Introduction
Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr was the son of al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam and Asma bint Abu Bakr, which made him the grandson of Abu Bakr and the nephew of Aisha. He was born shortly after the Hijrah at Quba and was the first child born to the Muhajirun in Medina.
His family and the Muslims celebrated his birth, because there had been rumours that the Jews had bewitched them so that they would have no children. The Prophet put a date into his mouth first and made du'a for him.
As an adult he fought with his father and in the early conquests and became a leading figure of Mecca. In the Second Fitna he opposed the Umayyads and was acknowledged as caliph in much of the Muslim world. He rebuilt the Ka'ba according to what he had learnt from Aisha, and he was killed in 73 AH when al-Hajjaj besieged Mecca.
The story
c. 1-2 AH / 624 CE
Born at Quba; the Prophet gave him tahnik with a date and prayed for him.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 3909Sahih Arabic text
… فِي فِيهِ، فَكَانَ أَوَّلَ شَىْءٍ دَخَلَ جَوْفَهُ رِيقُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم، ثُمَّ حَنَّكَهُ بِتَمْرَةٍ ثُمَّ دَعَا لَهُ وَبَرَّكَ عَلَيْهِ، وَكَانَ أَوَّلَ مَوْلُودٍ وُلِدَ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ. تَابَعَهُ خَالِدُ بْنُ مَخْلَدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُسْهِرٍ عَنْ هِشَامٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَسْمَاءَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ أَنَّهَا هَاجَرَتْ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهْىَ …
“he was the first child born amongst the Emigrants”
36 AH / 656 CE
Stood beside his father at the Battle of the Camel and later paid his debts.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 3129Sahih Arabic text
قَالَ لَمَّا وَقَفَ الزُّبَيْرُ يَوْمَ الْجَمَلِ دَعَانِي، فَقُمْتُ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ فَقَالَ يَا بُنَىِّ، إِنَّهُ لاَ يُقْتَلُ الْيَوْمَ إِلاَّ ظَالِمٌ أَوْ مَظْلُومٌ، وَإِنِّي لاَ أُرَانِي إِلاَّ سَأُقْتَلُ الْيَوْمَ مَظْلُومًا، وَإِنَّ مِنْ أَكْبَرِ هَمِّي لَدَيْنِي، أَفَتُرَى يُبْقِي دَيْنُنَا مِنْ مَالِنَا شَيْئًا فَقَالَ يَا بُنَىِّ بِعْ مَالَنَا فَاقْضِ دَيْنِي. وَأَوْصَى بِالثُّلُثِ، …
“Az-Zubair got up during the battle of Al-Jamal, he called me”
64 AH / 683 CE
Rebuilt the Ka'ba after the fire during the siege of Mecca.
Read the wording
Sahih Muslim 1333Sahih Arabic text
… عَلَى أَمْرِي فَلَمَّا مَضَى الثَّلاَثُ أَجْمَعَ رَأْيَهُ عَلَى أَنْ يَنْقُضَهَا فَتَحَامَاهُ النَّاسُ أَنْ يَنْزِلَ بِأَوَّلِ النَّاسِ يَصْعَدُ فِيهِ أَمْرٌ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ حَتَّى صَعِدَهُ رَجُلٌ فَأَلْقَى مِنْهُ حِجَارَةً فَلَمَّا لَمْ يَرَهُ النَّاسُ أَصَابَهُ شَىْءٌ تَتَابَعُوا فَنَقَضُوهُ حَتَّى بَلَغُوا بِهِ الأَرْضَ فَجَعَلَ ابْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ أَعْمِدَةً فَسَتَّرَ عَلَيْهَا …
“he made up his mind to demolish it”
73 AH / 692 CE
Killed when Mecca was besieged by al-Hajjaj.
A day in their footsteps
5 small, repeatable practices from Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.
Asking Aisha and acting on the Prophet's wish
Ibn al-Zubayr asked Aisha's student what she had told him in secret about the Ka'ba, and so learnt that the Prophet had wished to rebuild it on Ibrahim's foundations with two doors. Later he carried out what he had learnt.
