Zubayr ibn al-Awwam

Zubayr
Born	594 Mecca, Arabia
Died	656 Basra, Iraq
Allegiance	Rashidun Caliphate.
Service/branch	Rashidun army
Years of service	636, 640–642
Rank	Commander
Commands held	Rashidun conquest of Egypt, First Muslim civil War

Az-Zubayr ibn Al-Awam (594–656) (Arabic: الزبير بن العوام بن خويلد‎‎) was a companion of Muhammad and a commander in the Rashidun army.

Al-Zubayr was born in Mecca in 594.

His father was Al-Awam ibn Khuwaylid of the Asad clan of the Quraysh tribe, making Al-Zubayr a nephew of Khadijah. His mother was Muhammad's aunt, Safiyyah bint ‘Abd al-Muttalib, hence Al-Zubayr was Muhammad's first cousin. He had two brothers, Sa'ib and Abdul Kaaba; a maternal brother, Safi ibn Al-Harith, who was from the Umayya clan; and several paternal siblings, including Hind bint Al-Awwam, a wife of Zayd ibn Haritha.

While he was still a boy, Al-Zubayr fought an adult man and beat him up so fiercely that the man’s hand was broken. Safiya, who was pregnant at the time, had to carry the man home. When the passers-by asked what had happened, she told them, "He fought Al-Zubayr. Did you find Al-Zubayr soft like cheese or dates or full of brass?" That's when they knew that he would grow up to be strong during war.

Al-Awam died while Al-Zubayr was still young. His mother used to beat him severely. When it was said to her, "You have killed him! You have wrenched his heart. Will you destroy the boy?" she replied, "I beat him so that he will be intelligent and will be bold in the battle."

Al-Zubayr is described as of medium height, lean, dark-complexioned and hairy, though with a thin beard. His hair hung down to his shoulders, and he did not dye it after it turned white.

Al-Zubayr was one of the first five men to accept Islam under the influence of Abu Bakr, and is said to have been the fourth or fifth adult male convert.

He was one of the first fifteen emigrants to Abyssinia in 615, and he returned there in 616. While he was in Abyssinia, a rebellion against the Negus (King) broke out. The Negus met the rebels on the banks of the Nile. The Muslims, greatly worried about losing their protector, delegated Al-Zubayr to be their news-bearer. Helped by an inflated waterskin, he swam down the Nile until he reached the point where the battle was being fought. He watched until the Negus had defeated the rebels, then swam back to the Muslims. He ran up waving his clothes and announced, "Hurrah, the Negus has conquered and God has destroyed his enemies and established him in his land!" The Muslims rejoiced.

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