Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Ja'far (may Allah be pleased with them both) relates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) dispatched an army and appointed Zayd bin Harithah (may Allah be pleased with him) as its commander, and said: "If he is killed or martyred, then your commander will be Ja'far bin Abi Talib; and if he is killed or martyred, then your commander will be Abdullah bin Rawahah." So they set out and met the enemy. Zayd bin Harithah (may Allah be pleased with him) took up the banner and fought until he was martyred; then Ja'far (may Allah be pleased with him) took up the banner and fought until he was martyred; then Abdullah bin Rawahah (may Allah be pleased with him) took up the banner and fought until he too was martyred. Then one of the swords of Allah, Khalid bin al-Walid (may Allah be pleased with him), took up the banner, and Allah granted victory at his hands. Their news reached the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), so he (peace and blessings be upon him) came out, ascended the pulpit, praised and glorified Allah, then said: "To proceed: your brothers met the enemy. Zayd bin Harithah took up the banner and fought until he was killed or martyred; then Ja'far took up the banner and fought until he was killed or martyred; then Abdullah bin Rawahah took up the banner and fought until he was killed or martyred; then one of the swords of Allah, Khalid bin al-Walid, took up the banner, and Allah granted victory at his hands." Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) gave the family of Ja'far a respite of three days before coming to them. Then he came to them and said: "Do not weep for him after today." Then he said: "Call my nephews to me." So we were brought, as though we were young chicks. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Call the barber to me." He then instructed him, and he shaved our heads. Then he said: "As for Muhammad, he resembles our uncle Abu Talib; and as for Awn (and) Abdullah, they resemble me in my appearance and my character." Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) took my hand, raised it and said: "O Allah, be a good successor to Ja'far in his family, and bless Abdullah in the transactions of his right hand." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said this three times. He said: Then our mother came and mentioned our orphanhood, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Do you fear poverty for them, when I am their guardian in this world and the Hereafter?"
Hadith Referenceالمعجم الكبير للطبراني / باب العين / 13791