Try this today
Learn what the Prophet wanted and act on it when you can.
Sit with this
Is there something you know the Prophet ﷺ loved that you could act on this week?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 126Sahih قَالَ قَالَ لِي ابْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ كَانَتْ عَائِشَةُ تُسِرُّ إِلَيْكَ كَثِيرًا فَمَا حَدَّثَتْكَ فِي الْكَعْبَةِ قُلْتُ قَالَتْ لِي قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَا عَائِشَةُ، لَوْلاَ قَوْمُكِ حَدِيثٌ عَهْدُهُمْ ـ قَالَ ابْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ بِكُفْرٍ ـ لَنَقَضْتُ الْكَعْبَةَ فَجَعَلْتُ لَهَا بَابَيْنِ باب يَدْخُلُ النَّاسُ، وَبَابٌ يَخْرُجُونَ". فَفَعَلَهُ ابْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ.
“Later on Ibn Az-Zubair did the same”
Seeking guidance three times before a major decision
When the Ka'ba was burnt, he asked the people for advice, then said he would seek good advice from his Lord thrice before deciding. After doing so, he decided to demolish and rebuild it.
Try this today
Pray for guidance (istikhara) and consult people before major choices.
Sit with this
Which decision in front of you have you not yet brought to Allah in istikharah?
Source
Sahih Muslim 1333Sahih … حَتَّى يُجِدَّهُ فَكَيْفَ بَيْتُ رَبِّكُمْ إِنِّي مُسْتَخِيرٌ رَبِّي ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ عَازِمٌ عَلَى أَمْرِي فَلَمَّا مَضَى الثَّلاَثُ أَجْمَعَ رَأْيَهُ عَلَى أَنْ يَنْقُضَهَا فَتَحَامَاهُ النَّاسُ أَنْ يَنْزِلَ بِأَوَّلِ النَّاسِ يَصْعَدُ فِيهِ أَمْرٌ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ حَتَّى صَعِدَهُ رَجُلٌ فَأَلْقَى مِنْهُ حِجَارَةً فَلَمَّا لَمْ يَرَهُ النَّاسُ أَصَابَهُ شَىْءٌ تَتَابَعُوا فَنَقَضُوهُ حَتَّى …
“I would seek good advice from my Lord thrice”
Feeding the hungry in famine
During a famine in Medina, he used to provide people from Iraq with dates for food, even as Ibn Umar passed by reminding them of the Prophet's etiquette against eating two dates at a time.
Try this today
Feed those in need, and keep the manners of the table while doing it.
Sit with this
Who near you is going hungry, quietly, without asking?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 2490Sahih قَالَ كُنَّا بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَأَصَابَتْنَا سَنَةٌ، فَكَانَ ابْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ يَرْزُقُنَا التَّمْرَ، وَكَانَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ يَمُرُّ بِنَا فَيَقُولُ لاَ تَقْرُنُوا فَإِنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَهَى عَنِ الإِقْرَانِ، إِلاَّ أَنْ يَسْتَأْذِنَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْكُمْ أَخَاهُ.
“Ibn Az-Zubair used to provide us with dates as our food”
Honouring his father by paying his debts
After his father's death at the Battle of the Camel, Abdullah took responsibility for the debts. He asked Allah as 'Master of al-Zubayr' for help and recorded that Allah helped him pay them.
Try this today
Settle what a parent owes, and rely on Allah's help.
