A man with two wings

In the battle of Mu'ta, as specified by the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h), Ja'far Tayya was the second in command of the army after Zayd ibn Harithah. When Zayd fell in battle as martyr, Ja'far took the flag of the army in his hands.

In the course of struggle, he lost both hands to the strikes of swords that reached him. He then tried to hold the flag with his half-mutilated arms on his chest.

Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) was observing this incident from Medina through the eye of his heart. He was in tears as he was describing to his companions what was happening on the battlefield.

Finally, he told them that Ja'far had been martyred. He commented:

- Allah granted two wings to Ja'far in Paradise as reward for having sacrificed both of his arms in the path of Allah.

From then on, he greeted the young sons of Ja'far, while patting them on their heads, as "the sons of the one with two wings."

Ja'far (r.a) was drunk with the love of Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h). He thus attained both the praise of Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) as well as great gifts from Allah in Paradise. He was successful in attaining advanced spiritual depth before reaching the rank of martyr on the path which brought him the blessing of Allah.


#nowreading : Tears of the Heart