Abu-Talib:The Greatest Guardian of Islam

In 570 A.D. the Abyssinian Armies under the leadership of Abraha attacked the Holy Mecca to demolish the Kaaba.
Abdul-Muttalib, our Master Muhammad's (S.A.W.)grandfather, the Master of Macca, went round the Kaaba praying for Allah, the Almighty, to prevent the invaders from demolishing the House which Ibraheem al-Khaleel(A.S.) and his son Ismael(A.S.) built for people to worship Allah only.
Allah, the Almighty, accepted Abdul-Muttallib's prayer. So, when the elephants and the soldiers advanced to demolish the Kaaba, Ababil birds carrying stones in their beaks appeared in the horizon. They began dropping the stones. So, the invaders around the Kaaba were defeated.
Consequently, Allah's power and Abdul-Muttallib's importance appeared! That year was named the Year of the Elephant.
Our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) was born in that year. Abu-Talib was thirty years of age.
Allah, the Almighty, has mentioned this event in the Holy Koran:*
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful)Have you not considered how your Lord dealt with the possessors of the elephant?Did he not cause their war to end in confusion*
And send down (to prey) upon them birds in flocks, casting them against stones of backed clay*
So, he rendered them like straw eaten up?*

Abdul-Muttalib
Abdul-Mutallib, who dug Zamzam well, had ten sons. Abdullah, the Prophet's father, was one of them. Abu-Talib, the Prophet's uncle, was one of them, too.
Our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.), was an orphan. His father Abdullah died while he was a baby. When his mother died, he was six years of age.
So, his grandfather Abdul-Muttallib took care of him. He liked him very much. He thought that Muhammad(S.A.W.) would be a Prophet.
Abdul-Muttallib was righteous. He followed Ibraheem's and Ismael'a religion. He advised his sons to follow good manners.
In the bed of death, Abdul-Muttallib said to his sons:
A grandson of mine will be a Prophet. So, he who will be present at his time must believe in him.
Then he turned to his son, Ali(A.S.), and whispered in his ear:
Mohammed(S.A.W.) will be of great importance. So, support his with your hand and tongue.

The Guardian
Our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) was 8 years of age when his grandfather Abdul-MutTalib died. So, his uncle, Abu-Talib took care of him.
Abu-Talib's name was Abdu-Munaf. His mother's name was Fatima bint Amr. She belonged to Bani-Makhzum. Abu-Talib was named Shaikh al-Bat-ha.
Our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) lived with his uncle. His uncle treated him kindly. Fatima bint Asad, his uncle's wife, treated him kindly, too. She preferred him to all of her sons. So, out Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) grew with a good family.
Abu-Talib's love for his nephew increased day by day because of his good manners and great politeness.
For example, when the food was ready, the Orphan Boy reached it politely. He said;
In the Name of Allah!
When he finished, he said:
Thank Allah!
One day, Abu-Talib missed his nephew Muhammad(S.A.W.). So, he raised his hand from the food and said:
Till my son comes!
When Muhammad(S.A.W.) came, Abu-Talib gave him a cup of yoghurt. Mohammed(S.A.W.) drank out of the cup. Abu-Talib's sons drank out of it one by one, too. They were all full. The uncle admired that. So, he said to his nephew:
Muhammad(S.A.W.) you're blessed!

The Good News
Abu-Talib had heard good news from the people of the Book (the Jews and the Christians). The good news was that a Prophet would appear very soon. So, he took care of his nephew very much. He thought that he would be a Prophet. So, he didn't leave him alone.
When Abu-Talib wanted to go on a trade journey to Shaam (Syria), he took out Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) with him. Muhammad(S.A.W.) was nine years of age then.
In Busra, a city situated on the road of the trade caravans, there was an abbey. A monk lived in the abbey. The monk's name was Buhaira. He was always looking forward to the appearance of a new Prophet whose time approached.
When the monk looked at Muhammad(S.A.W.), he realized that he would be the promised Prophet because he had the personality and expression of a Prophet.
The monk began looking at the Meccan boy's face very carefully. Meanwhile, the good news about Jesus Christ sounded in his mind. The monk asked Abu-Talib about the boy's name. So, Abu-Talib said:
His name's Muhammad(S.A.W.).
The monk became very humble at his holy name. So, he said to Abu-Talib:
Go back to Macca. Protect your nephew from the Jews because he'll be of great importance!
Abu-Talib came back to Macca. He adored Muhammad(S.A.W.) He was very careful of his safety.

The Blessed Boy
The years passed. Macca and its villages dried up because there was no rain.
The People came to Shaikh al-Batha. They asked him to pray to Allah for rain. They said:
Abu-Talib, the valley's become rainless. Our families are without food. So, come on and pray to Allah for rain.
Abu-Talib went out. He had great confidence in Allah. He took his nephew, Muhammad(S.A.W.) with him.
Abu-Talib and Muhammad(S.A.W.) stood beside the Kaaba. The boy's heart took a pity on the people. Abu-Talib asked Ibraheem's and Ismael's Lord to send down heavy rain. Muhammad(S.A..W.) looked at the sky.
Only a little time passed. The sky was full of clouds. Lighting flashed. Thunder sounded. The rain came down heavily.
The rain water flowed in the villages. The people came back pleased thanking Allah for the blessing of the rain. Abu-Talib also came back. His love for his nephew increased very much.
The years passed. Muhammad(S.A.W.) became a young man. He was extremely polite. So, people called him the Truthful(Sadiq), the Trusty One(Amin).

