Iyad ibn Ghanm al-Fihri

Iyad ibn Ghanm al-Fihri (may God be pleased with him) of the Quraysh, whom the museum's data describe as one of the Companions and commanders. In al-Baladhuri, some transmitters mention him among those whom Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah appointed as successors when he was dying in the plague of Amwas in 18 AH. ¹

The form of appointment here is the report of some transmitters in al-Baladhuri, not a report agreed upon.

Ibn Hajar gives him an entry in al-Isaba under number 6928 as "Iyad ibn Ghanm al-Ash'ari", while the body of the entry shows Ibn Manda's naming "al-Fihri or al-Ash'ari", so his tribal ascription stands on two readings ². Among his hadith from the Prophet ﷺ: "O Iyad, do not marry an old woman nor a barren one, for I shall outnumber the nations by you" — its chain is weak in Ibn Hajar's judgement ². It is also narrated that he saw Nabataeans made to stand in the sun for the jizya and told their agent that he heard the Prophet say God tortures those who torture people in this world ².

In the al-Isaba entry of Utba ibn Farqad it is reported that Umar employed Utba in the conquests, and he conquered Mosul in 18 AH together with Iyad ibn Ghanm ³. In Iyad's own entry it is recorded that he dealt harshly with the lord of Dara when it was conquered ².

Iyad ibn Ghanm was a Companion who took part in the conquests of Syria and the Jazira under Umar, and was among those who conquered Mosul in 18 AH with Utba ibn Farqad ³.

• al-Isaba fi Tamyiz al-Sahaba, entry 6928 (al-Maktaba al-Asriyya scan, p. 1166); the entry is titled "al-Ash'ari" but its text records the confusion between "al-Fihri" and "al-Ash'ari" in Ibn Manda and others — the museum record keeps him as al-Fihri; the flag is recorded.
• The report of Abu Ubayda appointing him, in al-Baladhuri, is a report of some transmitters, not one agreed upon.