Ask a group of Muslim children to name ten Companions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and many will start with the same names: Abu Bakr, 'Umar, 'Uthman, 'Ali. Those four open one of the best-known lists in Islamic history: al-'Asharah al-Mubashsharun bil-Jannah, the ten Companions who were given the good news of Paradise during their lifetimes.
This guide covers the hadith that names them, a short profile of each of the ten, and the surprising ways their stories are linked. If you would like the whole group on one page for your home, classroom or masjid, our Poster Of The Ten Companions Promised Paradise sets them out in a clear infographic you can download and print.
The Hadith That Names the Ten
The best-known narration comes from one of the ten himself. 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf (RA) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: "Abu Bakr is in Paradise, 'Umar is in Paradise, 'Uthman is in Paradise, 'Ali is in Paradise, Talhah is in Paradise, al-Zubayr is in Paradise, 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf is in Paradise, Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas is in Paradise, Sa'id ibn Zayd is in Paradise, and Abu 'Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah is in Paradise." (Jami' al-Tirmidhi 3747, graded sahih by Darussalam.)
A second narration comes from Sa'id ibn Zayd (RA), and it has a lovely human touch. He listed nine people the Prophet ﷺ had said would enter Paradise. In this wording the Prophet ﷺ himself is counted among them, and Abu 'Ubaydah is not named. When people asked who the tenth was, Sa'id stayed quiet for a moment before admitting that it was himself. (Sunan Abi Dawud 4649, graded sahih by al-Albani.)
The Ten Companions: A Short Profile of Each
1. Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (RA)
Abu Bakr was the Prophet's closest friend and his companion in the cave during the Hijrah. He became the first caliph. His title al-Siddiq, "the one who affirms the truth", reflects how readily he believed the Prophet ﷺ.
2. 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA)
'Umar was known as al-Faruq, the one who separates truth from falsehood, and he became the second caliph. In the early sirah his conversion story begins at the home of his sister Fatimah and her husband, who was Sa'id ibn Zayd, another of the ten.
3. 'Uthman ibn 'Affan (RA)
The third caliph was called Dhu al-Nurayn, "the possessor of two lights", because he married two of the Prophet's daughters, Ruqayyah and then Umm Kulthum. He was a wealthy merchant who spent generously for the Muslim community.
4. 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA)
'Ali was the Prophet's cousin and grew up in his household. He married the Prophet's daughter Fatimah and was the father of al-Hasan and al-Husayn. He became the fourth caliph.
5. Talhah ibn 'Ubaydillah (RA)
Talhah is remembered for the Battle of Uhud, where he shielded the Prophet ﷺ with his own body. The Successor Qays ibn Abi Hazim said: "I saw Talhah's paralysed hand with which he had protected the Prophet." (Sahih al-Bukhari 3724)
6. Al-Zubayr ibn al-'Awwam (RA)
Al-Zubayr was the son of Safiyyah, the Prophet's paternal aunt. During the Battle of the Trench he volunteered again and again to scout the enemy. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Every prophet had a disciple, and my disciple is al-Zubayr." (Sahih al-Bukhari 2846) The Arabic word is hawari, the same word used for the disciples of Prophet 'Isa (AS).
7. 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf (RA)
When he arrived in Madinah with almost nothing, his Ansari brother Sa'd ibn al-Rabi' offered him half his wealth. 'Abd al-Rahman thanked him and asked instead for the way to the market. He started out selling dried buttermilk and butter (Sahih al-Bukhari 2048) and went on to become one of the most generous givers among the Companions.
8. Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas (RA)
Sa'd was a famous archer. At Uhud the Prophet ﷺ urged him on with the words "Shoot! May my father and mother be sacrificed for you." 'Ali said he never heard the Prophet ﷺ say this to anyone else after Sa'd. (Sahih al-Bukhari 2905) Sa'd came from Banu Zuhrah, the clan of the Prophet's mother, Aminah.
