Among the Ten Promised Paradise is zubair ibn awwam, whose biography is a true inspiration for all generations to come. Zubair ibn al-Awwam was known for his unwavering faith and close connection to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH and he was one of the first to embrace Islam despite the major objection from the disbelievers of Mecca and the grave danger that could have befallen him..

His characteristics are similar to the group Allah SWT mentions in the verse:

“Among the believers are men who have proven true to what they pledged to Allah.1 Some of them have fulfilled their pledge ˹with their lives˺, others are waiting ˹their turn˺. They have never changed ˹their commitment˺ in the least.”

5 Facts about Zubair ibn al-Awwam

1. Zubair ibn al-Awwam was born in Mecca but died in Al-Busrah, Iraq
2. He converted to Islam at the age of fifteen and was the fifth person to embrace Islam
3. He had 20 children and married 8 times, one of his wives was Asmaa bint Abi Bakr.
4. His father, al-Awwam ibn Khuwaylid belonged to the clan of Banu Asad from the tribe of Quraysh and his mother, Safiyyah bint Abdul Muttalib, was the Prophet paternal aunt. 
5. It is said that he witnessed all the battles with the Prophet PBUH.

Converting to Islam

At a young age, Zubair ibn Awwam was troubled by the conditions of Quraysh because of the injustices they committed and the widespread vices they indulged in. Therefore, he was influenced by the words of Prophet Muhammad PBUH who fought the corruption of the Meccan society.

Even though she was a relative of the Prophet and testified to his truthfulness, Zubair’s mother deeply opposed her cousin’s call to Islam. He was agonized by this conflict and decided to seek counsel from Abu Bakr, who had already accepted Islam and urged Zubair to do the same. Afterwards, Zubair in al-Awwam went to the Prophet and announced his Islam at the age of fifteen, but he kept it a secret at first because the early believers were greatly persecuted by the disbelievers of Quraysh.

Although his mother and uncle tried to talk him out of embracing Islam, he remained steadfast and did not abandon the religion of Islam after he found truth in its teachings. He realized the consequences of sticking to the truth and endured this persecution with patience.

His Character

What distinguished Zubair ibn Awwam was not only courage or military skill but also his piety. He was known for his devoutness, generosity, and commitment to justice. He made sure that his children were raised with these strong Islamic principles, including his son Abdullah ibn Zubair ibn Awwam, who would later become an important figure in the history of Islam.

Journey of Faith: Zubair ibn Awwam’s Migration 

Zubair ibn Awwam joined the group of believers who migrated to Abyssinia to seek the just king’s shelter from the torture of the disbelievers. They stayed there until they heard news that the Prophet PBUH and his companions had found refuge in Medina. So they joined their fellow Muslims, and it was then that Zubain ibn al-Awwam found out that his mother, too, had accepted Islam and came to Medina.

Bravery in Battles

Zubair ibn Awwam participated in numerous battles against the disbelievers, such as the Battles of Badr and Uhud. 

• During the Battle of Uhud, he was one of the companions who remained on the battlefield defending the Prophet against the arrows of the disbelievers.
• In many battles, Zubair ibn al-Awwam was on the front lines fighting for the religion and defending the Prophet Muhammad PBUH against the attacks of the disbelievers.
• His victory over a formidable opponent called Yasir in the Battle of Khaybar solidified his reputation as a fearless warrior in the defense of Islam.    
• His bravery and military skills continued to serve Islam even after the Prophet passed away, as he fought the threat of the apostates during the caliphate of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq and took part in the battle of Yarmouk against the Romans. He was left with serious wounds that permanently marked his body.
• The status of Zubair ibn al-Awwam caused him to be chosen by the Caliph Omar ibn al-Khattab to support Amr ibn al-’Aas in his liberation of Egypt. He was one of four men that Omar said were equal to one thousand men. He was also designated as one of the six companions to succeed Omar ibn al-Khattab as caliph.

