Introduction
Ammar ibn Yasir was one of the first people to accept Islam in Makkah, with his father Yasir and mother Sumayyah. His family belonged to the clan of Banu Makhzum, which punished them harshly. His mother Sumayyah is remembered as the first martyr of Islam. Ammar himself was pushed to say words he did not mean, and the Prophet comforted him; commentators connect Quran 16:106 with his case.
In Madinah he worked hard on the Prophet's mosque, carrying two bricks while others carried one. The Prophet wiped the dust from him and spoke of the group that would later kill him. He fought at Badr and the later battles, governed Kufa for Umar, and when Muslims split he joined Ali.
At Siffin in 37 AH, he was killed in his nineties by Syrian forces, as the Prophet had foretold. Many Companions saw this as a sign of which side held the truth. He is remembered as someone the Prophet described as full of faith to the bones.
The story
Early Makkah
Among the first handful who followed the Prophet; reported in his own words as one of the few converts.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 3660Sahih Arabic text
قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَمَّارًا، يَقُولُ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمَا مَعَهُ إِلاَّ خَمْسَةُ أَعْبُدٍ وَامْرَأَتَانِ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ.
“I saw Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and there was none with him but five slaves, two women and Abu Bakr”
Under torture
Forced to speak words against his belief while his heart held firm; commentators link this to the verse on compulsion.
Read the wording
Quran 16:106Quran Arabic text
مَن كَفَرَ بِٱللَّهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ إِيمَٰنِهِۦٓ إِلَّا مَنْ أُكْرِهَ وَقَلْبُهُۥ مُطْمَئِنٌّۢ بِٱلْإِيمَٰنِ وَلَٰكِن مَّن شَرَحَ بِٱلْكُفْرِ صَدْرًا فَعَلَيْهِمْ غَضَبٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
“save him who is forced thereto and whose heart is still content with the Faith”
1 AH
Arrived in Madinah among the early emigrants.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 3924Sahih Arabic text
قَالَ أَوَّلُ مَنْ قَدِمَ عَلَيْنَا مُصْعَبُ بْنُ عُمَيْرٍ وَابْنُ أُمِّ مَكْتُومٍ، ثُمَّ قَدِمَ عَلَيْنَا عَمَّارُ بْنُ يَاسِرٍ وَبِلاَلٌ رضى الله عنهم.
“Then came to us `Ammar bin Yasir and Bilal”
1-2 AH
Carried two bricks at a time in building the Prophet's mosque; the Prophet foretold a group would kill him.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 447Sahih Arabic text
… ثُمَّ أَنْشَأَ يُحَدِّثُنَا حَتَّى أَتَى ذِكْرُ بِنَاءِ الْمَسْجِدِ فَقَالَ كُنَّا نَحْمِلُ لَبِنَةً لَبِنَةً، وَعَمَّارٌ لَبِنَتَيْنِ لَبِنَتَيْنِ، فَرَآهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَيَنْفُضُ التُّرَابَ عَنْهُ وَيَقُولُ " وَيْحَ عَمَّارٍ تَقْتُلُهُ الْفِئَةُ الْبَاغِيَةُ، يَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ، وَيَدْعُونَهُ إِلَى النَّارِ". قَالَ يَقُولُ عَمَّارٌ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ …
“We were carrying one adobe at a time while `Ammar was carrying two”
5 AH, the Trench
Told by the Prophet while digging that a rebellious group would kill him.
Read the wording
Sahih Muslim 2915aSahih Arabic text
قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا نَضْرَةَ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي مَنْ، هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنِّي أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ لِعَمَّارٍ حِينَ جَعَلَ يَحْفِرُ الْخَنْدَقَ وَجَعَلَ يَمْسَحُ رَأْسَهُ وَيَقُولُ " بُؤْسَ ابْنِ سُمَيَّةَ تَقْتُلُكَ فِئَةٌ بَاغِيةٌ".
“a group of the rebels would kill you”
37 AH
Killed at Siffin fighting beside Ali.
A day in their footsteps
6 small, repeatable practices from Ammar ibn Yasir's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.
Learning from correction
When Ammar and Umar were junub on a journey and found no water, Ammar rolled in the dust and prayed. The Prophet taught him that wiping the face and hands with earth was enough. Ammar then reminded Umar of it years later, passing on the lesson.
Try this today
When you realise you did something imperfectly, learn the correct way and teach it.
