Ja'far Ibn Abi Taalib
He was patient, compassionate, pious, modest, and so devote. He was said to resemble the Prophet (SAWS) in his looks and conduct. He was fearless, generous, and pure; His chastity, honesty, and trustworthiness were well noticed.
He embraced Islam and was raised to a high station among the early believers. On the same day, his wife, Asmaa' Bint Umais, submitted herself to Islam. They were both abused and oppressed; but they stood with courage and joy. When the Prophet (SAWS) advised his Companions to emigrate to Abyssinia, Ja'far and his wife were amongst those who acted upon his advice. They had three children: Muhammad, Abd Allah, and Awf.
Ja'far had a noble heart, alert mind, beautiful spirit, and fluent speech. Ja'far was among those who were sent to An-Najaashii, the emperor of Abyssinia. When An-Najaashii addressed the Muslims saying, : "What is that religion that made you abandon your people's religion and refuse to embrace our religion?" Ja'far stood to perform the task for which he had been chosen. Ja'far stood up slowly and gracefully, looked with appreciation at the kind and said, "O your Majesty, we used to be a people of ignorance. We worshipped idols, ate dead animals, committed great sin, severed family relations, and acted according to the law of the jungle. We used to believe that survival was only for the fittest until Allah sent from among us a Prophet (SAWS) who was known for his noble descent, honesty, trustworthiness, and chastity. He invited us to worship Allah alone and abstain from worshipping stones and idols. He ordered us to speak nothing but the truth and to render back our trusts to those whom they are due. Moreover, he ordered us to keep ties of kinship intact, be good to our neighbors, and abstain from what is forbidden.. He also ordered us not to commit evil, nor to say false statements, nor to eat up the property or orphans nor to accuse chaste women of wrong-doing without proof or witness. Hence, we believed in him and in Allah's message to him. We worshipped Allah alone. We rejected that which we use to associate with Him as His partners. We allowed as lawful what is halaal and prohibited unlawful what is haraam. Consequently, we were harassed and abused by our people, who tried to turn us away from what Allah had sent down to the Prophet (SAWS0 so that we may return to idol worshipping and the evil and unlawful deeds we used to do. We were oppressed, abused and straitened in a way that prevented us from the proper worship of Allah. They even tried to force us to turn apostate. Therefore, we fled to your country and asked for asylum to escape oppression and tyranny."
When Ja'far finished his glorious words which were as clear as daylight, An-Najaashi was moved. He addressed Ja'far saying, "Do you have a scroll which you have written the words of your Prophet?" Ja'far replied, "Yes". An-Najaashi told him to read it aloud. Ja'far recited some verses from Surat Maryam in a slow, sweet, subdued, and captivating voice that made An-Najaashii and his bishops cry. When he wiped his tears he swiftly said to the Quraish delegates, "These words, of what had descended on 'Isa [Jesus] come from the very same source as that of 'Isa. You are free men in a free land. By Allah, I will never surrender you to them." A day later, someone went to the king and said "Your Majesty, those Muslims utter an awful saying against 'Isa [Jesus]." The Muslims were once again asked to meet the king to clarify this religious standpoint. When the Muslims arrived and were questioned, Ja'far stood up and said "We say what has descended on our Prophet (SAWS): he is Allah's slave, Messenger, His word which He bestowed, and a spirit created by Him." An-Najaashii said that these were the same words that been said by Isa to describe himself. Again, he let them go free.
