Jawn b. Huway
| Jawn b. Huway | |
|---|---|
| Companion of | Imam Ali (a) • Imam al-Hussain (a) |
| Lineage | Nubia (Africa) |
| Death/Martyrdom | Day of Ashura |
| Cause ofDeath/Martyrdom | Martyred in the Battle of Karbala |
| Burial Place | Holy Shrine of Imam al-Hussain (a) |
Jawn b. Huway (Arabic: جَون بن حُوَی) was a black slave of Abu Dhar al-Ghifari. He was among martyrs of the battle of Karbala. In the day of Ashura, Imam Hussain initially did not give him permission to fight, but he insisted and said: "By God, I will never leave you until my blood is shed for you." When he was martyred, Imam Hussain prayed on his body.
Name
His name was mentioned in sources with some variations. Al-Shaykh al-Mufid stated his name as Juwayn, al-Baladhuri and Muhammad b. Jarir b. Yazid al-Tabari|al-Tabari called him Huway, Ibn Shahr Ashub stated his name as Juwayn b. Abi Malik and Abu l-Faraj al-Isfahani, al-Shaykh al-Tusi and al-Sayyid b. Tawus stated his name as Jawn.
Life
Jawn was a black slave from Nubia (Africa) who served Fadl b. 'Abbas b. 'Abd al-Muttalib. Later, Imam Ali bought him and gave him to Abu Dhar al-Ghifari as a gift. He served Abu Dhar until his demise in al-Rabada in 32/653. Afterwards he returned to Imam Ali and stayed with his descendants. It is said he was good at repairing and preparing weapons. It is quoted from Imam Sajjad, that Jawn was preparing weapons in the tent of Imam Hussain the night before 'Ashura.
Ashura
Imam Hussain prevented Jawn from participating in the battle but he replied: "By God, I will never leave you until my blood is shed for you."
Finally, Imam Hussain gave him permission to fight. Jawn went to the battlefield after 'Amr b. Qaraza or according to another report, after he said congregational prayer at noon in the day of 'Ashura. He was martyred after slaying twenty five men of enemy soldiers.
Based on reports, when he was martyred Imam Hussain said this supplication: Oh God, have his face bright and his smell delightful, have him resurrected with the good alongside Prophet Muhammad and Descendants of the Prophet. “Allahumma bayyiḍ wajhahu wa ṭayyib rīḥahu wa uḥshurhu ma'a al-abrāri wa 'arrif baynahu wa bayna Muḥammad (s) wa āli Muḥammad (a). Arabic: اَللّهُمَّ بَیِّض وَجهَهُ وَ طَیِّب ریحَهُ وَ احشُرهُ مَعَ الأبرارِ وَ عَرِّف بَینَهُ و بَینَ مُحمدٍ و آلِ مُحمدٍ”
His body was buried along with other martyrs of the Battle of Karbala near the burial place of Imam Hussain. However, al-'Allama al-Majlisi stated that his body was found after ten days while it had beautiful smell. His name is also cited in Ziyarah al-Shuhada: Peace be upon Jawn the servant of Abu Dhar al-Ghifari. “Al-Salām 'alā Jawn mawlā Abū Dhar al-Ghifārī. Arabic: اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَى جَوْنٍ مَوْلَى أَبِیذَرٍّ الْغِفَارِیِّ”