Amr ibn Ma'dikarib

Amr ibn Ma'dikarib al-Zubaydi, "the famous poet-knight", kunya Abu Thawr. Ibn Makula said he had companionship with the Prophet and transmitted reports. Abu Nu'aym said he had the battles recorded from the Jahiliyya, and that in Islam he showed a good performance at al-Qadisiyya ¹.

Ibn Ishaq said Amr ibn Ma'dikarib came to the Messenger of God in the delegation of Zubayd and embraced Islam. He had a story with Qays ibn Makshuh al-Muradi ¹. In Ibn Sa'd's report from al-Waqidi, when news of the Prophet reached them, Amr said to Qays: "It has been mentioned to us that a man of Quraysh called Muhammad has come out in the Hijaz saying he is a prophet. Let us go to him and learn his affair; if he is a prophet, it will not be hidden from us." Qays came, and Amr rode to Medina and stayed with Sa'd ibn Ubada, who honoured him. He embraced Islam and returned to his people a Muslim who obeyed ¹.

When the Prophet died, Amr apostatised, as Sayf mentions in the Book of the Ridda. Al-Muhajir ibn Abi Umayya captured him and sent him to Abu Bakr, and he returned to Islam ¹.

• Whether he came to the Prophet as a delegate. Al-Khatib says in al-Muttafaq wa-l-Muftaraq: "It is said he had a delegation." It is also said that he never met the Prophet, but came to Medina after his death, and was present at al-Qadisiyya, where he distinguished himself ¹.

Ibn Hajar relates in Manaqib al-Shafi'i that the Prophet sent Ali and Khalid ibn Sa'id to Yemen. News of what had been said against a group of his people reached Amr ibn Ma'dikarib, and he said to them: "Let me go to these people, for I have never set my sights on anyone without his fearing me." When he drew near the two of them, he cried: "I am Abu Thawr, I am Amr ibn Ma'dikarib!" They rushed at him, each saying: "Leave him to me." Amr said: "The Arabs are alarmed by me, and to these people I seem like beasts for slaughter." Then he turned back ¹.

Ibn Ishaq relates that he came to the Prophet with people of Banu Zubayd, embraced Islam, affirmed and believed in him. He had invited Qays ibn Makshuh al-Muradi, the chief of his people, to go with him to learn the affair of the Qurayshi man who said he was a prophet. Qays refused and mocked his opinion, then threatened Amr when he learned of his Islam. Amr composed about him his poem "I commanded you on the day of Dhu Sanaa"; see the arrival of Amr ibn Ma'dikarib. ^{2 3} He remained among his people, who were under Farwa ibn Musayk. When the Prophet died he apostatised and said two verses disparaging Farwa's rule; see his apostasy. ³

Al-Baladhuri mentions that he campaigned against al-Rayy when it was first campaigned against. When he turned back, he died and was buried above Rawdha and Busna, in a place called Kermanshah. In Muruj al-Dhahab there are his reports with Umar ibn al-Khattab (may God be pleased with him), describing the tribes of the Arabs and war ^{4 5}.