Introduction
Al-Zubayr was the son of al-Awwam ibn Khuwaylid, brother of Khadijah, and of Safiyyah bint Abd al-Muttalib, the Prophet's aunt, which made him the Prophet's cousin and Khadijah's nephew. He accepted Islam as a teenager, was among the first to emigrate to Abyssinia, and later migrated to Medina.
He took part in Badr, Uhud and the major campaigns after them. On the day of the Trench he volunteered, three times, to bring news of the enemy, and the Prophet gave him the title that has followed him since: his hawari, a devoted helper.
Al-Zubayr made his wealth through his shares of war booty and trade rather than office, and he was extraordinarily careful with other people's money. He died in 36 AH after leaving the field at the Battle of the Camel, killed at Wadi al-Siba near Basra. The Sunni tradition counts him among the ten promised Paradise.
The story
Early Meccan period
Accepted Islam as a youth and was among the first emigrants to Abyssinia.
624 CE
Fought at Badr and carried an old scar from there for the rest of his life.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 3721Sahih Arabic text
أَنَّ أَصْحَابَ النَّبِيِّ، صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالُوا لِلزُّبَيْرِ يَوْمَ الْيَرْمُوكِ أَلاَ تَشُدُّ فَنَشُدَّ مَعَكَ فَحَمَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ، فَضَرَبُوهُ ضَرْبَتَيْنِ عَلَى عَاتِقِهِ، بَيْنَهُمَا ضَرْبَةٌ ضُرِبَهَا يَوْمَ بَدْرٍ. قَالَ عُرْوَةُ فَكُنْتُ أُدْخِلُ أَصَابِعِي فِي تِلْكَ الضَّرَبَاتِ أَلْعَبُ وَأَنَا صَغِيرٌ.
“an old scar he had received on the day of the battle of Badr”
627 CE / 5 AH
Volunteered three times to bring news of the enemy on the day of the Trench, and was named the Prophet's hawari.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 4113Sahih Arabic text
قَالَ سَمِعْتُ جَابِرًا، يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمَ الأَحْزَابِ" مَنْ يَأْتِينَا بِخَبَرِ الْقَوْمِ". فَقَالَ الزُّبَيْرُ أَنَا. ثُمَّ قَالَ" مَنْ يَأْتِينَا بِخَبَرِ الْقَوْمِ". فَقَالَ الزُّبَيْرُ أَنَا. ثُمَّ قَالَ" مَنْ يَأْتِينَا بِخَبَرِ الْقَوْمِ". فَقَالَ الزُّبَيْرُ أَنَا. ثُمَّ قَالَ" إِنَّ لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ حَوَارِيًّا، وَإِنَّ حَوَارِيَّ الزُّبَيْرُ".
“Az-Zubair said, "I."”
636 CE / 15 AH
Charged the Byzantine lines at Yarmuk and was wounded twice.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 3975Sahih Arabic text
… كَذَبْتُمْ. فَقَالُوا لاَ نَفْعَلُ، فَحَمَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَتَّى شَقَّ صُفُوفَهُمْ، فَجَاوَزَهُمْ وَمَا مَعَهُ أَحَدٌ، ثُمَّ رَجَعَ مُقْبِلاً، فَأَخَذُوا بِلِجَامِهِ، فَضَرَبُوهُ ضَرْبَتَيْنِ عَلَى عَاتِقِهِ بَيْنَهُمَا ضَرْبَةٌ ضُرِبَهَا يَوْمَ بَدْرٍ. قَالَ عُرْوَةُ كُنْتُ أُدْخِلُ أَصَابِعِي فِي تِلْكَ الضَّرَبَاتِ أَلْعَبُ وَأَنَا صَغِيرٌ. قَالَ عُرْوَةُ وَكَانَ مَعَهُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ …
“Az-Zubair attacked them”
656 CE / 36 AH
Left the Battle of the Camel and was killed at Wadi al-Siba.
A day in their footsteps
7 small, repeatable practices from al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.
Volunteering when the community needs someone
When the Prophet asked who would bring news of the enemy during the siege of Medina, al-Zubayr said "I" three times. The Prophet answered that every prophet has a hawari and that his was al-Zubayr.
