Abd Allah b. 'Umayr al-Kalbi: Difference between revisions

''''Abd Allah b. 'Umayr al-Kalbi''' (Arabic: عبدالله بن عُمَیر الکَلبی) was one of companions of [[Hussain ibn Ali|Imam Hussain]] who was martyred in the Battle of [[Karbala]]. Once he realized that [[Omar Ibn Sa’d|Ibn Sa'd]]'s army was dispatched to Karbala to fight with Imam Hussain, he left [[Kufa]] to join Imam Hussain's carvan. In his journey to  They both were martyred on the Day of [[Ashura]]. According to Muhammad b. Jarir al-Tabari, 'Abd Allah b. 'Umayr was the second martyr in the Battle of Karbala.

'Abd Allah b. 'Umayr belonged to Banu 'Ulaym tribe. Some historical reports about Wahb b. Wahb or Wahb b. Abd Allah al-Kalbi are similar to reports about Abd Allah b. 'Umayr which have led some scholars to identify these two and reject the existence of a person named Wahb b. Wahb. However, despite the similar historical reports, there are remarkable differences between them as well. Therefore, it is not unlikely that they are, in fact, two persons especially because it is mentioned in some historical resources that Wahb was a Christian which does not apply to Abd Allah b. Umayr who was a renowned companion of Imam Hussain.

Abu Mikhnaf narrates the story of 'Abd Allah b. 'Umayr joining Imam Hussain's army in details. Once 'Abd Allah noticed that the people of Kufa were departing to participate in a battle, he asked them about their destination. They replied: "We are going to fight with Hussain, the son of [[Fatima|Fatima al-Zahra]], the daughter of the Prophet (s)". He said: "I swear to God that I was looking forward to fighting with polytheists, and I hope the reward for fighting people who intend to fight with their Prophet's son is no less than fighting with polytheists".

In the first campaign of the Battle of Karbala, Yasar, Ziyad b. Abi Sufyan's emancipated slave, and Salim, '[[Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad]]'s emancipated slave, went to the battlefield and asked for rivals. Habib b. Muzahir and Burayr b. Khudayr wanted to go and fight with them, but Imam Hussain told them to stay. At this time, 'Abd Allah b. 'Umayr who had a muscular body and strong arms asked for Imam Hussain's permission to fight with them. The Imam gave him the permission. When he went to the battlefield, he was asked: "who are you?" He introduced himself. They said: "We do not know you. Zuhayr b. Qayn or Habib or Burayr should come to fight us". He told Yasar who was closer to him: "these people are superior to you and they will not fight with you". He then attacked and killed him. At this time, Salim attacked 'Abd Allah. Imam Hussain's soldiers shouted and tried to alert 'Abd Allah about Salim's attack, but 'Abd Allah did not notice until Salim approached him and hit him with his sword. 'Abd Allah tried to prevent the strike with his left hand and so his fingers were cut. Then 'Abd Allah attacked Salim and killed him with one strike.

Once  'Abd Allah fell on the ground, his wife, Umm Wahb, took a baton and went to him. 'Abd Allah asked her to go back to the camp, but she took her husband's clothes and told him: "I will not leave you unless I am martyred with you". At this time, Imam Hussain called her and said: "May God give you a great reward on behalf of [[Ahl al-Bayt]]. Go back (may God have His mercy on you) and sit with women, since it is not obligatory for women to fight". So she went back to women in camps.

Before noon, [[Shimr b. Dhi l-Jawshan]], who was the commander of the left wing of the army of Kufa, ordered attack on Imam Hussain's army. At this time, Hani b. Thubayt and Bukayr b. Hayy al-Taymi attacked 'Abd Allah b. 'Umayr and martyred him. According to al-Tabari, he was the second martyr in Imam Hussain's army.