Biography of Jarir ibn Abdullah [radiyallahu anh]

Jarir ibn Abdullah [radiyallahu anhu] was the chief of the Yemeni tribe of Bajilah. Before the conquest of Makkah, he came to recognize through his own search that Muhammad [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam] was indeed the Messenger of Allah. He accepted Islam and encouraged his people to do the same, persuading them to send a delegation to Medina.

After the Prophet’s passing, Abu Bakr as-Siddiq [radiyallahu anhu] tasked Jarir with confronting the tribes of Has’am and Bajilah, who had apostatized, thus entrusting him with a mission to preserve the unity of Islam.

Jarir was known for his striking appearance—tall in stature, with a golden beard and handsome facial features. Whenever he entered a gathering, all eyes turned to him. Umar ibn al-Khattab [radiyallahu anhu] once said of him, “He is the Yusuf of the Ummah of Muhammad.”

After the Prophet’s passing, Jarir led many military expeditions and spent the rest of his life on the battlefield. May Allah be pleased with him. Here are a few glimpses from his noble life…

When He Came to the Prophet

Jarir [radiyallahu anhu] recounted:

“I was in Medina when I resolved to go to the Prophet [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam] to pledge my faith and meet him. I wore my finest clothes and perfumed myself with the best fragrance. When I entered the mosque, the Prophet was delivering a khutbah. As I walked in, everyone turned their heads to look at me. The Messenger of Allah paused his khutbah and looked toward me as well. I leaned toward a man sitting at my feet and asked,

- Did the Messenger of Allah say something about me?

He replied, 

- Yes, he spoke of you with the best of words.

- What did he say? I asked.

He answered, 

- He said, ‘Soon, through that door, the best of the people of Yemen will enter. On his face is a beauty touched by angels.’”

Blessed with such noble praise, Jarir waited until the khutbah ended, then approached the Prophet and extended his hand to pledge allegiance and embrace Islam.

When He Visited the Prophet Again

It was the final Ramadan of the Prophet’s life. People were gathered tightly around him, eager to benefit from his words. The masjid was so crowded that there was no room left to sit; everyone was packed together, straining to hear his voice.

Jarir [radiyallahu anhu] entered and searched for a place to sit, but no one made space for him. He remained standing. Seeing this, the Messenger of Allah removed the cloak from his own back, stretched it toward him, and said,

- Sit on this.

Jarir took the cloak, kissed it, pressed it to his chest, and said,

- O Messenger of Allah! May Allah honor you as you have honored me.

Then the Prophet turned to his companions and said,

- When a chief of a people enters your gathering, honor him as he deserves.

The Idol of Dhu’l-Khalasa

After embracing Islam, Jarir returned to his homeland of Yemen. Some time later, he visited the Prophet again and brought glad tidings:

“O Messenger of Allah! Allah has made Islam triumphant. The calls to prayer now echo through the mosques and town squares of the Bajilah tribe. They have smashed the idols they once worshipped.”

The Prophet, deeply pleased, then asked,

- And what of Dhu’l-Khalasa? (This was a major idol and shrine in Yemen, known as the ‘Ka‘bah of Yemen,’ where sacrifices were offered and pilgrimages made by the polytheists.)

Jarir replied that some people still worshipped it.

The Prophet said,

- O Jarir! Will you relieve my heart of this burden and destroy that idol?

Jarir responded,

- By Allah, I shall do so, O Messenger of Allah!

He gathered around one hundred and fifty warriors and set out for the shrine. After a fierce battle, the Muslims prevailed and succeeded in destroying the idol. Upon hearing the news, the Prophet offered abundant prayers for Jarir.

A Beacon of Wisdom Even Before Islam

Jarir [radiyallahu anhu] was known for offering wise counsel, even to rulers. On one occasion, he wrote a letter to Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan [radiyallahu anhu] advising him to be more compassionate toward his people.

Once, while sitting among the army ranks beside Umar ibn al-Khattab [radiyallahu anhu] an unpleasant odor was detected. Umar said,

- Whoever this smell is coming from, let him go and renew his ablution.

Hearing this, Jarir gently suggested,

- O Commander of the Faithful, what if everyone renewed their ablution?

Umar was pleased by this considerate suggestion and responded,

- Live long, O Jarir! You were a wise man even before Islam, and so you remain.