ՙAbd Allāh ibn az-Zubayr
ʿAbd Allāh ibn az-Zubayr was a notable figure in early Islamic history, recognized as the son of Asthma, the daughter of Abū Bakr, and the grandson of Safiyya, the maternal aunt of the Prophet Muḥammad. He emerged as a leader during a period of discontent with the Umayyad dynasty’s rule and spearheaded a rebellion against them. His military contributions were significant, participating in key battles such as Yarmuk, the conquest of Egypt, and campaigns against Byzantine forces. He was also involved in the historical event of the Battle of Camel, where he led troops supporting ʿĀʾishah bint Abī Bakr.
After the death of Muʿāwiyah I, ʿAbd Allāh ibn az-Zubayr refused to acknowledge the caliphate of Yazīd I, gaining support from various regions, including Hijaz and Iraq. He declared Mecca as the center of his caliphate and defended it against Umayyad forces until his death in 683 CE, following a prolonged siege by Ḥajjāj ibn Yūsuf. Despite the ultimate failure of his rebellion, he is remembered for his commitment to opposing hereditary rule, his piety, bravery, oratory skills, and his participation in the first official exegesis of the Qurʾān. His legacy remains influential in discussions about leadership and governance in early Islamic history.
On this Page
ՙAbd Allāh ibn az-Zubayr
Related civilizations: Islam, Arabia
Major role/position: Caliph (nominal), military leader, scholar
Life
ՙAbd Allāh ibn az-Zubayr (ahb-dool-AH-ihb-uhn-uhz-zoo-BIR) was the son of Asthma, Abū Bakr’s daughter, and paternal grandson of Safiyya, the prophet Muḥammad’s maternal aunt. As the leader of the second generation of Mecca’s Islamic families, who chafed under the Umayyads’ assumption of the caliphate, he led a rebellion against the Umayyad dynasty. He participated in many battles during the early spread of Islam, including the Battle of Yarmuk (636 c.e.), the conquest of Egypt (639 c.e.), and the fight against the Byzantines in Ifrīqiya, where he killed exarch Gregorious (649 c.e.). The following year, he took part in the campaign to Khurasan.
He was one of four scholars charged by ՙUthmān ibn ՙAffān with the recension of the Qur՚n. He defended ՙUthmān on the day he was assassinated (656 c.e.) and joined the Battle of Camel (656 c.e.), commanding an infantry of ՙĀ՚ishah bint Abī Bakr’s forces. His father was killed on the battlefield.
After the death in 680 c.e. of Muՙāwiyah I (the first leader of Islam after the legitimate caliphs, and founder of the Umayyad Dynasty), Ibn az-Zubayr refused to pay homage to his son Yazīd I. Instead, the people of Hijaz, Iraq, and some parts of Syria paid him homage. He declared Mecca as the seat of his caliphate and defended first against the forces sent by Yazīd until his death in 683 c.e. and then, after a brief period of peace, those of ՙAbd al-Malik in 692 c.e. Ḥajjāj ibn Yūsuf, ՙAbd al-Malik’s commander, laid siege to the city for seven months and forced Ibn az-Zubayr to fight to his death.
Influence
Although Ibn az-Zubayr’s rebellion failed, he is remembered for his fight against the hereditary rule of Umayyad caliphs, for his piety, bravery, oratory skills, and for his part in the first official exegesis of Qur՚n.
Bibliography
The Encyclopaedia of Islam. Prepared by a number of leading orientalists; edited by an editorial committee consisting of H. A. R. Gibb et al. under the patronage of the International Union of Academies. New ed. Leiden, Netherlands: E. J. Brill, 1960-[2000].
Esposito, John, ed. The Oxford History of Islam. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.
Holt, P., ed. The Cambridge History of Islam. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1980.
Walker, George Benjamin. Foundations of Islam: The Making of a World Faith. London: Peter Owen, 1998.