22. Usama ibn Zayd

Usama ibn Zayd ibn Harisa was from Yemen; his kunya was Abu Muhammad.

His mother was Umm Ayman, the former slave and nanny of Prophet Muhammad. Usama's father was Zayd ibn Harisa, also a former slave of Prophet Muhammad and one of the people that the Prophet loved most (Al Bukhari, al Tarikh al Kabir II. P.20; Dhahabi, Siyar, II, p. 497; Ibn Hajar, al Isaba, I, p. 202).

Usama was born after Prophet Muhammad had been chosen as the last prophet and given the first revelation. Usama had a dark complexion, was very active, smart and courageous. He was raised under the auspices of the Prophet. The Messenger of Allah loved Usmana greatly, and would say that among the children he was the one whom he loved most, with the exception of his own daughter, Fatima (Ibn Abdilberr, İstîâb, I, p. 58; Dhahabî, Siyar, II, p. 499).

Usama wanted to participate in the Battle of Uhud (3 AH), yet Prophet Muhammad did not allow him to on the grounds that he was too young to go to war. He was extremely intelligent and very brave; so much so that Prophet Muhammad would later appoint him as the commander of the army in Syria when he was only 18 years old. Some of the leading companions were present in this army, such as Omar ibn al Faruq, the second Caliph of Islam (Waqidi, Maghazi, III, 1117; Ibn Hajar, al Isâba, I, p. 202).

At the time when the Prophet died, Usama was 18-19 or 20 years old. He reports that when Prophet Muhammad was ill, he went to see him. The Prophet was not able to speak at the time, so he put his hand on Usama's hand instead. Usama says that by doing this, he meant to pray for him. Usama was one of the companions who took part in the washing of the blessed body of Prophet Muhammad. Also, he had promised that he would not fight against anyone who would say "There is no God but Allah". He kept his promise and did not participate in the civil war. Ahmad ibn Hanbal reports in his Musnad (V, pp. 99-210) more than 90 narrations by Usama (Ibn Abdilberr, Istiab, I, p. 59; Ibn al Asîr, Usd al Ghabe, I, p. 80; Ibn Hajar, al Isaba, I, p. 203).

He died in Medina in 54, 58 or 59 (AH), during the last years of the caliphate of Muawiya (Dhahabi, Siyar, II, p. 497).