9. Sa'id ibn Zayd (RA)
Sa'id was the son of Zayd ibn 'Amr, a man who refused idol worship even before Islam. Sa'id was also 'Umar's brother-in-law. He narrated one of the hadiths that names the ten, and he was too modest to say his own name until people asked him.
10. Abu 'Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah (RA)
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Every nation has a trustworthy man, and the trustworthy man of this nation is Abu 'Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah." (Sahih al-Bukhari 3744) This is why he is called Amin al-Ummah, the trustworthy one of this Ummah. He later led Muslim armies in Syria and died in the plague of 'Amwas.
Surprising Links Between the Ten
Their lives were linked through faith, family and responsibility:
- Brought to Islam by Abu Bakr: Early biographers such as Ibn Ishaq report that 'Uthman, al-Zubayr, 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf, Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas and Talhah all accepted Islam through Abu Bakr's invitation. That is half of the ten.
- Family ties to the Prophet ﷺ: Abu Bakr and 'Umar were his fathers-in-law, through 'A'ishah and Hafsah. 'Uthman and 'Ali were his sons-in-law. Al-Zubayr was his cousin through his aunt Safiyyah, and Sa'd belonged to his mother's clan.
- 'Umar's shura council: Before 'Umar died, he named six people to choose the next caliph from among themselves: 'Ali, 'Uthman, al-Zubayr, Talhah, Sa'd and 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf. He described them as men the Prophet ﷺ was pleased with when he died (Sahih al-Bukhari 3700). All six are among the ten.
- The trustworthy one: Only Abu 'Ubaydah was given the title "Amin of this Ummah".
- All from Quraysh: Every one of the ten belonged to the Prophet's own tribe, and all of them were among the early Makkan believers.
The Ten at a Glance: Reference Table
The table below gathers the key biographical data for each of the ten, drawn from the classical biographical works (Ibn Sa'd's al-Tabaqat, Ibn 'Abd al-Barr's al-Isti'ab, al-Dhahabi's Siyar A'lam al-Nubala' and Ibn Hajar's al-Isabah) as summarised in modern references. Early sources often disagree by a few years on births, ages and even some death dates, so "c." marks an approximate figure and a range shows where reports differ. CE years are converted from the Hijri dates and may straddle two years.
| Arabic name | Full name / kunya | Title | Clan of Quraysh | Born (approx.) | Accepted Islam | Died (AH / CE) | Age at death | Place of death / burial | Manner of death |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| أبو بكر الصديق | 'Abdullah ibn 'Uthman (Abu Quhafah); kunya Abu Bakr | Al-Siddiq; first caliph | Banu Taym | c. 573 CE | c. 610 CE; first free adult man to accept Islam | Jumada al-Akhirah 13 AH / Aug 634 CE | c. 63 | Madinah; buried in the Prophet's ﷺ chamber beside him | Natural (illness) |
| عمر بن الخطاب | 'Umar ibn al-Khattab; Abu Hafs | Al-Faruq; second caliph; Amir al-Mu'minin | Banu 'Adi | c. 584 CE | c. 616 CE (6th year of prophethood) | Dhu al-Hijjah 23 AH / Nov 644 CE | c. 60–63 (63 most cited) | Madinah; buried in the Prophet's ﷺ chamber beside Abu Bakr | Martyred: stabbed while leading Fajr prayer by Abu Lu'lu'ah |
| عثمان بن عفان | 'Uthman ibn 'Affan; Abu 'Abdillah (also Abu 'Amr) | Dhu al-Nurayn; third caliph | Banu Umayyah ('Abd Shams) | c. 576–577 CE | c. 610–611 CE, through Abu Bakr | 18 Dhu al-Hijjah 35 AH / June 656 CE | c. 82 (reports range 80–90) | Madinah; buried in al-Baqi' | Martyred: killed in his home by rebels while reading the Qur'an |
