Sayyiduna Zubayr ibn Al-Awwam (RA) is among the ten noble companions of Rasulullah (ﷺ) who were promised Paradise. He is the disciple of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). His full name is Zubayr ibn al-Awwam. He is the son of Awwam ibn Khuwaylid and Safiyya bint Abdul Mutallib (RA). He was born in Makkah. He embraced Islam at the age of 16 and was among the first five converts under the guidance of Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (RA). When the message of Islam was spread among the people of Makkah, the early Muslims were tortured ruthlessly. Zubayr ibn Al-Awwam was among them. Nawfal ibn Khuwailid, his uncle, took charge of torturing him. It was reported that his uncle used to wrap his nephew in a mat, light a fire outside it, causing the smoke to suffocate Zubayr (RA), and he said to him ”Leave Islam and I shall spare you”, but Sayyiduna Zubayr ibn Al-Awwam replied with his resolute determination that he will never return to Islam.
He married Lady Asma bint Abi Bakr ”Zat an-nitaqayn” (The possessor of the two scarves). He undertook two migrations (Hijrah): first to Abyssinia and then to Yathrib. After his final migration to Madina, he had a baby, who was named Abdullah Ibn Az-Zubayr, who was the first Muslim baby born after Hijrah in Madinah. Sayyiduna Zubayr ibn Al-Awwam was the first one to unsheathe his sword for the cause of Allah. He was resting in the valley of Mataabikh (a name of a place in Mecca) when suddenly he heard that Muhammad (ﷺ) had been killed. He left his house immediately while carrying his sword. The Prophet (ﷺ) walked past the place where he was resting and when he saw Sayyiduna Zubayr (RA), he said to him, “Zubayr, stop! What is the matter?” He replied that he heard someone saying the Prophet (ﷺ) had been martyred. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) asked, “What could you have done even if I had been martyred?” Sayyiduna Zubayr (RA) replied, “I swear by Allah, I had intended to kill every single person dwelling in Mecca.” At that moment, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) prayed for him. He participated in all the battles and never stayed behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in any expedition.
Zubayr ibn Al-Awwam in the battle of Uhud
”Those [believers] who responded to Allah and the Messenger after injury had struck them. For those who did good among them and feared Allah is a great reward.”
﴾الَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُوا لِلَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ مِن بَعْدِ مَا أَصَابَهُمُ الْقَرْحُ ۚ لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا مِنْهُمْ وَاتَّقَوْا أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ﴿
Lady Ayisha narrated regarding the mentioned verses: She said to `Urwa, “O my nephew! Your father, Az-Zubayr, and Abu Bakr were amongst them (i.e., those who responded to the call of Allah and His Messenger on the day of the Battle of Uhud). After Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) endured the hardships of the day of Uhud and the pagans departed, he feared that they might return. So he said, ‘Who will follow their trail?’ He then selected seventy men from among them (for this purpose).” (The sub-narrator added, “Abu Bakr and Az- Zubayr were among them.”)
Zubayr ibn Al-Awwam in the battle of Khandaq (Trench)
The Battle of Khandaq (also known as the Battle of the Trench or the Battle of Ahzab) was a siege of Madinah by a coalition of Meccan forces and some Jewish tribes against the Prophet Muhammad and his Muslim followers. Quraysh, along with its allies from the clans of Kinanah and the inhabitants of Tihamah, gathered an army of ten thousand men. Additionally, the tribe of Ghatafan from Najd rushed to aid Quraysh, placing the Muslims in a difficult situation. The Messenger of Allah knew their decision beforehand, so he ordered Muslims to dig a ditch around the city of Madinah, while they were surrounded on all sides by their enemies. As the Muslims became increasingly vulnerable and their supplies dwindled, they heard a rumor that the tribe of Banu Qurayza within Madinah was planning to attack them from within. Therefore, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) asked ”Who would go to the fortress of Banu Qurayza and verify if they were betraying the treaty?”. Jabir ibn Abdullah reported: Jabir ibn Abdullah reported: “I heard Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) exhorting the people on the Day of the Battle of the Ditch to fight.” Zubayr (RA) replied, “I am ready to participate.” The Prophet (ﷺ) then said, “For every Prophet there is a helper, and my helper is Zubayr”.
Conquest of Egypt
When Amr ibn Al-As (RA) set out to conquer Egypt, he lacked sufficient forces. Therefore, he wrote to Umar ibn Al-Khattab (RA), requesting support and reinforcements. Umar (RA) sent Zubayr ibn Al- Awwam with twelve thousand men. He also wrote to Amr ibn Al-As: ”I have sent to you four thousand men, each thousand of whom is led by a man who is equal to a thousand.” Conquest was slow for Amr ibn Al-As (RA), so Zubayr (RA) said: ”I will offer myself for the sake of Allah, hoping that He grants victory to the Muslims through me.” Sayyiduna Amr ibn Al-As besieged the fortress of Babylon. Zubayr ibn Al-Awwam set up a ladder against the fortress wall near the marketplace of Al-Hamam and climbed up. He instructed the Muslims not to follow him until they heard the Takbeer. Thanks to the bravery of Sayyiduna Zubayr, the fortress of Babylon opened its gates to the Muslims, leading to the conquest of Egypt
Sayyiduna Zubayr ibn Al-Awwam witnessed the reign of the four Caliphs: Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, Umar ibn al-Khattab, Uthman ibn Affan, and Ali ibn Abi Talib. He passed away at the age of 65 and was buried in Basra, Iraq, after dedicating his life to serving Islam and the Muslims.
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