A blessed child in his mother's womb was he, when his mother passed over the burning desert sand leaving Makkah for Al-Madeenah on her emigration route. While still unborn, 'Abdullaah was to emigrate with the believers to Al-Madeenah. His mother Asmaa', may Allah be pleased with her, had hardly reached Qubaa', when she began to suffer labor pains.
'Abdullaah, the first child to be born after the Hijrah, was carried to the Prophet's house in Al-Madeenah. There the Prophet kissed him, then chewed a date and rubbed it on the newborn's gums (a Sunnah called tahneek). Thus the Prophet's saliva was the first thing to enter `Abdullaah's belly.
Muslims gathered, carried the newborn baby and went round with him through the streets of Al-Madeenah applauding and shouting "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is the Greatest).
When the Prophet and the Muslims settled in Al-Madeenah, 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-Madeenah was not going to witness the birth of Muslim babies. When 'Abdullaah came out from the unseen, he was an irrefutable proof from Allah that the Jews' claims were mere lies and deceptive tricks.
'Abdullaah did not reach the age of majority during the Prophet's lifetime. However, his intimate contact with the Prophet 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 chastity, 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 Ifreeqiyyah (Tunisia) when 20,000 Muslim soldiers confronted an army of 120,000.
The battle was in progress and the Muslims encountered a real danger. 'Abdullaah 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.
'Abdullaah 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, 'Abdullaah'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, 'Abdullaah Ibn Abi Sarh was told about the great role 'Abdullaah Ibn Az-Zubayr, may Allah be pleased with him, had played. He rewarded him with the honor of personally carrying the news of victory to Al-Madeenah and to the Caliph `Uthmaan Ibn `Affaan, may Allah be pleased with him.
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 'Abdullaah from being an admirable God-fearing worshiper, fasting all day long while praying all night.
'Umar Ibn `Abdul-'Azeez once asked Ibn Abi Mulaykah to describe `Abdullaah, so he said, "By Allah, I've never seen 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 `Abdullaah'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 'Abdullaah Ibn Az-Zubayr and Ibn `Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with them, the latter described `'Abdullaah in the following words: "He was a reciter of the Quran, a follower of the Sunnah, submissive to Allah, a God-fearing faster, son of the Prophet's disciple. His mother was As-Siddeeq'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 `Abdullaah'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 Umayyah (the Ommiads), Al-Husayn Ibn Numayr, the leader of the army sent by Yazeed to suppress Ibn Az-Zubayr's revolt, went to visit 'Abdullaah Ibn Az-Zubayr in Makkah after the news reached there that Yazeed had died. Al-Husayn offered 'Abdullaah to go with him to Syria where he would use his power to force people to swear the oath of allegiance to Ibn Az-Zubayr. However, Ibn Az-Zubayr 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 Madeenah to satisfy the Ommiads' greed.
We may differ with `Abdullaah, wishing he would have preferred peace and forgiveness by responding to a rare chance offered by Al-Husayn, Yazeed's leader. Nevertheless, the man's position in favor of his conviction and faith, rejecting lies and tricks, deserves respect and admiration.