Muhammad bin Umar states that Amir bin Rabi'ah bin Malik bin Amir bin Rabi'ah bin Hujr bin Salaman (is his lineage), and the narrator mentioned his lineage up to Ma'add bin Adnan. He was an ally of al-Khattab bin Nufayl, and when Amir bin Rabi'ah became his ally, al-Khattab adopted him as his son, because of which he used to be called Amir bin al-Khattab, until Allah Almighty revealed this verse: "Call them (the adopted sons) by (the names of) their (real) fathers" [Surah al-Ahzab: 5] . Then he was attributed to his real father and returned to his original lineage.

Yazid bin Ruman states that Amir bin Rabi'ah (may Allah be pleased with him) was among the early Muslims; he accepted Islam even before the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) entered the House of al-Arqam and began calling (people to Islam) there. Amir bin Rabi'ah (may Allah be pleased with him) made both emigrations to Abyssinia, and with him was his wife Layla bint Abi Hathmah al-Adawiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her), the sister of Sulayman bin Abi Hathmah. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) established brotherhood (mu'akhat) between Amir bin Rabi'ah and Yazid bin al-Mundhir bin Sarh al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with them both). The kunyah of Amir bin Rabi'ah (may Allah be pleased with him) was Abu Abdullah. He took part in the battles of Badr, Uhud, al-Khandaq and all the battles alongside the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). He died after the martyrdom of Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him). He had confined himself to his house, and people only came to know of his death when his funeral was brought out.

Yahya bin Sa'id al-Ansari narrates from Abdullah bin Amir bin Rabi'ah that he said: When people began to criticise and revile Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), my father got up during the night, prayed, and made this supplication: 'Allahumma qini min al-fitnati bima waqayta bihi al-salihina min 'ibadik' (O Allah, protect me from this trial just as You have protected Your righteous servants). Then he did not go out of the house until his funeral was brought out.

Sa'id bin Ufayr states that Amir bin Rabi'ah al-Adawi (may Allah be pleased with him) died in the year 32 AH.

Urwah states that among those who emigrated to Abyssinia the first time, before Ja'far (may Allah be pleased with him) and his companions, was Amir bin Rabi'ah (may Allah be pleased with him) from Banu Adi bin Ka'b, who was from the people of Yemen. He also took part in the Battle of Badr.