al-Walid ibn Uqbah

Al-Walid ibn Uqbah ibn Abi Muayt (died ca. 61 AH / 680 CE) was a Companion of the Prophet ﷺ and a half-brother of Caliph Uthman ibn Affan on his mother's side. He embraced Islam at the Conquest of Mecca in 8 AH and served in various administrative and military capacities under the early caliphs. He is the figure about whom Quran 49:6 was revealed, warning believers to verify the news brought by a fasiq (transgressor).

The revelation was prompted by an incident in which al-Walid was sent by the Prophet ﷺ to collect zakat from the tribe of Banu al-Mustaliq. He returned claiming the tribe had refused to pay and were preparing for war — a report that nearly caused the Prophet to dispatch an army. An investigation revealed the report was inaccurate. This Quranic verse about verifying the news of unreliable people became a foundational principle of Islamic epistemology and hadith criticism.

He served as governor of Kufa under Caliph Uthman ibn Affan. His governorship became scandalous when he reportedly led the Fajr prayer while drunk, praying four rakats instead of two and then asking if the congregation wanted more. The witnesses against him were brought before Uthman, and after legal deliberation he was flogged the legal punishment for wine-drinking and removed from the governorship.

He retired to the area between Medina and Syria after his removal and lived until around the time of the Battle of Karbala. Despite his personal failings, he is counted among the Companions and narrated hadith from the Prophet ﷺ that are preserved in the collections.