Sometimes he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would take care of their affairs

“The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, sent an army, and made Zayd ibn Haarithah (a Companion) the general, and said: ‘If Zayd is killed or martyred, then Ja`far is your leader, and if he is killed or martyred, then `Abdullaah ibn Rawaahah will assume leadership.’ Their news reached the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, so he went out to the people, thanked Allah and praised Him, then said: ‘Your brothers have met an enemy, and Zayd has taken the flag. He fought until he was killed or martyred. Afterwards, Ja`far ibn Abu Taalib took the flag and fought until he was killed or martyred, then `Abdullaah ibn Rawaahah took the flag, and fought until he was killed or martyred, then one of the swords of Allah, Khaalid ibn AlWaleed, took the flag, and Allah granted victory to him.’ Then he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, gave the family of Ja`far three days of mourning, then went to them and said: ‘Do not weep over my brother after today or tomorrow. Call the sons of my brother to me.’ So we were brought as if we were young nestlings, and the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘Call a barber to me.’ So a barber came and shaved our heads. Then he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘As for Muhammad, he looks like our uncle Abu Taalib, and as for `Abdullaah, he looks like and has similar mannerisms to me.’ Then he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, took my hand and lifted it, saying: ‘O Allah, succeed Ja`far in his family [i.e. take care of them after his death], and bless `Abdullaah’s transactions.’ He said that three times. Then our mother came and mentioned our orphaned state to him, which caused him to grieve. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to her: ‘Do you fear poverty for them, even though I am their guardian in this life and the next?’”