In the Presence of Quraysh Shahsawar Abdullah Ibn Zubair “MAPH” (Part Two)
Lineage and Family
Abdullah’s father was the esteemed Companion Zubair ibn al-Awam ibn Khuwailid, and his mother was Asma, the daughter of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq. His paternal grandmother was Safiyyah, the daughter of Abdul Muttalib and the aunt of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Umm al-Mu’minin Khadijah bint Khuwailid was his paternal aunt, and Umm al-Mu’minin Aisha was his maternal aunt; may Allah be pleased with them all.
His Honorable Father
Zubair ibn al-Awam (may Allah be pleased with him), a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), was one of the ten Companions promised Paradise (Ashara Mubashira). He embraced Islam at the age of 16 and did not miss any battles. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said of him, “Every prophet has a close companion, and my close companion is Zubair.” During the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him), he was a man of resilience and served as an advisor and minister in the Islamic state during the reign of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, participating in numerous battles.
His Compassionate and Brave Mother
Asma (may Allah be pleased with her) was also among the first Muslims. She and her sister Aisha (may Allah be pleased with them) believed in Islam during their childhood and were raised in the house of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him). At the beginning of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) migration journey, Asma prepared provisions for the Prophet and her father, Abu Bakr, placing them in a bag. To secure the bag, she tore her waistband into two parts, tying the bag with one part, which earned her the nickname “Zat al-Nataqayn” (the one with two waistbands).
She was the one who, enduring the hardships of the journey, brought provisions to the Prophet and Abu Bakr in the Cave of Sawr. She also withstood a harsh slap from Abu Jahl but never revealed the location of the Prophet and his companion to the polytheists of Mecca. Asma was a courageous and daring woman who participated in jihad. She took part in the Battle of Yarmouk alongside her husband Zubair and her son Abdullah.
Asma grew up with a Quranic and Prophetic upbringing, characterized by her devotion, recitation of the Quran, humility, and deep engagement in worship. She would spend hours reciting the Quran, praying, weeping, and seeking forgiveness.
Significant Qualities, the Birth of Abdullah, and Its Impact on Muslims
Abdullah ibn Zubair was born into a noble and honorable family at a time when Muslims in Medina were distressed by the Jews’ negative propaganda. The Jews had spread the rumor that they had bewitched the Muslims, preventing them from having children. During this period, Abdullah ibn Zubair was born, and with his birth, the sound of the Companions’ takbir echoed throughout Medina, filling hearts with joy and hope. Abu Bakr, in his joy, carried the blessed newborn around Medina to announce his birth to everyone.
Asma (may Allah be pleased with her) said, “I was pregnant in Mecca, and in Quba, during the first year of Hijra, my son was born. I brought him to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and placed him in his lap. He chewed a piece of date and placed it in my son’s mouth, making it the first thing to enter his stomach. Then he prayed for him.”
