Jabir bin Abdullah (R) The Example of Sacrifice

Jabir bin Abdullah رضي الله عنهما embraced Islam while he was still a young boy, and he stayed close to the Prophet ﷺ for the rest of his life. He is one of the Companions from whom a great many narrations reach us, because he was so often present.

His father was killed at Uhud, leaving Jabir responsible for seven sisters. He gave up choices he would have preferred in order to care for them — and when the Prophet ﷺ asked him why he had married an older woman rather than a young one, that was his answer: his sisters needed someone who could look after them.

He used to repeat something the Prophet ﷺ had taught him: that smiling in your brother's face is a good deed for which Allah rewards a believer. And though he had almost nothing, he brought the little food he had to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, who at that time was tying two stones against his stomach against the hunger. His house was blessed afterwards through the Prophet's ﷺ supplication.

About the Golden Series

The Golden Series of the Prophet's Companions tells the life of one Companion per book, in language written for young readers and for families reading together. Each account is drawn from authentic Islamic sources and told as a story rather than a lesson — which is why children finish them.

The series works well for Islamic schools and weekend academies, for home libraries, and as a reading reward or gift. Because each title stands alone, a family can start anywhere and collect the rest over time.

More in the Golden Series

Each title in the series covers one Companion in the same short, readable format. Eighteen are currently available:

• Salman Al-Farisi — In Quest of Truth
• Abu Dhar Al-Gifari — Struggle for Equality
• Abdullah bin 'Umar — The Jurist
• 'Amr bin Al-'Aas — The Conqueror of Egypt
• Abu Bakr As-Siddiq — The First Caliph
• 'Ali bin Abi Talib — The Fourth Caliph
• Abu 'Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah — The Nation's Trustworthy
• Az-Zubair bin Al-'Awwam — The Disciple
• Khabbab bin Al-Aratt — The Teacher
• 'Umar bin Al-Khattab — The Second Caliph
• 'Uthman bin 'Affan — The Third Caliph
• Bilal bin Rabah — The Mu'adhdhin
• Khalid bin Al-Waleed — The Sword of Allah
• Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas — The Lion in the Deen
• Sa'd bin Mu'adh — The True Supporter of Islam
• Suhaib Ar-Roomi — The Example of Sacrifice
• Talhah bin 'Ubaidullah — The Living Martyr

Related Reading

• Heroes of Islam — over 70 short biographies in a single volume
• Commanders of the Muslim Army — the commanders of the early Muslim armies
• Q&A on the Rightly Guided Caliphs — the four caliphs in question-and-answer form