Ammar ibn Yasir (; July 657 CE) was a Sahabi (Companion) of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and a commander in the early Muslim conquests. His parents, Sumayya and Yasir ibn Amir, were the first martyrs of the Ummah. Ammar converted to Islam by the invitation of Abu Bakr and was amongst the . After the migration to Medina, he participated in building the Prophet's Mosque and fought in most of the early Muslim expeditions.
He fought in the Ridda wars under Caliph Abu Bakr () and in the Muslim conquest of Iran under Caliph Umar (). Ammar served as governor of Kufa under Umar. Following Uthman's assassination, Ammar became a devout partisan of Caliph Ali () and died while fighting on Ali's side in the Battle of Siffin.
Before Islam Ammar belonged to the Malik clan of the Madhhij tribe in Yemen. He later lived in the Hijaz region (in present-day Saudi Arabia). Born in or around the Year of the Elephant—the same year as Muhammad—he grew up in Mecca and served as one of the intermediaries in Muhammad's marriage to Khadijah bint Khuwaylid. His father, Yasir ibn Amir, came from the tribe of Qahtan in Yemen and migrated to Mecca, where he settled after marrying Sumayya, a slave woman. Ammar and his parents, Yasir and Sumayya, were slaves to Abu Huzaifa, and after his death they came under the control of Abu Jahl, who later became one of Islam's fiercest enemies and the notorious torturer of the family. Ammar's trust in and knowledge of Muhammad's credibility—even before his prophethood—encouraged him to follow Muhammad's prophetic visions as one of the earliest converts.Sayyid Saeed Akhtar Rizvi: "Ammar and his parents were amongst the first converts to Islam. His father Yasir was from the tribe of Qahtan in Yemen. He, together with his two brothers, came to Mecca in search of a lost brother. His brothers returned to their homeland; but Yasir stayed in Mecca where he entered into a covenant with Abu Hudhayfah (from the tribe of Bani Makhzum), and married his slave-girl, Sumayyah bint Khayyat. Yasir and Sumayyah begot two sons, 'Abdullah and 'Ammar, who according to the custom of Arabia, were considered the slaves of Abu Hudhayfah". Slavery - Ammar bin Yasir , Al-islam. org, by Sayyid Saeed Akhtar Rizvi retrieved on 15 Dec. 2014Kamran Shahid Ansari: "Ammar bin Yasir was one of the early reverts to Islam and belonged to Banu Makhzum tribe. He was born in the year of Elephant in Makkah and was one of the intermediaries in the Messenger of Allah’s (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) marriage to Khadija bint Khuwaylid (may Allah be pleased with her). His father Yasir (may Allah be pleased with him) was from Yemen and migrated to Makkah and settled down there by marrying Sumayya (may Allah be pleased with her), a slave woman. Earlier they were slaves to Abu Huzaifa, but upon his death Abu Jahl, one of the staunchest enemies of Islam took them over as slaves. Ammar, aware of the extraordinary qualities and impeccable character of the Messenger of Allah, did not take much time to revert to Islam" Radiance Viewsweekly, Ammar Bin Yasir (May Allah be pleased with him), by Kamran Shahid Ansari, retrieved on 15 Dec. 2014"Ammar’s parents Yassir and Summaya also accepted Islam on the very same day due to a dream Yassir had the previous night. He dreamed that Ammar and his wife were calling to him from a garden from across a valley divided by fire. The whole family accepted Islam and drew the notice and hatred of one of the chieftains of Quraish, Abu Jahl" www.newmuslims.com, The Companions of Prophet Muhammad: Ammar ibn Yassir, retrieved on 27 January 2017
After conversion to Islam Belonging to the Banu Makhzum, Ammar was born in 567 to Yasir ibn Amir and Sumayya, both of whom were later brutally killed. At an early age, Ammar converted to Islam by the invitation of Abu Bakr, becoming one of the earliest Muslims. He became one of Muhammad's most prominent companions, participating in all his military campaigns and battles. Historically, Ammar ibn Yasir was the first Muslim to build a mosque.Syed A. A. Razwy, A Restatement of the History of Islam & Muslims C.E. 570 to 661, pages 91 & 552, Google Books, Retrieved on 27 Feb 2014
ʿAmmār converted to Islam in 614 or 615 CE.Muhammad ibn Ishaq. Sirat Rasul Allah. Translated by Guillaume, A. (1955). The Life of Muhammad, p. 117. Oxford: Oxford University Press. This was during the period when the Quraysh were persecuting lower-class Muslims.Ibn Ishaq/Guillaume p. 143. As Ammar later recounted to his grandson: "I met Suhayb ibn Sinan at the door of the house of Al-Arqam while the Messenger of Allah was inside. I asked him, 'What do you want?' He replied, 'What do you want?' I answered, 'I want to go to Muhammad and listen to what he says.' He said, 'That is what I want.' We entered, and he presented Islam to us. We became Muslim and spent the day until evening, then went out concealing ourselves".Muhammad ibn Saad. Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir, vol. 3. Translated by Bewley, A. (2013). The Companions of Badr, p. 189. London: Ta-Ha Publishers. Ammar's father, mother, and brother also became Muslims, though not at Abu Bakr's invitation.Ibn Saad/Bewley vol. 3 p. 188.