Sit with this
What did you get wrong recently that you could now learn and teach properly?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 338Sahih … لِعُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ أَمَا تَذْكُرُ أَنَّا كُنَّا فِي سَفَرٍ أَنَا وَأَنْتَ فَأَمَّا أَنْتَ فَلَمْ تُصَلِّ، وَأَمَّا أَنَا فَتَمَعَّكْتُ فَصَلَّيْتُ، فَذَكَرْتُ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّمَا كَانَ يَكْفِيكَ هَكَذَا". فَضَرَبَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِكَفَّيْهِ الأَرْضَ، وَنَفَخَ فِيهِمَا ثُمَّ مَسَحَ بِهِمَا وَجْهَهُ …
“I informed the Prophet (ﷺ) about it and he said, 'It would have been sufficient for you to do like this.'”
Working with his hands for the masjid
Ammar carried two bricks at a time as the Prophet's mosque was built, while others carried one. The Prophet wiped the dust from his body as he worked.
Try this today
Volunteer physical effort for your masjid, and carry more than your share.
Sit with this
What could you carry for your local masjid this month?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 447Sahih … ثُمَّ أَنْشَأَ يُحَدِّثُنَا حَتَّى أَتَى ذِكْرُ بِنَاءِ الْمَسْجِدِ فَقَالَ كُنَّا نَحْمِلُ لَبِنَةً لَبِنَةً، وَعَمَّارٌ لَبِنَتَيْنِ لَبِنَتَيْنِ، فَرَآهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَيَنْفُضُ التُّرَابَ عَنْهُ وَيَقُولُ " وَيْحَ عَمَّارٍ تَقْتُلُهُ الْفِئَةُ الْبَاغِيَةُ، يَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ، وَيَدْعُونَهُ إِلَى النَّارِ". قَالَ يَقُولُ عَمَّارٌ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ …
“We were carrying one adobe at a time while `Ammar was carrying two”
Keeping prayer and sermon balanced
Ammar once gave a short, eloquent sermon and, when asked to lengthen it, he told them what the Prophet said: a longer prayer and a shorter sermon is a sign of a person's understanding.
Try this today
Keep your talk short and your prayer long.
Sit with this
Is your talk longer than your prayer?
Source
Sahih Muslim 869Sahih قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو وَائِلٍ خَطَبَنَا عَمَّارٌ فَأَوْجَزَ وَأَبْلَغَ فَلَمَّا نَزَلَ قُلْنَا يَا أَبَا الْيَقْظَانِ لَقَدْ أَبْلَغْتَ وَأَوْجَزْتَ فَلَوْ كُنْتَ تَنَفَّسْتَ. فَقَالَ إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " إِنَّ طُولَ صَلاَةِ الرَّجُلِ وَقِصَرَ خُطْبَتِهِ مَئِنَّةٌ مِنْ فِقْهِهِ فَأَطِيلُوا الصَّلاَةَ وَاقْصُرُوا الْخُطْبَةَ وَإِنَّ مِنَ الْبَيَانِ سِحْرًا".
“The lengthening of prayer by a man and the shortness of the sermon is the sign of his understanding (of faith)”
A dua of the Prophet in every prayer
When people thought Ammar's prayer was brief, he said he still said du'as he had heard from the Messenger of Allah, asking Allah to keep him alive as long as life is good for him, and for awe of Allah in private and public.
Try this today
Learn one full du'a from the Prophet and say it in your prayer.
Sit with this
Which du'a of the Prophet ﷺ will you learn for your prayer?
