Armies and provinces
Commanders of the Companions
Companions who led armies and provinces for the Prophet ﷺ and for the caliphs who came after him. Here are 15 of them, from the Sword of Allah to the conqueror of Egypt.
These are the Companions who led armies and provinces for the Prophet ﷺ and for the caliphs after him. Khalid ibn al-Walid was the Sword of Allah, Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah commanded in Syria, Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas was the archer whose prayers were answered, and Amr ibn al-As was the conqueror of Egypt.
At a glance
| Name | Lived | Remembered as |
|---|---|---|
| Khalid ibn al-Walid | Died c. 21 AH (c. 642 CE) | Sword of Allah |
| Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah | Died 18 AH (639 CE) | Trustworthy of this ummah |
| Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas | Died c. 55 AH (c. 675 CE) | The archer whose prayers were answered |
| Zayd ibn Harithah | Died 8 AH (629 CE) | The beloved of the Prophet ﷺ |
| Ja'far ibn Abi Talib | Died 8 AH (629 CE) | Spokesman of the Muslims in Abyssinia |
| Abdullah ibn Rawahah | Killed at Mu'tah, 8 AH (629 CE) | The warrior poet of the Prophet ﷺ |
| Al-Miqdad ibn al-Aswad | Died near Madinah, about 33 AH (sources differ) | The horseman of Badr |
| Usamah ibn Zayd | Died near Madinah, about 54 AH (674 CE) | Beloved, son of the beloved |
| Zayd ibn al-Khattab | Died at Yamamah, 12 AH (633 CE) | The silent giant, Umar's older brother |
| Amr ibn al-As | Died in Egypt, about 43 AH (663 CE; sources differ) | The conqueror of Egypt |
| Ikrimah ibn Abi Jahl | Died in Syria, in the conquests (about 13 to 15 AH; sources differ) | The son of Abu Jahl who turned back |
| Muhammad ibn Maslamah | Died in Madinah, about 43 AH (sources differ) | The Prophet's ﷺ horseman |
| Mughirah ibn Shu'bah | Died in Kufa, about 50 AH (sources differ) | The Prophet's ﷺ bodyguard |
| Abdullah ibn Sa'd ibn Abi Sarh | Died at Ramla or Asqalan, about 36 AH (657 CE; sources differ) | The scribe who left Islam and came back, and led the armies of Egypt and North Africa |
| Shurahbil ibn Hasanah | Died of the plague of Amwas, 18 AH (639 CE), aged about 67 | An early Muslim who escorted Umm Habibah to the Prophet ﷺ, wrote down revelation, and opened Jordan |
The commanders
15 peopleKhalid ibn al-Walid
Sword of Allah
Died c. 21 AH (c. 642 CE)
خالد بن الوليدRead profileAbu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah
Trustworthy of this ummah
Died 18 AH (639 CE)
أبو عبيدة بن الجراحRead profileSa'd ibn Abi Waqqas
The archer whose prayers were answered
Died c. 55 AH (c. 675 CE)
سعد بن أبي وقاصRead profileZayd ibn Harithah
The beloved of the Prophet ﷺ
Died 8 AH (629 CE)
زيد بن حارثةRead profileJa'far ibn Abi Talib
Spokesman of the Muslims in Abyssinia
Died 8 AH (629 CE)
جعفر بن أبي طالبRead profileAbdullah ibn Rawahah
The warrior poet of the Prophet ﷺ
Killed at Mu'tah, 8 AH (629 CE)
عبد الله بن رواحةRead profileAl-Miqdad ibn al-Aswad
The horseman of Badr
Died near Madinah, about 33 AH (sources differ)
المقداد بن الأسودRead profileUsamah ibn Zayd
Beloved, son of the beloved
Died near Madinah, about 54 AH (674 CE)
أسامة بن زيدRead profileZayd ibn al-Khattab
The silent giant, Umar's older brother
Died at Yamamah, 12 AH (633 CE)
زيد بن الخطابRead profileAmr ibn al-As
The conqueror of Egypt
Died in Egypt, about 43 AH (663 CE; sources differ)
عمرو بن العاصRead profileIkrimah ibn Abi Jahl
The son of Abu Jahl who turned back
Died in Syria, in the conquests (about 13 to 15 AH; sources differ)
عكرمة بن أبي جهلRead profileMuhammad ibn Maslamah
The Prophet's ﷺ horseman
Died in Madinah, about 43 AH (sources differ)
محمد بن مسلمةRead profileMughirah ibn Shu'bah
The Prophet's ﷺ bodyguard
Died in Kufa, about 50 AH (sources differ)
المغيرة بن شعبةRead profileAbdullah ibn Sa'd ibn Abi Sarh
The scribe who left Islam and came back, and led the armies of Egypt and North Africa
Died at Ramla or Asqalan, about 36 AH (657 CE; sources differ)
عبد الله بن سعد بن أبي سرحRead profileShurahbil ibn Hasanah
An early Muslim who escorted Umm Habibah to the Prophet ﷺ, wrote down revelation, and opened Jordan
Died of the plague of Amwas, 18 AH (639 CE), aged about 67
شرحبيل بن حسنةRead profileMore on How to Muslim
Questions & answers
Questions about the Companions who led armies
Short answers from this page, each with a link to read more.
Who was the Sword of Allah?
Khalid ibn al-Walid, the Companion known as the Sword of Allah, who led armies for the Prophet ﷺ and the caliphs after him. He died about 21 AH (c. 642 CE).
Read more: Khalid ibn al-Walid
Who conquered Egypt?
Amr ibn al-As, the Companion known as the conqueror of Egypt. He died in Egypt about 43 AH (663 CE), though sources differ.
Read more: Amr ibn al-As
Who was the Trustworthy of this ummah?
Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah, an early believer and commander in Syria, who died in 18 AH (639 CE). He is one of the ten promised Paradise.
Read more: Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah The ten promised Paradise
How many commanders and governors are profiled on this site?
15 Companions who led armies and provinces for the Prophet ﷺ and for the caliphs after him, from Zayd ibn Harithah to Amr ibn al-As.
Read more: Commanders and governors