ʿAwn ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Jaʿfar (Arabic: عون بن عبدالله بن جَعفر), known as Awn al-Akbar (died October 10, 680), was a son of Zaynab who accompanied Husayn ibn Ali on his journey from Mecca to Kufa. He was martyred on the Day of Ashura.
Awn ibn Abd Allah ibn Ja'far Arabic: عون بن عبدالله بن جعفر | |
Birth Place: | Medina |
Death Date: | 10th of Muharram, 61st Islamic year (October 10, 680 CE) |
Death Cause: | Martyred in the Battle of Karbala |
Burial Place: | Imam Husayn Shrine, Karbala |
Known For: | Participation in the Battle of Karbala against Yazid I's armed forces |
Opponents: | Umayyad Caliph Yazid I & his armed forces |
Parents: | Abd Allah ibn Ja'far (father) Zaynab bint Ali (mother) |
Relatives: | Ja'far ibn Abi Talib (grandfather)Muhammad (brother) |
Awn was a son of Zaynab, Husayn's sister, and Abd Allah ibn Ja'far ibn Abi Talib who was a companion of the Prophet.[1] Awn's grandfather was Ja'far al-Tayyar who was appointed by the Prophet as the chief of Muslims in their migration to Abyssinia.[2] Abd Allah had two sons called Awn:[3] Awn al-Akbar whose mother was Zaynab and Awn al-Asghar whose mother was Jamana, daughter of Musayyib ibn Najba.[4]
When Abd Allah ibn Ja'far learned about Husayn's departure to Kufa, he wrote a letter to Imam to convince him to return to Mecca. Abd Allah sent his letter to Imam by his sons Awn and Muhammad.[5] When Abd Allah found that Imam was determined in his decision, advised his sons Awn and Muhammad to accompany him and fight along with Husayn.[6]
After Muhammad was martyred, Awn went to the battlefield. According to Ibn Shahr Ashub, he killed 3 horsemen and 18 foot soldiers from the army of Umar ibn Sa'd[7] and finally was martyred by Abd Allah ibn Qutba.[8]