To the Court of the Prophet ﷺ
al-Muthanna first came to the Prophet ﷺ with his tribe of Banu Shayban in the da’wah-to-tribes phase — introducing himself among the chiefs of the Bakr ibn Wa’il. 1 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 1 · pp. 116–119 — Kandhlawi — al-Muthanna among the Bakr ibn Wa'il chiefs introducing themselves to the Prophet ﷺ.
Iraq Under Abu Bakr
In 11 AH he came to Abu Bakr in Madinah and sought leave to invade Persian Iraq — and his clan with him. When Khalid ibn al-Walid was sent against Iraq, al-Muthanna fought alongside him at Hira and the surrounding territories; when Khalid was then recalled to Syria, al-Muthanna held the Iraq front alone. 2 Al-Farooq · pp. 107–142 — Shibli Numani — al-Muthanna's permission from Abu Bakr; the Iraq front; Khalid's recall.
3 History of Islam · Vol 1 · pp. 297–322 — Najeebabadi — al-Muthanna left in Hira when Khalid marches to Syria; the marriage of the Persian prince's wife.The Last Ride to Madinah
He hurried to Madinah just before Abu Bakr’s death, and roused the Iraq army with his speech at the start of Umar’s caliphate. He died of the old wounds — his work was the opening of the Iraqi conquest before Qadisiyya. 4 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 1 · pp. 422 — Kandhlawi — al-Muthanna's news arrives as Abu Bakr is dying; the army prepares to leave for the Iraq front.
Life Timeline
Comes to Abu Bakr; given leave to invade Persian Iraq
Holds the Iraq front when Khalid is recalled to Syria
Hurries to Madinah before Abu Bakr's death; rouses the Iraq army
Dies of old wounds
References
- Al-Farooq — Shibli Numani — chapters VII–VIII: al-Muthanna's full Iraq-front biography pp. 107–142
- History of Islam — Najeebabadi — al-Muthanna's marriage of the Persian prince's wife; left in Hira; the Iraq command Vol 1 · pp. 297–322
- Hayatus Sahaba — Kandhlawi — al-Muthanna introduces himself to the Prophet ﷺ; later the Iraqi-front news at Abu Bakr's death Vol 1 · pp. 116–119, 422