Introduction
Jabir ibn Abdullah was a young man of the Ansar from the Banu Salima clan of Khazraj in Medina. His father, Abdullah ibn Amr, was martyred at Uhud, leaving heavy debts and several daughters, and Jabir took on the responsibility of the family.
He fought nineteen battles with the Prophet, though not Badr or Uhud, as his father had asked him to stay with his sisters. He lived a long life and became one of the most prolific narrators of hadith, transmitting well over a thousand narrations, including the most detailed account of the Prophet's Farewell Hajj.
Many of his reports show him as a person of practical devotion: teaching the istikhara prayer, hosting the Prophet and the army at the Trench, and caring for his sisters when he married. He died in Medina in 78 AH, one of the last of the companions there, in old age and blind.
The story
c. 607 CE
Born in Medina (approx.).
Before 625 CE
His father was killed at Uhud, leaving debts and daughters in his care.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 4053Sahih Arabic text
أَنَّ أَبَاهُ، اسْتُشْهِدَ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ وَتَرَكَ عَلَيْهِ دَيْنًا، وَتَرَكَ سِتَّ بَنَاتٍ، فَلَمَّا حَضَرَ جِذَاذُ النَّخْلِ قَالَ أَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقُلْتُ قَدْ عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ وَالِدِي قَدِ اسْتُشْهِدَ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ، وَتَرَكَ دَيْنًا كَثِيرًا، وَإِنِّي أُحِبُّ أَنْ يَرَاكَ الْغُرَمَاءُ. فَقَالَ" اذْهَبْ فَبَيْدِرْ كُلَّ تَمْرٍ عَلَى نَاحِيَةٍ". فَفَعَلْتُ ثُمَّ …
“his father was martyred on the day of the battle of Uhud”
Prophet's lifetime
Took part in nineteen battles, though not Badr or Uhud.
Read the wording
Sahih Muslim 1813Sahih Arabic text
… حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا رَوْحُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا زَكَرِيَّاءُ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو الزُّبَيْرِ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، يَقُولُ غَزَوْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم تِسْعَ عَشْرَةَ غَزْوَةً - قَالَ جَابِرٌ - لَمْ أَشْهَدْ بَدْرًا وَلاَ أُحُدًا مَنَعَنِي أَبِي فَلَمَّا قُتِلَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ لَمْ أَتَخَلَّفْ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه …
“I fought in the company of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) nineteen battles”
627 CE / 5 AH
Hosted the Prophet and a large crowd at the Trench with a small meal that was multiplied.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 4101Sahih Arabic text
… الشَّعِيرَ، حَتَّى جَعَلْنَا اللَّحْمَ فِي الْبُرْمَةِ، ثُمَّ جِئْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَالْعَجِينُ قَدِ انْكَسَرَ، وَالْبُرْمَةُ بَيْنَ الأَثَافِيِّ قَدْ كَادَتْ أَنْ تَنْضَجَ فَقُلْتُ طُعَيِّمٌ لِي، فَقُمْ أَنْتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَرَجُلٌ أَوْ رَجُلاَنِ. قَالَ" كَمْ هُوَ". فَذَكَرْتُ لَهُ، قَالَ" كَثِيرٌ طَيِّبٌ". قَالَ" قُلْ لَهَا لاَ تَنْزِعُ الْبُرْمَةَ وَلاَ الْخُبْزَ …
“I have got a little food prepared”
632 CE / 10 AH
Memorised and later narrated the Prophet's Farewell Hajj in detail.
Read the wording
Sahih Muslim 1218Sahih Arabic text
… رَجَعَ طَرَفَاهَا إِلَيْهِ مِنْ صِغَرِهَا وَرِدَاؤُهُ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ عَلَى الْمِشْجَبِ فَصَلَّى بِنَا فَقُلْتُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ حَجَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم. فَقَالَ بِيَدِهِ فَعَقَدَ تِسْعًا فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَكَثَ تِسْعَ سِنِينَ لَمْ يَحُجَّ ثُمَّ أَذَّنَ فِي النَّاسِ فِي الْعَاشِرَةِ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَاجٌّ فَقَدِمَ …
“Tell me about the Hajj of Allah's Messenger”
697 CE / 78 AH
Died in Medina in old age.
A day in their footsteps
6 small, repeatable practices from Jabir ibn Abdullah's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.
