Al-Jahhaf bin Abd al-Rahman, who is among the descendants of Zayd bin al-Khattab, narrates from his father that on the day of Yamamah, Sayyiduna Zayd bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) was carrying the banner of the Muslims. At that time the Muslims had lost their footing, until the people of Banu Hanifah gained the upper hand. Then Zayd bin al-Khattab began to call out: "As for the brave, no brave one (who stands firm) remains; as for the men, no man remains." Then he called out at the top of his voice: "O Allah! I apologise to You for the flight of my companions, and I declare my innocence before You of what Musaylimah and Muhakkam bin al-Tufayl have brought (of sedition and disbelief)." Then he plunged with the banner into the heart of the enemy and kept fighting with his sword until he was martyred; may Allah have mercy on him. When the banner fell, Salim, the freed slave of Abu Hudhayfah, took hold of it. The Muslims said: O Salim! Should we fear that (defeat) will come from your side? He replied: "What a bad bearer of the Qur'an I would be if you were attacked (by the enemy) from my side (that is, if I proved weak)!" Sayyiduna Zayd bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) was martyred in the year 12 AH.

It is narrated from Abd al-Malik bin Nawfal bin Musahiq that during the battle against Musaylimah, Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) was part of a group of five companions, all of whom except him were martyred; among them Sayyiduna Zayd bin al-Khattab, Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Makhramah and two others were martyred.