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Usāma ibn Zaid
Usāma1 was a mawla of the Prophet (s.a.w.),2 and his mother, Umm Ayman, was one of the Prophet’s nursemaids.3
In the last days of his life, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) appointed him as the commander of the army4 while he was only eighteen years of age and there were people like Abu Bakr, `Umar and Abu `Ubayda in his army.
He was highly respected and honored during the time of the caliphs. `Umar ibn al-Khatāb allocated a salary of five thousand dinārs for him, while his own son would receive only two thousand dinārs.5
He refused to swear allegiance to Ali (a.s.) and gave excuses,6 and in some historical sources it is mentioned that Imām Ali (a.s.) accepted his excuses.7
It is mentioned that Imām al-Bāqir (a.s.) has said: “He had repented, so do not speak but well about him.”8 When Usāma died, Imām Hasan (a.s.) shrouded him in red cloth from Yemen.9
1.. He was the son of Zaid, who was freed by the Prophet (s.a.w.)
2.. Rijāl al-Tusi, p. ۲۱, h. ۱, Siyar A`alām al-Nubala, vol. ۲, p. ۴۹۷, h. ۱۰۴ Usd al-Ghāba, vol. ۱, p. ۱۹۵, h. ۸۴.
3.. Siyar A`alām al-Nubalā, vol. ۲, p. ۴۹۸, h. ۱۰۴, Usd al-Ghāba, vol. ۱, p. ۱۹۵, h. ۸۴.
4.. Siyar A`alām al-Nubalā, vol. ۲, p. ۵۰۰, h. ۱۰۴, Usd al-Ghāba, vol. ۱, p. ۱۹۵-۱۹۶, h. ۸۴, al-Tabaqāt al-Kubrā, vol. ۲, p. ۱۹۰.
5.. Usd al-Ghāba, vol. ۱, p. ۱۹۵ ۱۹۶, h. ۸۴.
6.. Usd al-Ghāba, vol. ۱, p. ۱۹۶, h. ۸۴.
7.. Rijāl al-Kashi, vol. ۱, p. ۱۹۷, h. ۸۲.
8.. Ibid, p. ۱۹۵, h. ۸۱.
9.. al-Kāfi, vol. ۳, p. ۱۴۹, h. ۹, Tahdhib al-Ahkām, vol. ۱, p. ۲۹۶, h. ۸۶۸, Rijāl al-Kashi, vol. ۱, p. ۱۹۳, h. ۸۰.