Sources
Sunan an-Nasa'i 1305Sahih … فَأَوْجَزَ فِيهَا فَقَالَ لَهُ بَعْضُ الْقَوْمِ لَقَدْ خَفَّفْتَ أَوْ أَوْجَزْتَ الصَّلاَةَ. فَقَالَ أَمَّا عَلَى ذَلِكَ فَقَدْ دَعَوْتُ فِيهَا بِدَعَوَاتٍ سَمِعْتُهُنَّ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمَّا قَامَ تَبِعَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ هُوَ أَبِي غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ كَنَى عَنْ نَفْسِهِ فَسَأَلَهُ عَنِ الدُّعَاءِ ثُمَّ جَاءَ فَأَخْبَرَ بِهِ الْقَوْمَ " اللَّهُمَّ بِعِلْمِكَ …
“Nevertheless I still recited supplications that I heard from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)”
Sunan an-Nasa'i 1306Sahih … إِذَا عَلِمْتَ الْوَفَاةَ خَيْرًا لِي وَأَسْأَلُكَ خَشْيَتَكَ فِي الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ وَكَلِمَةَ الإِخْلاَصِ فِي الرِّضَا وَالْغَضَبِ وَأَسْأَلُكَ نَعِيمًا لاَ يَنْفَدُ وَقُرَّةَ عَيْنٍ لاَ تَنْقَطِعُ وَأَسْأَلُكَ الرِّضَاءَ بِالْقَضَاءِ وَبَرْدَ الْعَيْشِ بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ وَلَذَّةَ النَّظَرِ إِلَى وَجْهِكَ وَالشَّوْقَ إِلَى لِقَائِكَ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ ضَرَّاءَ مُضِرَّةٍ …
“O Allah, by Your knowledge of the unseen and Your power over creation, keep me alive so long as You know that living is good for me”
Holding to the sunnah on the day of doubt
At a meal where someone said he was fasting on the day of doubt, Ammar told him that whoever fasts that day has disobeyed Abul-Qasim, the Prophet. He held the sunnah firmly, even when it meant correcting others in public.
Try this today
Follow the sunnah where it is clear, and say it kindly.
Sit with this
How do you hold to the Sunnah kindly when others do differently?
Source
Jami at-Tirmidhi 686Sahih … أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمَنْ بَعْدَهُمْ مِنَ التَّابِعِينَ وَبِهِ يَقُولُ سُفْيَانُ الثَّوْرِيُّ وَمَالِكُ بْنُ أَنَسٍ وَعَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ وَالشَّافِعِيُّ وَأَحْمَدُ وَإِسْحَاقُ كَرِهُوا أَنْ يَصُومَ الرَّجُلُ الْيَوْمَ الَّذِي يُشَكُّ فِيهِ وَرَأَى أَكْثَرُهُمْ إِنْ صَامَهُ فَكَانَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ أَنْ يَقْضِيَ يَوْمًا …
“Whoever fasts on a day in which there is doubt, then he has disobeyed Abul-Qasim”
Honouring those you differ with
When Ammar was sent by Ali to Kufa to rally support, he reminded people that Aisha was the wife of their Prophet in this world and the next, even though he opposed her side. He did not forget respect in the midst of conflict.
Try this today
In disputes, remember the status of those you oppose and speak with respect.
Sit with this
Who do you disagree with that you could still speak of with respect?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 7101Sahih حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي غَنِيَّةَ، عَنِ الْحَكَمِ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، قَامَ عَمَّارٌ عَلَى مِنْبَرِ الْكُوفَةِ، فَذَكَرَ عَائِشَةَ وَذَكَرَ مَسِيرَهَا وَقَالَ إِنَّهَا زَوْجَةُ نَبِيِّكُمْ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ، وَلَكِنَّهَا مِمَّا ابْتُلِيتُمْ.
“She is the wife of your Prophet in this world and in the Hereafter, but you people are being put to test in this issue”
Virtues
The Prophet welcomed him as "the pure one, the purified".
“Permit him, greetings to the pure one, the purified”
Arabic text
قَالَ جَاءَ عَمَّارٌ يَسْتَأْذِنُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " ائْذَنُوا لَهُ مَرْحَبًا بِالطَّيِّبِ الْمُطَيَّبِ". هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ.
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3798Sahih
Ali reported that the Prophet said Ammar's heart overflows with faith, to the very bones.
“Ammar's heart overflows with faith”
Arabic text
قَالَ دَخَلَ عَمَّارٌ عَلَى عَلِيٍّ فَقَالَ مَرْحَبًا بِالطَّيِّبِ الْمُطَيَّبِ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَقُولُ " مُلِئَ عَمَّارٌ إِيمَانًا إِلَى مُشَاشِهِ".
Sunan Ibn Majah 147Sahih
Abu al-Darda described him as the one Allah protected from Satan through the Prophet's tongue.
“the person who was given Allah's Refuge through the tongue of the Prophet was `Ammar (bin Yasir)”
Arabic text
قَالَ قَدِمْتُ الشَّأْمَ{فَقُلْتُ مَنْ هَا هُنَا} قَالُوا أَبُو الدَّرْدَاءِ قَالَ أَفِيكُمُ الَّذِي أَجَارَهُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ عَلَى لِسَانِ نَبِيِّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنْ مُغِيرَةَ وَقَالَ الَّذِي أَجَارَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى لِسَانِ نَبِيِّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَعْنِي عَمَّارًا.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3287Sahih
The Prophet foretold that a rebellious group would kill him while he called them to Paradise.
