Real Names of Some Companions رضي الله عنهم
بسم الله الرحمان الرحيم
الحمد الله
Abu Usaid رضي الله عنه (died 60 A.H.) : His real name was Malik bin Rabi’ah. He participated in the Battle of Badr with the Muslims. In his later years he lost his eyesight. He was the last of those who fought at the Battle of Badr to die. He died in Madinah.
Abu Umamah رضي الله عنه (died 1 A.H.) : Real name: As’ad bin Zurarah. He was a Companion from the Ansar and one of the earlier Companions who adopted Islam. Abu Umamah was the representative of his tribe in the First and Second Pledges of Al-`Aqabah. He was the first to pledge allegiance to the Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم on the Night of Al-`Aqabah and was the first Muslim to enter Madinah.
Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari رضي الله عنه (died 52 A.H./672 A.D.) : Real name: Khalid bin Zayd bin Kulayb. He was a Companion who belonged to the Khazraj, a tribe from the Ansar. Abu Ayyub hosted the Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم in his home when he immigrated to Madinah. He attended the Pledge of Al-`Aqabah and participated in the Battles of Badr, Uhud, the Trench and all other battles commanded by the Prophet. Abu Ayyub died during the siege of Constantinople when Mu’awiyah رضي الله عنه invaded the Byzantine territories.
Abu Darda’ رضي الله عنه (died 32 A.H./652 A.D.) : Real name: `Uwaymir bin Malik. He was a Companion from the Khazraj and one of the narrators of Prophetic hadiths. The Prophet linked him in a brotherly relation with Salman Al-Farisi رضي الله عنه. Abu Al-Darda’ participated in all battles following the Battle of Uhud. It is not certain whether he participated in the latter or not. He assumed the office of judge in Damascus and died during the caliphate of `Uthman bin `Affan رضي الله عنه.
Abu Burdah Al-Ansari رضي الله عنه (died 41 A.H.) : The uncle of Al-Bara’ bin `Azib. His real name was Hani’ bin Niar bin `Amr. He was present at the Battle of Badr. Jabir bin Abdullah and Abdul-Rahman bin Jabir narrated hadiths from him on ‘Book on Fighting the Apostates. ‘ He died in the early years of Mu’awiyah رضي الله عنه’s caliphate.
Abu Barzah رضي الله عنه (died 65 A.H.) : His real name was Nadlah bin `Ubaid bin Al-Harith. He lived in Madinah, but later left for Basra. He fought in `Ali’s army against the people of Nahrawan. He also fought with Al-Muhallab bin Abi Sufrah against the Azariqah. He reported 46 Prophetic Hadiths.
Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq رضي الله عنه (51 B.H.-13 A.H./573-634 A.D.) : Real name: `Abdullah bin `Uthman bin `Amir. The first Rightly-Guided Caliph (11-13 A.H./632-634 A.D.) He was the first man to believe in the new faith. Abu Bakr kept company with the Prophet before and after the Mission. He endured the persecution of the Quraysh and spared nothing to support the new religion. He was the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم‘s companion in his Hijrah from Mecca to Madinah. When he became caliph, he fought the Apostates and those who refused to pay the Zakah, and restored unity to the Muslim community.
Abu Bakrah رضي الله عنه(died 52 A.H.) : His real name was Nafi` bin Al-Harith bin Kildah Al-Thaqafi. He was a Companion from Al-Ta’if. He reported 132 Prophetic hadiths. He died in Basra.
Abu Juhayfah رضي الله عنه(74 A.H.) : A Companion of the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم. ‘Abu Juhayfah’ was his nickname; his real name was Wahb bin `Abdullah bin Muslim. The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم died while Abu Juhayfah was still a teenager. He was appointed treasurer of the public treasury by `Ali bin Abi Talib. He was the last Companion to die in Kufa.
Abu Hudhaifah bin `Utbah رضي الله عنه(died 11 A.H.) : Full name: Abu Hudhaifah bin `Utbah bin Rabi’ah bin `Abd Shams bin `Abd Manaf. He was a Companion from the Quraysh and one of the earlier Muslims who participated in the Two Migrations (to Abyssinia and Madinah). Abu Hudhaifah participated in the Battle of Badr and was killed in the Battle of Al-Yamamah.
Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri رضي الله عنه(died 74 A.H.) : Real name: Sa’d bin Malik bin Sinan. He was a Companion who belonged to the Khazraj, a tribe of the Ansar. He narrated many Prophetic hadiths and was one of the most knowledgeable Companions. Abu Sa’id participated in 12 battles, and assumed the position of Mufti in Madinah, where he died.
Abu Sufyan bin Harb رضي الله عنه(died 31 A.H./652 A.D.) : Real name: Sakhr bin Harb bin Umayyah. He was a wealthy leader of the Quraysh and one of the severest enemies of Islam at the battles of Uhud and the Trench. Abu Sufyan converted to Islam on the day of the Conquest of Mecca. He was father of Mu’awiyah bin Abi Sufyan رضي الله عنه, the founder of the Umayyad state.
Abu Salamah Al-Makhzumi رضي الله عنه (died 4 A.H.) : Real name: `Abdullah bin `Abd Al-Asad. He was the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم‘s foster-brother and one of the first to adopt Islam. Abu Salamah migrated to Abyssinia and then to Madinah. He participated in the Battle of Badr and died in Madinah. The Prophet promised him that he would be the first to receive the record of his deeds with his right hand on the Day of Judgment.
Abu `Ubaydah bin Al-Jarrah رضي الله عنه(died 18 A.H./639 A.D.) : Real name: `Aamir bin `Abdullah. He was a Companion from the Quraysh and one of the ten Muslims who were given the glad tidings that they would enter Paradise. Abu `Ubaydah killed his polytheist father in a battle. The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم gave him the title “The Trustee of Muhammad’s Ummah. ” Abu `Ubaydah was one of the commanders who led Muslim armies to the conquest of Syria. He died during the plague of `Amwas.
Abu Mas’ud Al-Ansari رضي الله عنه (died 40 A.H.) : His real name was `Uqbah bin `Amr bin Tha`labah. He pledged allegiance to the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم at Al-`Aqabah Pledge and took part in the Battle of Uhud. In addition, he was an active participant in subsequent Islamic events. `Ali bin Abi Talib رضي الله عنه appointed him his successor at Kufa when he headed for Siffin to fight Mu’awiyah رضي الله عنه. Abu Mas’ud reported more than 100 Prophetic hadiths.
Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari رضي الله عنه (died 44 A.H.) : Real name: `Abdullah bin Qays. Abu Musa immigrated to Abyssinia, then moved to Madinah after the conquest of Khaybar. `Uthman bin `Affan appointed him governor of Kufa. Abu Musa was involved in the Arbitration between `Ali and Mu’awiyah, but then renounced both parties.
Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه (died 59 A.H./678 A.D.) : Real name: `Abdul-Rahman bin Sakhr Al-Azdi. He adopted Islam in 7 A.H. and participated with the Prophet in the Conquest of Khaybar in the same year. He stayed in the company of the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم in pursuit of knowledge. Abu Hurairah was considered one of the greatest Muftis of his time. `Umar bin Al-Khattab رضي الله عنه appointed him governor of Bahrain, then removed him due to his lenient character and his tendency to dedicate himself to worship. He died in Madinah.
Abu Waqid Al-Laythi رضي الله عنه (died 68 A.H.) : His real name was `Auf bin Al-Harith Al-Laythi. He participated in the Battle of Badr. He was from Madinah, but died in Merv in Turkmenistan during the caliphate of Mu’awiyah رضي الله عنه.
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