| Zubair | |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Zubair ibn al-Awwam, (الزبير بن العوام بن خويلد بن al-Zubayr ibn al-‘Awwām ibn Khuwaylid; 594-656) was a companion of Muhammad, father to Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr and later one of the most successful commanders of the Rashidun army and served under the Rashidun caliphs Abu Bakr and Umar. Zubair, who was a cousin of the prophet Muhammad, was an early convert to Islam. He served under the prophet Muhammad in various military expeditions. He commanded a regiment in the decisive Battle of Yarmouk, fought in 636. Later in 640, he commanded the reinforcements sent to capture Amr ibn al-As in Egypt. Zubair was the most successful field commander during the Muslim conquest of Egypt.Caliph Umar selected Zubair along with five other individuals, from whom one Caliph would be chosen to succeed him.
He kept himself away from state politics and military affairs after the death of Caliph Umar. Caliph Uthman was assassinated in 656, and when Ayesha, wife of the prophet Muhammad, raised the cry for the vengeance of blood of Uthman, Zubair along with another influential personality, Talha ibn Ubaidullah joined Ayesha and marched to Basra, where 4000 suspected persons, who joined the rebels to besieged Caliph Uthman's house, were killed. Caliph Ali, marched to Basra, army of Caliph and that of Ayesha agreed upon a pact to aid Caliphate in dealing with the rebels who killed Uthman. At night however, the battle started between the two armies by the rebels who were in Ali's army and though that they will die this way or other if Ayesha joined hands with Ali. The battle thus fought is known as Battle of Camel. After Talha was mortally wounded, Ali advised Zubair to seek out Marwan ibn al Hakam and bring him to justice. Zubair left the battlefield and was killed during prayers by Marwan and his men. However, he resisted, even after a volley of arrows was fired towards him. Finally, Marwan approached him and stabbed him repeatedly with a khanjar until Zubair succumbed to his wounds and finally fell to his death.
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