The Supporter of the Persecuted
Abu-Talib disliked persecution very much. In the meantime, he liked the persecuted a lot. So, our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) liked Abu-Talib very much.
One day, a battle place between the tribe of Kinana and the tribe of Qais. The tribe of Qais was the aggressor.
A man from the tribe of Kinana came to Abu-Talib and said:
Son of the bird feeder and pilgrim water-giver, don't be absent from us. We get victory in your presence.
Abu-Talib answered:I won't be absent from you when you avoid persecution, enmity, rudeness, and falsehood.
So, they promised him to do that.
Our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) stood by his uncle against Kinana.

The Alliance of Fodhool
Some people from Macca attacked the pilgrims of Allah's House.
A man and his daughter. belonged to the tribe of Kahthaam, came to visit Allah's House. A young man from Macca took the young girl by force.
The Khathaamian man shouted:
Help! Help! Help!
A passer-by said to him:
Go to the Alliance of Fodhool. It was an agreement signed by the Maccan leaders. According to the agreement they decided to help the persecuted and to punish the unjust.
When the Khathaamian man got there and asked them for help, some men took their swords and went to the young man's house. They threatened him and brought back the girl to her father.
Our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) was a member of the Alliance of Fodhool.

The Happy Marriage
Abu-Talib had a big family. He spent a lot of money on the poor. So, he became poor, too. Our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) felt that he had to help his uncle. So, he decided to take Khadijah(A.S.)'s goods to Shaam.
The task was successful. Our Master Muhammad (S.A.W..) gave the trusts to their owners. This made Khadijah(A.S.) think of him. So she asked him to marry her.
Abu-Talib was very pleased with that suggestion. So, he, a group of Bani-Hashim, and Hamza bin Abdul-Muttalib, our Master Muhammadd's uncle, went to ask Khadijah(A.S.)'s hands from her family. Abu-Talib said:
Praised be to Allah who has made us of Ibraheem's and Ismael's sons, made a protected house and a safe sanctuary for us, and made our country blessed.
Then he added:
My nephew Muhammad bin Abdullah is the best and greatest man of all the Quraish. Besides, he's better than money because money's perishable. He likes Khadijah(A.S.) and she likes him. By Allah, he'll be of great importance. Khadijah(A.S.)'s dowry is of my money.
Muhammad (S.A.W.) and Khadijah(A.S.) got married.
The years passed. Allah gave Abu-Talib a new baby. The baby's name was Ali(A.S.).
Our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) wanted to relieve his uncle's worries. So, he went to his uncle's house to take Ali(A.S.) to his house.

Jibreel
The years passed. Abu-Talib became seventy years of age. Our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) was forty years of age. Muhammad(S.A.W.) went to Harra Cave every day. In that year, Jibreel came down from the sky. Our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) heard him saying:
Read! Read in the name of your Lord Who created* He created man from a clot* read and your Lord is most Honorable, Who taught (to write) with the pen, taught man what he knew not*
Then Jibreel said:
Muhammad(S.A.W.), you're Allah's Messenger and I'm Jibreel.
Muhammad(S.A.W.) came back from Harra Cave holding the Mission of the Sky.
His wife, Khadijah(A.S.), believed in him. His cousin Ali bin Abu-Talib(A.S.) believed in him, too.
One day, while our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) was praying and Ali(A.S.) was behind him, Abu-Talib came and said kindly:
My nephew, what are you doing?
The Holy Prophet (S.A.,W.) said:
We're praying for Allah according to the religion of Islam.
Abu-Talib said happily:
There's no harm in what you're doing.
Then he said to his son Ali(A.S.):
Ali(A.S.), support your cousin. He does nothing but good.

In the Holy Prophet's House
After a while, Jibreel came down holding Allah's Order:
And warn your nearest relations, and be kind to him who follows you of the believers*
Allah's Messenger ordered Ali(A.S.) aged ten to invite his tribe, namely Bani Hashim. Abu-Talib, Abu-Lahab, and others came to the Holy Prophet's house.
When they all had the food, our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) said:
No Arab young man had brought his people like what l've brought you. I've brought you the good of here and of the hereafter.
Then, he asked them to believe in Islam. Abu-Lahab stood up and said with spite:
Muhammad's(S.A.W.) put a spell on you.
Abu-Talib said angrily:
Shut up! It's none of your business!
Abu-Talib turned to our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) and said:
Get up and say whatever you like. Spread Your Lord's Mission, for you're the Truthful, the Trusty one.
So, our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) got up and said:
My Lord's ordered me to ask you to believe in Him. So, Who support me with this matter? Who wants to be my brother, my regent, and my successor after me?
They kept silent.
So, Ali(A.S.) said eagerly:
Allah's Apostle, I.
The prophet rejoiced and embraced his young cousin while he was weeping.
Bani-Hashim stood up. Abu-Lahab was laughing and saying sarcastically to Abu-Talib:
Muhammad's ordered you to obey and hear your son.
But Abu-Talib did not pay attention to him. Rather, he looked angrily at him.
Abu-Talib kindly said to his nephew:
Go on what Allah's ordered you. By Allah, I'll support and protect you.
Our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) looked at his uncle respectfully. He felt strong as long as the Master of Macca was with him.

