Muslims who successfully defended the emigrants in the court of the King Negus against the Quraysh who had come to force them back to Makkah.
- He returned to Madinah at the occasion of Khaybar. The Prophet (ﷺ) came out to welcome him and kissed him on his forehead and mentioned, “I am not sure whether I am happier with the arrival of Ja’far or with the conquest of Khaybar.” This took place in 7 AH, one year before the battle of Mu’ta.
- When Zaid (رضي الله عنه) had been killed, the flag of the Muslims was taken by Jafar (رضي الله عنه). He intentionally disabled his horse to dispel any idea of returning home from the battlefield. With flag in one hand and sword in the other, he jumped into the enemy lines. The enemy cut his right hand, which held the flag. He at once transferred it to his left. When that was cut off, he held the flag in his teeth and supported it with his bleeding arms. His body was cut into two by somebody from behind and he fell dead, he was around 33 at the time.
- On hearing the news of his death, the Prophet (ﷺ) went to his house to condole with his family. Asma bint-e-Umais (رضي الله عنها), the wife of Jafar (رضي الله عنه) mentions that she was at home bathing and changing her children when the Prophet (ﷺ) entered and hugged the children. She saw tears streaming down his mubarak eyes and asked him, “O Prophet of Allah, may my parents be sacrificed for you, why are you crying like this? Has information regarding Jafar and his companions reached you?” The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, “Yes, today Jafar has been martyred.” Asma (رضي الله عنها) says, “When I heard this I shrieked and all the women began gathering at my home to console me” The Prophet (رضي الله عنها) then left the house, went home and instructed his family to prepare food for the household of Jafar (رضي الله عنه).
- It was on this occasion, the Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned, “In Jannah, Allah Ta’ala has given Jafar wings in place of his hands with which he flies around as he wishes and where he wishes”. It is for this reason that he became famously known as Jafar ‘al-Tayaar’ (One who flies).
References: Fazail-e-Aamal – Sheikh Zakariyya Kandhalvi, In the Blessed Lands: Jamiatul Ulama KZN
Note that this entry has been shown for information purposes only. On no account should anybody pray to a grave or seek supplication through them as this is tantamount to committing shirk, associating partners with Allah (ﷻ)
