
Abu Ubayd al-Thaqafi (died October 634) was a general of the Rashidun Caliphate during the 7th century AD. He took part in the Muslim conquest of Persia, and he was killed at the Battle of the Bridge.
Biography[]
Abu Ubayd al-Thaqafi was born in Ta'if, Arabia to the Banu Thaqif tribe of Arabs, and he was one of Muhammad's sahabah during the 620s. In 634, he was sent by Caliph Umar to reinforce al-Muthanna ibn Haritha's army in Mesopotamia, defeating the Sassanid Persian army at the Battle of Kaskar. However, he arrogantly accepted a Persian challenge to cross the Euphrates and fight them in the Battle of the Bridge, and he was trampled to death by a war elephant; his brother al-Hakam and his son Jabr were also killed in the disastrous defeat.