He performed a lot of Salaah and fasted abundantly. He was a brave warrior, and
expert horse rider and very handsome. Ibn Zubair radhiallahu anhu was declared
the Governor of Makkah by the Makkans who did not acknowledge Yazeed’s rule.
After the battle of Karbala, Ibn Zubair radhiallahu anhu was declared the
Khalifa of the Islamic Empire by the people of Makkah, Basra and Egypt. He
ruled from 60-73 AH, the only Khalifa ever to rule from Makkah. The only areas
that did not come under his rule were Syria and Palestine. The Umayyad ruler
Abdul Malik eventually captured most of these areas from Ibn Zubair radhiallahu
anhu. In 72 AH Abdul Malik’s troops, under Hajjaj Ibn Yusuf, laid siege to
Makkah. They attacked in Ramadaan and continued through Hajj. Many Hujjaj could
not complete the Hajj that year. Hajjaj’s troops damaged the Ka’bah in the
assault. Due to the long siege, many of Ibn Zubair’s supporters deserted. His
mother advised hi to live like a man and die like a man.
Abdullah Ibn Zubair radhiallahu anhu was martyred in 73 AH at the
age of 70 while fighting bravely. He was the correct choice for Khalifa after
Hasan radhiallahu anhu was martyred. He was the last Sahaabi to rule and lived
a life of extreme piety.
http://islamicfocusarticles.blogspot.ca/2008/08/abdullah-ibn-zubair-radhiallahu-anhu.html What a Man! What a Martyr! A blessed child in
his mother's womb was he, when his mother passed over the burning desert sand
leaving Makkah for Al-Madiinah on her emigration route. While still unborn,
"Abd Allah was to emigrate with the Muhaajiruun. His mother Asmaa' (May
Allah be pleased with her) had hardly reached Qubaa', when she began to suffer
labor pains. \Abd Allah, the
first child to be born after the Hijrah, was carried to the Prophet's house in
Al-Madiinah. There the Prophet (PBUH) kissed him, then chewed a date and rubbed
it on the newbom's gums (a Sunnah called tahniik). Thus the Prophet's saliva
was the first thing to enter 'Abd Allah's belly. Muslims gathered,
carried the newbom baby and went round with him through the streets of Al
Madiinah applauding and shouting "Allahu Akbar"(Allah is the
Greatest). When the Prophet
(PBUH) and the Muslims settled in Al-Madiinah, the Jews there, bearing deep
spite against the Muslims, were subdued. They spread the rumor that their
priests had made the Muslims infertile by means of their witchcraft and Al-
Madiinah was not going to witness the birth of Muslim babies. When "Abd
Allah came out from the unseen, he was an irrefutable proof from Allah that the
Jews' claims were mere lies and deceptive tricks. ‘Abd Allah did not
reach the age of majority during the Prophet's lifetime. However, his intimate
contact with the Prophet (PBUH) during childhood granted him the basic
materials of manliness and taught him the principles of life, principles which
would be the subject of people's admiration and talk, as will be mentioned
later. The little child's
character developed rapidly. He displayed extraordinary energy, intellect, and
firmness. His youth was full of chasity, purity, worship, and heroism beyond
imagination. As days went by his manners did not change. He was a man sure of
his path, walking his way with strong will and firm belief. He did not exceed
the age of 27, during the conquests of Africa, Spain, and Constantinople, when
he proved to be one of the great heroes. That happened, in particular, during
the Battle of Ifriiqiyah (Tunisia) when 20,000 Muslim soldiers confronted an
army oF 120,000. The battle was in
progress and the Muslims encountered a real danger. 'Abd Allah took a look at
the enemy's army and soon realized the source of their strength. It was the
leader, the Berber king, who effectively encouraged his soldiers, pushing them
towards death. "Abd Allah knew that the battle's outcome depended
primarily on the death of their stubborn leader. But how was he going to reach
him? He had first to pass through a great and fiercely fighting army. However,
‘Abd Allah's courage and bravery were not ever subject to question. He called
his companions and said, "Protect my back, attack with me." Like a
flying arrow he forced his way towards the leader, bursting through fighting
warriors. When he reached him, he struck him dead. Immediately the leader fell
down motionless. Then he turned towards those who surrounded their king and
leader, killing them all. "Allahu Akbar" was then to be heard. The Muslims soon
saw their standard lifted on the same spot where the Berber leader had
commanded his soldiers. They realized that victory had almost been achieved.
