Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R was a cousin of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S.
His mother Safiyyah bint 'Abdul Muttalib R was an aunt of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S.

Safiyyah bint 'Abdul Muttalib R was one of the early converts to Islam. She was a real sister of Hamzah bin 'Abdul Muttalib R.
Hamzah bin 'Abdul Muttalib R was one of the maternal uncles of Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R. Halah bint Wahib, the mother of Safiyyah bint 'Abdul Muttalib R and Hamzah bin 'Abdul Muttalib R was a cousin of Aminah bint Wahb, the mother of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S.

Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R was a prominent Sahabi (Companion of Muhammad S). A Muslim who had seen or met the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S is known as Sahabi (Companion of Muhammad S). Sahabah is plural of Sahabi (Companion of Muhammad S).

Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R is among the as-Sabiqun al-Awwalun (Early Muslims).
Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R was also one of the 'Asharah Mubashsharah (Ten, who were given the news of going to Heaven by Muhammad S, in their life).

Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R was born in the year 28BH (Before Hijrah) (594 CE) and was the only son of Al 'Awwam bin Khuwaylid, a brother of Khadijah bint Khuwaylid R, the wife of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S; who was also the first person to become Muslim.

Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R was very young when he accepted Islam. He was only sixteen (16) years of age when he became a Muslim. He accepted Islam only a few days after Abu Bakr R, in the year 14BH (Before Hijrah) (608 CE).

Abu Bakr R, a close friend of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S was the first adult male to convert to Islam. 'Ali bin Abu Talib R, a cousin of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S, was the first youth to accept Islam. He was living with the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S and was about seven (7) years old when he became a Muslim. Sa'd bin Abu Waqqas R and Talhah bin 'Ubaydullah R were also among the as-Sabiqun al-Awwalun (Early Muslims) and like Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R, were also teenagers when they accepted Islam.

An uncle of Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R named Hizam bin Khuwaylid, used to punish him severely for accepting Islam. Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R was a brave young man; he tolerated the torture and remained firm on his newly acquired faith Islam.

In its early days, Islam was practiced and preached in secrecy for a period of three (3) years. The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S invited only his friends and acquaintances secretly.
In the year 10BH (Before Hijrah) (612 CE), Allah (God) commanded the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S to declare Islam publicly and start inviting everyone to it.
The Quraysh of Makkah saw this new religion as a great threat to their spiritual and trading leadership position in Arabia. They turned hostile and became enemies of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S and Muslims. The Quraysh began harassing and torturing those early Muslims.

Once, during that period, Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R heard that the Quraysh had taken the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S captive and were torturing him near the Ka'bah. He was outraged by the news. Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R took his sword and rushed to the spot, where he found the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S, surrounded by the Quraysh. He jumped at the crowd and found the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S safe. The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S was pleasantly surprised and pleased to find that the very young Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R came there to protect him at the cost of his own life. Thus, Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R became the first Muslim to raise arms to protect the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S, Islam and the Muslims.

The atrocities of Quraysh kept on increasing. In the year 9BH (Before Hijrah) (613 CE), when it became unbearable for many Muslims, the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S allowed them to migrate out of Makkah. Many Muslims migrated to Habash (Ethiopia).
Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R also migrated to Habash (Ethiopia). 'Uthman bin 'Affan R, a son-in-law of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S, was one of the first Muslims to migrate there. He was married to Ruqayyah R bint Muhammad S, who also migrated to Habash (Ethiopia) with her husband.
King Najjashi (Negus) of Habash (Ethiopia) welcomed them in his country and allowed them to remain there in peace. King Najjashi (Negus), a just Christian King, refused to send the Muslim migrants back to Makkah, when a delegation of Quraysh visited him with many gifts.

Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R showed his bravery in Habash (Ethiopia) also. Once, there was an uprising against king Najjashi (Negus). Muslim immigrants volunteered to support him. The forces of Habash (Ethiopia) were hesitating to go to the affected areas to get the exact picture of the revolt against the king.
Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R, the youngest among the Muslim migrants swam across the mighty river Nile and reached the war front and brought back the news of the victory of the forces loyal to king Najjashi (Negus).
Some time later, many migrant Muslims returned to Makkah when they heard a rumor that the entire Quraysh tribe had accepted Islam. They were tortured again in Makkah. Most of them returned to Habash (Ethiopia).

The Quraysh tried everything to stop the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S from preaching Islam, without any success. Finally, in the year 7BH (Before Hijrah) (615 CE), the Quraysh boycotted him from Makkah. The Quraysh made them leave their homes and belongings in Makkah. This was a total boycott and no one was supposed to talk to them or trade with them. They spent three years of extreme hardship under the open skies of the Arabian desert. Entire Banu (Family of) Hashim and their allies Banu (Family of) Al Muttalib showed solidarity with the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S and suffered with him for three years, although most of them had not accepted Islam at that time. Abu Lahab bin 'Abdul Muttalib, an uncle of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S, was the only member of Banu (Family of) Hashim who supported the Quraysh. Abu Lahab bin 'Abdul Muttalib is also the only enemy of Islam who is named in the Holy Qur-an.
Banu (Family of) Muttalib, close allies of Banu (Family of) Hashim also suffered throughout boycotted from Makkah.
Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R belonged to the Banu (Family of) As'ad of the Quraysh tribe. The Quraysh did not boycott his tribe but Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R voluntarily went with the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S and suffered with him for three years.
This boycott ended in the year 3BH (Before Hijrah) (619 CE).

Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R migrated to Yathrib (Madinah) during the great Hijrah (Migration). Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R was married to Asma" bint Abu Bakr R, sister of 'A"ishah bint Abu Bakr R, who was married to the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S.

Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R and Asma" bint Abu Bakr R had a son named 'Abdullah bin Zubayr R, the first Muslim child born to Muhajir (Migrant) parents in Madinah after the Hijrah (Migration). For several months after the Hijrah (Migration), no child was born to any Muhajir (Migrant) couple. The Quraysh were very happy about it, they used to call it a punishment from the gods of the Ka'bah for deserting them. All Muhajir (Migrant) Muslims celebrated the birth of 'Abdullah bin Zubayr R.

Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R participated in all the Ghazwat (Battles in which Muhammad S personally participated). Battle of Badr was the first major battle between Muslims and the Quraysh. The Quraysh had brought one thousand (1,000) experienced warriors against a little over three hundred ill-equipped Muslims. Despite of the vast difference of the two armies, Muslims achieved a grand victory in this battle by the grace of Allah (God). This battle was fought on the 17th day of Ramadan (Ninth month of the Islamic calendar) in the year 2H (Hijrah) (623 CE). In the battle of Badr, Muslims had only two horses, one of them belonged to Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R.

Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R killed Sa'id bin al 'As with his spear in the battle of Badr. The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S kept his spear with him as a souvenir. This spear was handed down to the first four Khulafa" (Caliphs) of Islam, Abu Bakr R, 'Umar bin Khattab R, 'Uthman bin 'Affan R and 'Ali bin Abu Talib R.

Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R showed exemplary bravery in the battle of Uhad also. He was one of those few Sahabah (Companions of Muhammad S), who shielded the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S from attacking of Quraysh, who got injured in the battle. Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R was also injured in this battle.
Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R and Abu Bakr R were among the seventy (70) Muslims who went to chase the Quraysh army after their retreat. According to 'A"ishah bint Abu Bakr R, Allah (God) has mentioned about it in the Qur-an:

Of those who answered the call of Allah and the Messenger, even after being wounded, those who do right and refrain from wrong have a great reward.
Surah (Chapter) Al-'Imran (The Family of 'Imran) Qur-an 3:172

Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R was among the Sahabah (Companions of Muhammad S) who were present at the time of the treaty of Hudaybiyah in the year 6H (Hijrah) (627 CE). Muslims had not performed any Hajj (Pilgrimage to the Ka'bah) or 'Umrah (Lesser Pilgrimage to the Ka'bah) since they were forced to migrate from Makkah to Madinah. The Ka'bah held a very important place in the lives of all Arabs, Muslims or otherwise. In the sixth year of Hijrah (Migration), the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S decided to take his Sahabah (Companions) to Makkah for an 'Umrah (Lesser Pilgrimage to the Ka'bah). One thousand four hundred (1,400) of his Sahabah (Companions of Muhammad S) accompanied him. All of them were unarmed and were wearing Ihram (Two piece unstitched dress). An armed group of Quraysh intercepted the Muslims at a place called Hudaybiyah near Makkah and did not allow them to proceed for 'Umrah (Lesser Pilgrimage to the Ka'bah). This was higly unusual, because the Quraysh, who were the caretakers of the Ka'bah, had never stopped anyone from making its pilgrimage.
The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S entered into a treaty with the Quraysh mainly on their terms. Quraysh granted them permission to perform an 'Umrah (Lesser Pilgrimage to the Ka'bah) only in the next year. Apparently, it looked like a defeat of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S and Muslims; but Allah (God) termed it as victory in Surah (Chapter) al-Fath (The Victory), 48th chapter of the Holy Qur-an. Only two years later Muslims conqured Makkah without any bloodshed.

The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S performed 'Umrah (Lesser Pilgrimage to the Ka'bah) with his Sahabah (Companions of Muhammad S) in the year 7H (Hijrah) (628 CE), including Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R. The exemplary behavior of Muslim pilgrims to the Ka'bah surprised as well as impressed the residents of Makkah. This resulted in winning sympathy from many. Many other Quraysh converted to Islam after this 'Umrah (Lesser Pilgrimage to the Ka'bah). Before his Shahadah (Martyrdom), 'Umar bin Khattab R nominated a panel of six Sahabah (Companions of Muhammad S) as potential candidates as his successor. He wanted the next Khalifah (Caliph) of Muslims to be selected from that panel. Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R was one of the panelists. He withdrew himself from the race.

At the time of his death, Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R left great wealth behind. His assets were sold for a total value 40 million Dirham.

Zubayr bin Al 'Awwam R was a narrator of Ahadith (Sayings of Muhammad S). He had narrated thirteight (38) Ahadith (Sayings of Muhammad S).