Battle of Mu'tah and the Death of Jafar ibn Abi Talib: Key Events

Battle of Mu'tah and the Death of Jafar ibn Abi Talib ~ Hi readers! The Battle of Mu'tah is one of the major wars ever waged by Islamic troops. To be precise, the war occurred in the year 8 Hijri. Of course, at that time, the Prophet Muhammad was still alive. In this battle, several commanders of the Islamic forces lost their lives, including Jafar ibn Abi Talib, who was killed under very horrific circumstances.

In this article, I will explain five important things about the Battle of Mu'tah and the death of Jafar ibn Abi Talib. As Muslims, it is essential for us to understand this historical event. So, make sure to read this article until the end.

The five points I will cover are as follows:

What is the Battle of Mu'tah?

The Battle of Mu'tah refers to a conflict that took place between the Islamic armies and the Roman troops, along with several Arab tribes. The battle is named "Battle of Mu'tah" because it occurred in a village called "Mu'tah." Thus, the name of this war is derived from the name of the village.

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According to Yaqut bin Abdillah al-Hamwiy ar-Rumi al-Baghdadi, commonly known as Yaqut al-Hamqi, in his book "Mu'jamu al-Buldan," Mu'tah is one of the villages in al-Balqa' located in the region of Sham, known for producing many fine swords.

As I mentioned earlier, the Battle of Mu'tah took place in the year 8 Hijri, specifically in the month of Jumadil Ula.

Who is Jafar ibn Abi Talib?

Jafar ibn Abi Talib was one of Abu Talib's sons. He was born from Abu Talib's marriage to Fatimah bint Asad. Together, they had four sons: Talib, Aqil, Jafar, and Ali. Talib is the first son, Aqil is the second son, Jafar is the third son, and Ali is the fourth son. Each of their ages is ten years apart.

Jafar ibn Abi Talib married Asma' bint Umais bin Ma'bad bin Taim bin Malik bin Qufahah. From this marriage, they had three sons: Abdullah, Muhammad, and 'Aun. This is why Jafar is also known as Abu Abdillah. His three sons were born in Ethiopia (Habashah) when he and his wife moved there with some Muslims.

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Jafar ibn Abi Talib was one of the early Muslims to emigrate to Ethiopia (Habashah). He became the leader of the Muslims who migrated there. In fact, he played a crucial role in convincing the king of Najasyi of the truth of Islam when the Quraysh disbelievers sent messengers to ask the king to hand over the Muslims residing there. I will explain that topic in the next discussion.

Jafar ibn Abi Talib held a very special place in the heart of the Prophet Muhammad. This was evident from the Prophet's words and actions upon welcoming his return from Ethiopia (Habashah). At that time, the Islamic forces had also succeeded in conquering Khaibar. When he met Jafar, the Prophet expressed his joy by kissing his forehead and saying, "I don’t know what made me happier: the arrival of Jafar or the conquest of Khaibar."

What Caused the Battle of Mu'tah?

Ibn Saad explained that the Battle of Mu'tah occurred because the Prophet Muhammad's messenger named al-Harits bin 'Umair al-Azdi to King Basrah was killed by Syurahbil bin Amru al-Ghassani in a village called Mu'tah. Al-Harits bin 'Umair al-Azdi was the only messenger of the Prophet Muhammad who was killed. When news of the murder reached the Prophet Muhammad, he and the Muslims were very angry. They then rushed to gather troops in al-Jurf to find the killer of al-Harith bin 'Umair and invite the people there to embrace Islam.

The number of Islamic troops dispatched as many as three thousand people. Before they left, the Prophet Muhammad advised that the person who became the main warlord in the mission was Zaid bin Harithah. If Zaid bin Harithah dies, then the position of war commander is replaced by Jafar bin Abi Talib. If he dies, then the position of warlord is replaced by Abdullah bin Rawahah. If he dies, then the Muslims are allowed to deliberate to determine who will become warlords.

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In fact, Jafar bin Abi Talib questioned the election of Zaid bin Harithah as war commander in this mission. I think the reason is quite reasonable, because there are still many friends who are more qualified in experience to lead Islamic troops. However, this did not last long, let alone affected the Islamic forces. Prophet Muhammad gave a quite diplomatic answer to Jafar, "Go! In fact you do not know that it is goodness."

In fact there is an interesting remark an-Nukman has about the determination of the warlord in the mission. What I mean is when he commented on the words of the Prophet Muhammad, “If Zaid bin Harithah dies, he will be replaced by Jafar bin Abi Talib. If he dies, then he is replaced by Abdullah bin Rawahah… ”An-Nukman said to the Prophet Muhammad,“ O Abu al-Qasim! If you are a Prophet, then you have mentioned a few or many people, then they will all fall, because the Prophets in the children of Israel, if they appointed someone to lead an army, they said, "If so-so fell, then he was replaced by so-called. . " Even if they mention a hundred people, then the hundred people will definitely fall. " Then an-Nukman said to Zaid bin Harithah, “Behold! If Muhammad was a prophet, then you will not come back for ever. " Zaid bin Harithah then said, "I testify that he is a true and good Prophet."

