Abd Allah Ibn Az-Zubair
Summarized From Men Around the Messenger By: Khaalid Muhammad Khaalid
He was a blessed child in his mother's womb when his mother passed over the burning desert sand leaving Makkah for Al-Madinah. Even though he was unborn, Abd Allah was to emigrate with the muhaajiruun. His mother, Asmaa (RA), had hardly reached Qubaa' , when she began to suffer labor pains.
Abd Allah (RA)was the first child to be born after the Hijrah. He was carried to the Prophet's house in Al-Madinah. There the prophet (SAWS) kissed him, then chewed a date and rubbed it on the newborn's gums [a sunnah called tahniik]. Thus the prophet's saliva was the first thing to enter 'Abd Allah's stomach.
Muslims gathered, carried the newborn baby and went round with him through the streets of Al Madinah applauding and shouting "Allahu Akbar" [God is the Greatest].
When the Prophet (SAWS) and the Muslims settled in Al-Madinah, the Jews there spread rumors that their priests had made the Muslims infertile by means of their witchcraft and Al-Madinah was not going to witness the birth of Muslim babies. When 'Abd Allah came out from the unseen, he was an irrefutable proof from Allah that the Jews' claims were mere lies and deceptive tricks.
'Abd Allah (RA)did not reach the age of maturity during the Prophet's lifetime. However, his intimate contact with the Prophet (SAWS) during childhood granted him the basic materials of manliness and taught him the principles of life, principles which would be the subject of people's admiration and talk, as will be mentioned later.
The little child's character developed rapidly. He displayed extraordinary energy, intellect, and firmness. His youth was full of chastity, purity, worship, and heroism beyond imagination. As days went by his manners didn't change. He was a man sure of his path, walking his way with strong will and firm belief.
He did not exceed the age 27, during the conquests of Africa, Spain, and Constantinople. He proved to be one of the greatest heroes [particularly in the Battle of Ifriiqiyah (Tunisia)] when 20,000 Muslim soldiers confronted an army of 120,000.
The Berber leader and king was effectively encouraging his soldiers. 'Abd Allah knew that the battle's outcome depended on the death of their leader. 'Abd Allah's courage and bravery were not ever subject to question. He called his companions and said, "Protect my back, attack with me." Like a flying arrow he forced his way towards the leader, bursting through fighting warriors. When he reached him, he struck him dead. Immediately the leader fell down motionless. Then he turned towards those who surrounded their kind and leader, killing them all. "Allahu Akbar" was then to be heard.
His family, his youth, his position and its eminence,, his wealth, his strength, nothing of that sort could hinder 'Abd Allah from being an admirable God-fearing worshiper, fasting all day long and praying all night. Umar Ibn 'Abd Al-Aziiz once asked Ibn Abi Mulaikah to describe 'Abd Allah (RA), so he said, "By Allah, I've never seen a soul similar to his. When he began his prayer, he left everything behind. .He bowed down and prostrated for such a long period that birds stood on his back considering him a wall or a gown thrown away. Once a projectile passed between his beard and chest while praying. By Allah, he did not feel it nor was he shaken by it. He did not stop his recitation nor hurry his bowing.
His fasting, his prayer, his pilgrimage, his noble soul, his continuous f ear of Allah, his close relation to Allah, his being a devoted worshiper and a fasting fighter throughout his life were all in him like interwoven threads. His mother was Abu Bakr As-Sidiq's (RA) daughter (Hafsa RA), and his aunt was 'Aisha (RA), the Prophet's wife.
Abd'Allah (RA) fought, his whole life, for the sake of Allah, he fought when he was 70 years old. He was crucified by Al-Hajjaaj. His mother witnessed her crucified son while she was 97 years old.