| علي بن أبي طالب | 'Ali ibn Abi Talib; Abu al-Hasan, also Abu Turab | Fourth caliph; Amir al-Mu'minin | Banu Hashim | c. 600 CE | c. 610 CE; first child to accept Islam | 21 Ramadan 40 AH / Jan 661 CE | c. 63 (reports range 58–65) | Kufah; burial site widely identified with Najaf | Martyred: struck by Ibn Muljam at the time of Fajr |
| طلحة بن عبيد الله | Talhah ibn 'Ubaydillah; Abu Muhammad | Talhat al-Khayr ("Talhah the good"), al-Fayyad ("the generous") | Banu Taym | c. 596–598 CE | c. 610–611 CE, through Abu Bakr | 36 AH / 656 CE | c. 60–64 | Battle of the Camel, near Basrah; buried at Basrah | Killed by an arrow at the Battle of the Camel |
| الزبير بن العوام | Al-Zubayr ibn al-'Awwam; Abu 'Abdillah | Hawari (disciple) of the Prophet ﷺ | Banu Asad ibn 'Abd al-'Uzza | c. 594 CE | c. 610–611 CE, through Abu Bakr, while still a boy (reports say aged 8 to 16) | Jumada al-Ula 36 AH / 656 CE | c. 64–67 | Wadi al-Siba', near Basrah; buried there (the town of al-Zubayr in Iraq bears his name) | Killed by 'Amr ibn Jurmuz after leaving the Battle of the Camel |
| عبد الرحمن بن عوف | 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf; Abu Muhammad | — | Banu Zuhrah | c. 580 CE | c. 610–611 CE, through Abu Bakr | 32 AH / 652–653 CE (some say 31 AH) | c. 72–78 (75 often cited) | Madinah; buried in al-Baqi' | Natural |
| سعد بن أبي وقاص | Sa'd ibn Malik (Abi Waqqas); Abu Ishaq | — | Banu Zuhrah | c. 595 CE | c. 610–611 CE, through Abu Bakr, at about 17; among the very first (Sahih al-Bukhari 3727) | 55 AH / 674–675 CE (other reports 50–58 AH) | c. 75–82 | His estate at al-'Aqiq near Madinah; carried to Madinah and buried in al-Baqi' | Natural |
| سعيد بن زيد | Sa'id ibn Zayd ibn 'Amr ibn Nufayl; Abu al-A'war | — | Banu 'Adi | c. 593–600 CE | Early Makkan period, before 'Umar | 50 or 51 AH / 670–671 CE | c. 70–73 | Al-'Aqiq near Madinah; carried to Madinah for burial | Natural |
| أبو عبيدة بن الجراح | 'Amir ibn 'Abdillah ibn al-Jarrah; Abu 'Ubaydah | Amin al-Ummah | Banu al-Harith ibn Fihr | c. 583 CE | c. 611 CE, among the earliest | 18 AH / 639 CE | c. 58 | Jordan Valley; buried at 'Amta, in present-day Jordan | Plague of 'Amwas |
How Many Hadith Did Each of the Ten Narrate?
The figures most often quoted come from the Musnad of the Andalusian scholar Baqi ibn Makhlad (d. 276 AH / 889 CE), a large collection arranged by Companion that has not survived complete. His counts are preserved through later scholars such as Ibn Hazm, al-Nawawi and al-Dhahabi, and they include repeated chains, so they measure narrations rather than distinct sayings. Different references sometimes give slightly different numbers.
| Companion | Narrations (commonly cited count) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 'Ali ibn Abi Talib | 586 | The most of the ten |
| 'Umar ibn al-Khattab | 537 | Some references give 539 |
| Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas | c. 270 | Some references give 271 |
| 'Uthman ibn 'Affan | 146 | |
| Abu Bakr al-Siddiq | 142 | Few, because he died only about two years after the Prophet ﷺ |
| 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf | 65 | |
| Sa'id ibn Zayd | 48 | |
| Talhah ibn 'Ubaydillah | 38 | Including repetitions |
| Al-Zubayr ibn al-'Awwam | 38 | |
| Abu 'Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah | c. 14–15 | Died early, in 18 AH |
Low numbers are not a sign of distance from the Prophet ﷺ. Several of the ten were deliberately careful about narrating. Al-Zubayr explained that he had never left the Prophet's company, but he had heard him say: "Whoever tells a lie against me intentionally, then let him occupy his seat in Hell-fire." (Sahih al-Bukhari 107) Others died early or were occupied with leadership and campaigns.
