Introduction
Jarir ibn Abdullah came from the tribe of Bajilah in Yemen and accepted Islam in the final years of the Prophet's life. Because he converted late, some people at first were unsure whether the ruling on wiping over leather socks, revealed before the verse of ablution, still applied; Jarir answered that he had seen the Prophet do it.
The Prophet treated him with exceptional warmth. Jarir said that since he became Muslim the Prophet had never turned him away and always smiled when he saw him. When Jarir confessed that he could not sit firmly on a horse, the Prophet struck him on the chest and prayed that Allah make him firm, guiding and rightly guided.
At his pledge, the Prophet made him promise to pray properly, give zakat and be sincere to every Muslim. Years later, as an adult speaking at the death of the governor of Kufah, he reminded the people of this pledge and told them to fear Allah and be calm until a new leader came.
The story
c. 10 AH / 631 CE
Came to the Prophet and pledged to pray properly, pay zakat and be sincere to every Muslim.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 57Sahih Arabic text
قَالَ بَايَعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى إِقَامِ الصَّلاَةِ، وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ، وَالنُّصْحِ لِكُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ.
“offer prayers perfectly 2. pay the Zakat (obligatory charity) 3. and be sincere and true to every Muslim”
10 AH
Sent with 150 horsemen of Ahmas to destroy the idol house of Dhul-Khalasa, after the Prophet prayed for him.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 3020Sahih Arabic text
… أَصَابِعِهِ فِي صَدْرِي وَقَالَ" اللَّهُمَّ ثَبِّتْهُ وَاجْعَلْهُ هَادِيًا مَهْدِيًّا". فَانْطَلَقَ إِلَيْهَا فَكَسَرَهَا وَحَرَّقَهَا، ثُمَّ بَعَثَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُخْبِرُهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ جَرِيرٍ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ، مَا جِئْتُكَ حَتَّى تَرَكْتُهَا كَأَنَّهَا جَمَلٌ أَجْوَفُ أَوْ أَجْرَبُ. قَالَ فَبَارَكَ فِي خَيْلِ أَحْمَسَ وَرِجَالِهَا خَمْسَ …
“Jarir proceeded towards that house, and dismantled and burnt it”
Caliphate of Mu'awiyah
Addressed the people of Kufah at the death of its governor al-Mughirah ibn Shu'bah.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 58Sahih Arabic text
… قَامَ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَقَالَ عَلَيْكُمْ بِاتِّقَاءِ اللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَالْوَقَارِ وَالسَّكِينَةِ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَكُمْ أَمِيرٌ، فَإِنَّمَا يَأْتِيكُمُ الآنَ، ثُمَّ قَالَ اسْتَعْفُوا لأَمِيرِكُمْ، فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ يُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ. ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنِّي أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قُلْتُ أُبَايِعُكَ عَلَى الإِسْلاَمِ. …
“Be afraid of Allah alone Who has none along with Him to be worshipped”
c. 51-54 AH
Died; the narrations differ on the year and place.
A day in their footsteps
6 small, repeatable practices from Jarir ibn Abdullah al-Bajali's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.
Sincerity to every Muslim
Jarir's pledge to the Prophet included being sincere and true to every Muslim. Decades later he told the people of Kufah that he stood by it: 'By the Lord of this mosque! I am sincere and true to you.'
Try this today
Give honest, caring counsel to every Muslim you deal with.
Sit with this
Do you give honest, caring advice even when it is easier to say nothing?
Sources
Sahih al-Bukhari 57Sahih قَالَ بَايَعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى إِقَامِ الصَّلاَةِ، وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ، وَالنُّصْحِ لِكُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ.
