Ubaydah ibn al-Harith

ʿUbayda ibn al-Ḥārith was a relative and companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He is known for commanding the expedition in which Islam’s first arrow was shot and for being the first Muslim to be martyred in battle and third ever in Islam. Family Ubaydah was the son of al-Harith ibn Muttalib ibn Abd Manaf ibn Qusayy, hence a first cousin of prophet Muhammad and nephew of Muhammad’s father Abdullah and of his uncles Abu Talib and Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib. His mother, Sukhayla bint Khuza'i ibn Huwayrith ibn al-Harith ibn Khaythama ibn al-Harith ibn Malik ibn Jusham ibn Thaqif, was from the Thaqif tribe. He had two full brothers, al-Tufayl and al-Husayn, who were more than twenty years younger than himself. By various concubines, he was the father of nine children: Muawiya, Awn, Munqidh, al-Harith, Ibrahim, Rabta, Khadija, Suhaykhla and Safiya. He had no children by his only known legal wife, Zaynab bint Khuzayma. Ubaydah's appearance is described as "medium, swarthy, with a handsome face."