Try this today
Raise your hand first when there is a hard but necessary task.
Sit with this
When a hard task needs a volunteer, are you the first hand raised?
Sources
Sahih al-Bukhari 4113Sahih قَالَ سَمِعْتُ جَابِرًا، يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمَ الأَحْزَابِ" مَنْ يَأْتِينَا بِخَبَرِ الْقَوْمِ". فَقَالَ الزُّبَيْرُ أَنَا. ثُمَّ قَالَ" مَنْ يَأْتِينَا بِخَبَرِ الْقَوْمِ". فَقَالَ الزُّبَيْرُ أَنَا. ثُمَّ قَالَ" مَنْ يَأْتِينَا بِخَبَرِ الْقَوْمِ". فَقَالَ الزُّبَيْرُ أَنَا. ثُمَّ قَالَ" إِنَّ لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ حَوَارِيًّا، وَإِنَّ حَوَارِيَّ الزُّبَيْرُ".
“Every prophet has his Hawari”
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3745Sahih قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ" إِنَّ لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ حَوَارِيًّا وَإِنَّ حَوَارِيَّ الزُّبَيْرُ بْنُ الْعَوَّامِ". وَزَادَ أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ فِيهِ يَوْمَ الأَحْزَابِ قَالَ" مَنْ يَأْتِينَا بِخَبَرِ الْقَوْمِ". قَالَ الزُّبَيْرُ أَنَا. قَالَهَا ثَلاَثًا قَالَ الزُّبَيْرُ أَنَا. هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ.
“my Hawari”
Preferring honest work to asking
Al-Zubayr narrated the Prophet's saying that it is better to take a rope, cut wood, carry it on your back and sell it, and so keep your dignity, than to ask people who may or may not give.
Try this today
Earn something with your own hands before asking others.
Sit with this
What could you earn with your own hands before asking others?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 1471Sahih قَالَ " لأَنْ يَأْخُذَ أَحَدُكُمْ حَبْلَهُ فَيَأْتِيَ بِحُزْمَةِ الْحَطَبِ عَلَى ظَهْرِهِ فَيَبِيعَهَا فَيَكُفَّ اللَّهُ بِهَا وَجْهَهُ، خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِنْ أَنْ يَسْأَلَ النَّاسَ أَعْطَوْهُ أَوْ مَنَعُوهُ".
“It is better for anyone of you to take a rope (and cut) and bring a bundle of wood”
Guarding other people's money
People who wanted to deposit money with him as a trust found that he would refuse and instead take it as a loan, fearing it might be lost. He did not want to be responsible for something he could not repay.
Try this today
If you cannot guarantee safekeeping, do not accept a trust casually.
Sit with this
Do you accept trusts you cannot be sure of keeping?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 3129Sahih … فَيَسْتَوْدِعُهُ إِيَّاهُ فَيَقُولُ الزُّبَيْرُ لاَ وَلَكِنَّهُ سَلَفٌ، فَإِنِّي أَخْشَى عَلَيْهِ الضَّيْعَةَ، وَمَا وَلِيَ إِمَارَةً قَطُّ وَلاَ جِبَايَةَ خَرَاجٍ وَلاَ شَيْئًا، إِلاَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ فِي غَزْوَةٍ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَوْ مَعَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ وَعُثْمَانَ ـ رضى الله عنهم ـ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ فَحَسَبْتُ مَا عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الدَّيْنِ …
“I take it as a debt, for I am afraid it might be lost”
Relying on Allah as his Master
On the eve of the Battle of the Camel he asked his son Abdullah to sell his property and pay his debts, and told him that if he struggled, to call on his Master, Allah. Abdullah said that whenever he was stuck he said 'Master of al-Zubayr, pay his debt', and Allah helped him.
Try this today
In financial stress, plan carefully and then say: Master, help me.
