Mustadrak al-Hakim — Hadith 5001

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was seated, and Asma' bint Umays (may Allah be pleased with her) was close to him, when suddenly he (peace and blessings be upon him) returned a greeting of peace and then said: "O Asma', this is Ja'far bin Abi Talib, who is with Jibril, Mika'il and Israfil. They have greeted us, so you too return their greeting. He has told me that he encountered the polytheists on such-and-such a day, this being three or four days before he passed by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Ja'far said: 'I fought the polytheists, and I received seventy-three wounds on the front of my body from spears, arrows and swords. Then I took hold of the banner in my right hand and it was cut off; then I took it with my left hand and it too was cut off. So Allah Almighty gave me two wings in place of my two hands, with which I fly with Jibril and Mika'il; I descend wherever I wish in Paradise and eat whatever of its fruits I wish.'" Asma' (may Allah be pleased with her) said: May the good that Allah has granted Ja'far be a blessing for him, but I fear that people will not believe it, so go up onto the pulpit and inform the people of it. So he (peace and blessings be upon him) went up onto the pulpit, praised and extolled Allah, and said: "O people, indeed Ja'far is with Jibril and Mika'il; he has two wings which Allah has given him in place of his hands. He has greeted me." Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) told the people about his encounter with the polytheists. So after the day on which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had informed them that Ja'far had encountered them, this became clear to the people; that is why he is called al-Tayyar (the one who flies) in Paradise.