Jabir ibn Abd-Allah

Jabir ibn Abdullah was a Sahaba of Muhammad. His full name was Jabir ibn Abdullah ibn Amr ibn Haram Al-Ansari (Arabic: جابر بن عبدالله بن عمرو بن حرام الأنصاري). Jabir was a renowned for being a companion of the Muhammad and Muhammad’s descendants, the Shi'a Imams.

Life

Early life

Jabir ibn Abdullah al-Ansari was born in Medina (then known Yathrub) 15 years before the Hijra. He belonged to a poor family of Yathrub. He was from the tribe of Khizraj. His mother was Naseeba binte Uqba ibn Uddi. His father was married to his paternal cousin.

Muhammad's era

Jabir ibn Abdullah Ansari is said to have accepted Islam when he was a young boy.

According to a Shia Hadith, It is narrated that Jabir was in the presence of Muhammad when he was told: “O Jabir, you will have a long life, and although you will go blind, but you will meet the 5th Imam in line of my descendants whose name will be my name, who will walk like me, and who will be the 5th Imam of the time. When you will meet him, give my salaams to him.” Things ended up the same exact way as prophesized by Muhammad.

His participation in the Battle of Badr is questioned by some historians; he is known to have fought in 19 battles (including Badr) under command of Muhammad, and was a trusted Sahaba. He was present during the conquest of Mecca.

Battle of Uhud

In the Battle of Uhud, Jabir ibn Abdullah was not allowed by his father Abdullah to take part in Jihad. Jabir had seven sisters (some historians say nine) and Abdullah wanted him to take care of his family. So instead of fighting, Jabir served the thirsty soldiers. Abdullah Ansari (Jabir’s father) was killed in the Battle of Uhud [Sahih Bukhari [http://www.sacred-texts.com/isl/bukhari/bh4/bh4_39.htm 4:40] ] along with his brother-in-law, Amro bin Jamooh, both having reached nearly 100 years of age.

Abu Bakr's era

According to a Shi'a tradition, Jabir refused to give his oath of allegiance to Abu Bakr, unless Ali did so [Peshawar Nights on [http://www.al-islam.org/ Al-islam.org] [http://www.al-islam.org/peshawar/7.2.html] ] .

Umar's era

Later on, he was threatened with stoning by Umar, if he was seen with a Nikah Mut'ah. Shi’a scholars believe this was the first time it was prohibited. Sunni scholars conclude Umar was merely enforcing Muhammad's earlier prohibition.

Ali's era

He fought in the battles of Basra, Siffin, and Nahrawan under the command of Ali ibn Abi Talib (the first Shi’ah Imam and the fourth Sunni Caliph).

Yazid's era

Due to old age Jabir was unable to participate in the Battle of Karbala (October 10, 680) wherein the grandson of Muhammad, Hussain ibn Ali was martyred. However, he did establish the practice of marking Arba'een.

He paid a visit to the grave of Imam Husain ibn Ali in Karbala, along with one of his companions, Attiya ibn Saad ibn Junadah (a scholar). Jabir ibn Abdullah recited a ziaraat there that is known as ziaraat-e- Arba'een.

Ali ibn Husayn's era

Jabir had a long life and became blind in his old age. But he devoutly waited for the time when he would meet the fifth Imam. Each morning he would come out from his house, sit by the roadside and wait for the sound of the footsteps to recognize the fifth Imam. One such day while he was waiting in the street of Medina, he heard someone walking towards him, the sound of footsteps reminded him of the way Muhammad used to walk. Jabir stood up, stopped the man and asked his name. He replied, “Muhammad”, Jabir asked, “whose son”? He replied “Ali ibn Hussain”. Jabir immediately recognized the man he was talking to was the 5th Imam. He kissed his hands and conveyed the message of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad.

Abd al-Malik's era and Jabir’s death

It was during this era that he retold the Hadith of Umar's speech of forbidding Mut'ah. Jabir had a very long life. He was poisoned by Al-Hajjaj bin Yousef Thaqfi in the age of 94 years because of his loyalty to Ahl al-Bayt and was buried in Madain near Baghdad at the bank of river Tigris. His died in 78 AH (697).

Legacy

In 1932, the then ruling King of Iraq, Shah Faisal dreamt that he was being addressed by Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman, who said "O King! Remove Jabir ibn Abdullah Ansari and me from the bank of river Tigris and bury us at some safe place because my grave is already filled with water while Jabir's grave is collecting water slowly. That year, a large number of Muslims and non-Muslims, along with the King, Grand Mufti, Prime Minister, and Prince Farooq of Egypt were there for the opening of graves of both trusted companions of Muhammad. Both of the bodies were said to be fresh and intact while their open eyes were said to issue forth such divine light that the spectators' eyes were dazzled.Fact|date=March 2007 Furthermore, their coffins, clothes, and kaffan were also intact and at first glance, it appeared as if they were alive. The two bodies were then taken away and buried afresh near the grave of Salman al-Farsi, in Salman Park, which is 30 miles from Baghdad.

He narrated about 1,500 Hadiths. After the death of Muhammad he used to deliver lectures in Masjid Nawabi, Medina, Egypt, and Damascus. Such leading Tabi'en scholars as Amr ibn Dinar, Mujahid, and Ata' ibn Abi Rabah attended his lectures. People gathered around him in Damascus and Egypt to learn about Muhammad and his Hadiths.

On February 26, 2006, the Shrine of Salman the Persian was attacked by insurgents and damaged in the violence following the bomb explosion at Al-Askari Mosque.

List of narrated hadith

*Hadith of Jesus praying behind Mahdi
*Hadiths related to Mut'ah and An-Nisa, 24.
*A narration regardin Contraception

See also

* Muhammad
* Ali ibn Abi Talib
* Hassan ibn Ali
* Hussain ibn Ali
*Ali ibn Hussain
* Muhammad ibn Ali
*Mut'ah

References