49/30. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3766 — Ja'far, Father of the Poor
The Virtues of Ja'far Bin Abi Talib, The Brother of 'Ali, May Allah Be Pleased With Them Both
Hadith About Ja'far as Abu Al-Masakin
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 3766
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 3766
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو سَعِيدٍ الأَشَجُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ أَبُو يَحْيَى التَّيْمِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ الْمَخْزُومِيُّ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ إِنْ كُنْتُ لأَسْأَلُ الرَّجُلَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ الآيَاتِ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ أَنَا أَعْلَمُ بِهَا مِنْهُ مَا أَسْأَلُهُ إِلاَّ لِيُطْعِمَنِي شَيْئًا فَكُنْتُ إِذَا سَأَلْتُ جَعْفَرَ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ لَمْ يُجِبْنِي حَتَّى يَذْهَبَ بِي إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ فَيَقُولُ لاِمْرَأَتِهِ يَا أَسْمَاءُ أَطْعِمِينَا شَيْئًا . فَإِذَا أَطْعَمَتْنَا أَجَابَنِي وَكَانَ جَعْفَرٌ يُحِبُّ الْمَسَاكِينَ وَيَجْلِسُ إِلَيْهِمْ وَيُحَدِّثُهُمْ وَيُحَدِّثُونَهُ فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَكْنِيهِ بِأَبِي الْمَسَاكِينِ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ . وَأَبُو إِسْحَاقَ الْمَخْزُومِيُّ هُوَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ الْفَضْلِ الْمَدَنِيُّ وَقَدْ تَكَلَّمَ فِيهِ بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الْحَدِيثِ مِنْ قِبَلِ حِفْظِهِ وَلَهُ غَرَائِبُ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
I Used To Ask A Man From Among The Companions Of The Prophet (ﷺ) Concerning Ayat Of The Qur'An Which I Would Be More Knowledgeable About Than Him, So That He Might Inform Me Something (More About Them). So When I Would Ask Ja'Far Bin Abi Talib, He Would Not Answer Me Until He Would Go With Me To His Place And Say To His Wife: 'O Asma, Give Us Some Food.' Once She Had Given Us Some Food, He Would Answer Me. And Ja'Far Used To Love The Poor And Sit With Them, And Speak With Them, And They Would Speak With Him, So The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) Used To Call Him Abu Al-Masakin (The Father Of The Poor).
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3766In-book reference : Book 49, Hadith 165English translation : Vol. 1, Book 46, Hadith 3766
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 3766
This hadith about helping the poor gives a warm picture of Ja'far bin Abi Talib. Abu Hurairah says he would ask some companions about Quranic verses while hoping to receive food. When he asked Ja'far, Ja'far would first take him home and ask Asma to bring food. After feeding him, he would answer. The hadith also says Ja'far loved the poor, sat with them, spoke with them, and listened to them. Because of this, the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم called him Abu Al-Masakin, the Father of the Poor. For searches like Abu Al-Masakin hadith and Ja'far loved the poor, the lesson is clear: care for needy people can include food, closeness, conversation, and dignity.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ja'far showed care by feeding someone before answering him.
- Loving the poor includes sitting with them and speaking with them.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gave Ja'far the title Abu Al-Masakin.
- Helping people should preserve closeness and dignity.