The Supporter
Although Abu-Talib was an old man, he strongly stood by Muhammad's Mission. He was always protecting him from the Quraishi polytheists.
A big number of the Maccans believed in Allah's religion paying no attention to the worship of the idols and to the threats of the Quraishi tyrants.
One day, the Quraishi leaders came to Abu-Talib though he was confined to bed. They said angrily:
Abu Talib!Prevent your nephew from us because he's weakened our thoughts and insulted our gods.
Abu-Talib became sad because his people did not want to listen to the sound of truth. So, he said to them:
Give me time to speak to him.
Abu-Talib told our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) the words of the Quraishi leaders.
The Prophet (S.A.W.) said respectfully:
Uncle! I Can't disobey my Lord's Order.
Abu-Jahl, the most spiteful man, said:
We'll give him whatever wants of our money
rather, we'll make him king over us if he wants.
The Holy Prophet(S.A.W.) said:
I want nothing but one word.
Abu-Jahl said:
What's the word?
We'll give you as ten times as it!
Our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) said:
Say there's no god but Allah.
So, Abu-Jahl was filled with anger:
Ask another word instead!
Allah's Apostle (S.A.W.) said:
If you brought me the sun and put it in my hand, I'd not ask a word instead.
Tension happened. The polytheists stood up. They were threatening our Muhammad (S.A.W.).
Abu-Talib said to our Master Muhammad(S.A.W.)
Save your soul .
The Holy Prophets' eyes shed tears when he answered:
Uncle, by Allah, if they put the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left hand to leave this matter, I'd not leave it till Allah supports it or I perish for it.
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) stood up rubbing his tears. So, Abu-Talib called him kindly and said:
Nephew, draw near.
Our master Muhammad (S.A.W.) drew near. His uncle kissed him and said:
Nephew, go and say whatever you like. By Allah, I'll never leave you alone.
Then, he began singing to confront the Quraishi might:
By Allah, they all won't reach you.
Till a pillow of dust will be put under my head.
And till I'll be buried.

The Light of Islam
Our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) went on preaching the new religion to bring out people from darkness into light.
Again the Quraishi tyrants came to Abu-Talib. They used another style:
Abu-Talib, this is Amarah bin al-Waleed (Khalid bin al-Waleed's brother). He's the strongest and the most handsome young man of all the Quraish. So, take him and give us Muhammad(S.A.W.) to kill.
Abu-Talib was sorry to hear that idea. He answered them angrily:
Do you give me your son to feed him for you, while I give you my son to kill him? Have you ever seen a she-camel take a pity on other than its young?
The polytheists' harm became intense. They began torturing them. Abu-Talib thought that their harm would include out Master Muhammad (S.A.W.). So, he sent for Bani Hashim. He asked them to protect and save the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.). They accepted bu Abu-Lahab refused.
Abu-Talib heard that Abu-Jahl and other polytheists tried to kill our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.).
So, he and his son Jafar went to the hills of Macca to look for him. They looked for him here and there.
Finally, they found him praying to Allah. In the meantime, Ali(A.S.) was praying on his righ hand. They were sad to see that there was no one with our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) but Ali(A.S.). Thus Abu-Talib wanted to encourage his nephew. He turned to his fon Jafar and said:
Complete your cousin's wing.
Namely, pray on his left hand to feel determination, strength, and confidence. Jafar stood with our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) and his brother Ali(A.S.) to pray to Allah, the Creator of the skies and the earth, the Lord of the worlds.
Again, Abu-Talib missed out Master Muhammad (S.A.W.). He waited for his return. But he did not come back. So, he went to look for him. He went to the place where our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) went frequently. But he did not find him.
So, Abu-Talib came back, gathered Bani Hashim together and said to them:
Each one of you must take a strong iron bar. Now follow me. When I enter the mosque, each one of you must sit beside a Quraishi leader. He must kill him if we knew that Muhammad(S.A.W.) had been killed.
The young men of Bani Hashim obeyed Abu-Talib. Each one of them sat beside a polytheist.
Abu-Talib sat waiting for our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.). Meanwhile Zaid bin Harith came and told him that the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) was safe.
Then, Abu-Talib announced his plan to punish those who tried to hurt the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.).
The polytheists were abase. Abu-Jahl kept silent. His face became yellow with fear.
Some of the polytheists urged their boys and slaves to hurt our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.).
One day, the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) was praying. A young man came and threw the wastes at him. The polytheists began laughing loudly. Our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) was very unhappy. So, he went to his uncle and told him about the young man's bad behaviour.
Abu-Talib became very angry. He took out his sword and came to the polytheists. He ordered his boy to throw the wastes at their faces.
They said:
Abu-Talib, that's enough!

