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ABU MUUSAA AL-ASH'ARIY
Sincerity and Let Be What Will Be
When the Commander of the Faithful `Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab sent him to Basra to become its
commander and governor, he gathered its inhabitants and spoke to them saying, "Indeed the Commander
of the Faithful `Umar sent me to you to instruct you in the Book of your Lord and the traditions of your
Prophet and to purify your ways for you".
The people were overcome with astonishment and surprise at what he said when they came to
understand that one of the incumbent duties of the commander and governor was to show them how to
become people of culture and education and to give them understanding of their religion. Also among his
obligations was the purifying of their ways, and that was something new for them - one could even say
exciting and remarkable.
So, who was this ruler about whom such good is said: `No horseman ever came to Basra who was
better for its people than him"? Indeed, he was `Abd Allah Ibn Qais, nicknamed Abu Muusaa Al-Ash'
ariy.
He departed his country and homeland of Yemen for Makkah immediately upon hearing of the
appearance of a Messenger there who was calling to monotheism and inviting to Allah with clear vision
and ordering noble morals. In Makkah, he sat in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and
received from him guidance and certainty. He then returned to his country carrying the word of Allah.
Afterwards, he returned to the Messenger (PBUH) immediately after the victory over Khaibar. His
arrival coincided with the arrival of Ja'far Ibn Abi Taalib, returning with his companions from Abyssinia,
so the Messenger gave all of them a share of the booty.
On this occasion, Abu Muusaa did not come alone, but with approximately 50 men from the people
of Yemen, including his two brothers Abu Ruhm and Abu Burdah, to whom the Messenger (PBUH)
taught Islam.
The Messenger (PBUH) named this delegation and its people the Ash'ariyiin. The Messenger
(PBUH) described them as the people with the most delicate feelings and kind, gentle hearts. That which
is most often mentioned about them as the highest example of his Companions is as follows: "If they
exhausted their food in a military campaign or their food became diminished, they would gather what
they possessed in one garment and divide it among themselves equally. So they are from me and I from
them."
From that day, Abu Muusaa took his permanent and high place among the Muslims and believers
who were destined to be the Companions of the Messenger of Allah and his pupils, and to become the
carriers of Islam to the world in every age and time.
Abu Muusaa was a wonderful combination of extraordinary attributes. He was a bold and daring
fighter, a firm combatant when he was forced to fight, while at the same time he was peaceful, good, and
gentle to the most extreme degree of goodness and kindness. He was a scholar who possessed
comprehension, sound judgment, and judicious discrimination. He was intelligent, and his understanding
excelled in the most complicated, abstruse and obscure issues which radiated in legal decisions and
judgments, until it was said of him, "The judges of this nation are four: `Umar, `Aliy, Abu Muusaa and
Zaid Ibn Thaabit."
In addition to that, he possessed an innocent nature. Whoever attempted to deceive him in matters of
Allah was himself deceived. He possessed great loyalty and responsibility and great trust of the people. If