Sit with this
What does a parent of yours still need from you, even after they are gone?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 3129Sahih … الزُّبَيْرِ، اقْضِ عَنْهُ دَيْنَهُ. فَيَقْضِيهِ، فَقُتِلَ الزُّبَيْرُ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ وَلَمْ يَدَعْ دِينَارًا وَلاَ دِرْهَمًا، إِلاَّ أَرَضِينَ مِنْهَا الْغَابَةُ، وَإِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ دَارًا بِالْمَدِينَةِ، وَدَارَيْنِ بِالْبَصْرَةِ، وَدَارًا بِالْكُوفَةِ، وَدَارًا بِمِصْرَ. قَالَ وَإِنَّمَا كَانَ دَيْنُهُ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ أَنَّ الرَّجُلَ كَانَ يَأْتِيهِ بِالْمَالِ فَيَسْتَوْدِعُهُ …
“Master of Az-Zubair! Pay his debts on his behalf”
Remembering the Prophet's kindness to children
As a boy he, Ibn Abbas and Ibn Ja'far went out to meet the Prophet, and he remembered that the Prophet made him and Ibn Abbas ride with him and left Ibn Ja'far behind.
Try this today
Be gentle with children and make time for them.
Sit with this
Which child in your life would remember ten minutes of your full attention?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 3082Sahih قَالَ ابْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ لاِبْنِ جَعْفَرٍ ـ رضى الله عنهم أَتَذْكُرُ إِذْ تَلَقَّيْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَا وَأَنْتَ وَابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ نَعَمْ، فَحَمَلَنَا وَتَرَكَكَ.
“Do you remember when I, you and Ibn `Abbas went out to receive Allah's Messenger”
Virtues
He was the first child born amongst the Muhajirun in Medina, and the Prophet chewed a date and put it in his mouth, making du'a for him.
“he was the first child born amongst the Emigrants”
Arabic text
… فِي فِيهِ، فَكَانَ أَوَّلَ شَىْءٍ دَخَلَ جَوْفَهُ رِيقُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم، ثُمَّ حَنَّكَهُ بِتَمْرَةٍ ثُمَّ دَعَا لَهُ وَبَرَّكَ عَلَيْهِ، وَكَانَ أَوَّلَ مَوْلُودٍ وُلِدَ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ. تَابَعَهُ خَالِدُ بْنُ مَخْلَدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُسْهِرٍ عَنْ هِشَامٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَسْمَاءَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ أَنَّهَا هَاجَرَتْ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهْىَ …
Sahih al-Bukhari 3909Sahih
More sources (1)
Sahih al-Bukhari 5469Sahih Arabic text
… فَوَضَعْتُهُ فِي حَجْرِهِ، ثُمَّ دَعَا بِتَمْرَةٍ فَمَضَغَهَا، ثُمَّ تَفَلَ فِي فِيهِ فَكَانَ أَوَّلَ شَىْءٍ دَخَلَ جَوْفَهُ رِيقُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ حَنَّكَهُ بِالتَّمْرَةِ، ثُمَّ دَعَا لَهُ فَبَرَّكَ عَلَيْهِ، وَكَانَ أَوَّلَ مَوْلُودٍ وُلِدَ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ، فَفَرِحُوا بِهِ فَرَحًا شَدِيدًا، لأَنَّهُمْ قِيلَ لَهُمْ إِنَّ الْيَهُودَ قَدْ سَحَرَتْكُمْ فَلاَ يُولَدُ …
“the first thing to enter its stomach was the saliva of Allah's Messenger”
Even Ibn Abbas, who disagreed with him, acknowledged his noble lineage: son of the Prophet's aunt, of al-Zubayr, grandson of Abu Bakr and nephew of Khadijah and Aisha.
“the son of Az-Zubair, and the grandson of Abu Bakr”
Arabic text
… لأَبِي بَكْرٍ وَلاَ لِعُمَرَ، وَلَهُمَا كَانَا أَوْلَى بِكُلِّ خَيْرٍ مِنْهُ، وَقُلْتُ ابْنُ عَمَّةِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم، وَابْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ، وَابْنُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، وَابْنُ أَخِي خَدِيجَةَ، وَابْنُ أُخْتِ عَائِشَةَ فَإِذَا هُوَ يَتَعَلَّى عَنِّي وَلاَ يُرِيدُ ذَلِكَ فَقُلْتُ مَا كُنْتُ أَظُنُّ أَنِّي أَعْرِضُ هَذَا مِنْ نَفْسِي، فَيَدَعُهُ، وَمَا أُرَاهُ يُرِيدُ خَيْرًا، وَإِنْ …
Sahih al-Bukhari 4666Sahih
Sayings and moments
When the Ka'ba burned: if the house of one of you burnt down, he would not rest until he rebuilt it; what then of the House of your Lord?