They strengthened their force and soon everything was over in favor of the
Muslims. The leader of the Muslim army, "Abd Allah Ibn Abi Sarh.was told
about the great role 'Abd Allah IbnAz-Zubair hadplayed. He rewarded him with
the honor of personally carrying the news of victory to Al-Madiinah and to the
Caliph 'Uthmaan Ibn 'Affaan. Nevertheless, his
miraculous and extraordinary heroism in fighting came second to his heroism in
the sphere of worship. His family, his
youth, his position and its eminence, his wealth, his strength, nothing of that
sort could hinder 'Abd Allah from being an admirable God-fearing worshiper,
fasting all day long while praying all night. 'Umar Ibn 'Abd
APAziiz once asked Ibn Abi Mulaikah to describe 'Abd Allah, so he said,
"By Allah, I've never see a soul similar to his. When he began his prayer,
he left everything behind. He bowed down and prostrated for such a long period
that birds stood on his back considering him a wall or a gown thrown away. Once
a projectile passed between his beard and chest while praying. By Allah, he did
not feel it nor was he shaken by it. He did not stop his recitation nor hurry
his bowing." Similar to
legends, the truthful information about 'Abd Allah's worship was transmitted by
history. His fasting, his
prayer, his pilgrimage, his noble soul, his continuous fear of Allah, his close
relation to Allah, his being a devoted worshiper and a fasting fighter
throughout his life were all in him like interwoven threads. Although there was
some kind of disagreement between "Abd Allah Ibn Az-Zubair and Ibn
"Abbaas, the latter described 'Abd Allah in the following words: "He
was a reciter of the Qur'aan, a follower of the Sunnah, submissive to Allah, a
God-fearing faster, son of the Prophet's disciple. His mother was As-Siddiiq's
daughter, his aunt "Aa'ishah the Prophet's wife; his rank can only be
ignored by the blind." The strength of
high mountains did not equal ‘Abd Allah's firmness and assiduity. Sincere,
noble, strong, he was always ready to sacrifice his life for his clarity and
straightforwardness. During his dispute
and wars with Bani Umaiyah (the Ommiads), Al-Husain Ibn Numair, the leader of
the army sent by Yaziid to suppress Ibn Az-Zubair's revolt, went to visit
"Abd Allah Ibn Az-Zubair in Makkah after the news reached there that
Yaziid had died. Al-Husain offered "Abd Allah to go with him to Syria
where he would use his power to force people to swear the oath of allegiance to
Ibn Az-Zubair. However, Ibn Az-Zubair refused this golden chance because he was
totally convinced of the necessity to take revenge on the Syrian army for the terrible
crimes committed while marching on the Prophet's Madiinah to satisfy the
Ommiads' greed. We may differ with
'Abd Allah, wishing he would have preferred peace and forgiveness by responding
to a rare chance offered by Al-Husain, Yaziid's leader. Nevertheless, the man's
position in favor of his conviction and faith, rejecting lies and tricks,
deserves respect and admiration. Al-Hajaaj attacked
with his army, beseiging him and his followers. At that time, among "Abd
Allah's warriors was a group of very skillful Abyssinian spearmen and warriors.
'Abd Allah heard them talking about the late Caliph 'Uthmaan (May Allah be
pleased with him). Their conversation lacked all forms of justice and fairness.
'Abd Allah reprimanded them severely saying," By Allah, I don't like to
defeat my enemy with the help of someone hating 'Uthmaan." He sent them
away at a very critical time in which he needed help so desperately, like a
drowning man seeking hope. His sincerity and
honesty in faith and principles made him indifferent to the loss of 2OO of his
most skiUful spearmen, the faith of whom he could no longer trust. All that despite
the fierce decisive battle which stood in front of him, the outcome of which
could have been different if those spearmen had remained. His resistance
against Mu'aawiyah and Yaziid was an extraordinary legend of bravery. He
considered Yaziid Ibn Mu'aawiyah Ibn Abi Sufyaan the most unqualified person to
rule the Muslim community. That was true. Yaziid was totally corrupt. He did
not possess one single virtue which would forgive his crimes and evils which
have been narrated by history. How was it
possible for Ibn Az-Zubair to swear the oath of allegiance to him? He strongly
refused to do so while Mu'aawiyah was alive and more so when Yaziid became caliph.
