Jabir ibn Abdullah al-Ansari[1], a distinguished companion of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family), and a devoted lover among the admirers of Aba Abdillah al-Hussain (peace be upon him), holds a unique place in history. Although due to blindness and advanced age he could not be present at the tragedy of Karbala, it is sufficient honor for him to have been the first visitor to the grave of Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) on the first Arbaeen (the 40th day after the martyrdom of the Imam).
Atiyyah al-Awfi[2] (Jabir’s attendant) narrates the story of this heartfelt reunion as follows:
“We departed from Medina for the ziyarat (pilgrimage) of Imam Hussain (peace be upon him). When we arrived in Karbala, Jabir went to the Euphrates River, performed ghusl (ritual washing), donned clean garments, and applied perfume. He did not take a step without remembering Allah.
When we approached the sacred grave, he said to me, ‘Place my hand on the grave.’ I did so. As soon as his hand touched the blessed grave, he collapsed unconscious upon it. I sprinkled some water on his face, and he regained consciousness. When he opened his eyes, he cried out three times: ‘O Hussain! O Hussain! O Hussain!’
Then, addressing the sacred grave of the Master of Martyrs (peace be upon him), he said: ‘[Is it possible that] a friend does not answer his beloved…?!’
He then murmured, ‘Indeed, let me answer on your behalf. [How could you respond] when the blood from your severed neck has drenched your blessed shoulders, and separation has come between your head and body.’
Jabir began reciting the ziyarat of the Master of Martyrs (peace be upon him), addressing him in reverence:
‘I bear witness that you are the son of the Prophets, the son of the leader of the believers, the son of the ally of piety, the descendant of guidance, the fifth of the People of the Cloak, the son of the chief of the leaders, and the son of Fatima, the best of women. Truly, how could you not be such, as the hands of the Master of the Prophets nurtured you, you were raised in the house of piety, drank the milk of faith, and were weaned upon Islam? You lived purely and departed this world purely. The hearts of the believers grieve over your loss, and they have no doubt that [martyrdom] was predestined for you. So may the peace and satisfaction of Allah be upon you…’[3]
Indeed, that day, Jabir visited the grave of his beloved Imam and became the first to perform the ziyarat of Imam Hussain (peace be upon him). From then on, the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), one after another, established the culture of visiting the grave of the Master of Martyrs (peace be upon him) and explained its blessings and benefits to the Shia. Such was its significance that the eleventh Imam, Imam Hasan al-Askari (peace be upon him), described the ziyarat of Arbaeen as one of the defining signs of a believer[4].
Footnotes:
[1] Jabir ibn Abdullah al-Ansari was a companion of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family). From the very beginning, he pledged to defend Islam and sacrificed for its cause, actively participating in most battles during the Prophet’s lifetime. Beyond his bravery in jihad, Jabir was a distinguished figure in Islamic knowledge, absorbing profound insights from the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them). He was so well-versed in their teachings that even Imam al-Baqir (peace be upon him) would occasionally quote traditions through him.
[2] Atiyyah ibn Sa’d Janadah al-Awfi, a tabi’i (one who lived after the Prophet but met his companions), was Jabir’s attendant. He was a Shia, a narrator of the virtues of Imam Ali (peace be upon him), and an expert in Quranic exegesis. He lived during the times of five Shia Imams.
[3] Bisharat al-Mustafa li Shi’at al-Murtadha, Vol. 2, p. 74
[4] Tahdhib al-Ahkam, Vol. 6, p. 52