Sit with this
In financial stress, after planning, do you say "Master, help me"?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 3129Sahih … قَالَ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا وَقَعْتُ فِي كُرْبَةٍ مِنْ دَيْنِهِ إِلاَّ قُلْتُ يَا مَوْلَى 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 …
“Allah (is my Master)”
A hard-working, simple household
His wife Asma bint Abu Bakr described the early days: he owned only a camel and a horse; she fed the horse, fetched water, kneaded dough and carried date stones from his land. The household ran on effort, not luxury.
Try this today
Share the work at home and do not wait for comfort before being grateful.
Sit with this
Do you wait for comfort before being grateful?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 5224Sahih قَالَتْ تَزَوَّجَنِي الزُّبَيْرُ، وَمَا لَهُ فِي الأَرْضِ مِنْ مَالٍ، وَلاَ مَمْلُوكٍ، وَلاَ شَىْءٍ غَيْرَ نَاضِحٍ، وَغَيْرَ فَرَسِهِ، فَكُنْتُ أَعْلِفُ فَرَسَهُ، وَأَسْتَقِي الْمَاءَ، وَأَخْرِزُ غَرْبَهُ وَأَعْجِنُ، وَلَمْ أَكُنْ أُحْسِنُ أَخْبِزُ، وَكَانَ يَخْبِزُ جَارَاتٌ لِي مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ وَكُنَّ نِسْوَةَ صِدْقٍ، وَكُنْتُ أَنْقُلُ النَّوَى مِنْ أَرْضِ الزُّبَيْرِ الَّتِي أَقْطَعَهُ …
“he had no real property or any slave or anything else except a camel which drew water from the well, and his horse”
Accepting the Prophet's ruling
In a dispute over irrigation with an Ansari, the Prophet gave al-Zubayr his right first; the Ansari complained that it was because he was the Prophet's cousin. The narrator thinks the verse about accepting the Prophet's judgment in all disputes was revealed about this event.
Try this today
Accept a fair decision, and do not read favouritism into someone else's ruling.
Sit with this
Can you accept a fair ruling without reading favouritism into it?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 2361Sahih … رَجُلٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ، فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم" يَا زُبَيْرُ اسْقِ ثُمَّ أَرْسِلْ". فَقَالَ الأَنْصَارِيُّ إِنَّهُ ابْنُ عَمَّتِكَ. فَقَالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ" اسْقِ يَا زُبَيْرُ، ثُمَّ يَبْلُغُ الْمَاءُ الْجَدْرَ، ثُمَّ أَمْسِكْ". فَقَالَ الزُّبَيْرُ فَأَحْسِبُ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ نَزَلَتْ فِي ذَلِكَ{َلاَ وَرَبِّكَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّى يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ}. …
“O Zubair! Irrigate (your land) first”
Courage in the front line
At Yarmuk, the companions asked al-Zubayr to charge so they could follow him; he did and was wounded twice, on top of an old Badr scar. His courage was practical and led from the front.
Try this today
Lead by going first, not by sending others.
Sit with this
Where could you lead by going first?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 3721Sahih أَنَّ أَصْحَابَ النَّبِيِّ، صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالُوا لِلزُّبَيْرِ يَوْمَ الْيَرْمُوكِ أَلاَ تَشُدُّ فَنَشُدَّ مَعَكَ فَحَمَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ، فَضَرَبُوهُ ضَرْبَتَيْنِ عَلَى عَاتِقِهِ، بَيْنَهُمَا ضَرْبَةٌ ضُرِبَهَا يَوْمَ بَدْرٍ. قَالَ عُرْوَةُ فَكُنْتُ أُدْخِلُ أَصَابِعِي فِي تِلْكَ الضَّرَبَاتِ أَلْعَبُ وَأَنَا صَغِيرٌ.
“Will you attack the enemy vigorously so that we may attack them along with you”
Virtues
The Prophet said every prophet has a hawari (devoted helper) and his is al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam.
“my Hawari is Az-Zubair bin Al-`Awwam”
Arabic text
قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ حَوَارِيًّا، وَإِنَّ حَوَارِيَّ الزُّبَيْرُ بْنُ الْعَوَّامِ".
