Zayd Bin Khattab: A life of devotion and courage
Zayd Bin Khattab was the elder brother of the second Caliph, Umar Bin Khattab. He embraced Islam before Umar. He was among the first Muslims to migrate to Madinah in 622 AD, and after the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (peace be upon him) had established brotherhood between the Muharins (emigrants) and the Ansars (helpers), Zayd was twinned with Ma‘n bin Adiyy.
Umar would later remark, «My brother Zayd became superior to me in two aspects. He became a Muslim before me and he was martyred before me.»
He was among the most beloved companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him). He took part in all the expeditions against the pagans like the battles of Badr, Uhud, Khandaq (trench), among others. At Uhud, Umar urged Zayd to borrow his armour.
Zayd put it on but then took it off saying, «I want the rank of martyrdom as much as you do.» Consequently, both brothers fought without armour because they wanted to be martyred.
After the death of the Prophet (PBUH), in 12 AH (632 AD), Zayd demonstrated remarkable bravery in the Battle of Yamama against the impostor Musaylima. He was the standard-bearer of the Muslim army in this battle. He attacked the ranks of the enemy army with the standard in one hand and his sword in the other.
As the Muslims began to falter, Zayd prayed for their victory, exclaiming, «O Allah! I take refuge in you from the defeat of Muslims. I am not guilty before you of what Musaylimah and Muhakkam have done!”
He then launched a fierce counterattack, killing several enemy soldiers, including the notorious apostate, Nahar.
Tragically, Zayd was martyred by Abu Maryam al-Hanafi, shortly after his relatives Abdullah ibn Suhail, Abu Hudhayfa ibn ‹Utba, and Salim Mawla Abu Hudhayfa had fallen. He was buried in Uyaynah, a village near modern-day Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
He was buried in Uyaynah – a small village located about 30 km from Riyadh, the capital of the modern kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The tomb was a site of veneration until around 1740 when Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahab campaigned to have it levelled.
