A companion whose face was touched by an Angel- Jarir ibn AbdAllah

 

      Imam adh-Dhahabi (RA) has titled a companion of the Prophet (Pbuh) as Al-Amir, Al-Nabil, Al-Jamil, Abaa 'Amr Jarir ibn AbdAllah in his collection, where he has described his exceptional qualities in great detail. Jarir (RA) was the leader of his people from Yemen and accepted Islam nine years after the Prophet (Pbuh)'s migration to Medina, during 'Aam al-Wufood. He brought 150 individuals with him to embrace Islam and meet the Prophet (Pbuh). Jarir (RA) was known for his ability to always bring a smile to the Prophet (Pbuh)'s face whenever he saw him. This quality exemplifies the kind and affectionate character of the Prophet towards his companions and sets Jarir (RA) apart as a remarkable individual among them.

       What is the account of Jarir's encounter with the Prophet (Pbuh)? One day, while the Prophet was addressing his companions in Masjid an Nabawi in Medina, he suddenly paused and declared that a man from the finest people of Yemen, whose face had been touched by an angel, was about to enter through a specific door. As Jarir (RA) entered the mosque, the entire congregation stopped and stared at him in awe. Perplexed by the attention he was receiving, Jarir approached the nearest person and inquired if the Prophet had said anything about him, whether positive or negative. The individual informed him of the Prophet's statement, which left Jarir feeling grateful, and he promptly embraced Islam, becoming a companion of the Prophet (Pbuh) during the final year of his life.

      What does it mean when someone says that an angel wiped their face? In the Hadith, the Prophet (Pbuh) speaks of three men - a bald man, a leper, and a blind man - to whom an angel provides different forms of sustenance. The angel wiped the bald man's head, granting him hair, the blind man's eyes, restoring his sight, and the leper's skin, curing his leprosy. It is believed that a similar angel wiped Jarir (RA)'s face, bestowing him with exceptional beauty without any blemishes. This made him stand out wherever he went, and people were attracted to him. He was referred to as the Yusuf of the Ummah and praised by Umar bin Khattab (RA). Jarir (RA) embraced Islam by declaring his allegiance to the Prophet (Pbuh) with the Shahada that there is only one God and that Mohammed is the messenger of Allah. Although there is limited information available about his interactions with the Prophet (Pbuh), it is known that he was an exceptional leader both in the pre-Islamic era and during Islam.

         Jarir (RA) committed himself to fulfilling the obligations of establishing prayers and paying zakat. Additionally, he pledged to listen and obey, and to give sincere advice to every Muslim. Allah endowed him with exceptional beauty and effective leadership qualities, which he utilized for the sake of da'wah. During the fitna, he declined to fight against those who professed "La Ilaha illa Allah" and focused instead on propagating the message of Islam. On the day of Qadisiyyah, a significant battle in Islamic history, one-third of the Muslim fighters were from the tribe of Jarir ibn AbdAllah (RA).