“be sincere and true to every Muslim”
Sahih al-Bukhari 58Sahih … حَتَّى يَأْتِيَكُمْ أَمِيرٌ، فَإِنَّمَا يَأْتِيكُمُ الآنَ، ثُمَّ قَالَ اسْتَعْفُوا لأَمِيرِكُمْ، فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ يُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ. ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنِّي أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قُلْتُ أُبَايِعُكَ عَلَى الإِسْلاَمِ. فَشَرَطَ عَلَىَّ وَالنُّصْحِ لِكُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ. فَبَايَعْتُهُ عَلَى هَذَا، وَرَبِّ هَذَا الْمَسْجِدِ إِنِّي لَنَاصِحٌ لَكُمْ. ثُمَّ اسْتَغْفَرَ …
“By the Lord of this mosque! I am sincere and true to you”
Lowering the gaze
Jarir asked the Prophet about the sudden glance at someone he was not permitted to look at, and was told to turn his eyes away.
Try this today
Look away at once if your eyes fall on something you should not look at.
Sit with this
What do you need to look away from more quickly?
Source
Sahih Muslim 2159Sahih قَالَ سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ نَظَرِ الْفُجَاءَةِ فَأَمَرَنِي أَنْ أَصْرِفَ بَصَرِي.
“He commanded me that I should turn away my eyes”
Wiping over leather socks
Jarir urinated, made wudu, wiped over his khuffs and prayed, saying he had seen the Prophet do the same. People approved this because he had become Muslim late.
Try this today
Use the concessions the Prophet gave, and be confident in them.
Sit with this
Do you use the concessions Allah gave you, or make your worship harder than it is?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 387Sahih قَالَ سَمِعْتُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ هَمَّامِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ، قَالَ رَأَيْتُ جَرِيرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بَالَ ثُمَّ تَوَضَّأَ، وَمَسَحَ عَلَى خُفَّيْهِ، ثُمَّ قَامَ فَصَلَّى، فَسُئِلَ فَقَالَ رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَنَعَ مِثْلَ هَذَا. قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ فَكَانَ يُعْجِبُهُمْ، لأَنَّ جَرِيرًا كَانَ مِنْ آخِرِ مَنْ أَسْلَمَ.
“he had seen the Prophet doing the same”
Calm and fear of Allah in times of change
When the governor of Kufah died, Jarir told the people to fear Allah alone, stay calm and quiet until the new chief arrived, and to pray for their late chief, because he loved to forgive.
Try this today
In a time of uncertainty, stay calm, fear Allah and pray for those who led you.
Sit with this
In uncertain times, what keeps you calm and mindful of Allah?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 58Sahih … وَالسَّكِينَةِ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَكُمْ أَمِيرٌ، فَإِنَّمَا يَأْتِيكُمُ الآنَ، ثُمَّ قَالَ اسْتَعْفُوا لأَمِيرِكُمْ، فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ يُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ. ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنِّي أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قُلْتُ أُبَايِعُكَ عَلَى الإِسْلاَمِ. فَشَرَطَ عَلَىَّ وَالنُّصْحِ لِكُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ. فَبَايَعْتُهُ عَلَى هَذَا، وَرَبِّ هَذَا الْمَسْجِدِ إِنِّي لَنَاصِحٌ لَكُمْ. ثُمَّ …
“Ask Allah's forgiveness for your (late) chief because he himself loved to forgive others”
Acting on the Prophet's mission with energy
When the Prophet asked who would relieve him of Dhul-Khalasa, Jarir took 150 horsemen, destroyed the idol house, and sent word to the Prophet that he had left it completely ruined.
Try this today
When asked to do a task for a good cause, do it fully and report back.
Sit with this
What good task, once accepted, could you finish fully and report back on?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 3020Sahih … أَصَابِعِهِ فِي صَدْرِي وَقَالَ" اللَّهُمَّ ثَبِّتْهُ وَاجْعَلْهُ هَادِيًا مَهْدِيًّا". فَانْطَلَقَ إِلَيْهَا فَكَسَرَهَا وَحَرَّقَهَا، ثُمَّ بَعَثَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُخْبِرُهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ جَرِيرٍ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ، مَا جِئْتُكَ حَتَّى تَرَكْتُهَا كَأَنَّهَا جَمَلٌ أَجْوَفُ أَوْ أَجْرَبُ. قَالَ فَبَارَكَ فِي خَيْلِ أَحْمَسَ وَرِجَالِهَا خَمْسَ …
“Jarir proceeded towards that house, and dismantled and burnt it”
Spreading good by example
Jarir narrated how a crowd of poor people came to the Prophet; he urged charity, one man brought a heavy bag, and others followed until the Prophet's face shone. The Prophet said that whoever sets a good precedent earns its reward and the reward of all who follow it.