“what about the House of your Lord”
Arabic text
… لَوْ كَانَ أَحَدُكُمُ احْتَرَقَ بَيْتُهُ مَا رَضِيَ حَتَّى يُجِدَّهُ فَكَيْفَ بَيْتُ رَبِّكُمْ إِنِّي مُسْتَخِيرٌ رَبِّي ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ عَازِمٌ عَلَى أَمْرِي فَلَمَّا مَضَى الثَّلاَثُ أَجْمَعَ رَأْيَهُ عَلَى أَنْ يَنْقُضَهَا فَتَحَامَاهُ النَّاسُ أَنْ يَنْزِلَ بِأَوَّلِ النَّاسِ يَصْعَدُ فِيهِ أَمْرٌ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ حَتَّى صَعِدَهُ رَجُلٌ فَأَلْقَى مِنْهُ حِجَارَةً فَلَمَّا لَمْ يَرَهُ …
Sahih Muslim 1333Sahih
Words on this page
- Du'aدعاء
- Supplication: calling on Allah and asking Him, in any language and at any time.
- Hadithحديث
- A report of what the Prophet ﷺ said, did or approved, passed down through a chain of narrators.
- Hijrahالهجرة
- The migration of the Prophet ﷺ and the Muslims from Makkah to Madinah in 622 CE, the starting point of the Islamic calendar.
- Istikharahاستخارة
- Seeking what is best from Allah: two voluntary rak'ahs followed by a specific du'a before a decision.
- Ka'bahالكعبة
- The cube-shaped House of Allah at the centre of the Sacred Mosque in Makkah, which Muslims face in prayer.
- Madinahالمدينة
- The city, formerly Yathrib, to which the Prophet ﷺ migrated and where the first Muslim community was built.
- Makkahمكة
- The city of the Ka'bah, where the Prophet ﷺ was born and revelation began.
- Muhajirunالمهاجرون
- "The emigrants": the Muslims who left Makkah for Madinah for the sake of Allah.
Related companions
- الزبير بن العوامal-Zubayr ibn al-Awwamal-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam, the Prophet's disciple (hawari): his courage, trustworthiness with money and reliance…
- أبو بكر الصديقAbu Bakr al-SiddiqThe Prophet's closest companion and first caliph, remembered for truthfulness, tender-hearted worship and giv…
- عائشة بنت أبي بكرAisha bint Abi BakrWife of the Prophet and daughter of Abu Bakr, a leading scholar of the first generation who asked, learned an…
- أسماء بنت أبي بكرAsma bint Abi BakrAsma bint Abi Bakr, Dhat an-Nitaqayn: her service during the Hijrah, hard work, long prayers and generosity…
- عبد الله بن عباسAbdullah ibn AbbasThe Prophet's young cousin for whom he prayed for understanding of the Book; the great early interpreter of t…
Sources and review
- Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr - Wikipedia (biography, dates) (opens in a new tab)
- hadith-api, English hadith editions mirroring sunnah.com numbering and grades (opens in a new tab)
Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com. Each report links to sunnah.com, and, where the numbering matches, to al-Hadees or HadithUnlocked as well. Quran verses link to quran.com, Tafsir Ibn Kathir and Tanzil. The Arabic is taken from the hadith editions and trimmed around the quoted words, so read the full report at the source before relying on it. Grades are the ones those editions give.
This page is pending scholar review. It was compiled from public sources, and its citations were last checked on 7 October 2026. If you notice a mistake or a missing source, please tell us.