The praise of Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah radiya Llahu ‘anhu

The praise of Jabir which shows his great love for the Ahlul Bayt has been narrated by Ibn Abi Shaybah with his chain of narration to ‘Atiyyah ibn Sa’d. He says:

دخلنا على جابر بن عبد الله وقد سقط حاجباه على عينيه فقلت: أخبرنا عن علي بن أبي طالب قال: فرفع حاجبه بيده ثم قال: ذاك من خير البشر

We went to Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah radiya Llahu ‘anhu and his eyebrows had grown so long that it reached his eyes. I asked him, “Tell us something about ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib radiya Llahu ‘anhu.” He lifted his eyebrows off his eyes and said, “He was from amongst the best of people.”^{^[1]}

His praise for Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhu has also been recorded. Once, when Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhu entered the masjid, he said:

من أحب أن ينظر إلى سيد شباب أهل الجنة فلينظر إلى هذا

Any person who wishes to see the leader of the youth of Jannat should look at this youngster.^{^[2]}

He then attributed this statement to the Rasul of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

In the book Tabaqat al Kubra of Ibn Sa’d it has been mentioned that when Ibn ‘Abbas radiya Llahu ‘anhuma passed away, Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah radiya Llahu ‘anhu said:

مات اليوم اعلم الناس واحلم الناس ولقد اصيبت به هذه الامة مصيبة لا ترتق

Today, the most knowledgeable and tolerant of people has passed away. His passing away is such a calamity for the Muslim Ummah which cannot heal.^{^[3]}

It is narrated in Sahih Muslim from Jafar ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Ali ibn Hussain from his father that he said:

دخلنا على جابر بن عبد الله رضي الله عنهما ، فسأل عن القوم حتى انتهى إلي، فقلت: أنا محمد بن علي بن حسين، فأهوى بيده إلى رأسي فنزع زري الأعلى، ثم نزع زري الأسفل، ثم وضع كفه بين ثديي وأنا يومئذ غلام شاب، فقال: مرحبا بك، يا ابن أخي، سل عما شئت…..

We went to Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah radiya Llahu ‘anhuma. He asked us to introduce ourselves. When it was my turn I said, “I am Muhammad ibn ‘Ali ibn Hussain.” He moved his hand towards my head. He undone my top button and thereafter he undone my bottom button. Thereafter he put his palm onto my chest and I was young boy at that time. He said, “Welcome, O my beloved nephew, ask me whatever you wish.”^{^[4]}

NEXT⇒ The praise of Umm al Mu’minin Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha

[1] Musannaf ibn Abi Shaybah, # 32120 printed by Maktabah al Rushd – Riyad – 1409

[2] Siyar A’lam al Nubala’, vol. 3 pg. 282; Abu Ya’la #1874. The researcher, Hussain Salim Asad, said, “All the narrators of this chain are sound.”

[3] Tabaqat, vol. 2 pg. 372

[4] Sahih al Muslim, # 1218, Chapter regarding the proof of the Rasul of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam

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