The Ban
When the polytheists know that Abu-Talib would not leave our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) alone and that he was ready to die for him, they decided to announce an economic and social ban on Bani Hashim, At the same time, they cut off all relations with them.
In the month of Muharram, the seventh year after the Prophetic Mission, forty Quraishi leaders signed the ban and fixed it to the wall in the Kaaba.
The Quraish expected Abu-Talib to surrender. But Shaikh al-Batha had another attitude.
Abu-Talib took his tribe to a valley between two mountains, to protect our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) from assassination. He was always visiting the valley to close the openings where the enemies might pass through to kill our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) at night.
Abu-Talib, though old man, his brother Hamza, and some men of Bani-Hashim were always guarding the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) one by one at night. Abu-Talib was always moving the Holy Prophet's bed from one place to another to keep it a secret.
Days and months passed. The besieged were in perfect isolation. They suffered from the pains of hunger and deprivation. When the time of pilgrimage came, they got out to buy some food and clothes.
The richest Quraishi tyrants in Macca were always buying all kinds of food to prevent the besieged from buying it.
During that bitter period of time, Abu-Talib was as solid as the mountain. He was always standing by our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.). He was fearless, resolute believer.
Abu-Talib loved out Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) more than his sons. He was sometimes looking at him, weeping and saying:
When I look at him,I remember my brother Abdullah.
One night, Abu-Talib came and woke our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.). He said to his son Ali(A.S.) aged eighteen:
My son, sleep in his bed.
To know his father's loyalty to Muhammad(S.A.W.), Ali(A.S.) said:
But, I'll be killed.
His father said:
Be patient!
Eagerly Ali(A.S.) Said:
I'm not afraid of death. But I want you to know my support.
Abu-Talib patted Ali(A.S.)'s back. He took our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) to a safe place to sleep in.
When our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) went to bed, Abu-Talib went to bed, too.
Months after months passed. The patience and hunger of the besieged increased. They ate the leaves of the trees. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) took a pity on the hungry children.

The Good News
One day, our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) came to his uncle. He was filled with happiness. He said to him:
Uncle, my Lord ordered the white ant to eat the Ban Page. So, It's eaten it all but Allah's Name.
Abu-Talib said happily:
Has your Lord told you about that?
Muhammad (S.A.W.) answered:
Yes, Uncle.
Abu-Talib's heart was filled with belief. So, Abu-Talib stood up and went to Darul-Nadwa, at the Kaaba, where the Quraishi leaders sat.
Abu-Talib addressed the sitting persons:
Quraish!
They got up for the respectful, old man. They listened to his words. They expected his surrender and defeat because of the ban.
But Shaikh al-Batha said:
Quraish, my nephew Mohammed(S.A.W.) has told me that Allah ordered the white ant to eat your Ban Page. So, it's eaten it all but His Name. If he's right, them end the ban.
Abu-Jahl said:
And, if he was a liar?
Abu-Talib answered with confidence and belief:
I'll hand you my nephew.
The Quraishi leaders said:
Okay.
They opened the door of the Kaaba. They found that the white ant had eaten every thing but Allah's Name.
The besieged got out of Abu-Talib valley. Our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) and his companions began preaching Islam to the pilgrims of Allah's Holy House.

The Demise
Abu-Talib was over eighty years of age. He became very invalid. So, he was confined to bed. He thought about nothing but our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.). He knew that if he died, the Quraish would fear no one and they would kill his nephew.
The Quraishi leaders came to visit Shaikh al-Batha. They said:
Abu-Talib, you're our Shaikh and Master.
You're about to die. So, put an end to the enmity between your nephew and us.
Tell him to stop hurting us. We'll stop hurting him.
Tell him to leave us with our religion. We'll leave hims with his religion.
Abu-Talib looked at Abu-Jahl, Abu-Sufyan, and other Quraishi leaders. he said to them faintly:
If you hear Muhammad's words and obey his orders, you'll be happy. So, obey him and get happiness in here and hereafter.
The atheists and infidels stood up. Abu-Jahl said with spite:
Do you want us to make the gods one god?
Abu-Talib was sad at the Quraishi stand. He was very anxious about our Master Muhammad's safety. So, he invited Bani-Hashim and asked them to support our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) at any cost. They all obeyed him. Then Abu-Talib closed his eyes to die soundly.
Shaikh al-Batha kept silent. He became a motionless body.
His son Ali(A.S.) wept bitter tears. Sad cries spread all over Macca. The atheists rejoiced at his death.
Abu-Jahl angrily said:
It's time to get my revenge on Muhammad(S.A.W.).
Our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) came to say farewell. He kissed Abu-Talib's bright forehead and murmured sadly:
Uncle, may Allah have mercy on you.
You educated me when I was small, looked after me when I became an orphan, and supported me when I became a grown-up.
So, may Allah reward you a lot.
Then he burst into tears. He began recalling the days of his childhood with his kind uncle. He embraced his cousin Ali(A.S.). They began weeping together.

The Year of Sadness
Only a few weeks passed. Khadijah(A.S.), Muhammad's wife, died, too. So, our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) named that year the "Year of Sadness".
The Quraish increased their harm against Muhammad(S.A.W.) and those who believed in him.
One day, a foolish person threw some dust at him. His head was covered with dust. So, he went home.
While Fatima(A.S.), Muhammad's daughter, was washing his head, she began weeping. So, he patted her head and said:
Daughter, don't weep. Allah will save your father. He'll protect your father from the enemies of His religion and mission.
Jibreel came down from the sky holding Allah's Order. He said:
Muhammad(S.A.W.), go out of Macca. Your supporter has died.
When the Quraish plotted to kill our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.), Ali(A.S.), Abu-Talib's young son, came to sleep in his bed. He was ready to die for him.
Our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) went towards Yathrib (al-Madina al-Munawwarah). From there the light of Islam started to illuminate the world.
When the Muslims go to visit Allah's Holy House
every year, they remember the attitudes of Shaikh al-Batha Abu Talib when he was always defending Allah's religion.
* Muhammad(S.A.W.) is Allah's Apostle, and those with him are firm of heart against the unbelievers, compassionate among each other.*
Peace be on you O Abu Talib,"the Greatest Guardian of Islam".
Ja'far al-Tayyar

