The genealogy of this person is as follows: Amr b. Maʿdīkarib b. ʿAbd Allāh b. ʿAmr b. ʿĀṣim b. ʿAmr b. Zubayd al-Aṣghar b. Rabīʿa b. Salama b. Māzin b. Shayba (Zubayd al-Akbar) b. Ḥāris b. Ṣaf b. Saʿd al-ʿĀshira b. Madhḥij al-Zubaydī al-Madhḥijī Abū Sawr. He was among the renowned heroes and famous warriors. In the ninth year of the Hijra (according to another narration, the tenth year), he came to the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) with the delegation of the Murād tribe. It is also said that he came with the delegation of the Zubayd tribe. Together with Aswad al-ʿAnsī, he apostatized and left the religion. Khālid b. Saʿīd b. al-ʿĀṣ went after him and fought with him. When Khālid b. Saʿīd struck him on the shoulder with a sword, he fled with his supporters. Khālid seized his sword named Samsāma. Later, ʿAmr b. Maʿdīkarib was captured and brought to Abū Bakr. Abū Bakr reproached and scolded him.
He asked him to repent, and he repented and then lived his Islam well. Abū Bakr sent him to Syria. He participated in the Battle of Yarmūk. Then he ordered him to go to Saʿd and sent a letter instructing Saʿd to appoint him as an advisor. However, in his letter, he ordered that he be consulted but not given leadership. Allah, Exalted is He, brought benefit to Islam and the Muslims through him. At the Battle of al-Qādisiyya, ʿAmr gave a fine account of himself. It is reported that he was martyred at the Battle of al-Qādisiyya. There is also a narration that he was martyred at the Battle of Nihāwand. According to another narration, he died of thirst at Rawḍa. Allah knows best the truth. All these events took place in the twenty-first year of the Hijra. Someone from his tribe who composed an elegy for him said:
"On the day they attacked at Rawḍa, the horsemen left behind a man who was neither cowardly nor inexperienced.
Say to the Zubayd tribe, indeed to all the Madhḥij: You have struck Abū Sawr ʿAmr, whose fighting is fierce and perilous."
ʿAmr b. Maʿdīkarib was among the distinguished poets. May Allah be pleased with him. One of his poems is as follows:
"Do you reproach me? I have my preparations. I have my body. I have my spear, and I have young camels that are easy to drive.
Do you reproach me? I have only spent my youth by responding to the caller's summons.
I went with the heroes to answer the caller's call. Now my body has grown weak. My shoulder has stooped from carrying the sword.
After my people's reason was gone, my reason still remained.
But my provisions ran out before theirs did.
The Qaysites wanted to meet me. I also wanted it, but where is what I wished for?
Why do the foolish who want to take vengeance on me not excuse me?
I want them to live, but they want to kill me.
Whoever wants to get what he desires from his friend apologizes to you."
ʿAmr b. Maʿdīkarib has a hadith about the talbiya (pilgrimage chant) narrated by Shurahbīl b. Kaʿqāʿ. ʿAmr said: In the Age of Ignorance, when we recited the talbiya, we used to say: We present excuses to you and say 'labbayk' (at your service) to honor you. Thus, the Zubayd tribe has come to you in force. They came running together on good horses. They crossed mountains and plains to come. They left their idols empty and deserted and came.
But now, when reciting the talbiya, praise be to Allah, we say as the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) taught us:
"Here I am, O Allah, here I am. You have no partner, here I am. Verily, all praise and favor is Yours, and the dominion is Yours. You have no partner."