Jabir ibn Abdullah
He is Jabir ibn Abdullah ibn Amr ibn Haram ibn Thalabah ibn Haram ibn Ka'b ibn Ghanm ibn Ka'b ibn Salama Al-Ansari Al-Salami from the Banu Salama tribe. His nickname is Abu Abdullah, though there are some disagreements about his nickname; some say it is Abu Muhammad or Abu Abdul Rahman.
His mother is Naseebah bint Uqbah ibn Adi Al-Ansariyah, and his father is Abdullah ibn Amr ibn Haram, the companion who was martyred in the Battle of Uhud. Jabir ibn Abdullah was known for his good character, generosity, loss of eyesight, and preservation of the Sunnah.
The Islam of Jabir ibn Abdullah
Jabir ibn Abdullah converted to Islam early on. He received much affection and kindness from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who often inquired about his well-being and guided him towards goodness. Jabir ibn Abdullah was among the six who witnessed the pledge at Aqabah when the Prophet met a group of Ansar from the Khazraj tribe at Aqabah. These six were Abu Umamah As'ad ibn Zurara ibn Adas, Awf ibn al-Harith ibn Rifa'ah (also known as Ibn Afra), Rafi' ibn Malik ibn al-Ajlān, Qutbah ibn Amir ibn Hadidah, Uqbah ibn Amir ibn Naby, and Jabir ibn Abdullah. The Prophet invited them to Islam, and they accepted, returning to Medina to start spreading Islam until it became widespread.
Jabir ibn Abdullah was known for his eagerness to participate in jihad. He wanted to participate in the Battle of Badr and Uhud, but his father prevented him, leaving him to care for his six siblings. When his father was martyred in the Battle of Uhud, Jabir hastened to join the fight, participating in twenty-one battles, including the Battle of the Trench and the Pledge of Ridwan.
Jabir's hadith collection amounts to one thousand five hundred and forty hadiths. Of these, fifty-eight are agreed upon by both al-Bukhari and Muslims. Al-Bukhari included twenty-six hadiths unique to Jabir, while Muslims included one hundred and twenty-six unique hadiths.
The Marriage of Jabir ibn Abdullah
Jabir got married in the third year of Hijrah to his cousin, Suhaim bint Mas'ud ibn Aws ibn Malik ibn Suwad ibn Dhu'afa, before the Battle of Al-Khandaq (the Trench). From this marriage, he had five sons: Abdul-Rahman, Muhammad, Mahmoud, Abdullah, and Aqeel.
The Story of Jabir ibn Abdullah during the Battle of the Trench
This story is mentioned in the Sahihs of Bukhari and Muslims, and it narrates several miracles of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Jabir ibn Abdullah recounted this story in great detail, describing what happened to him, the Prophet, and his companions while digging the trench.
Jabir described how they suffered from extreme exhaustion and hunger while working hard. They were so hungry that they tied stones to their stomachs to suppress their hunger. Three days passed without them eating anything.
While digging the trench, they encountered an extremely hard rock that broke their tools and prevented them from moving. They complained to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) about it. Despite being extremely hungry, the Prophet went to the rock, took a pickaxe, and struck it. Miraculously, the rock turned into soft sand. This was one of the Prophet's miracles.
Seeing the Prophet's condition and his suffering from hunger deeply affected Jabir. He sought permission from the Prophet to return home. The Prophet allowed him, and Jabir informed his wife about the Prophet's condition and asked her what food they had. His wife found a handful of barley and a small sheep. She ground the barley into flour, slaughtered the sheep, and cooked it.
Jabir then returned to the Prophet along with his companions and invited him secretly to his house for food. He informed the Prophet about their situation and their small amount of food. Jabir minimized the amount of food by saying, "Invite (others) with us." When the Prophet asked about the quantity, Jabir informed him that it was enough for only one or two men from his companions. However, the Prophet perceived it as plentiful.
The Prophet asked Jabir to instruct his wife not to remove the pot from the fire or bake the bread until he arrived. Then the Prophet invited all the trench residents, including the Muhajirun and the Ansar, to Jabir's house. Jabir hurried home to inform his wife, who was shocked and worried about the embarrassment since she knew the food was only enough for a few people.
When the Prophet entered, he ordered his companions to enter without crowding. He started breaking the bread, placing meat on it, and covering the pot when he took from it. He then served the food to his companions until they were all satisfied. After everyone had eaten, there was still food left.
The Prophet instructed Jabir and his wife to eat and share the remaining food with their neighbors. This was another miracle of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
The Life of Jabir ibn Abdullah After the Death of the Prophet
After the death of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Jabir ibn Abdullah participated in the Islamic conquest of the Levant, joining Khalid ibn al-Walid's army during the siege of Damascus. He also took part in the Battle of Siffin alongside Ali ibn Abi Talib. Subsequently, Jabir dedicated himself to teaching people about religious matters and the hadith. He was one of the most prolific narrators of the Prophet's traditions.
Jabir had a designated corner in the mosque where people would gather around him to seek his guidance and fatwas (legal opinions). He served as the Mufti of Medina during that time, providing religious verdicts and teachings to the community.
The Death of Jabir ibn Abdullah
Jabir ibn Abdullah passed away in Medina in 74 AH at the age of 94. By the time of his death, he had lost his eyesight. Aban ibn Uthman led his funeral prayer.
