Mustadrak al-Hakim — Hadith 5011

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that once the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was seated, and Sayyidah 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 gestured with his hand. Then he said: "O Asma', this is Ja'far bin Abi Talib, who is with Jibril and Mika'il (peace be upon them both). They passed by here and greeted us, so you too return their greeting." Ja'far (may Allah be pleased with him) also reported that he had encountered the polytheists on such-and-such a day, three or four days earlier. He said: "I met the polytheists, and I received seventy-three (73) wounds from spears and arrows on the front of my body. Then I took hold of the (Islamic) banner in my right hand and it was cut off; then I took hold of it with my left hand and it too was cut off. So Allah Almighty has given me two wings in place of my two hands, with which I fly in Paradise with Jibril and Mika'il, and I eat of its fruits from wherever I wish." Sayyidah Asma' (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "May the good and blessing that Allah Almighty has granted Ja'far be a blessing for him." After that, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) went up onto the pulpit and informed the people of this event. Then the truth of what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had told became clear to the people, and for this reason Ja'far came to be titled al-Tayyar (the one who flies much). An account of the virtues of Sayyiduna Zayd bin Harithah bin Sharahil bin Abd al-Uzza, the beloved of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): he was taken captive by Banu al-Qayn, then Sayyidah Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (may Allah be pleased with her) bought him for four hundred dirhams, and when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) married her, she gave Zayd to him (peace and blessings be upon him) as a gift (that is, presented him as a present).