81. Thuwayr bin Abi Fa`khta
Al-Naja`shi said: "Thuwayr bin Abi Fa`khta was called Abu` al-Jahm al-Ku`fi. The real name of Abi Fa`khta was Sa'id b. 'Illa`qa. He reported on the authority of his father. He was the retainer of Umm Ha`ni, daughter of Abu` Ta`lib.Shaykh al-Tu`si numbered him as one of the companions of Ima`m 'Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on him, and of Ima`m Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him.
Thuwayr reported the following: "I went out to perform the pilgrimage (to Mecca). 'Amru` b. Dharr al-Qadi (the judge), b. Qays al-Ma`sir, al-Salt b. Bahra`m accompanied me. They said that they wrote four thousand problems to ask Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on them. That made me sad. When we entered Medina, we separated. I went to Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him and said to him:
'May I be ransom for you, b. Dharr, b. Qays al-Ma`sir, and al-Salt accompanied me. I heard them say: 'We have written four thousand problems. We will ask Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir) about them.' I became sad. So, Abu` Ja'far said: 'What made you sad? When they come to me, let them enter.' On the following day, a retainer of Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, came in and said:
'May I be ransom for you, b. Dharr a long with a group of people are at the door.' So, Abu` Ja'far said to me: ' Abu` Ja'far said to me: 'Thuwayr, go and ask them to come.' So, I went and asked them to come. When they entered, they greeted the Ima`m and sat down. They were silent for a long time. So, Abu` Ja'far spoke first to them. Still, they were silent. When Abu` Ja'far knew that, he said to his slave-girl called Jariya: 'Bring the food-cloth.' She brought it and spread it over. Then Abu` Ja'far said: 'Praise belongs to Allah, Who has set precepts for all things. For example, this food-cloth has precepts.' So, b. Dharr asked Abu` Ja'far: "What are its precepts?"
"When it is put, Allah should be mentioned. When it is raised, Allah should be thanked," replied Abu` Ja'far.
Then the Ima`m asked them to have the food. Then he ordered his slave-girl to bring him water. She brought him a jug of water. So, he said: "Praise belongs to Allah, Who has set precepts for all things. For example, this jug has precepts.
Then the Ima`m asked them to have the food. Then he ordered his slave-girl to bring him water. She brought him a jug of water. So, he said: "Praise belongs to Allah, Who has set precepts for all things. For example, this jug has precepts.
"What are its precepts?" asked b. Dharr.
"One should mention Allah's name before drinking. He should thank Allah after drinking. He should not drink out of its handle, nor should he drink out of a hole in it," replied the Ima`m.
When they had finished eating their food, the Ima`m, peace be on him, asked them about the traditions. However, they were silent. So, the Ima`m asked b. Dharr: "Do you not tell us about some of our traditions?"
Bin Dharr replied: "Yes, son of Allah's Apostle, Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, said: 'I leave behind me among you two things, if you cleave to them, you will never go astray-that is the Book of Allah and my offspring from my family.'
Bin Dharr replied: "Yes, son of Allah's Apostle, Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, said: 'I leave behind me among you two things, if you cleave to them, you will never go astray-that is the Book of Allah and my offspring from my family.'
"Bin Dharr, you will meet Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family. He will ask about his family. What will you say to him?" asked Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him.
So, b. Dharr wept, and then he said: "As for the Book of Allah, we tore it. As for the members of the Prophet's family, we killed them.
Abu` Ja'far said: "Bin Dharr, with that you will tell him the truth. On the Day of Judgment, you will be asked: Where had you finished your lifetime? From where had you earned your money? On what had you spent it? Had you loved the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt)?
Then they left the house of the Ima`m, peace be on him. The Ima`m ordered his retainer to follow them to hear their words. The retainer returned and said to the Ima`m: [I heard them say to b. Dharr:]
"Why did we come with you?" Then b. Dharr answered them: "Woe unto you! Keep silent. I did not think that Allah would ask about al-Ba`qir's authority. I was unable to ask him, for he knows the religious rules of the food-cloth and of the jug."
82. Ja`bir bin 'Abd Allah
82. Ja`bir bin 'Abd Allah
He was the son of 'Amru` b. Huzam al-Ansa`ri al-Khazraji. He was a prominent companion of al-Ba`qir. He was among the excellent Moslems. He devoted his life to the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them. He was the last survival Companion of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family. Abu` al-Zubayr al-Makki reported on his authority.
He said: "I asked Ja`bir b. 'Abd Allah about 'Ali b. Abi Ta`lib. So, he raised his eye brows from his eyes, and then he said: 'He was the best of all mankind. By Allah, during the lifetime of Allah's Apostle, we knew the hypocrites through their detest towards him.
