Mus'ab bin Abdullah al-Zubayri states that Habib bin Maslamah bin Malik al-Akbar bin Wahb bin Tha'labah bin Wa'ilah bin Amr bin Shayban bin Muharib bin Fihr (this is his lineage). He was a noble Companion who had heard hadith from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). He was called "Habib al-Rum" (Habib of the Romans), because he frequently entered the lands of the Romans (for jihad). Mus'ab said that Shurayh bin al-Harith composed these verses about him: "Listen! Whoever is named Habib, even if his manliness is evident, let him be a ransom for Habib of Banu Fihr. He is a valiant chief who leads the horses in such a way as if they (the horses) were treading not on fragments of pebbles but on blazing embers."