Jabir ibn Abdollah; The first pilgrim of Karbala

Jabir ibn Abdollah; The first pilgrim of Karbala: Jabir ibn Abdullah Ansari was born in Medina (then known Yathrub) 15 years before the hijrat, he belongs to a poor family of yathrub. He was from the tribe of Khizraj. His mother was Naseeba binte Uqba ibn Uddi ibn Sinan ibn Habi ibn Zaid ibne Ka”ab ibn Ghinam. His father had married with his paternal cousin.

Prophet Muhammad’s era

Jabir ibn Abdullah Ansari accepted Islam when he was a young boy. It is narrated that Jabir was in the presence of the Muhammad when the Prophet told him: “O Jabir, you will have a long life, and although you will go blind, but you will meet the 5th in line of my descendants whose name will be my name, who will walk like me and who will be the 5th Imam. His participation in badar is a controversy amongst historian otherwise he fought 19 Gazwat(including Badar) under command of Holy Prophet. He was a trusted companion of Holly Prophet. He was beside Holy Prophet during the conquest of Mecca.

Battle of Uhud

In Gazwa Uhud he was not allowed by his father Abdullah to take part in Jehad. Jabir has seven sisters (some historian has written nine) and Abdullah wanted him to take care of his family. So, Jabir was there to serve the thirsty soldiers. Abdullah Ansari (his father) was martyred in Uhad alongwith his brother-in-law Amro bin Jamooh, both were attaining the age nearabout 100 years.

Abu Bakr’s era

He refused to give his oath of allegiance to Abu Bakr, unless Ali did so. Hadhrat Jabir was very closed to Ali and he did not take oath of allegiance to Hadhrat Abu Bakr until Ali.

Umar’s era

Later on, he was threatened by stoning from Umar, if he was seen with a Nikah Mut”ah, Shia concluding that being the first time it was prohibited. Sunni conclude Umar was meerly enforcing Muhammads earlier prohibition.

Ali’s era

He had fought the battle of Jamal, Suffin and Nharwan under the command of Imam Ali bin Abi Talib.

Yazid’s era

Due to old age Jabir was unable to participate in the Battle of Karbala (10th October 680 CE) wherein the grandson of the Prophet, Hussein ibn Ali was martyred. However, he did establish the practice of marking arba”een. On 20 safar 61 AH, he had paid a visit to the grave of Imam Husain ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib in Karbala, alongwith one of his companion Attiya bin Saad bin Junadah – a scholar. Imam Hosein was the grandson of Holly Prophet. He had recite a ziarat there that is known ziarat-e-Arbaeen.

Ali ibn Hosein’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 5th 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 5th 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 the Prophet used to walk. Jabir stood up, stopped the man and asked his name. He replied, “Muhammad”, Jabir asked, whose son? he replied “Ali ibn Hussein”. Jabir immediately recognized the man he was talking to was the 5th Imam. He kissed his hands and conveyed the message from the Prophet.

Abd al-Malik’s era

Jabir had got a very longlife. He was poisioned by Hajjaj bin Yousef Thaqfi in the age of 94 years only because of his loyalty to Ahlulbayt and was burried in Madain near Bughdad at the bank of river Tigris. His death period is recorded 78 AH/697 CE

Legacy

In 1932 AD (1351 AH) the then ruling Kind of Iraq Shah Faisal dreamt that he was being addressed byu Hudhaifa Yamani, 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 getting water slowly. On 20th Zilhaj 1351 AH a large number of Muslims and non-Muslims crowd, alongwith King, Grand Mufti, Prime Minister and Prince Farooq of Egypt evidenced the opening of graves of both trusted companions of Holly Prophet. Both the holy bodies were fresh and intact while their open eyes issued forth such divine light that the spectator’s eyes were dazzled. Furthermore, their coffin, clothes, kaffan were also intact and at first glance, it appeared as if these were alive. The two bodies were then taken away and buried afresh near the grave of Salman-e-Farsi, in Salman Park which is 30 miles from Baghdad.

He had narrated about

1500 hadiths. After the death of Holy Prophet he used to deliever lectures in Masjid Nawabi, in Madina, 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 of the Holy Prophet and his Hadith.