Ja`bir loved the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, very much. So, he leant on his rod and walked through the streets of Medina. He said: "'Ali is the best of all mankind. Whoever denies that is unbeliever. O People of Ansa`r, educate your children to love 'Ali."
Ja`bir was very obedient to the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them. So, Ima`m al-Sa`diq, peace be on him, reported on the authority of his grandfathers. He said: "Allah revealed this verse: 'Say I demand not, of you any reward for it (the toils of preaching) except the love of my relations.'
Then Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family rose and said: 'A right for me has been imposed on you. Will you pay it to me?' No one answered him, so he went away. On the following day, he stood up and asked the same question. No one answered him, so he left them and went away. On the third day, he also asked the same question. Then he explained: 'The right is not gold nor silver nor food nor a drink.'
'Therefore, say it,' they demanded. 'Allah has revealed these Words of His: 'Say I demand not, of you any reward for it (the toils of preaching) except the love of my relations.' 'This is the best right,' they said" Then Abu` 'Abd Allah (al-Sa`diq), peace be on him, said: "By Allah, no one was loyal to this right except seven persons. They are Salma`n, Abu` Dharr, 'Amma`r, al-Muqdad b. al-Aswad, Ja`bir b. 'Abd Allah al-Ansa`ri, the retainer of Allah's Apostle (may Allah bless him and his family), and Zayd b. Arqam.
Then Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family rose and said: 'A right for me has been imposed on you. Will you pay it to me?' No one answered him, so he went away. On the following day, he stood up and asked the same question. No one answered him, so he left them and went away. On the third day, he also asked the same question. Then he explained: 'The right is not gold nor silver nor food nor a drink.'
'Therefore, say it,' they demanded. 'Allah has revealed these Words of His: 'Say I demand not, of you any reward for it (the toils of preaching) except the love of my relations.' 'This is the best right,' they said" Then Abu` 'Abd Allah (al-Sa`diq), peace be on him, said: "By Allah, no one was loyal to this right except seven persons. They are Salma`n, Abu` Dharr, 'Amma`r, al-Muqdad b. al-Aswad, Ja`bir b. 'Abd Allah al-Ansa`ri, the retainer of Allah's Apostle (may Allah bless him and his family), and Zayd b. Arqam.
Ja`bir took part in eighteen campaigns headed by the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family. He took part in the Battle of Siffin headed by the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him. It was he who recited the greetings of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, to Ima`m al-Baqir.
The Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, asked Allah twenty-five times to forgive Ja`bir. Ja`bir held a seminar of knowledge in the mosque.He died at the age of ninty-four.
83. Ja`bir bin Yazid
He was called al-Ju'fi. He was among the main religious scholars. He was among the greatest jurists of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them. He came to Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him. He learnt many sciences from him, so he became among the foremost Moslem religious scholars. When he reported anything on the authority of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, he said:
"The trustee of the trustees (of the Apostle) and the heir of the knowledge of the prophets, Mohammed b. 'Ali (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, told me."Ibn Shahra`shu`b numbered him as a door to the sciences and secrets of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him.
It was reported on the authority of Ima`m al-Sa`diq, peace be on him, who said: "He was called Ja`bir because he helped (jabar) the believers with his knowledge. He is an inexhaustible sea. He is the door (to knowledge) at his time. He is the proof over the creatures. Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, is among Allah's proof."
It was said that four persons encompassed the knowledge of Ima`ms, peace be on them. They were Salma`n al-Fa`risi, Ja`bir b. Yazid, Sayyid al-Himyari, and Younis b. 'Abd al-Rahma`n.
His Reliability
Shu'ba regarded him as reliable. He said:" Ja`bir said: 'He (the Ima`m) related to us or I heard (from him). So, he was among the most reliable people.'" Zuhayr b. Mu'a`wiya said: "He (Ja`bir) was among the most truthful people.
Waki' said : "Ja`bir was reliable. Sufya`n al-Thawri said to Shu'ba: "If you talk about Ja`bir, we will not talk with you about him.3" Sufya`n said: "Ja`bir al-Ju'fi is the most pious person in the tradition.
His Books
Ja`bir wrote a group of books. The following is some of them:
1. Tafsir al-Qur`an al-Karim. (The Interpretation of the Holy Koran).
2. Kita`b al-Nawa`dir. (The Book of Rare Things).
3. Kita`b al-Jamal. (The Book of the Camel).
4. Kita`b Siffin. (The Book of Siffin).
5. Kita`b al-Naharwa`n. (The Book of al-Naharwa`n).
6. Kita`b Maqtal al-Ima`m Amir al-Mu'minin, peace be on him.
(The Book of the Murder of the Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him.