The Muslims headed by Ja'far went on with their secure life in Abyssinia. They settled in the 'most hospitable land of the most hospitable people' until Allah gave them permission to return to their Prophet (SAWS), who was celebrating with the Muslims the onquest of Khaibar when Ja'far and the rest of the emigrants to Abyssinia arrived. The Prophet's (SAWS) heart was filled with joy. He hugged Ja'far (RA) and said "I I do not know which makes me happier, Khaibar's conquest or Ja'far's arrival" The Prophet and his companions traveled to Mekkah to perform the 'Umrah to make up for the missed 'Umrah. Then they returned to Al-Madinah. Ja'far was overjoyed with the news he heard concerning the heroism and valor of his believing brothers who had fought side by side with the Prophet (SAWS) in the battles of Badr, Uhud and others. His eyes filled with tears over the Companions who had been true to their covenant with Allah (SWT) and had fulfilled their obligations as obedient martyrs. Ja'far craved Paradise more than anything in the world. He awaited impatiently the glorious moment in which he would win martyrdom.
Now was the time of the Battle of Mu'tah. Ja'far realized that this battle was his lifetime chance to either achieve a glorious victory or win martyrdom in the way of Allah. He pleaded with the Prophet (SAWS) to let him fight in this battle. Ja'far knew beyond doubt that this battle was not going to be easy, but very crucial. It was against the armies of a vast and powerful empire that excelled the Muslims in numbers, equipment, expertise, and finance. He yearned to have a role in it.
Thus, he was that second of the three commanders. the two armies met. Ja'far was not gripped by terror when he saw the 200,000 warriors. Instead, he was gripped by overflowing exaltation, for he felt urged by the pride of the noble believer and the self-confidence of the hero to fight with his equals.
Note: We should take a beautiful example from this man. He put so much trust in Allah (SWT). He only feared Allah (SWT), and feared nothing else in this world. He knew very well that this life was meaningless. He knew very well of his ultimate purpose in life. As the hundreds of thousands of men approached his small army, he was not scared, but had pride. He knew his army was the strongest, he knew that with his small army, was the Help and Glory of the Creator, Allah (SWT).
Ja'far darted and picked up and broke though the line of the enemies with fearlessness; the fearlessness of a man who was craving martyrdom. He fought bravely as the Romans surrounded him. Confounded by his fearlessness, they closed in upon him in a way that left him no escape. Instantly, they struck with their swords and cut off his right hand. Swiftly he caught the standard with his left hand before it reached the ground. When they struck off his left hand, he caught the standard with his upper arms. At the moment, the only thing that really mattered to him was not to let the standard of the Prophet (SAWS) touch the ground as long as he was alive. Although his pure body struck down, his upper arm still hugged the standard. The sounds of its fluttering seemd to have summoned. Abd Allah Ibn Rawaahah darted swiftly and gripped it.
Ja'far died an honorable death. He met Allah , the Most Great, the Most High, enveloped in self-sacrifice and heroism.
When Allah the All-Knower, the All-Aware, inspired His Prophet (SAWS) with the outcome of the battle and Ja'far's martyrdom, his tears flowed as he placed his spirit in Allah's hands. Then he went to his late cousin's house and called his children. He hugged and kissed them while his tears flowed. Then he went back to his meeting surrounded by the Companions. Hassan Ibn Thaabit, a poet, lamented the death of Ja'far and his Companions by saying:
At daybreak a man of blessed nature and graceful face
Commanded the believers to death
His face was as bright as the moon
He was a proud man who descended from Al Haashim
He was a valiant man who rushed to help the oppressed.
He fought until he was martyred.\
And his reward was Paradise where there are lush green gardens.
Ja'far was loyal and obedient to Muhammad.
If Islam lost one of Al-Haashim,
There are still honorable and pious men of them
Who are the support and pride of Islam.
At the end, all the poor wept bitterly over the loss of Ja'far (RA). Ja'far was the 'father of the poor'. Abu Huraira said , "The mot generous man towards the poor was Ja'far Ibn Abi Taalib." Abd'Allah Ibn Umar said, "I was with Ja'far in the Battle of Mu'tah and we looked around for him. We found that the enemy had sprayed his body with more than ninety stabs and strikes."
The Prophet (SAWS) said about him: I have seen him in Paradise. His head and wings-upper arms-were covered with blood!"