Praying istikhara before decisions
Jabir transmitted that the Prophet taught the istikhara prayer in all matters as he taught the surahs of the Qur'an: two voluntary rak'ahs, then the specific du'a asking Allah to guide you to what is best for your religion, livelihood and end.
Try this today
Before a big decision, pray two rak'ahs and make the istikhara du'a, then proceed with the best means.
Sit with this
Which decision this month will you begin with istikharah?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 1166Sahih قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُعَلِّمُنَا الاِسْتِخَارَةَ فِي الأُمُورِ كَمَا يُعَلِّمُنَا السُّورَةَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ يَقُولُ " إِذَا هَمَّ أَحَدُكُمْ بِالأَمْرِ فَلْيَرْكَعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ مِنْ غَيْرِ الْفَرِيضَةِ ثُمَّ لِيَقُلِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ …
“The Prophet (ﷺ) used to teach us the way of doing Istikhara”
Hosting guests with what you have
During the hunger of the Trench, Jabir saw the Prophet's need and asked his wife what they had: some barley and a young goat. He prepared it and invited the Prophet and a few others, and the Prophet brought the whole army, which was fed from the small pot.
Try this today
Offer what you have, even if it is small; Allah can multiply it.
Sit with this
What small thing could you offer, trusting Allah to bless it?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 4101Sahih … يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ائْذَنْ لِي إِلَى الْبَيْتِ. فَقُلْتُ لاِمْرَأَتِي رَأَيْتُ بِالنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم شَيْئًا، مَا كَانَ فِي ذَلِكَ صَبْرٌ، فَعِنْدَكِ شَىْءٌ قَالَتْ عِنْدِي شَعِيرٌ وَعَنَاقٌ. فَذَبَحْتُ الْعَنَاقَ وَطَحَنَتِ الشَّعِيرَ، حَتَّى جَعَلْنَا اللَّحْمَ فِي الْبُرْمَةِ، ثُمَّ جِئْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَالْعَجِينُ قَدِ انْكَسَرَ، وَالْبُرْمَةُ بَيْنَ …
“I have barley and a she goat”
Putting his sisters' needs first
After his father's death Jabir married an older woman instead of a young girl because he had young sisters who needed someone to comb their hair and look after them. The Prophet prayed for him: May Allah bless you.
Try this today
Let responsibility for your family shape your decisions, even when it costs you your own preference.
Sit with this
Whose needs in your family could shape your next choice?
Sources
Sahih al-Bukhari 5367Sahih … جَابِرُ". فَقُلْتُ نَعَمْ. فَقَالَ" بِكْرًا أَمْ ثَيِّبًا". قُلْتُ بَلْ ثَيِّبًا. قَالَ" فَهَلاَّ جَارِيَةً تُلاَعِبُهَا وَتُلاَعِبُكَ، وَتُضَاحِكُهَا وَتُضَاحِكُكَ". قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ هَلَكَ وَتَرَكَ بَنَاتٍ، وَإِنِّي كَرِهْتُ أَنْ أَجِيئَهُنَّ بِمِثْلِهِنَّ، فَتَزَوَّجْتُ امْرَأَةً تَقُومُ عَلَيْهِنَّ وَتُصْلِحُهُنَّ. فَقَالَ" بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكَ". أَوْ قَالَ …
“so that she may look after them”
Sahih al-Bukhari 2097Sahih … وَتُلاَعِبُكَ". قُلْتُ إِنَّ لِي أَخَوَاتٍ، فَأَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ أَتَزَوَّجَ امْرَأَةً تَجْمَعُهُنَّ، وَتَمْشُطُهُنَّ، وَتَقُومُ عَلَيْهِنَّ. قَالَ" أَمَّا إِنَّكَ قَادِمٌ، فَإِذَا قَدِمْتَ فَالْكَيْسَ الْكَيْسَ". ثُمَّ قَالَ" أَتَبِيعُ جَمَلَكَ". قُلْتُ نَعَمْ. فَاشْتَرَاهُ مِنِّي بِأُوقِيَّةٍ، ثُمَّ قَدِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَبْلِي، وَقَدِمْتُ بِالْغَدَاةِ، فَجِئْنَا …
“I have sisters (young in age)”
Settling a parent's debts
Jabir went to the Prophet, asking him to speak to the creditors of his late father. The Prophet had him arrange the dates in heaps and measured out to the creditors until all were paid, and Jabir's dates remained as if untouched.