Yaziid sent someone to threaten him. He, however, said, "I'm not going to
swear the oath of allegiance to a drunkard." Ibn Az-Zubair
became Commander of the Faithful with Holy Makkah as his capital, extending his
rule over Hejaz, Yemen, Basra, Kufa, Khurasan, and Syria except Damascus. The
inhabitants of all these provinces swore the oath of allegiance to him. But the
Qmmiads were not satisfied. Restless, they waged continuous wars, most of which
ended in their defeat. Nothing changed until 'Abd Al-Maalik Ibn Marwaan ordered
one of the most harsh, criminal, cruel, and merciless human beings to attack
‘Abd Allah in Makkah. This was Al-Hajaaj Ath-Thaqafiy, who was described by
‘Umar Ibn Abd Al-ziiz: "If all nations were to weigh together their sins,
and we came with Al Hajaaj only, the balance would sway to our part." We will only grasp
the full image of that situation if we listen to the conversation which took
place between ‘Abd Allah and his mother, the great and noble Asmaa' Bint Abu Bakr,
a short while before his death. He went to her
presenting the whole situation and what seemed to be his destiny. Asmaa' told him,
" My son, you know yourself better than anyone else. If you know that you
are adhering to the truth and calling to it, then be patient till you die for
its sake and don't let the boys of Bani Umaiyah reach your neck. But if life in
this world has been your main concern, then you're a wretched son, destroying
yourself and those killed on your side." 'Abd Allah said,
" By Allah, mother, I've never sought life in this world, nor did I submit
myself to it. I've never ruled with injustice, treated anyone unfairly, or
betrayed anyone." His mother Asmaa'
said, "I hope I will receive good consolation if you precede me to
Paradise or I precede you. May Allah have mercy for your long prayers at night,
your fasting during hot days and your reverent treatment of me and your father.
Allah, I've handed over my son to Your fate; I will be pleased with Your
destiny. Reward me for sacrificing my son as You reward thankful and patient
believers." 'Abd Allah's
mother, who was on that day 97 years old, went to see her crucified son. Like a
high towering mountain, his mother stood in front of him when Al-Hajaaj
approached with shame and humiliation and said, "O Mother, the Commander
of the Faithful ‘Abd Al-Maalik Ibn Marwaan has'recommended me to treat you
well. Do you need anything?" She shouted,"
I'm not your mother. I'm the mother of that one crucified on the cross. I don't
need you. But I'm going to tell you a hadiith which I heard from the Prophet
(PBUH). He said, 'He will emerge from Thaqiif, a liar and a vicious one.' We
have already seen the liar and the vicious one. I don't think he's anyone else
but you." 'Abd Allah Ibn
‘Umar approached to console her and asked Allah to grant her patience. She
replied, "What hinders me from being patient? Wasn't the head of Yahyaa
(John) Ibn Zakariyaa granted to an Israelite harlot?" How great she was,
daughter of As-Siddiiq! Are there more eloquent words to be directed at those who
cut 'Abd Allah's head off his body before crucifying him? Having suckled the
milk of such an extraordinary mother, could ‘Abd Allah possibly have lived a
different life, a life not reaching such great levels of success, virtue, and
heroism? 
Al-Hajaaj personally led his army to invade Makkah, Ibn Az-Zubair's capital. He
besieged it nearly six months, preventing the provision of water and food to
force people to abandon ‘Abd Allah. Under the severe pressure of hunger, a
large number of fighters surrendered and 'Abd Allah found himself almost alone.
Although chances to save his life and soul were still available, he decided to
carry out his responsibilities to the very end. He went on fighting with
legendary courage, although he was 70 years old at that time.
They embraced each other and exchanged a farewell look. After one hour of
fierce, unparalleled battle, the martyr received a deadly stroke. Al-Hajaaj,
cruel, cunning, and deceiving as he was, insisted on crucifying the lifeless
body.
If ‘Abd Allah's head had been handed over as a present to Al-Hajaaj and 'Abd
Al-Maalik, the head of a great Prophet (PBUH), Yahyaa Ibn Zakariya had been
granted to Salome, a miserable Israelite harlot. What a magnificent comparison!
What truthful words!
May peace be upon 'Abd Allah.
May peace be upon Asmaa'.
May peace be upon them among the eternally living martyrs.
May peace be upon them among the most reverent and pious.