Az-Zubair: The father of martyrs

AZ-ZUBAIR was only 15 years old when he became one of the first seven who quickened their step towards Islam.

He was a horseman and a bold warrior from childhood, to the extent that historians mention that the first sword lifted in Islam was Az-Zubair's sword.

In the very early days of Islam, while the Muslims were still few in number, hiding in Darul Arqam, a rumour spread that the Prophet had been killed. Az-Zubair had hardly heard that when he unsheathed his sword and hurried through the streets of Mekah although still so young. First he went to learn the truth of what had been said, determined that if it were true, he would cut the whole of the Quraisy into pieces until they killed him.

On the high hills of Mekah, the Prophet met him and asked, "What's the matter?" Az-Zubair told him the news. The Prophet prayed for him and asked Allah to bestow mercy and all good upon him, and victory upon his sword.

Despite Az-Zubair's nobility among his clan, he had to carry the burden of the Quraisy's persecution. His own uncle was in charge of his torture. He wrapped him in a mat, set it on fire to let him suffocate, and called to him while he was under the pressure of severe torture, "Disbelieve in Muhammad's Lord and I will ward off this torture."

Az-Zubair, who was at that time no more than a growing youth, replied in a horrible challenging way, "No! By Allah, I won't return to polytheism ever again."

Az-Zubair emigrated to Abyssinia twice, in the first and second migrations. Then he returned to take part in the battles with the Prophet. Plentiful were the stabs which his body had to receive and preserve even after his wounds had been healed. They were like medals telling of Az-Zubair's heroism and glory.

One companion said, "While accompanying Az-Zubair in one of his journeys, I saw his body spotted with sword scars. His chest was like hollow eyes due to the variety of stabs and wounds. I said to him, 'I've seen on your body what I've never seen before.' He replied, 'By Allah, I haven't received one of them except while I was with the Prophet and in the cause of Allah'."

During Uhud, after the army of the Quraisy had retreated towards Mekah, the Prophet assigned him and Abu Bakr to follow the Quraisy's army and to chase them so they would realise how strong the Muslim party was and would not think of reattacking Madinah and continuing the fight.

Abu Bakr and Az-Zubair led 70 Muslims. Although they were chasing a victorious army, the military skill used by As-Siddiq and Az-Zubair, made the Quraisy think that they had overestimated the losses of the Muslim party.

They thought that the powerful front row, whose strength Az-Zubair and As-Siddiq successfully demonstrated, was nothing other than the advance guard of the Prophet's army, which seemed to approach in order to launch a horrible pursuit. The Quraisy hastened away and quickened their pace towards Mekah.

On the Day of Al-Yarmuk, Az-Zubair was an army in himself. When he saw most of the warriors under his command moving backwards when they saw the huge advancing Roman "mountains", he cried, "Allahu Akbar! Allah is the greatest!" With a sharp striking sword he burst alone into those advancing "mountains", then he retreated, then penetrated the same horrible rows with his sword in his right hand, never tripping nor slipping.

Az-Zubair said, "I give my sons the names of martyrs, and may they die as martyrs!"

In this way he named one son 'AbdAllah as a good omen, after the martyr Companion 'AbdAllah ibn Jahshy; another he named Al-Munzir after the martyr Companion Al-Munzir ibn 'Amr; another he named Urwah after the martyr Companion 'Urwah ibn 'Amr; another he called Hamzah after the martyr Companion Hamzah ibn Abi Talib; another he called Ja'far after the martyr Companion Ja'far ibn Abi Talib; another he called Mus'ab after the martyr Companion Mus'ab ibn Umair and another he called Khalid after the martyr Companion Khalid ibn Sa'id.

In this way he chose for his sons the names of martyrs, hoping that they would all die martyrs.

It is mentioned in his biography that he never held a governorship, nor the task of collecting taxes or tribute, but only the task of fighting in the cause of Allah.

Men Around the Messenger