Timeline of the Ten
Hijri years begin with the Hijrah in 622 CE. Dates before the Hijrah are given in CE and are approximate.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| c. 610 CE | The first revelation. Abu Bakr becomes the first free adult man to accept Islam, and 'Ali the first child. |
| c. 610–611 CE | Through Abu Bakr's invitation, 'Uthman, al-Zubayr, 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf, Sa'd and Talhah accept Islam. Abu 'Ubaydah and Sa'id ibn Zayd also accept Islam in these early years. |
| c. 615 CE | First emigration to Abyssinia. 'Uthman and his wife Ruqayyah, al-Zubayr and 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf are among the group. |
| c. 616 CE | 'Umar accepts Islam after the incident at the home of his sister Fatimah and Sa'id ibn Zayd. |
| 1 AH / 622 CE | The Hijrah. Abu Bakr accompanies the Prophet ﷺ; 'Ali stays behind in Makkah to return people's trusts, then follows. |
| 2 AH / 624 CE | Battle of Badr. Seven of the ten fight; 'Uthman, Talhah and Sa'id are counted as participants (see Quick Facts). |
| 3 AH / 625 CE | Battle of Uhud. Talhah shields the Prophet ﷺ; Sa'd shoots in his defence. |
| 5 AH / 627 CE | Battle of the Trench. Al-Zubayr volunteers to scout the enemy. |
| 11 AH / 632 CE | The Prophet ﷺ passes away. Caliphate of Abu Bakr begins (11–13 AH / 632–634 CE). |
| 13 AH / 634 CE | Abu Bakr dies. Caliphate of 'Umar begins (13–23 AH / 634–644 CE). |
| c. 15 AH / 636 CE | Abu 'Ubaydah commands the Muslim armies in Syria (Yarmuk); Sa'd leads the army at al-Qadisiyyah in Iraq (date given as 14–16 AH). |
| 17 AH / 638 CE | Sa'd founds the city of Kufah on 'Umar's instructions. |
| 18 AH / 639 CE | Abu 'Ubaydah dies in the plague of 'Amwas, the first of the ten to die after the Prophet ﷺ apart from Abu Bakr. |
| 23 AH / 644 CE | 'Umar is martyred and names the six-man shura. Caliphate of 'Uthman begins (23/24–35 AH / 644–656 CE). |
| 32 AH / 652–653 CE | 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf dies in Madinah. |
| 35 AH / 656 CE | 'Uthman is martyred in Madinah. Caliphate of 'Ali begins (35–40 AH / 656–661 CE). |
| 36 AH / 656 CE | Talhah and al-Zubayr die at the time of the Battle of the Camel, near Basrah. |
| 40 AH / 661 CE | 'Ali is martyred in Kufah. |
| 50 or 51 AH / 670–671 CE | Sa'id ibn Zayd dies at al-'Aqiq and is buried in Madinah. |
| 55 AH / 674–675 CE | Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas dies at al-'Aqiq, the last of the ten and, by most accounts, the last of the Muhajirun to die. |
Quick Facts About the Ten
- Badr: Seven of the ten fought at Badr: Abu Bakr, 'Umar, 'Ali, al-Zubayr, 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf, Sa'd and Abu 'Ubaydah. 'Uthman stayed in Madinah at the Prophet's ﷺ instruction to nurse his ill wife Ruqayyah, and the Prophet ﷺ told him he would have the reward and share of one who fought (Sahih al-Bukhari 3130). Talhah and Sa'id ibn Zayd had been sent to gather news of the Quraysh caravan and returned after the battle; the Prophet ﷺ gave them their shares and reward too. So all ten are counted among the people of Badr.
