It is narrated from Urwah bin al-Zubayr that he said: Al-Zubayr bin al-Awwam (may Allah be pleased with him) accepted Islam at the age of eight, and when he emigrated he was eighteen years old. Al-Zubayr's (may Allah be pleased with him) paternal uncle would wrap him in a reed mat, hang him up and smoke him with fire from below, saying: "Return to disbelief." And al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) would reply: "I will never disbelieve."

Hisham bin Urwah narrates from his father that he said: Al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) accepted Islam and made both emigrations to Abyssinia. He never stayed behind from any battle fought alongside the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) (i.e., he took part in every expedition). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) established brotherhood (mu'akhat) between him and Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him). He was a man of medium height, with a light beard, a wheat-brown complexion, and much hair on his body.

Mus'ab bin Abdullah al-Zubayri states that al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) set off under the protection of al-Nu'man bin Zimam al-Bahili al-Mujashi'i. Amr bin Jurmuz followed him while he was heading towards Madinah, and he killed him treacherously in Wadi al-Siba'. Allah Almighty kept Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and his companions free of his blood; it was only Amr bin Jurmuz who killed him, in Rajab of the year 36 AH. The Arabs used to taunt Banu Mujashi' for violating the protection of al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him), and that is why (the famous poet) Jarir says: "After (the martyrdom of) al-Zubayr, Mujashi' have put on the garment of a woman who menstruated and did not wash off the blood (i.e., they will never wash off the stain of disgrace)."

Hafs bin Khalid states: An elderly man who came to us from Mosul told me, saying: I accompanied al-Zubayr bin al-Awwam (may Allah be pleased with him) on one of his journeys. In a barren plain he came to need the ritual bath (ghusl) for major impurity, so he said to me: "Screen me." So I screened him. Suddenly my glance fell on him, and I saw that his body was riddled with sword wounds. I said: "By Allah! I have seen on your body marks of wounds such as I have never seen on anyone else." He asked: "Have you seen them?" (Then) he said: "By Allah! There is not a single wound among them that I did not receive alongside the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) while fighting in the path of Allah."