Sahih al-Bukhari 3719Sahih
More sources (1)
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3744Hasan Sahih Arabic text
قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ حَوَارِيًّا وَإِنَّ حَوَارِيَّ الزُّبَيْرُ بْنُ الْعَوَّامِ". هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ. وَيُقَالُ الْحَوَارِيُّ هُوَ النَّاصِرُ. سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ أَبِي عُمَرَ يَقُولُ قَالَ سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ الْحَوَارِيُّ هُوَ النَّاصِرُ.
“my Hawari is Az-Zubair bin Al-'Awwam”
The Prophet said "let my father and mother be sacrificed for you" to him after he went to the Banu Qurayzah to bring news.
“Let my father and mother be sacrificed for you”
Arabic text
… إِلَى بَنِي قُرَيْظَةَ مَرَّتَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثًا، فَلَمَّا رَجَعْتُ قُلْتُ يَا أَبَتِ، رَأَيْتُكَ تَخْتَلِفُ. قَالَ أَوَهَلْ رَأَيْتَنِي يَا بُنَىَّ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ. قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ" مَنْ يَأْتِ بَنِي قُرَيْظَةَ فَيَأْتِينِي بِخَبَرِهِمْ". فَانْطَلَقْتُ، فَلَمَّا رَجَعْتُ جَمَعَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَبَوَيْهِ فَقَالَ" فِدَاكَ أَبِي …
Sahih al-Bukhari 3720Sahih
The Prophet allowed him and Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf to wear silk because of a skin disease causing itching.
“allowed `Abdur-Rahman bin `Auf and Az-Zubair to wear silken shirts”
Arabic text
أَنَّ أَنَسًا، حَدَّثَهُمْ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَخَّصَ لِعَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ وَالزُّبَيْرِ فِي قَمِيصٍ مِنْ حَرِيرٍ، مِنْ حِكَّةٍ كَانَتْ بِهِمَا.
Sahih al-Bukhari 2919Sahih
Sayings and moments
Narrating from the Prophet: it is better for one of you to cut wood and carry it on his back to sell it than to ask people for money.
“to ask the people who may give him or not”
Arabic text
قَالَ " لأَنْ يَأْخُذَ أَحَدُكُمْ حَبْلَهُ فَيَأْتِيَ بِحُزْمَةِ الْحَطَبِ عَلَى ظَهْرِهِ فَيَبِيعَهَا فَيَكُفَّ اللَّهُ بِهَا وَجْهَهُ، خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِنْ أَنْ يَسْأَلَ النَّاسَ أَعْطَوْهُ أَوْ مَنَعُوهُ".
Sahih al-Bukhari 1471Sahih
Words on this page
- Ansarالأنصار
- "The Helpers": the Muslims of Madinah, from the Aws and Khazraj tribes, who welcomed and sheltered the Prophet ﷺ and the emigrants from Makkah.
- Badrبدر
- The first major battle between the Muslims and Quraysh, in 2 AH. Those who fought there hold a special rank among the Companions.
- Hadithحديث
- A report of what the Prophet ﷺ said, did or approved, passed down through a chain of narrators.
- Madinahالمدينة
- The city, formerly Yathrib, to which the Prophet ﷺ migrated and where the first Muslim community was built.
- Uhudأحد
- The mountain outside Madinah where the Muslims fought Quraysh in 3 AH, and where Hamzah and many others were martyred.
Related companions
- عبد الله بن الزبيرAbdullah ibn al-ZubayrAbdullah ibn al-Zubayr, first child born to the Muhajirun in Medina: devotion, generosity and rebuilding the…
- أبو بكر الصديقAbu Bakr al-SiddiqThe Prophet's closest companion and first caliph, remembered for truthfulness, tender-hearted worship and giv…
- خديجة بنت خويلدKhadijah bint KhuwaylidKhadijah bint Khuwaylid, the first Mother of the Believers: her steadying support of the Prophet and her loya…
- حمزة بن عبد المطلبHamzah ibn Abd al-MuttalibHamzah ibn Abd al-Muttalib, the Prophet's uncle and milk-brother, who fought at Badr and fell at Uhud: courag…
- 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…
Sources and review
- Zubayr ibn al-Awwam - 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.