The Beginning
Abu Talib, Shaikh al-Batha, missed his nephew our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.). So, he went to look for him. He was not alone. His son Ja'far aged twenty was with him. Shaikh al-Batha and his son went to the hills near Makkah. They found him there.
Our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) was praying humbly. Ali, the young man of Islam, was praying on his right. They were not afraid of anyone but Allah. They were praying for Allah, the Creator of the skies and the earth, the Creator of creatures.
While they were praying, their number was a pitiful sight. Abu Talib turned to his son and said:
Join your cousin's wing
Namely, stand on his left hand, for Ali has stood on his right hand. The bird can't fly but with two wings. This means that Abu Talib, the Prophet's uncle, did not want our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) to stay with one wing. Since then, Ja'far's name has appeared in the bright history of Islam.
Ja'far bin Abu Talib was born about 25 years after the Year of the Elephant. He was 10 years older than his brother Ali. He was about 20 years younger than our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.). Ja'far bin Abu Talib looked like our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.).
He lived with his cousin al-Abbas. Abu Talib had a big family. Our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) wanted to relieve his worries. So, he took Ali to his house. Al-Abbas took Ja'far to his house.
The light of Islam illuminated the sky of Makkah. Our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) invited the bewildered to the New Light. He invited the defeated and the oppressed to the religion of salvation and freedom. He invited the drowning in the darkness of ignorance to the light of Islam.
But the Quraishi tyrants did not listen to the voice of Islam and the Call of the Sky. So, they began fighting our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) and those who believed in him. They wreaked their wrath upon the weak Muslims. They whipped Bilal al-Habashy, Summayya, Yasir, and other Muslims. They whipped them for no sin but because they said:
Our Lord is Allah.

The Immigration to Habasha (Ethiopia)
One night the Muslims met Allah's Apostle. He was sad to hear that the Muslims were suffering from torture So, he said to them:
There's a just King in Habasha. Immigrate to his country. Stay there till Allah drives away your worries.
The idea of immigration shone in the believers' hearts as the sun shone to fill the earth with light and warmth.
At midnight, a small group crept into the land of Habasha (Ethiopia), via the Red Sea. The Muslim immigrants stayed there.
In the meantime, the Quraish increased their torture against the Muslims who stayed in Makkah. So, they were in a fix.
At that critical time, our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) ordered his cousin Ja'far to lead a bigger group of Muslims to Habasha.
The number of the new group was over 80 Muslims. Ja'far began leading the immigrating caravan towards the coasts of the sea.
The sea was calm. The wind was gentle. The immigrants reached the coasts of the sea. Allah, the Almighty, wanted a ship to pass by them. The ship was going from Jeddah to Habasha. Ja'far asked her Captain to take them there. The Captain accepted.
The ship set out plowing the sea. The Muslims thanked Allah, who turned their fear into safety to worship Him only.
Ja'far himself was visiting the immigrants, especially the children. His wife Asmaa bint Umayys was visiting the women.
Days and nights passed. The ship anchored at the coasts of Habasha. The Muslims reached the land where our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) had ordered them to immigrate.
The Muslims were always praying to Allah freely. No one prevented them from that. During their prayers, they were always asking Allah to grant our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) and his Muslim brothers victory over the unjust Quraishi tyrants.
But the news that reached them was sorrowful. Yasir and Summayyah became martyrs under torture, They were in pain to hear about the torture that was happening to their brothers. But they firmly increased their belief.

In Makkah
Abu Jahal, who had a spite against our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.), was always planning to destroy Allah's religion. He wanted to put out the candle of Islam so that people would live in darkness and ignorance.
But Allah's religion spread as the scent of roses did. It made happiness enter hearts as spring did.
One day, the Quraishi leaders held a meeting in Darul Nadwa. They were thinking about a way to extinguish the light of Islam. Umayyah said:
I'll make Bilal a lesson for slaves so that they'll not think about entering Muhammad's religion.
Abu Jahal said:
We'll go on banning Bani Hashim till they die of hunger or they give us Muhammad to kill him.
Abu Sufyan said:
But what shall we do for those who escape from Makkah and go to Habasha?
Abu Jahal said: We'll bring them back.
How?
We'll send our friend al-Najashy lots of gifts. So, he'll accept our request.
Who will go?
We'll send a clever man to negotiate with al-Najashy.
After several weeks, they decided to send a delegation to bring back the runaway persons

