Ikrimah ibn Abi Jahl was an important early Muslim leader and companion of Muhammad. As the son of Amr ibn Hisham, Ikrimah was at first, one of the chief Mecca opponents to Muhammad.
Ikrimah got deeply attached to Islam after Muhammad forgave the people of Mecca, although he had in his power to kill them. He was moved by the merciful conduct of Muhammad, especially at the conquest of Mecca, when he forgave most of the people who had unanimously agreed to murder him, aside from nine of the worst offenders, whose execution he ordered, though some of these were later commuted.
After Muhammad's conquest of Mecca in 630, Ikrimah became a convert to Islam and an important civil and military leader in the early Islamic state. Abu Bakr sent Ikrimah against Musaylamah, in Yamamah. Ikrimah was the husband of Umm Hakim. He died in the Battle of Yarmouk during the conquest of Syria.