The Companion Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr
Lineage and Family of Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr
Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr was one of the younger Companions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. He was known for his bravery and eloquence and had many notable stances and virtues in Islam. Here's a brief introduction about him:
Name
Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam ibn Khuwaylid ibn Asad ibn Abd al-Uzza ibn Qusayy.
Lineage
He belonged to the Quraysh tribe, from the clan of Asad. He was both Medinan and Meccan.
Kunya (Honorific)
Abu Bakr, and it was also said: Abu Khubayb.
Father
His father was the noble Companion al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam (may Allah be pleased with him), one of the ten Companions promised Paradise.
Mother
His mother was the esteemed Companion Asmaa bint Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with her).
Relatives and Family Ties
- His maternal grandfather was Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him).
- His maternal aunt was Aisha, Mother of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with her).
- His paternal grandmother was Safiyyah, the aunt of the Prophet ﷺ.
- His paternal aunt was Khadijah, the Prophet’s first wife (may Allah be pleased with her).
- His brother was Urwah ibn al-Zubayr.
Birth and Upbringing of Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr
Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr was born in Madinah in the second year after the Hijrah (migration). He was the first child to be born to the Muslims after the Hijrah, and his birth brought great joy to the Muslims, as the Jews had claimed: “We have bewitched them; they will have no children”.
He was raised in a virtuous household, and Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) took care of him from a young age, which is why she was nicknamed "Umm Abdullah" (mother of Abdullah).
His mother Asmaa, narrated the story of his birth, saying:
"...I left while I was full-term pregnant, and I arrived in Madinah, staying in Quba’, where I gave birth to him. Then I brought him to the Prophet ﷺ and placed him in his lap. The Prophet chewed a date, then put some of it into the baby’s mouth, so the first thing that entered his stomach was the saliva of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Then he rubbed the date on the inside of his mouth and prayed for him and blessed him. He was the first baby born in Islam after the migration”.
Signs of bravery and leadership were evident in him from a young age. Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) predicted his greatness due to his qualities and his passion for jihad. He participated in the Battle of Yarmouk at the age of 14 and fought valiantly. He also joined his father in the conquest of Egypt and demonstrated remarkable skill during the conquests of North Africa and Istakhr (in Persia).
Caliphate of Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr and His Reconstruction of the Kaaba
After the martyrdom of al-Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him), Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr declared himself the Caliph. The people of Mecca, Medina, and many other regions pledged allegiance to him. Only a small portion of Syria remained under Umayyad control. Thus, Abdullah became the legitimate Caliph in 64 AH.
He appointed Abdullah ibn Muti‘ as governor of Kufa, and his brother Mus‘ab as governor of Basra. He ordered the reconstruction of the Kaaba based on the original foundations laid by Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him), adding two doors at ground level. He was also the first to cover the Kaaba with fine Egyptian cloth (qibati). This reconstruction was prompted by damage from prior invasions and fire, which had weakened the structure.
Martyrdom of Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr
Caliph Abd al-Malik sent a large army to Mecca, led by al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf, to eliminate Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr. The army laid siege to Mecca, and many of Abdullah’s supporters deserted him. Only a small group of his closest companions remained by his side. They fought courageously near the Kaaba, but eventually, a part of the Kaaba fell on him during the battle, leading to his death. This occurred in the year 73 AH, ending a caliphate that lasted nearly nine years.
His mother, Asmaa (may Allah be pleased with her), played a prominent role in these final events. When people abandoned him, he went to his mother seeking advice. She said:
“By Allah, my son, you know best whether you are upon the truth and calling to it. If so, then go forth, for your companions have died for that cause. But if you only desired the world, then what a miserable servant you are—you have ruined yourself and those who died with you”.
What Was Said About Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr
- Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“He was a reciter of the Book of Allah, a follower of the Sunnah of His Messenger, devoted to Allah, fasting in the heat out of fear of Allah. He was the son of the Prophet’s disciple (al-Zubayr), and his mother was Asmaa the daughter of Abu Bakr, and his aunt was Aisha, the wife of the Prophet ﷺ. Only someone blinded by Allah would deny his virtue”. - Ibn Abi Mulaykah said:
“By Allah, I have never seen a soul like his. When he entered into prayer, he detached from everything else. Birds would land on his back during sujood (prostration), thinking he was an object due to the length of his prayer. A catapult stone once passed between his beard and chest while he was praying, and he did not flinch or stop his recitation, nor did he hasten his rukoo’ (bowing)”. - It was also said:
“He divided his nights into three parts—one night he would stand in prayer until morning, another night he would bow until morning, and a third night he would remain in prostration until morning”.