In al-Najashy's Presence
In the morning, Amru bin al-Ass and Amarah bin al-Waleed headed for the sea holding gifts to al-Najashy, the King of Habasha.
The delegates crossed the sea with a ship. They reached the land of Habasha. They came to the King's palace.
Amru bin al-Ass said to the guards of the palace:
We're the Quraishi delegates holding gifts to the King.
Al-Najashy greeted the delegates and accepted the gifts of the Quraish. The priests received their gifts, too. The King asked them about the purpose of their visit.
The delegates said:
Some foolish persons have taken refuge in the land of Habasha. They've abandoned their fathers' and grandfathers' religion. They haven't accepted the King's religion. Rather; they've brought a new religion. Neither you nor we have known it. We, the Quraishi noblemen, have come to bring them back and to educate them.
The King of Habasha was just and wise man. So, he said:
How can I hand you the people who have chosen my country and asked me for help? But I'll ask them some questions. If their thoughts are corrupt; if they are deviated, I'd hand them to you. Otherwise, I'd leave them to live in my country.
Al-Najashy sent for the immigrants. They came. Ja'far bin Abu Talib was in advance. They came into the palace and stood in front of the King.
The Habashian people bowed when they met the King. So the Habashian and the delegates bowed to the King. The Muslims did not bow; their heads remained high raised.
Al-Najashy asked the Muslims:
Why don't you bow to me?
Ja'far answered:
We don't bow to anyone but Allah.
The King said: What do you mean
Ja'far answered
Your Majesty; the King, Allah has sent us an Apostle. The Apostle has ordered us not to bow to anyone but Allah. He has also ordered us to pray and to pay zakat.
Amru bin al-Ass said evilly:
They're breaking the King's religion!
Al-Najashy asked him to keep silent; and asked Ja'far to go on. Ja'far politely said:
Your Majesty, the King, we were ignorant people. We worshipped the idols. We ate dead animals. We did bad actions and abandoned our relatives. We mistreated our neighbors. The strong oppressed the weak. So Allah has sent us an Apostle. We know his ancestors and his truthfulness. We know that he is pure and trustworthy So, he has invited us to worship the Only Allah. He has ordered us to avoid what we and our fathers had worshipped. He has ordered us to be truthful and to give the trusts to their owners. He has ordered us to visit our relatives, to be good neighbors, to stop bad actions and shedding blood. He has prevented us from atrocities, falsehood taking the orphan's money and speaking evil of the married women. He has ordered us to worship Allah only and not to be polytheists. He has ordered us to pray, to give alms, and to fast.
Your majesty; the king, we've believed him and followed what he has brought from Allah. So, we've worshipped Allah only- we're not polytheists.
But our people have aggressed against us. They've tortured us. They've prevented us from our religion to worship the idols again.
After they had persecuted us, we came to your country. We've preferred you to others. We want to live in your country. Thus, your majesty, the king, we ask you to treat us justly.
Al-Najashy said politely:
Have you anything of what your Prophet has brought?
Ja'far politely said:
Yes.
Al-Najashy said:
Read me something.
Ja'far began reading some verses of the Chapter of Maryam:
And mention Maryam in the Book when she drew aside from her family to an eastern place. So, she took a veil (to screen herself) from them; then We sent to her Our Spirit, and there appeared to her a well-made man. She said: Surely I fly for refuge from you to the Beneficent God, if you are one guarding (against evil). He said: I am only a messenger of your Lord: That I will give you a pure boy. She said: When shall I have a boy and no mortal has yet touched me, nor have I been unchaste? He said: Even so; your lord says: It is easy to me: and that We may make him a sign to men and a mercy from us; and it is a matter which has been decreed. So, she conceived him; then withdrew herself with a remote place and the throes (of childbirth) compelled her to take herself to the trunk of a palm tree. She said: Oh, would that I had died before this, and had been a thing quite forgotten! Then (the child called out to her from beneath her): Grieve not, surely your lord has made a stream to flow beneath you. And shake towards you the trunk of the palm tree, it will drop on you fresh ripe dates. So, eat and drink and refresh the eye. Then if you see any mortal, say: Surely I have vowed a fast to the Beneficent God, so I shall not speak to any man today and she came to her people with him, carrying him (with her). They said: 0 Maryam! Surely you have done a strange thing. O Sister of Haroon! Your father was not a bad man, nor was your mother an unchaste woman.
Al-Najashy wept. His tears flowed on his cheeks. The priests and the monks wept humbly, too. Ja'far's voice was flowing humbly:
But she pointed to him. They said: How should we speak to one who was a child in the cradle? He said: Surely I am Allah's servant; he has given me the Book and made me a prophet, and has made me blessed wherever I may be, and he has enjoined on me prayer and poor-rate so long as I live and dutiful to my mother; and he has not made me insolent, unblessed and peace be on me on the day I was born, and on the day I die, and on the day I am raised to life .
Al-Najashy stood up for Allah's Words and said humbly:
Certainly this and what 'Isa had brought come out of one niche.
He turned to the Quraishi delegates and said angrily:
I won't hand them to you and I'll defend them.
Then he ordered his soldiers to dismiss the delegation and to return the gifts to them. He said:
They are bribes. I don't want to be bribed.
He turned to Ja'far and his Muslim group and said:
You're welcome; Your Prophet is welcome. I admit that he is the Apostle whom 'Isa bin Maryam had given good news about. Live wherever you like in my country.
Al-Najashy wanted to know something about the manners of Islam. He asked Ja'far:
How do you greet each other?
Our greeting is to say Assalamu Alaikum.