7. Kita`b Maqtal al-Husayn, peace be on him.
(The Book of the Murder of al-Husayn, peace be on him.
8. Risa`lat al-Ima`m Abu` Ja'far ila` Ahl al-Basrah
(The Message of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far to the People of Basrah).
These are some of his books. He learned most of them from Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him.
Unfortunately, we have found none of them in the public libraries in our country.
His Narration on the Authority of Abu` Ja'far
Ja`bir reported many narrations on the authority of Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him. He Reported seventy thousand traditions on his authority.These traditions show the close relationship between him and the Ima`m. They show that he devoted his life to him.
His Mental Disorder
Hisha`m b. 'Abd al-Ma`lik ordered his Governor over Ku`fa to send him Ja`bir. Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, ordered Ja`bir to pretend insanity. So, Ja`bir went out wearing a cane container. Thus, the people said: "Ja`bir has become crazy." The Governor asked the people about Ja`bir. They testified that he had become crazy. The Governor informed Hisha`m of that. So, Hisha`m did not mistreat him. Then Ja`bir refrain from the precautionary insanity.
His Death
Ja`bir died in the year 167 A. H.
84. Al-Ja`ru`d bin al-Sari
He was called al-Timimi al-Sa`di al-Hamma`ni al-Ku`fi. Shaykh al-Tu`si numbered him as one of the companions of Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, and of Ima`m al-Sa`diq, peace be on him.
85. Al-Ja`ru`d bin al-Mundhir
He was called al-Kindi al-Nakhkha`s. He was from Ku`fa. Shaykh al-Tu`si numbered him as one of the companions of Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, and of Ima`m al-Sa`diq, peace be on him. Al-Naja`shi said: "Al-Ja`ru`d bin al-Mundhir, Abu` al-Mundhir al-Kindi al-Nakhkha`s, reported on the authority of Abu` 'Abd Allah (al-Sa`diq). He was very reliable." Abu` al-'Abba`s has mentioned him with his narrators. He has a book.
86. Al-Jarra`h al-Mada`'ini
Shaykh al-Tu`si numbered him as one of the companions of Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, and of Ima`m al-Sa`diq, peace be on him. Al-Naja`shi said: "Al-Jarra`h al-Mada`'ini reported on the authority of Abu` 'Abd Allah (al-Sa`diq). He has a book.
87. Ja'far al-Ahmasi
He was among the companions of Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him.
88. Ja'far b. Ibra`him
He was called al-Ju'fi al-Ja`fari. He was among the companions of Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him.He was an unknown Ima`m Shi'ite.
89. Ja'far b. Ibra`him
He was called al-Hadrami. Al-Barqi numbered him as one of the companions of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him.
90. Ja'far bin al-Hakim
He was b. (son of) Abbad al-Ku`fi. He was among the companions of Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him.
91. Ja'far bin 'Amru
He was b. (son of) Tha`bit, Abu` al-Muqda`m, b. Hurmuz. He was called al-Hadda`d al-'Ajali al-Ku`fi. He was their retainer. He was among the companions of Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him. He was an unknown Ima`m Shi'ite.
92. Ju'da
He was b. Abi 'Abd Allah. Shaykh al-Tu`si numbered him as one of the companions of Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him.
93. Al-Hasan bin Abi Sa`rra
He was called al-Nili al-Ansa`ri al-Qarzi. He was the retainer of Mohammed b. Ka'b. He was the cousin of Ma'a`dh al-Harra'. He had a son called Abu` Ja'far al-Radda`si al-Nahwi. Al-Barqi numbered him as one of the companions of Ima`m al-Ba`qir and of al-Sa`diq, peace be on them. Al-Naja`shi regarded him as reliable in the biography of his son.
94. Al-Hasan bin Hubaysh
He was among the companions of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him. Abu` Zayd al-Sahha`m reported. He said: "I was with Abu` 'Abd Allah (al-Sa`diq), peace be on him. Al-Hasan bin Hubaysh passed (by us). So, Abu` 'Abd Allah said to me: 'Do you love that (person)? He is one of my father companions.
95. Al-Hasan bin al-Hasan
He was the son of al-Hasan b. 'Ali b. Abi Ta`lib, peace be on him. He was called al-Madani al-Ta`bi'i. He was the full brother of 'Abd Allah and Ibra`him, sons of al-Hasan. Their mother was Fa`tima, daughter of al-Husayn. He died before his brother 'Abd Allah. He was among the companions of Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him.