“He will be inviting them (i.e. his murderers, the rebellious group) to Paradise and they will invite him to Hell-fire”
Arabic text
… ثُمَّ أَنْشَأَ يُحَدِّثُنَا حَتَّى أَتَى ذِكْرُ بِنَاءِ الْمَسْجِدِ فَقَالَ كُنَّا نَحْمِلُ لَبِنَةً لَبِنَةً، وَعَمَّارٌ لَبِنَتَيْنِ لَبِنَتَيْنِ، فَرَآهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَيَنْفُضُ التُّرَابَ عَنْهُ وَيَقُولُ " وَيْحَ عَمَّارٍ تَقْتُلُهُ الْفِئَةُ الْبَاغِيَةُ، يَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ، وَيَدْعُونَهُ إِلَى النَّارِ". قَالَ يَقُولُ عَمَّارٌ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ …
Sahih al-Bukhari 447Sahih
Sayings and moments
He told the people that whoever fasts on the day of doubt has disobeyed Abul-Qasim.
“Whoever fasts on a day in which there is doubt, then he has disobeyed Abul-Qasim”
Arabic text
… أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمَنْ بَعْدَهُمْ مِنَ التَّابِعِينَ وَبِهِ يَقُولُ سُفْيَانُ الثَّوْرِيُّ وَمَالِكُ بْنُ أَنَسٍ وَعَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ وَالشَّافِعِيُّ وَأَحْمَدُ وَإِسْحَاقُ كَرِهُوا أَنْ يَصُومَ الرَّجُلُ الْيَوْمَ الَّذِي يُشَكُّ فِيهِ وَرَأَى أَكْثَرُهُمْ إِنْ صَامَهُ فَكَانَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ أَنْ يَقْضِيَ يَوْمًا …
Jami at-Tirmidhi 686Sahih
In Kufa he reminded them that Aisha is the Prophet's wife in this world and the Hereafter.
“She is the wife of your Prophet in this world and in the Hereafter”
Arabic text
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي غَنِيَّةَ، عَنِ الْحَكَمِ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، قَامَ عَمَّارٌ عَلَى مِنْبَرِ الْكُوفَةِ، فَذَكَرَ عَائِشَةَ وَذَكَرَ مَسِيرَهَا وَقَالَ إِنَّهَا زَوْجَةُ نَبِيِّكُمْ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ، وَلَكِنَّهَا مِمَّا ابْتُلِيتُمْ.
Sahih al-Bukhari 7101Sahih
Words on this page
- Badrبدر
- The first major battle between the Muslims and Quraysh, in 2 AH. Those who fought there hold a special rank among the Companions.
- Du'aدعاء
- Supplication: calling on Allah and asking Him, in any language and at any time.
- 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.
- Sunnahالسنة
- The way of the Prophet ﷺ: his words, actions and approvals. Also used for a recommended act.
Related companions
- بلال بن رباحBilal ibn RabahBilal ibn Rabah, a formerly enslaved man tortured for saying "Ahad", became the first mu'adhdhin of Islam and…
- أبو بكر الصديقAbu Bakr al-SiddiqThe Prophet's closest companion and first caliph, remembered for truthfulness, tender-hearted worship and giv…
- علي بن أبي طالبAli ibn Abi TalibCousin and son-in-law of the Prophet, among the first to believe, and fourth caliph; remembered for knowledge…
- أبو موسى الأشعريAbu Musa al-Ash'ariAbu Musa al-Ash'ari of Yemen, whose sweet recitation the Prophet praised, later a judge and governor of Basra…
- أبو الدرداءAbu al-DardaAbu al-Darda al-Ansari, a former merchant who devoted himself to worship, collected the Quran in the Prophet'…
- حذيفة بن اليمانHudhayfah ibn al-YamanHudhayfah ibn al-Yaman, keeper of the Prophet's secret on the hypocrites, who asked about evil to avoid it an…
Sources and review
- Sunnah.com hadith collections (text confirmed via hadith-api mirror) (opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia: Ammar ibn Yasir (dates and biography) (opens in a new tab)
- Quran.com 16:106 (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.