Seerah / Madinah
Jabir's choice after his father's death
- Date
- After Uhud (3 AH) · approximate
- Location
- Madinah
- People
- Jabir ibn 'Abdullah (RA)
Jabir (RA) narrates in Sahih al-Bukhari that after his father died leaving several daughters, he married an older woman who could care for his sisters; the Prophet ﷺ asked him about it and made dua for him.
As it was narrated
The story, in the words of those who were there
Read slowly. These are the Companions' own words, from the verified hadith collections.
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ هَلَكَ أَبِي وَتَرَكَ سَبْعَ بَنَاتٍ أَوْ تِسْعَ بَنَاتٍ فَتَزَوَّجْتُ امْرَأَةً ثَيِّبًا فَقَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " تَزَوَّجْتَ يَا جَابِرُ ". فَقُلْتُ نَعَمْ. فَقَالَ " بِكْرًا أَمْ ثَيِّبًا ". قُلْتُ بَلْ ثَيِّبًا. قَالَ " فَهَلاَّ جَارِيَةً تُلاَعِب…
Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah:My father died and left seven or nine girls and I married a matron. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to me, "O Jabir! Have you married?" I said, "Yes." He said, "A virgin or a matron?" I replied, "A matron." he said, "Why not a virgin, so that you might play with her and she with you, and you might amuse her and she amuse you." I said, " `Abdullah (my father) died and left girls, and I dislike to marry a girl like them, so I married a lady (matron) so that she may look after them." On that he said, "May Allah bless you," or "That is good
Lessons
- Choosing a spouse with your family's needs in mind is wise and honourable.
- Responsibility can shape a young person's best decisions.
Lessons are editorial reflections drawn from the event and its sources.
Pause for a moment
Which moment of your own life does this remind you of? Sit with it for a minute, then send salawat on the one who lived it ﷺ.
Send salawat ﷺBibliography
- Sahih al-Bukhari 5367 (Jabir) · primary source
- Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq al-Makhtum (further reading)