Abstract:

The Bajīla tribe, a Yemenite tribe led by Jarīr b. ʿAbdallāh al-Bajalī, was among the Arab tribes which, after the conquest of Mecca, came to Medina to give an allegiance to the Prophet Muhammad, who introduced Jarīr to the Muslims in Medina and ensured that they embraced and respected him. He held him up as an example to other tribe leaders and kept him onside. Upon the order he took from the Prophet Muhammad, Jarīr destroyed Dhu’l-Khalaṣa one of the most famous idols of the Yemenites. After Jarīr became Muslim and owed allegiance to the Prophet’s state, he firmly adhered to his religion and state. Soon, he became comparable to the Anṣār and the Muhād̲j̲irūn in terms of closeness to the Prophet Muhammad. The Prophet was annoyed by the emerging cases of apostasy around Yemen. He needed the support of Yemeni leaders to keep the Muslim control over the Yemeni people. In this context, Jarīr did the Prophet’s bidding and also continued to serve during the caliphate of Abū Bakr by carrying out various tasks. He fought against apostates. Standing out with his handsomeness, Jarīr b. ʿAbdallāh was one of the Prophet’s companions with high Islamic sensitivity. In addition to his conciliator attitude, he made a mark with his efforts to remind people the requirements of religion as he promised the Prophet during his submission. This essay introduces Jarīr b. ʿAbdallāh and examines his tribe, the religious and political characteristics of the land he lived in, his relationship with the Prophet, and his activities during the era of Abū Bakr.

Keywords: