Abd Allah b. 'Uqba al-Ghanawi
| 'Abd Allah b. 'Uqba al-Ghanawi | |
|---|---|
| Religious Affiliation | Kharijites |
| Lineage | Ghani Tribe |
| Known for | Killing Abu Bakr b. al-Imam al-Hasan |
| Notable roles | Soldier in the army of Umar b. Sa'd in the Battle of Karbala |
'Abd Allah b. 'Uqba al-Ghanawi (Arabic: عبدالله بن عُقبَة الغَنَوی) was a soldier in the army of Umar b. Sa'd in the Battle of Karbala who martyred Abu Bakr b. Hasan B. ʿAli B. Abi Taleb. He was one the Kharijites at the time of Mustawrid b. 'Ullafa's riot before the battle of Karbala.
From Kharijites
Abd Allah b. Uqba was a member of Kharijites in his young ages. He was present in Mustawrid b. Ullafa's riot against al-Mughira b. Shu'ba (the governor of Kufa appointed by Mu'awiya). When the riot was suppressed and Mustawrid was killed, Sharik b. Namla al-Muharibi asked al-Mughira not to kill Abd Allah b. Uqba.
Battle of Karbala
Abd Allah b. Uqba was among the soldiers of Umar b. Sa'd in the Battle of Karbala. He martyred Abu Bakr b. al-Hasan by throwing an arrow; he is cursed in Ziyara al-Nahiya al-Muqaddasa for that throw. Besides Ibn Sa'd believed that Ja'far b. al-Hussain was martyred by him.
The poems of Sulayman b. Qatta grieving on the martyrs of Karbala includes a verse about a person from Ghani tribe who martyred a companion of Imam al-Hussain which possibly refers to Abd Allah b. Uqba:
"A drop of our blood is in Ghani tribe and we will avenge for it on an appropriate day"
Death
When al-Mukhtar al-Thaqafi was taking revenge for the martyrs of Karbala, Abd Allah b. Uqba ran away to Jazira (a place between the Tigris and the Euphrates) and al-Mukhtar destroyed his house. It is said he was killed by soldiers of al-Mukhtar al-Thaqafi or he died out of thirst.