Another Plot
On the following day Amru bin al-Ass and Amarah decided to go to the King's Palace.
On their way, Amru bin al-Ass said to Amarah:
This time, I,ll get my revenge on Ja'far. I'll tell the kings that the Muslims have another idea about 'Isa.
Again the delegates came to al-Najashy and said:
Your majesty; the king, the Muslims say that 'Isa is a slave.
Al-Najashy kept silent for a while then he said to the guard:
Go to Ja'far to hear his point of view
Ja'far came and greeted the King and said:
Assalamu Alaikum.
The King asked him:
What's your point of view about 'Isa?
Ja'far answered calmly:
We say as Allah and His Apostle have said about him.
The King asked him:
What's your Prophet said?
Ja'far answered calmly:
He's Allah's slave, His Apostle, His Spirit, His Word that He has given to the chaste, virgin Maryam.
Al-Najashy kept silent for a while, then he drew a line on the ground with his stick. So, he said:
Go to your friends. You're safe in my country.
Again the delegates' plot came to nothing. The delegates hopelessly came back to Makkah. Since that meeting, the Muslims had been happy in the land of the just King.
Our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) and the Muslims rejoiced at Ja'far's victory and his stay in Habasha.

The Good Stay
Days, months, and years passed.
Ja'far and the Muslims heard news. When they heard good news, they became happy. When they heard bad news, they became sad.
They became happy when the ban the Quraish imposed on Banu Hashim was over.
They became sad when they heard about the death of Abu Talib, the protector of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) and Khadijah's death, our Master Muhammad's wife, who stood by him and spent her wealth for Islam.
The Muslims in Habasha heard about our Master Muhammad's migration to Madina and the establishment of the first Islamic State, where the flag of monotheism was hoisted. They were filled with happiness.
The news of the decisive Battle of Badr, and the victory of Islam over polytheism and idols arrived to them. They heard about the news of the Battle of Uhud. They were sad to hear about the Holy Prophet's wounds in the battle.
They were happy to hear the news of the Muslims' victories over the polytheists and the Jews. Their happiness was great when they heard about the Holy Prophet's letters to the Kings all over the world.
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) sent letters to Hercules, the Emperor of Rome, Kassra, the King of Iran, and al-Mokawkas, the Pharaoh of Egypt.

A Letter to al-Najashy
Amru bin Umayyah al-Dhimry our Master Muhammad's delegate, arrived in Habasha carrying the letter of the Holy Prophet of Islam.
The letter read:
From Muhammad, Allah's Apostle To al-Najashy the King of Habasha You are safe.
I thank Allah. There is no god but Him, the King, the Holy, the Peace, the Believer; the Almighty.
I bear witness that 'Isa is Allah's Spirit, and His word He has given to Maryam, the Virgin, the good, and the chaste. Allah created him with His power as He created Adam before.
I am inviting you to worship Allah only, to obey Him, to follow me, and to believe in what has come to me. I am Allah's Apostle. I am inviting you and your soldiers to worship Allah, the Almighty. I have told and advised you.
So, accept my advice. And peace upon him who follows guidance.
Ja'far accompanied our Master Muhammad's delegate on his going to al-Najashy's palace. First they greeted the King of Habasha. Then he received the Prophet's letter respectfully. Al-Najashy read the letter. He came down the throne and sat on the ground to show his humbleness and respect for Allah's Apostle, our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.).
Al-Najashy put the letter on his eye to show his great respect. Then he ordered his guards to get him an ivory box to put the letter in. He said:
Habasha will be prosperous as long as its people keeps this letter.
The Prophet's delegate gave the King another letter. The letter asked the King to allow the immigrants headed by Ja'far bin Abu Talib to come back to their country.
The Muslims were very happy to hear about their repatriation to their homeland. In the meantime, they thanked al-Najashy for his good hospitality.
Al-Najashy ordered his guards to prepare some ships to bring back the immigrants to the land of al-Hejaz. He sent his representative with them.
The representative was carrying gifts and a letter of greetings to our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.).
The sails of the ships were raised to start journey, the Muslims set off. They rejoiced at Allah's victory.

The Conquest of Khaibar
In al-Madina al-Munawwara, the army of Islam was getting ready to advance towards the strongholds of the Jewish Khaibar.
The Jews of Khaibar were always plotting to put out the light of Islam. They were always encouraging the Arab tribes to invade Madina to destroy the new Muslim State.
So, our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) decided to uproot the danger of the Jews so that people would live in peace.
The Muslim forces reached the road that joined the tribes of Ghatfan and the strongholds of Khaibar to surprise the enemy there.
The number of the Muslim Army amounted to one thousand and four-hundred fighters. Two hundred horse riders were with them. The Muslim women took part in the battle, too.
The Muslims advanced towards the strongholds. At dawn, they surprised the Jews and besieged them completely.
Some Companions launched strong attacks against the Jews. But they were in vain because the Jews faced them with a lot of arrows. The Jews were sneering at our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) and his soldiers.
So, the Prophet (S.A.W.) said:
Tomorrow; I'll give the banner to a man. The man loves Allah and his Apostle; Allah and His Apostle love him.
In the morning, some companions wished that the banner would be for them. But our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) asked Ali, Ja'far's brother.
Ali shook the banner strongly and advanced towards the strongholds of the Jews. When Ali killed Marhab, the hero of the Jews, they felt fear. Quickly, the Muslims occupied the strongholds of Khaibar, one by one.
Our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) and the Muslims were filled with happiness. So, they thanked Allah for the victory over their enemies.
In the meantime, the immigrants of Habasha headed by Ja'far bin Abu Talib arrived. Our Master Muhammad's happiness doubled. So, he said with a bright smile on his face:
I don't know which event is more cheerful - Ja'far's coming or the Conquest of Khaibar!
Our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) embraced his cousin Ja'far and kissed his forehead and said:
Certainly Ja'far and his friends have two immigrations - an immigration to Habasha and an immigration to al-Madina al-Munawwara.

