In the Presence of Quraysh Shahsawar : Abdullah ibn Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him) (Part Three)
Abdullah’s Name and Nickname
His name was Abdullah, and he was nicknamed Abu Bakr. His grandfather, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him), was instructed to call the Adhan in his ears.
Childhood States
Signs of genius and excellence were evident in him from an early age. The first words he uttered as a child were “Al-Sayf, Al-Sayf” (sword, sword). His father said, “By Allah, your life will be one of bravery with the sword.”
Imam al-Zahabi (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates that while Abdullah was playing with his peers, someone suddenly came and shouted at them. Everyone fled in fear except for Abdullah. He immediately called the other children, saying, “Come and gather around me; I will be your leader, and we will confront him.”
Abdullah ibn Zubair During the Era of the Rightful Caliphs
During the time of the Prophet (PBUH), Abdullah, alongside his father Zubair, witnessed the Battle of Ahzab and the Conquest of Makkah. During the caliphates of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq and Umar al-Farooq, he accompanied his father in the Battle of Yarmouk, where, at the age of ten, he helped treat the wounded. Although he did not directly participate in battles, he was familiar with the hardships of war, the clash of swords, and the sacrifices made for the sake of Allah. These experiences significantly impacted his courage and combat skills.
Abdullah ibn Zubair reached the peak of his youth and power during the caliphate of Hazrat Usman. During this time, he became a strong, vigorous, and brave young man, actively engaged in various affairs. He was among those whom the third caliph, Usman ibn Affan (may Allah bless him), tasked with compiling the Mus’hafs alongside Zayd ibn Sabit (may Allah bless him).
In 27 AH, Abdullah ibn Zubair participated in the African Jihad alongside Abdullah ibn Sa’ad ibn Abi al-Sarh. Jarjir, the Roman king of Africa, confronted the Muslims with an army of 200,000 men, while the Muslims numbered only 20,000. In this battle, Abdullah led a group to attack the heart of the enemy’s army, directly confronting Jarjir, whom he defeated, severing his head and famously raising it on a bayonet while shouting Takbeer. His daring tactics led to the defeat of the Roman army, and the Muslims returned to Medina with the news of their conquest of Africa.
This battle was where Abdullah ibn Zubair (RA) first achieved fame. He also participated in the campaign to Tabaristan in 30 AHS, bravely wielding his sword to uphold the word of Allah.
