Jondab-e-asadi

Who is Jondab-e-asadi?

Jundub Ibn Ka'b Al-Azadi was a companion of Muhammad and Ali ibn Abu Talib, cousin of Muhammad. He fought alongside Ali at the Battle of Jamal and at Siffin. He remained loyal to Ali and his cause, along with Malik al-Ashtar, Amar e Yassar and Miqdaad. He is associated with an event during the reign of Third Islamic Caliph Uthman Ibn Affan. In A.D 645, Usman appointed Waleed ibn Uqba as governor of Kufa. At that time, Jondab was living in Kufa. On a particular occasion, a magician came to the city to show his magical tricks. He was invited to the main mosque of the city by Waleed. A huge number of people gathered to see his tricks. First, the magician transformed into a camel and started walking on a rope. Then, he entered a donkey from his mouth and came out from his back side. Then he ordered a man; accused of some unknown offence; to come to the centre. When the man came, he transformed him into a dog. Then he changed him back to a human being. By this time, Waleed became very happy with the magician. He threw one of his shoe, probably made of gold, at the magician as a token of his tricks. However, the magician transformed the shoe into a pigeon and let him fly.