Muhammad bin Umar said: (This is the lineage of) al-Bara' bin Malik bin al-Nadr bin Damdam bin Zayd bin Haram bin Jundub bin Amir bin Ghanm bin Adiyy bin al-Najjar. His mother was Umm Sulaym bint Milhan, and he was the full brother of Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him). He took part in the battles of Uhud, al-Khandaq and all the battles alongside the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). He was extremely brave and had a special standing in battle.

It is narrated from Ibn Sirin that Sayyiduna Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote (to his governors): "Do not appoint al-Bara' bin Malik as commander (general) of any army of the Muslims, for he (in the matter of bravery) is one of the perils; he plunges ahead with the people (into such risks where there is fear of destruction). (That is, he is utterly fearless and extremely daring, and because of this very boldness he leads the army into very dangerous campaigns.)"

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that he went in to his brother al-Bara' while he was lying on his back with one foot placed over the other, humming. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) forbade him, and al-Bara' (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Do you fear that I will die on my bed, when I have single-handedly killed a hundred of the disbelievers, apart from those in whose killing other people shared with me?" This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim), but they did not record it.

Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that al-Bara' bin Malik had a beautiful voice. On one of the journeys of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) he was chanting rajaz (verses) for him (peace and blessings be upon him). Meanwhile, when he came near the women (and their mounts), the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: "Be careful regarding the women (that is, take care of these beings as delicate as glass vessels)." So he fell silent. Muhammad bin Ishaq said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) disliked this because the women would hear his voice. This hadith has a sahih (authentic) chain of narration, but the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim) did not record it.

Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "How many weak and downtrodden people there are, possessing only two worn-out garments, yet if they were to swear an oath by Allah (relying on Him for something), Allah would certainly fulfil their oath; al-Bara' bin Malik is one of them." Then, when al-Bara' (may Allah be pleased with him) confronted an army of the polytheists, and the polytheists had inflicted heavy losses on the Muslims, the Companions said: O Bara'! The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said that if you swear an oath by Allah, He will fulfil it; so swear an oath by your Lord (that we will be granted victory). So al-Bara' (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "O my Lord! I swear an oath by You that You will make them turn their backs to us (that is, grant us victory)." Then, when they met at Qantarah al-Sus (the bridge of al-Sus), and there again the Muslims suffered severely, the people said again: O Bara'! Swear an oath by your Lord. Al-Bara' (may Allah be pleased with him) supplicated: "O my Lord! I swear an oath by You that You will make them turn their backs to us, and that You will join me with my Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) (that is, grant me martyrdom)." So the enemy was defeated, and al-Bara' (may Allah be pleased with him) was martyred. This hadith has a sahih (authentic) chain of narration, but the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim) did not record it.

Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that on the day of the Battle of al-Aqabah in Persia, when the people had scattered, al-Bara' bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) stood up and mounted his horse while it was limping (from injury). Then he said to his companions: "What a bad habit you have given your adversaries over you (that they are prevailing over you)!" Then he launched a full attack on the enemy, until Allah granted the Muslims victory, and al-Bara' (may Allah be pleased with him) was martyred that day. Musa bin Harun said: Al-Bara' bin Malik was martyred at Tustar (in Persia) in the year 21 AH. Mention of the virtues of al-Nu'man bin Muqarrin al-Muzani (may Allah be pleased with him).

Abu Ubaydah Ma'mar bin al-Muthanna said: (His lineage is) al-Nu'man bin Amr bin Muqarrin bin Amir bin Bakr bin Hujayr bin Nasr al-Muzani.

It is narrated from Muhammad bin Ishaq that al-Nu'man bin Muqarrin al-Muzani (may Allah be pleased with him) was martyred in the year 21 AH while he was the commander (general) of the Muslims.

Abu Uthman said: I came to Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) with the news of the martyrdom of al-Nu'man bin Muqarrin, and he placed his hand on his face and began to weep.

It is narrated from Muhammad bin Umar that al-Nu'man bin Muqarrin bin A'idh bin Mija bin Hujayr bin Nasr bin Hubshiyyah bin Ka'b bin Thawr bin Hudhmah bin Latim bin Uthman bin Muzaynah (this is his lineage); his kunya was Abu Amr. He and six of his brothers took part in the Battle of the Trench (Khandaq) with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Al-Nu'man was among the fortunate ones who carried one of the banners of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and he was the bearer of the banner of the tribe of Muzaynah which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had tied for them on the day of the Conquest of Makkah. Al-Nu'man was the commander (general) of the army on the day of the Battle of Nahawand, and he was martyred in that very battle in the year 21 AH.