- First blood and first arrow: Ibn Ishaq reports that when idolaters attacked a group of Muslims praying in a valley of Makkah, Sa'd struck one of them with a camel's jawbone, and this was the first blood shed in Islam. Sa'd also said: "I was the first amongst the Arabs who shot an arrow for Allah's Cause." (Sahih al-Bukhari 3728)
- First sword: Al-Zubayr is often described as the first to draw a sword for Islam, when as a young man he rushed out on hearing a false rumour that the Prophet ﷺ had been harmed.
- Emigrated to Abyssinia: 'Uthman (with Ruqayyah), al-Zubayr and 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf, in the first emigration. Ibn Ishaq also lists Abu 'Ubaydah in the second emigration, though some historians question this.
- Oldest and youngest: By birth, Abu Bakr (born c. 573 CE, about two years after the Year of the Elephant) was the oldest and 'Ali (born c. 600 CE) the youngest. 'Uthman and Sa'd are the longest-lived, each reported to have reached about 80 or more.
- Last to die: Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, in 55 AH, more than 40 years after the Prophet ﷺ.
- Martyrs: Three of the four caliphs, 'Umar, 'Uthman and 'Ali, were martyred. Talhah and al-Zubayr were killed in 36 AH, and Abu 'Ubaydah died of plague, which the Prophet ﷺ described as a form of martyrdom (Sahih al-Bukhari 2830).
- Same clans: Abu Bakr and Talhah were both from Banu Taym; 'Umar and Sa'id ibn Zayd from Banu 'Adi (both descended from Nufayl, and Sa'id was married to 'Umar's sister); 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf and Sa'd from Banu Zuhrah.
The Ten Are Not the Only Ones Promised Paradise
The ten are famous because they were named together in one hadith. But the Prophet ﷺ gave the good news of Paradise to others too. Jibril (AS) brought greetings to Khadijah (RA) along with the news of a palace in Paradise (Sahih al-Bukhari 3820). The Prophet ﷺ heard Bilal's footsteps ahead of him in Paradise (Sahih al-Bukhari 1149). He also said that al-Hasan and al-Husayn are the leaders of the youth of Paradise (Jami' al-Tirmidhi 3768). So the ten are a well-known group, but they are not a complete list.
Bring Their Stories Into Your Home
Children often remember names better when they can see them every day. Our Poster Of The Ten Companions Promised Paradise is an $8 digital download that brings all ten together in one clean, easy-to-read design. Print it for a bedroom, homeschool corner or Islamic class.
If you are teaching the story of the prophets too, read our guide to the 25 prophets in Islam. You can also pair this poster with A Chart of the Prophets to build a simple wall of Islamic history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the 10 companions promised Paradise?
Abu Bakr, 'Umar, 'Uthman, 'Ali, Talhah ibn 'Ubaydillah, al-Zubayr ibn al-'Awwam, 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf, Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, Sa'id ibn Zayd and Abu 'Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah (may Allah be pleased with them all).
Which hadith mentions the ten promised Jannah?
The best known is Jami' al-Tirmidhi 3747, narrated by 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf. A similar narration from Sa'id ibn Zayd appears in Sunan Abi Dawud 4649. Both are graded sahih.
What does "al-'Asharah al-Mubashsharun" mean?
It means "the ten who were given glad tidings". Here, the glad tidings were of Paradise, given to these Companions during their lifetimes.
Were only ten people promised Paradise in Islam?
No. Authentic hadiths also give the good news of Paradise to others, including Khadijah, Bilal, al-Hasan and al-Husayn. The ten are simply the best-known group named together in one hadith.
Which of the ten companions were on 'Umar's shura council?
Six of them: 'Ali, 'Uthman, al-Zubayr, Talhah, Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas and 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf. 'Umar asked them to choose the next caliph from among themselves, and they chose 'Uthman.