The sayings of an-Nukman seem to be the standard for determining the prophetic truth of the Prophet Muhammad. He used the traditions prevailing in the children of Israel to measure this truth. In fact, he also had time to say that to Zaid bin Harithah as the main warlord appointed by the Prophet Muhammad.

How Did the Battle of Mu'tah Happen?

The Muslim troops then departed until they reached al-Balqa'. Historical records from Ibn Saad indicate that their movement was detected by the spies of Syurahbil bin Amru al-Ghassani, who had been deployed to monitor the Muslims. He returned and gathered more than one hundred thousand men to confront the Islamic army. When the Islamic forces arrived at Mu'an, they received word that Hirqal was also in Maab with an army of one hundred thousand ready to face them. This force included one hundred thousand troops from the tribes of Bahra', Wail, Bakar, Lakhm, and Judzam. Thus, the total enemy army was around two hundred thousand, while the Islamic army numbered only three thousand. The odds clearly indicated that the Islamic forces would likely be defeated.

The Islamic forces ultimately paused there for two nights to determine their next move. Some suggested sending word to Prophet Muhammad to inform him of the situation and seek his advice. However, that was not done because Abdullah bin Rawahah urged them to press on.

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After deciding to continue their mission of pursuing the assassin of al-Harits bin 'Umari al-Azdi and inviting the people of al-Balqa', the troops journeyed on until they reached a village in the al-Balqa' area called al-Masyarif. The enemy army soon arrived, prompting the Islamic troops to head for a village called Mu'tah. It was there that the battle between the two sides erupted. In this confrontation, the warlords dismounted from their horses and fought on foot.

Unfortunately, what an-Nukman had predicted came true. Zaid bin Harithah, who fought with the white flag of the Prophet Muhammad, was killed. The flag was then taken by Jafar, who served as the war commander to replace Zaid bin Harithah. He held the flag in his right hand while fighting, but his right hand was soon severed by the enemy. The flag fell, and he took it again, gripping it with his left hand, only for that hand to be beheaded as well. With both hands cut off, he held the flag with his elbows and shoulders.

The tragic fate of Jafar ibn Abi Talib did not end there. After losing both hands, he was brutally killed by one of the Roman troops, who cut his body in two. He ultimately died.

Following that, Abdullah bin Rawahah took up the flag of the Prophet Muhammad, becoming the new war commander to replace Jafar ibn Abi Talib. He continued to fight until he, too, was killed. The three warlords appointed by Prophet Muhammad ultimately met their demise in the Battle of Mu'tah, as an-Nukman had foretold. This also serves to confirm the truth of Prophet Muhammad's prophethood, as I have explained in the preceding paragraphs.

The flag of the Prophet Muhammad was then taken by one of the Islamic troops named Thabit bin Aqram. He brought the flag to the Islamic troops, suggesting they choose a new commander as instructed by the Prophet Muhammad. The troops wished for Thabit bin Aqram to take on the role of warlord to replace Abdullah bin Rawahah, but he declined, feeling unfit for the responsibility. Eventually, the flag was passed to Khalid bin Walid, who then led the Islamic troops to continue fighting until they succeeded in repelling the enemy forces. Khalid bin Walid’s sword claimed many victims among the enemy, earning him the title Saifullâh (Allah's Sword).

I must explain that the Battle of Mu'tah not only claimed the lives of three warlords appointed by Prophet Muhammad but also resulted in several other casualties among the Islamic troops. Historical accounts vary regarding the number of casualties. For instance, Ibn Kathir’s historical records indicate that the total casualties among the Islamic forces were eight, including Jafar bin Abi Talib, Zaid bin Harithah, Mas'ud bin Aswad bin Harithah bin Nadlalah, and Wahab bin Sa'ad bin Abi Sarah from the Muhajirin, and Abdullah bin Rawahah, Ubadah bin Qais, Harits bin an-Nukman bin Asaf bin Nadlalah bin Abdu bin Auf bin Ghanam, and Suraqah bin Amru bin Athiyah bin Khunasa' from the Ansar. However, other historical data states there were twelve casualties.

How Did Jafar ibn Abi Talib Die?

After the Battle of Mu'tah concluded, the Islamic troops searched for the body of Jafar ibn Abi Talib. They found him among other fallen soldiers on the battlefield. His condition was far worse than just having lost both arms and a body that had been cut in two; he had numerous wounds from the battles he had fought.

Historical accounts regarding the wounds on Jafar ibn Abi Talib's body also differ. In Ibn Kathir's records, there are two distinct accounts. The first states that his body bore more than ninety wounds from swords, spears, and arrows, while the second account mentions a total of fifty wounds. Although the two records differ regarding the count, both agree that all these wounds were on his back. Similar information can also be found in the historical accounts of al-Ashfahani, who notes that his wounds exceeded seventy, all from spears and arrows. In the records of Ibn al-Atsir, it is reported that he had over eighty wounds, resulting from swords, spears, and arrows.

Dear readers, that is a brief explanation of the Battle of Mu'tah and the death of Jafar ibn Abi Talib. Do you understand? If you have any questions, please feel free to ask!

I think that’s all for this article. I hope it is useful. Amen!

See you again in the next article!