The First Migrants - Ja'far and Negus

[Muhammad]

Ja`far Bin Abi Talib

By SHAYKH `AA'ID ABDULLAH AL-QARNEE

Friday, September 03, 2004

Source

 

His Conversion to Islam:

His name is Ja`far bin Abi Talib bin `Abdul-Muttalib, known as "Abu Al-Masakin" due to his affection and kindness towards the poor. He is the cousin of the Prophet (peace be upon him).

He was among the earlier men who embraced Islam.

His Migration to Abyssinia:

When Ja`far and his wife Asma’ bint `Umais suffered torture a great deal at the hands of the polytheists of the Quraish, the Prophet (peace be upon him) permitted them to migrate to Abyssinia.

 

When the Quraish sent `Amr bin Al-`As, before his conversion to Islam, and `Abdullah bin Abi Rabi`ah to Al-Najashi (Negus) carrying presents to him to hand over the migrants whom he sheltered, the role of Ja`far was crucial in that situation.

 

When Al-Najashi asked the Muslim migrants about their religion, Ja`far took the floor and said: "We were some ignorant idol worshipers. We used to eat carrion flesh, commit abominable acts, sever the ties of kinship and violate the rights of neighbourhood. The weak were crushed by the strong.

 

We remained on that case until Allah sent us a Messenger whose lineage is known to us. He is famous for his truthfulness, honesty, and honour. He calls us to worship Allah alone and give up idol worshipping. He exhorts us to be truthful in speech, deliver the trusts, maintain the ties of kinship, observe the rights of neighbourhood, abstain from abominable acts and to bury the hatchet to spare our lives.

 

He forbids us to do misdeeds, false testimony, devouring the property of orphans and slandering chaste women. He ordered us to worship Allah and not to associate anything with Him in worship, to establish Prayer, pay Zakah and fast in Ramadan. We believed in him, followed his teachings and applied them in practical life.

 

The attitude of our people towards us was aggressive. They tortured us to force us to abandon our religion and return us to idol worship. When the matter reached a climax, we migrated to your land and preferred to be in your shelter, hoping that no one can direct harm to us."

 

Al-Najashi turned to Ja`far and asked: "Do you have anything of what has been revealed to your prophet?" He said: "Yes," and recited verses from the beginning of Surah Maryam (Mary). When Ja`far finished recitation, Al-Najashi wept until his beard was wet of tears and his patriarchs wept until their books were wet.

 

Afterwards, Al-Najashi said: "What is revealed to your prophet and that which was revealed to Jesus emanate from one and the same source." He turned to `Amr and his companions and said: "Go away! By God, I will never hand them over to you."

`Amr Tries to Change Al-Najashi’s Impression:

In an attempt to incite Al-Najashi against the Muslim migrants, `Amr demanded to be in his audience again to tell him something. When they met, `Amr said: "Those whom you have given protection and shelter talk improperly about Jesus.

 

You may ask them to be sure." When the Muslim migrants learned about that, they were greatly perturbed and wondered what they should say to Al-Najashi. However, they agreed to say what they believed in, no matter what would be the result. When they were summoned by Al-Najashi, he asked them about their belief in Jesus.

 

Ja`far replied: "Our belief in Jesus relies on what our prophet has told us about him." Al-Najashi asked: "What has he told you?" Ja`far replied: "He told us that Jesus is Allah’s servant and messenger and His Word which he bestowed on Mary and a spirit proceeding from Him.

 

" No sooner Al-Najashi listened to these words than he stroke the earth with his hands several times and said: "By God, the description of Jesus does not differ from what you have said, even with an atom." The patriarchs protested on this description, but Al-Najashi paid no attention to their protest.

Al-Najashi turned to the Muslim migrants and reassured them of their safety in his land. He returned the presents to `Amr and his companions.

 

In the seventh year of Hijrah, Ja`far and others Muslims with him left Abyssinia and went to Medina, following the conquest of Khaibar by the Prophet (peace be upon him). The Prophet was much pleased of Ja`far’s arrival.

His Death:

Ja`far (May Allah Be Pleased with Him) martyred at the Battle of Mu’tah, along with Zaid bin Harithah and `Abdullah bin Rawahah.