At a glance
- Roles
- emir · Companion
- Era
- The Prophetic Era
- Region
- Arabia
- Review
- Completeness 3/5 · Help complete it
Life in time
Place in the story
- OfficialtowardMecca · 630 CE · 9 AH†Tradition
- Convert to Islam · 630 CE · 9 AH†Tradition
Sunni (transmitted)
Roles are dated and sourced; the museum describes the act and attributes the judgement.
Summary
Attab ibn Usayd (may God be pleased with him) ibn Abi al-Is ibn Umayya ibn Abd Shams, a young Umayyad Qurashi Companion; the Prophet made him his deputy over Mecca when he left it for Hunayn in Shawwal, year 8 AH, then confirmed him its governor on his return from al-Ji'rana 1.
His appointment over Mecca
The Prophet left Mecca for Hunayn on the sixth of Shawwal, year 8 AH, appointing Attab ibn Usayd over Mecca though he was a youth of tender age 2. The Prophet said of him: "what are a people doing appointing a youth like this?" — they said: Messenger of God, he recites — so he confirmed him. He led Mecca's people in prayer and led their hajj in the Prophet's lifetime 3.
When the Prophet finished dividing the spoils and performed his umra from al-Ji'rana, he departed for Medina having appointed Attab ibn Usayd over Mecca 3.
For young visitors
The Prophet chose a young man to be responsible for the great city of Mecca because he knew and had memorised the Qur'an — proving knowledge and trustworthiness matter more than age.
Encyclopaedia of Islam: the companion al-Umawi
'Attab ibn Usayd ibn Abi'l-'Is ibn Umayya, al-Umawi, was converted on the day Mecca was taken. Shortly afterwards, at the battle of Hunayn in 8 AH (629), Muhammad appointed him governor of Mecca, and he continued in that post under Abu Bakr. He agreed to marry Juwayriya bint Abi Jahl so as to prevent 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (may God be pleased with him) from taking a second wife in addition to Fatima. The date of his death is given variously as between 12 and 23 AH (634-644); the entry keeps the whole range. 4
Connections
- Participated in
- Suhayl ibn Amr's speech in Mecca at the Prophet's death· The Prophet's Umrah from al-Ji'rana· The Battle of Hunayn
- Member of
- Quraysh
- Ruler of
- Mecca
- Converted under
- Muhammad
People and things also explored
Mecca· Khalid ibn al-Walid· Suhayl ibn Amr· The Conquest of Mecca (Fath Makka)· Abu Sufyan ibn Harb· Muhammad· The capture of Thumama ibn Uthal al-Hanafi and his acceptance of Islam· Amr ibn al-As
Sources
- al-Raheeq al-Makhtum — Safi al-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri , pp. 414, 422
- al-Raheeq al-Makhtum — Safi al-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri , p. 414
- al-Raheeq al-Makhtum — Safi al-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri , p. 422
- Encyclopaedia of Islam, 2nd edition (Leiden: Brill, 1954–2008), 13 volumes , vol. 1 p. 800
- al-Sira al-Nabawiyya — Ibn Hisham, al-Saqqa edition (1355/1936)
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “Attab ibn Usayd”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/person/attab-ibn-usayd/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-25.