The Prophet’s Disciple

During the Battle of Khandaq, the Prophet wanted to send someone to gather information about the rebellion of Bani Quraytha. He kept asking for volunteers, and each time Zubair ibn al-Awwam volunteered to fulfill the mission. The third time he repeated his request, the Prophet agreed to choose him as the man for this task and said:

“Every Prophet has a disciple. My disciple  is Az-Zubair.”

One of the incidents that showcased the loyalty of Zubair ibn Awwam to the Prophet PBUH was his way of dealing with rumors of the Prophet’s death. He showed a willingness to sacrifice his life for the sake of the religion and to fight those who harmed the Prophet. The reaction of the Prophet to what Zubair did was that he took off his cloak and handed it to him. It is reported that the angel Jibreel revealed to the Prophet that Allah SWT was pleased with what Zubair did.

The Ten Promised Paradise

The Death of Zubair ibn Awwam

The event that preceded the death of Zubair ibn al-Awwam was the turmoil that took place after the murder of Uthman RA. Zubair ibn Awwam, joined with Talha and Aisha, met the caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib to discuss the fate of the murderers. 

At first, Zubair was involved in the conflict driven by a sense of justice for Uthman RA which led to the Battle of the Camel but after he was reminded with the Hadith of the Prophet that he would get drawn into a conflict but he should not take part in itk he withdrew from the battlefield and sought solace in prayer. Then, he was treacherously murdered by Ibn Jurmuz. When this news reached Ali, he was reported to have said that the fate of the killer of Zubair is hellfire.

Before his death, Zubair ibn al-Awwam informed his son that he must pay off his debt by selling his property because his debt was his biggest worry. Initially, the debts of Zubair consumed all of Abdullah’s wealth, but soon after, those who were indebted to Zubair came to pay off their debts, which enabled him to settle his father’s debt and left him with significant wealth to live off of.

Zubair ibn Awwam’s Son: Abdullah ibn Zubair ibn Awwam

• Abdullah ibn Zubair ibn Awwam, son to Zubair ibn Awwam and Asmaa bint Abi Bakr, was born in Medina. He had the honor of having the Prophet chew a date and put it in his mouth upon his birth. His kinship to Aisha RA drew him closer to the Prophet PBUH as it was reported by his brother Urwah: 

“Aisha did not love anyone after the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and Abu Bakr As-siddiq as she did ibn Al-Zubair, and I have not seen my father and Aisha supplicating for anyone as they did for Ibn Al-Zubair”.

• He followed in his father’s brave footsteps as he participated in several battles with the Muslim army. He was also known for being a devout worshipper as reported: 

“By Allah, I’ve never seen a soul similar to his. When he began his prayer, he left everything behind. He bowed down and prostrated for such a long period that birds stood on his back considering him a wall or a gown thrown away. Once a projectile passed between his beard and chest while praying. By Allah, he did not feel it nor was he shaken by it. He did not stop his recitation nor hurry his bowing.”

• Abdullah ibn Zubair ibn Awwam memorized and reported many Prophetic Hadiths.
• The death of Abdullah ibn Zubair ibn Awwam came in the aftermath of the al-Hajjaj’s besieging of Mecca. He preferred to die a martyr over surrendering to the forces. al-Hajjaj hanged his body for the public to see but he was later taken down and buried in the house of his grandmother Safiyyah in Medina.

About Zubair ibn Awwam

Zubair ibn Awwam will forever be remembered not only as a valiant fighter but as a pious worshipper, a man of high morals who dedicated his life for the defense of Islam and the Prophet Muhammad PBUH. His status as the Prophet’s disciple and his designation as one of the Ten Promised Paradise showcase his value in Islamic history.

His life events strike significant examples in courage, firmness of faith, standing up for justice and great parenting skills. This is evident in his offspring who followed in his footsteps and became prominent examples of a righteous offspring such as Abdullah ibn Zubair ibn Awwam.