Zubayr ibn al-Awwam

Zubair ibn al-Awam , (594-656) was a companion of Muhammad 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 Prophet Muhammad , was an early convert to Islam . He served under Prophet Muhammad in various military expeditions and was a commander of one of the four armies that entered Mecca during the Conquest of Mecca . 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 . On his death bed, 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 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 . Zubair, unwilling to fight against Ali, left the battlefield. It is said that during the battle Ali called Zubair and recalled him the saying of Prophet Muhammad that: You will one day fight against Ali, over an unjust cause Recalling this saying of Prophet Muhammad, Zubair left the battlefield and was killed during prayers by one of the soldier of Ali's army who was chasing him. On hearing the news of Zubair's assassination, Ali is reported to have said to the killer of Zubair: May you burn in Hell .

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

Az-Zubayr ibn Al-Awam ( ; 594–656) was a companion of Muhammad and a commander in the Rashidun army .

Companion of Muhammad (594–656) Zubayr ibn al-ʿAwwām ( ;‎ 594–656) was an Arab Muslim commander in the service of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and the caliphs Abu Bakr ( r. 632–634 ) and Umar ( r. 634–644 ) who played a leading role in the Ridda Wars against rebel tribes in Arabia in 632–633 and later participated in early Muslim conquests of Sasanid Perisa in 633–634, Byzantine Syria in 634–638, and the Exarchate of Africa in 639–643. An early convert to Islam , Zubayr was made the commander by Muhammad for the Battle of Badr in 624, in which Zubayr was instrumental in defeating the opponent forces of the Quraysh . He participated in almost all of the early Muslim battles and expeditions under Muhammad. In the Battle of the Trench , due to his military service, Muhammad bestowed the title Hawari Rasul Allah ('Disciple of Messenger of God') upon him. After Muhammad's demise, Zubayr was appointed as a commander, in the Ridda Wars, by caliph Abu Bakr. He was involved in the defense of Medina and Battle of Yamama . During Umar's caliphate, Zubayr served in the Muslim conquests of Egypt , Levant , Persia , Sudan , and Tripolitania . After Umar's assassination, Zubayr became an important political figure of the caliphate, being the chief advisor of the Shura that elected the third caliph Uthman . During the latter's caliphate, Zubayr advised the caliph in political and religious issues. After Uthman was assassinated, Zubayr pledged allegiance to the fourth caliph Ali , though later withdrew allegiance, after Ali refused to avenge Uthman's death. Zubayr's forces engaged with Ali's forces in the Battle of the Camel in December 656. In the aftermath, while Zubayr was prostrating in prayer, he was killed by Amr ibn Jurmuz . Zubayr is generally considered by historians to be one of early Islam's most accomplished commanders. The Sunni Islamic tradition credits Zubayr as being promised paradise . The Shia Islamic tradition views Zubayr negatively. There are <ref group=Notes> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a template (see the help page ).