Try this today
Honour a deceased parent by paying what they owed.
Sit with this
Is there something a parent of yours left unfinished that you could complete?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 2127Sahih … أَوْ فِي وَسَطِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ" كِلْ لِلْقَوْمِ". فَكِلْتُهُمْ حَتَّى أَوْفَيْتُهُمُ الَّذِي لَهُمْ، وَبَقِيَ تَمْرِي، كَأَنَّهُ لَمْ يَنْقُصْ مِنْهُ شَىْءٌ. وَقَالَ فِرَاسٌ عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ حَدَّثَنِي جَابِرٌ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم، فَمَا زَالَ يَكِيلُ لَهُمْ حَتَّى أَدَّاهُ، وَقَالَ هِشَامٌ عَنْ وَهْبٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم" جُذَّ لَهُ فَأَوْفِ …
“I measured for them till I paid all the debts”
Two rak'ahs in the masjid on returning from a journey
On a journey Jabir's tired camel lagged behind; the Prophet struck it and it sped up. When Jabir reached Medina, the Prophet told him to leave his camel, go into the mosque and pray two rak'ahs, and then paid him for the camel and gave the camel back too.
Try this today
On returning from a trip, begin with two rak'ahs in the masjid.
Sit with this
Could your next homecoming begin with two rak'ahs?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 2097Sahih … الآنَ قَدِمْتَ". قُلْتُ نَعَمْ. قَالَ" فَدَعْ جَمَلَكَ، فَادْخُلْ فَصَلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ". فَدَخَلْتُ فَصَلَّيْتُ، فَأَمَرَ بِلاَلاً أَنْ يَزِنَ لَهُ أُوقِيَّةً. فَوَزَنَ لِي بِلاَلٌ، فَأَرْجَحَ فِي الْمِيزَانِ، فَانْطَلَقْتُ حَتَّى وَلَّيْتُ فَقَالَ" ادْعُ لِي جَابِرًا". قُلْتُ الآنَ يَرُدُّ عَلَىَّ الْجَمَلَ، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ شَىْءٌ أَبْغَضَ إِلَىَّ مِنْهُ. قَالَ" خُذْ جَمَلَكَ وَلَكَ …
“come into (the mosque) and pray two rak`at”
Carrying the Prophet's Hajj precisely
Jabir was asked by Muhammad al-Baqir about the Prophet's Hajj. Despite being blind and elderly, he sat with him, covered himself with a mantle to pray, and told him the details step by step.
Try this today
Learn Hajj and other worship from detailed, reliable sources, and teach it carefully.
Sit with this
Where do you learn the details of your worship, and are they reliable?
Source
Sahih Muslim 1218Sahih … رَجَعَ طَرَفَاهَا إِلَيْهِ مِنْ صِغَرِهَا وَرِدَاؤُهُ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ عَلَى الْمِشْجَبِ فَصَلَّى بِنَا فَقُلْتُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ حَجَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم. فَقَالَ بِيَدِهِ فَعَقَدَ تِسْعًا فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَكَثَ تِسْعَ سِنِينَ لَمْ يَحُجَّ ثُمَّ أَذَّنَ فِي النَّاسِ فِي الْعَاشِرَةِ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَاجٌّ فَقَدِمَ …
“Tell me about the Hajj of Allah's Messenger”
Virtues
Jabir reported that the Prophet visited him when he was ill and unconscious, performed wudu and sprinkled the water over him; the verses about inheritance came down in connection with his question.
“Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came to visit me while I was sick”
Arabic text
قَالَ سَمِعْتُ جَابِرًا، يَقُولُ جَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَعُودُنِي، وَأَنَا مَرِيضٌ لاَ أَعْقِلُ، فَتَوَضَّأَ وَصَبَّ عَلَىَّ مِنْ وَضُوئِهِ، فَعَقَلْتُ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لِمَنِ الْمِيرَاثُ إِنَّمَا يَرِثُنِي كَلاَلَةٌ. فَنَزَلَتْ آيَةُ الْفَرَائِضِ.
Sahih al-Bukhari 194Sahih
The Prophet asked Jabir about his marriage and prayed for him: May Allah bless you.
