Attab ibn Asid

Attāb ibn Asid (; ) was a member of the Banu Umayya clan of the Quraysh tribe. He was appointed as the governor of the city of Mecca, in the wake of its conquest, by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the January of 630, at a young age.

Attab had converted to Islam after Mecca was conquered by the Muslims.. Due to its sanctity for the Muslims, the governorship of Mecca was a coveted post and Attab was appointed over several other more experienced potential candidates from the Quraysh, which dominated the city. He continued in the post through the caliphate of Abu Bakr , until 634 according to 8th/9th-century historian Al-Waqidi. During the Ridda Wars, Attab remained loyal to the caliphate and was among the first provincial governors to write to Abu Bakr regarding the suppression of apostasy within his jurisdiction. To counter rebel elements gathering in the Tihamah region, he dispatched his brother Khalid ibn Asid, who successfully dispersed and heavily defeated the rebel forces at al-Abariq. Later, Abu Bakr ordered Attab to levy 500 reinforcements from Mecca and its district, placing Khalid once again in command of the contingent to support the caliphate's military operations. According to the 9th-century historian Al-Tabari, Attab may have also continued his tenure into the rule of Caliph Umar until 642. Attab was married to Juwayriya, a daughter of Amr ibn Hisham, one of the early principal leaders of Qurayshite opposition to Muhammad. According to al-Waqidi, Attab died in 634, while al-Tabari held that he died in 644. His son Abd al-Rahman was a prominent soldier in Aisha’s army who was slain by Malik al-Ashtar in the Battle of the Camel in 656.