The Battle of Mautah
Our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) had sent a messenger to the ruler of Busra, a town in Sham. But the messenger was captured and executed in the land of Mautah. This action was against the humanitarian morals.
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) felt sadness. So, he ordered the Muslims to get ready to make an attack to punish the killers.
In the month of Jamadil-Ula, the second year after the blessed immigration, three thousand fighters went to take part in the battle. The Prophet's advice was lightening their way:
I advise you to fear Allah. Invade in the Name of Allah. So, fight Allah's enemy and your enemy. You'll find lonely men in the cells. So, don't fight them. Don't kill a woman or a child. Don't cut down a tree. Don't demolish a building.
Our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) appointed Zaid bin Haritha leader to the Muslim Army. The Holy Prophet said:
If Zaid was martyred, the leader would be Ja'far bin Abu Talib. If Ja'far was martyred, the leader would be Abdulah bin Rawaha.
The news of the Muslims' attack reached the Romans. So, they established an army. The army was composed of the Romans and the allied Arab tribes. The number of their forces was two hundred thousand soldiers. The armies gathered at the land of al-Balqaa.
The first clash took place between the two armies at the Village of Masharif near al-Balqaa. The mastery of the Romans appeared in the battle because they had a big army. Hercules, the Emperor of Rome, gave the general leadership to his brother Tyodor.
The Muslim Army, though few in number, chose the land of Mautah to be the theater for the war operations because the elevations of the land were suitable for the Muslims to protect themselves against the Roman Colossal Army.
Zaid bin Haritha got ready for the start of the battle. He strongly shook the banner of the Muslim Army and rushed towards the core of the enemy. His rushing made the Muslim forces start the battle with enthusiasm.
Strong fights took place. Spears tore Zaid's body. So, he fell on to the ground dyeing it red.
Before the banner dropped from Zaid's hand, Ja'far bin Abu Talib had rushed and caught it strongly. He began fighting severely. His voice became loud in the middle of the noise of the fights. He announced the good news about victory or martyrdom which each believer hoped.
Ja'far bin Abu Talib jumped off his horse to show his insistence on fighting. He was the first to do that in the history of Islam. He was like the mountain. He was facing the enemies hits. His firmness astonished them.
So, the enemies intensified their attacks against him. A sword hit his right hand. So, it flew in the wind.
Ja'far took the banner of Islam with his left hand and began fighting. Another sword hit his hand and cut it off. Ja'far pressed the banner to his bosom with his upper arm so that the fight would go on.
During those terrible moments, Ja'far was hit again. He fell over the ground and became a martyr.
Abdullah bin Rawaha, the third leader, rushed towards the banner to wave again in the sky of the battle.
The new leader fought bravely to stop the attacks of the Romans who were moving like waves.
Abdullah fell over the ground and became a martyr. So, Thabit bin al-Arqam took the banner and asked the Muslims to elect a new leader.
The Muslims elected Khalid bin al-Waleed.
Very quickly, the new leader decided to withdraw his forces. So, he did some tactic operations to cheat the enemy.
When it got dark, the Muslim Army withdrew with peace and disappeared in the core of the desert.
In the morning, the Romans were surprised to hear about the Muslims' withdrawal. They were afraid to go further into the desert.
At the same time, the brave Muslims, though few in number, dismayed them.
So, the Romans preferred coming back to stay.

In Madina
Jibreel came down from the sky to tell our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) about the news of the battle. So, Allah's Apostle went up the pulpit and addressed the Muslims:
Zaid took the banner. He fought till he was killed and became a martyr. Then Ja'far took it and fought till he was killed and became a martyr. Then Abdullah took it and fought till he was killed and became a martyr.
Finally, our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) began condoling Asmaa, the great Martyr's wife.
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) came into Ja'far's house. He found his children sitting. His wife had just finished doing her hair.
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) kissed Ja'far's children and held them on his lap. He shed tears. Asmaa felt that something had happened to her husband. So, she asked the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.):
Allah's Apostle, have you heard anything about Ja'far and his companions?
Yes, they've been martyred!
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) left the house. He asked his daughter Fatima al-Zahra(A.S.) to fix some food for them, for a disaster had befallen them.

The Owner of the two wings
When the soldiers of Islam came back to their homeland, they began telling their families about Ja'far's heroic actions and those who were martyred.
One of them said:
We've seen 90 wounds in Ja'far's body.
Another said:
I've seen him when his right hand had been cut off.
The third said:
I've seen him when his left hand had been cut off. He had fallen over the ground and his wounds bled.
Our Master Muhammad (S.A.W.) said:
Jibreel has told me that Allah has granted Ja'far two wings to fly with in the Paradise.
That night, Ja'far's children lay on their beds. They were looking at the sky full of stars. In the meantime, they imagined that their father was flying with his wings like angels.
Ref: Imam Reza Network