“May Allah bless you”
Arabic text
… جَابِرُ". فَقُلْتُ نَعَمْ. فَقَالَ" بِكْرًا أَمْ ثَيِّبًا". قُلْتُ بَلْ ثَيِّبًا. قَالَ" فَهَلاَّ جَارِيَةً تُلاَعِبُهَا وَتُلاَعِبُكَ، وَتُضَاحِكُهَا وَتُضَاحِكُكَ". قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ هَلَكَ وَتَرَكَ بَنَاتٍ، وَإِنِّي كَرِهْتُ أَنْ أَجِيئَهُنَّ بِمِثْلِهِنَّ، فَتَزَوَّجْتُ امْرَأَةً تَقُومُ عَلَيْهِنَّ وَتُصْلِحُهُنَّ. فَقَالَ" بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكَ". أَوْ قَالَ …
Sahih al-Bukhari 5367Sahih
Jabir fought alongside the Prophet in nineteen battles.
“I fought in the company of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) nineteen battles”
Arabic text
… حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا رَوْحُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا زَكَرِيَّاءُ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو الزُّبَيْرِ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، يَقُولُ غَزَوْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم تِسْعَ عَشْرَةَ غَزْوَةً - قَالَ جَابِرٌ - لَمْ أَشْهَدْ بَدْرًا وَلاَ أُحُدًا مَنَعَنِي أَبِي فَلَمَّا قُتِلَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ لَمْ أَتَخَلَّفْ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه …
Sahih Muslim 1813Sahih
Sayings and moments
Jabir said: Never was the Prophet asked for a thing and answered no.
“Never was the Prophet (ﷺ) asked for a thing to be given for which his answer was 'no”
Arabic text
قَالَ سَمِعْتُ جَابِرًا ـ رضى الله عنه ـ يَقُولُ مَا سُئِلَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ شَىْءٍ قَطُّ فَقَالَ لاَ.
Sahih al-Bukhari 6034Sahih
Words on this page
- Ansarالأنصار
- "The Helpers": the Muslims of Madinah, from the Aws and Khazraj tribes, who welcomed and sheltered the Prophet ﷺ and the emigrants from Makkah.
- Badrبدر
- The first major battle between the Muslims and Quraysh, in 2 AH. Those who fought there hold a special rank among the Companions.
- Du'aدعاء
- Supplication: calling on Allah and asking Him, in any language and at any time.
- Hadithحديث
- A report of what the Prophet ﷺ said, did or approved, passed down through a chain of narrators.
- Hajjالحج
- The pilgrimage to Makkah in the month of Dhu al-Hijjah, required once in a lifetime of every adult Muslim who is able.
- Halal and haramحلال وحرام
- What is permitted (halal) and what is forbidden (haram) in Islamic law.
- Istikharahاستخارة
- Seeking what is best from Allah: two voluntary rak'ahs followed by a specific du'a before a decision.
- Madinahالمدينة
- The city, formerly Yathrib, to which the Prophet ﷺ migrated and where the first Muslim community was built.
- Rak'ahركعة
- One unit of the prayer: standing and reciting, bowing, and two prostrations.
- Uhudأحد
- The mountain outside Madinah where the Muslims fought Quraysh in 3 AH, and where Hamzah and many others were martyred.
- Wuduالوضوء
- The ritual washing of the face, arms, head and feet before prayer.
Related companions
- أم سليم بنت ملحانUmm Sulaym bint MilhanUmm Sulaym bint Milhan, early Ansari convert and mother of Anas: patient, generous, brave and clear in asking…
- سلمان الفارسيSalman al-FarisiSalman al-Farisi, the Persian seeker who found Islam: his balance in worship, daily etiquette and du'a, with…
- أبو بكر الصديقAbu Bakr al-SiddiqThe Prophet's closest companion and first caliph, remembered for truthfulness, tender-hearted worship and giv…
Sources and review
- Jabir ibn Abd Allah - Wikipedia (biography; battle count corrected against Sahih Muslim 1813) (opens in a new tab)
- hadith-api, English hadith editions mirroring sunnah.com numbering and grades (opens in a new tab)
Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com. Each report links to sunnah.com, and, where the numbering matches, to al-Hadees or HadithUnlocked as well. Quran verses link to quran.com, Tafsir Ibn Kathir and Tanzil. The Arabic is taken from the hadith editions and trimmed around the quoted words, so read the full report at the source before relying on it. Grades are the ones those editions give.
This page is pending scholar review. It was compiled from public sources, and its citations were last checked on 7 October 2026. If you notice a mistake or a missing source, please tell us.