Try this today
Be the first to start a good deed; others will follow.
Sit with this
What good deed could you begin so others find it easy to follow?
Source
Sahih Muslim 1017Sahih … وسلم يَتَهَلَّلُ كَأَنَّهُ مُذْهَبَةٌ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم" مَنْ سَنَّ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ سُنَّةً حَسَنَةً فَلَهُ أَجْرُهَا وَأَجْرُ مَنْ عَمِلَ بِهَا بَعْدَهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ أُجُورِهِمْ شَىْءٌ وَمَنْ سَنَّ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ سُنَّةً سَيِّئَةً كَانَ عَلَيْهِ وِزْرُهَا وَوِزْرُ مَنْ عَمِلَ بِهَا مِنْ بَعْدِهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ أَوْزَارِهِمْ …
“He who sets a good precedent in Islam, there is a reward for him for this (act of goodness)”
Virtues
Jarir reported that the Prophet never refused to see him after he became Muslim and always smiled when he saw him.
“Allah's Messenger has never refused to admit me since I embraced Islam, and whenever he saw me, he would smile”
Arabic text
قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ قَالَ جَرِيرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنه مَا حَجَبَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مُنْذُ أَسْلَمْتُ، وَلاَ رَآنِي إِلاَّ ضَحِكَ.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3822Sahih
The Prophet prayed that Allah make him firm and a guiding, rightly guided man.
“O Allah! Make him firm and make him a guiding and a rightly guided man”
Arabic text
قَالَ مَا حَجَبَنِي النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مُنْذُ أَسْلَمْتُ، وَلاَ رَآنِي إِلاَّ تَبَسَّمَ فِي وَجْهِي. وَلَقَدْ شَكَوْتُ إِلَيْهِ إِنِّي لاَ أَثْبُتُ عَلَى الْخَيْلِ. فَضَرَبَ بِيَدِهِ فِي صَدْرِي وَقَالَ " اللَّهُمَّ ثَبِّتْهُ وَاجْعَلْهُ هَادِيًا مَهْدِيًّا".
Sahih al-Bukhari 3036Sahih
Sayings and moments
He told the people of Kufah that he was sincere and true to every Muslim, by the Lord of this mosque.
“By the Lord of this mosque! I am sincere and true to you”
Arabic text
… حَتَّى يَأْتِيَكُمْ أَمِيرٌ، فَإِنَّمَا يَأْتِيكُمُ الآنَ، ثُمَّ قَالَ اسْتَعْفُوا لأَمِيرِكُمْ، فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ يُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ. ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنِّي أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قُلْتُ أُبَايِعُكَ عَلَى الإِسْلاَمِ. فَشَرَطَ عَلَىَّ وَالنُّصْحِ لِكُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ. فَبَايَعْتُهُ عَلَى هَذَا، وَرَبِّ هَذَا الْمَسْجِدِ إِنِّي لَنَاصِحٌ لَكُمْ. ثُمَّ اسْتَغْفَرَ …
Sahih al-Bukhari 58Sahih
Jarir reported the Prophet as saying that Allah will not show mercy to those who show no mercy to people.
“Allah will not be merciful to those who are not merciful to mankind”
Arabic text
قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ يَرْحَمُ اللَّهُ مَنْ لاَ يَرْحَمُ النَّاسَ".
Sahih al-Bukhari 7376Sahih
Words on this page
Related companions
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Sources and review
- Hadith narrations of Jarir in Sahih al-Bukhari (3020, 3036, 57, 58) (opens in a new tab)
- Hadith texts and grades checked via the sunnah.com-numbered Hadith API (fawazahmed0/hadith-api) (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.