When the Quraysh learned of Yasir's family's conversion, they became among "the victims who were tortured at Mecca to make them recant".Ibn Saad/Bewley vol. 3 pp. 189-190. The Makhzum clan would expose Ammar, his father, and his mother to the scorching heat of the day and torture them over open fire. Muhammad would pass by and say, "Patience, O family of Yasir! Your meeting-place will be Paradise"Ibn Ishaq/Guillaume p. 145. and "O fire! Be cool and harmless for ‘Ammar in the same manner in which you became cool and harmless for Ibrahim.” As a result, Ammar bore scars from this torture for the rest of his life.Ibn Saad/Bewley vol. 3 p. 190.Sadruddin Sharafuddin al-Amili, Ammar Ibn Yasir - A Companion of the Prophet('s) @ Al-islam.org, Chapter 7: Such is the World, Retrieved on September 21, 2015
Ammar was tortured "until he did not know what he was saying," as was his friend Suhayb. In this state, he temporarily maligned Muhammad and praised the pagan gods. Afterwards, he confessed to Muhammad. When asked, "How do you find your heart?" Ammar replied that he was still a Muslim at heart. Muhammad said all was well. The Qur'an verse "someone forced to do it whose heart remains at rest in its faith" (16:106) refers to Ammar.Ibn Saad/Bewley vol. 3 pp. 190-191. His mother was murdered by Abu Jahl for refusing to abandon Islam and is regarded as the first Muslim martyr.Muhammad ibn Saad. Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir, vol. 8. Translated by Bewley, A. (1995). The Women of Madina, pp. 185-186. London: Ta-Ha Publishers. The opening verses of Surat Al-Ankabut (chapter 29: The Spider) were revealed in response to this event.Tafsir al-Qurtubi (in Arabic), explanation of and commentary on Surat Al-Ankabut , retrieved on may 30, 2014
To escape the Meccans' torture, ibn SaadIbn Saad/Bewley vol. 3 p. 191. and Ibn IshaqIbn Ishaq/Guillaume p. 148. report that Ammar went to Abyssinia in 616.
Battles under Muhammad
'Ammar was one of the few warriors to participate in the first major Islamic battle, the Battle of Badr, despite harsh conditions;Martin Lings, Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources, pages 138–139 and he continued to fight in all Muslim battles even after Muhammad's death.
In addition to his military role, Ammar's life illustrates a historically significant incident: while helping to build the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, he complained of being overloaded with bricks. Umm Salama, Muhammad's wife, witnessed Muhammad, who ran his hand through Ammar's curly hair and said: "Alas Ibn Sumayya! It is not they who will kill you but a wicked band of men." He took a stick in his hand, angry, and said, "What is wrong between them and Ammar? He invites them to Paradise while they invite him to hell."Sahih Bukhari 1Sahih Bukhari 3; Sahih Bukhari 4 ; Volume 1, Book 8, Number 438 & Volume 4, Book 52, Number 67 (all different versions of this incident included), Retrieved on 25 Feb 2014Muhammad ibn Ishaq, Sirat Rasul Allah. Translated by Guillaume, A. (1955). The Life of Muhammad, p. 115. Oxford: Oxford University Press. These reports, regarded as valid by both Sunnis and Shi'is, were later significant in discussions of succession and in interpreting Ammar's death at the Battle of Siffin.Ammar Ibn Yasser' shrine is violated, Islam Times, retrieved on 13 Apr 2014
Role after Muhammad's death Under Umar, he became governor of Kufa, however he was later removed from power.Al-Tabari, The History of al-Tabari Vol. 14: The Conquest of Iran A.D. 641-643/A.H. 21-23, pages 47-51, Retrieved on May 21, 2014
During Uthman ibn Affan's election by the shura and before his eventual overthrowal, Ammar warningly predicted the upcoming conflict if anyone but Ali got elected and said that "If you do not want to cause a dispute among the Muslims, you have to give the pledge of allegiance to Ali".Ammar ibn Yasir: "If you do not want to cause a dispute among the Muslims, you have to give the pledge of allegiance to Ali". WALID F. JAMMAL, IMAM ALI IBN ABI TALEB THE FOURTH CALIPH: الامام علي بن ابي طالب - Page 48, Dar Al- Kotob Al Miyah (2006), Retrieved on 14 April 2019 Ammar's relationship with Uthman ibn Affan deteriorated; although the details of their hostilities towards each other are debatable."'Ammar ibn Yasir belonged to the camp of Ali, and when Uthman was chosen as the Caliph 'Ammar offered him his allegiance like the other Muslims, but he was not happy with the caliphate of Uthman. In course of time 'Ammar's opposition to Uthman increased" www.alim.org, Khalifa Uthman bin Affan - 'Ammar bin Yasir, retrieved on 26 January 2017Islam Q & A, Doubts about the Sahaabah (may Allah be pleased with them) and a response to those doubts, retrieved on 24 December 2018
Battle of the Camel
Prior to the events of the Battle of the Camel, a shura was set up in an attempt to decide a successor after Uthman's death; at this meeting, attendees were not in agreement regarding whether retaliation for Uthman's murder was necessary or not. A report of ʻAlqama b. Waqqas al-Laythi of Kinana indicates that Ammar said that they should not seek revenge. Madelung interprets Ammar's behavior at this meeting indicating his desire to keep Talha from gaining power because Talha was in favor of seeking retaliation. Ammar would not have wanted this since "he had been the most active in inciting the rebels to action".
As the battle was developing, Ammar continued to show his support for Ali in multiple ways. Ali first sent him along with al-Hasan to Kufa in order to try to rally the Kufans to help during the upcoming battle. According to one report recorded by Al-Tabari, Ammar was questioned upon arrival for participating in Uthman's murder; however, he continued to try to convince the governor, Abu Musa, to take a stance instead of remaining impartial in the conflict. Al-Tabari reports how Abu Musa had encouraged the Kufans to remain neutral because he did not want to participate in inter-Muslim fighting, and he also believed that the Muslim community still owed their allegiance to Uthman because no new successor had been named. An additional transmission of the same event does not mention Ammar's actions against Uthman and instead focuses on his intentions to sway Abu Musa into action. Tayob suggests that al-Tabari's history was very carefully compiled in order to bring into question several of the companions motives for their actions.