The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) sent an army and appointed Zeid ibn Harithah as their commander. and said: If Zeid is killed or martyred, then your commander will be Ja'far. If he is killed or martyred, then your commander will be 'Abdullah ibn Rawahah. They met the enemy and Zeid took the banner and fought until he was killed. Then Ja'far took the banner and fought until he was killed. Then 'Abdullah ibn Rawahah took it and fought until he was killed. Then Khalid ibn Al-Walid took the banner and Allah granted him victory. News of them reached the Prophet (PBUH), so he went out to the people and praised Allah and thanked him and said: Your brothers have met the enemy. Zeid took the banner and fought until he was killed or martyred. Then Ja'far ibn Abi Talib took the banner after him and fought until he was killed or martyred. Then 'Abdullah ibn Rawahah took the banner and fought until he was killed or martyred. Then a sword from the swords of Allah, Khalid ibn Al-Walid, took the banner and Allah granted him victory. Then the Prophet (PBUH) gave Ja'far's family a respite of three days before he visits them. Then he came to them and said: Do not cry over my brother after today. Call my two nephews to me. Narrator said: We were brought as if we were chicks. Then the Prophet (PBUH) sai: Call the barber to me. The barber was brought and he shaved our heads. Then the Prophet (PBUH) said: As for Muhammad [one of Ja'far's sons], he resembles our uncle Abu Talib, and as for Abdullah [narrator of this hadith and a son of Ja'far's], he resembles me in the look and manners. Then he took my hand and lifted it and said: O Allah, take care of Ja'far's family after him and bless 'Abdullah in the trading deals of his right hand. He said it three times. Then our mother came and mentioned to the Prophet (PBUH) our orphanhood and that started to sadden him. So he said: You fear poverty for them, while I am their guardian in this world and the hereafter.

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) gave a sermon and said: Zeid took the banner and was killed, then Ja'far took it and was killed, then 'Abdullah ibn Rawahah took it and was killed and his eyes were shedding tears, then Khalid took it without being in command, and Allah granted him victory. I would not be pleased that they were with us, or he said, they would not be pleased that they were with us [knowing the pleasure they were in by then].