Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Numayr said: Abu Yahya Usayd bin Hudayr (may Allah be pleased with him) died in the year 20 AH. He had taken part in the Pledge of al-Aqabah and was then appointed a naqib (chief representative). Sayyiduna Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) led his funeral prayer in Madinah, and he was buried in al-Baqi'. He had two kunyahs: Abu Yahya and Abu Husayn. His father's title was "Hudayr al-Kata'ib" (Hudayr of the battalions), and Usayd had no offspring.

Muhammad bin Umar said: The kunyah of Usayd bin Hudayr bin Simak was Abu Yahya; he was also called Abu al-Husayn and Abu Bahr. Usayd was counted, both in the Jahiliyyah and in Islam, among the most honoured of his people, a man of intellect and sound judgement. He was counted among the "Kamalah" (that is, those who knew writing, swimming and archery). His father, Hudayr al-Kata'ib, was likewise before him; he was the chief of the Aws on the day of the Battle of Bu'ath and was killed on that day. According to all the reports, Usayd was one of the seventy of the Ansar who pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) on the Night of al-Aqabah, and he was one of the twelve nuqaba' (chief representatives). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) established brotherhood between Usayd bin Hudayr and Zayd bin Harithah (may Allah be pleased with them both). Usayd could not take part in the Battle of Badr; besides him, other senior Companions and nuqaba' also stayed behind from Badr, because they did not think that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would face any war or fighting. However, he took part in the Battle of Uhud and received seven wounds on that day, and when the people scattered he stood firm with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). He took part in the Battle of al-Khandaq and all the battles alongside the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Usayd bin Hudayr (may Allah be pleased with him) that he was reciting on the roof of his house, and he had a very beautiful voice. He narrates: While I was reciting, suddenly something like a cloud covered me. At that time my wife was in the house and the horse was tethered in the courtyard, and I feared that (through the horse taking fright) my wife might miscarry, so I stopped reciting. At this the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "You should have continued reciting, for it was an angel who had come to listen to the Qur'an." This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim), but they did not record it, because Sufyan bin Uyaynah narrated it from al-Zuhri in mursal form.

Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said that Usayd bin Hudayr (may Allah be pleased with him) was among the most virtuous of people. He used to say: "If only I remained in any one of the three states in which I (sometimes) am, I would be one of the people of Paradise without any doubt: first, when I am reciting the Qur'an or listening to it; second, when I am listening to the sermon of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him); and third, when I am attending a funeral. For whenever I have attended a funeral, I have not thought within myself of anything other than what is being done with the deceased and what its end is going to be." This hadith has a sahih (authentic) chain of narration, but the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim) did not record it.