Fath al-Rabbani

It is narrated from Khalid bin Shumair that Abdullah bin Rabah (may Allah be pleased with him) came to us. I found him in such a state that people were gathered around him. He said that the horseman of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him), narrated to us that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sent the army of commanders and said: "Zaid bin Harithah (may Allah be pleased with him) will be your commander. If he is martyred, then after him, Ja'far (may Allah be pleased with him) will be the commander. If he too is martyred, then Abdullah bin Rawahah (may Allah be pleased with him) will be the commander." Upon hearing this, Ja'far (may Allah be pleased with him) jumped up and said, "O Prophet of Allah, may my father be sacrificed for you! I did not expect that you would appoint Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him) as commander over me." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Set out, you do not know which matter is better." The army set out. They remained on the journey as long as Allah willed, then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) ascended the pulpit and ordered that the announcement for prayer be made. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "A news has spread. Shall I not inform you about the army engaged in battle?" They went, met the enemy, and Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him) was martyred. Pray for his forgiveness." So the people prayed for his forgiveness. After him, Ja'far bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) took the flag. He attacked the enemy until he too was martyred. Bear witness to his martyrdom." The people also prayed for his forgiveness. Then Abdullah bin Rawahah (may Allah be pleased with him) took the flag. He too stood firm against the enemy until he was also honored with martyrdom. The companions also prayed for his forgiveness. After them, Khalid bin Walid (may Allah be pleased with him) took the flag. He was not among the commanders appointed by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Due to the circumstances, he became the commander on his own. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) raised his fingers and said: "O Allah! He is one of Your swords, so help him." Abdur Rahman, the narrator, said that due to the blessing of the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) supplication, he was victorious. From that day, Khalid (may Allah be pleased with him) was called "the Sword of Allah." Then the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Set out and go help your brothers, and let none of you remain behind." The people set out, on foot and mounted, in the intense heat.

It is narrated from Abdullah bin Ja'far that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, sent out an army and appointed Zaid bin Harithah, may Allah be pleased with him, as their commander. He said, "If Zaid, may Allah be pleased with him, is martyred, then Ja'far bin Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, will be your commander. If he is also martyred, then Abdullah bin Rawahah, may Allah be pleased with him, will be your commander." The Muslims confronted the enemy. Zaid, may Allah be pleased with him, took up the flag and fought the enemy until he was martyred. After him, Ja'far, may Allah be pleased with him, took the flag and he too fought the enemy until he was martyred. After him, Abdullah bin Rawahah, may Allah be pleased with him, took up the flag and he too fought the enemy until he attained martyrdom. After them, Khalid bin Walid, may Allah be pleased with him, took up the flag, and Allah granted victory at his hands. News of this reached the Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. He came out to the people, and after praising and glorifying Allah, he said, "Your brothers confronted the enemy. First, Zaid took up the flag and fought until he was martyred. After him, Ja'far bin Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, took up the flag and he too fought until he was martyred. After him, Abdullah bin Rawahah, may Allah be pleased with him, took up the flag and he too attained the rank of martyrdom. After them, one of Allah's swords, Khalid bin Walid, may Allah be pleased with him, took up the flag and Allah granted victory at his hands." The family of Ja'far waited for three days hoping that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would visit them. After the third day, he visited them and said, "Do not weep for my brother after today. Call my nephews to me." We were brought to him, and we were as small as chicks. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Call the barber." The barber was called and he shaved our heads. Then the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "This Muhammad resembles our uncle Abu Talib, and Abdullah resembles me in appearance and temperament." Then he took my hand, raised it, and said, "O Allah, appoint him as a successor among the family of Ja'far, and bless Abdullah in his trade." The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, made this supplication three times. Our mother came to him and expressed that these children are now without support. He said, "Do you fear poverty for them? I am their guardian in this world and the Hereafter."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, sent Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Rawahah, may Allah be pleased with him, with an army. It was Friday, so he sent his companions ahead and said about himself: I will stay behind so that I may perform the Friday prayer with the Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and then join them. When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, saw him, he said: What prevented you from setting out with your companions in the morning? He said: My intention was to perform the Friday prayer with you and then join them. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Even if you spend everything that is in the earth, you will not attain the reward of their setting out in the morning.