Abu Musa al-Ash'ari

Abu Musa al-Ash'ari's name was Abdullah ibn Qays. He was from the Ash'ari tribe of Yemen. He initially travelled to Makkah early in the Prophet's mission and accepted Islam, then returned to his homeland. He later migrated to Abyssinia with a group of his tribesmen. He came to Madinah around the time of Khaybar in 7 AH, arriving by sea with over fifty members of his tribe. The Prophet welcomed them and said: 'The Ash'aris, when they run short of provisions in battle or their families run short of food in Madinah, they collect all they have on one cloth and divide it equally among themselves. They are of me and I am of them.' Abu Musa was celebrated for his extraordinarily beautiful Qur'an recitation. The Prophet said: 'He has been given a mizmar from the mazamir of the family of Dawud.' Once, the Prophet passed by while Abu Musa was reciting at night and stood listening for a long time. When he told Abu Musa the next day, Abu Musa said: 'Had I known you were listening, I would have beautified it even more for you.' The Prophet appointed Abu Musa as governor of Zabid and Aden in Yemen. After the Prophet's death, Umar ibn al-Khattab appointed him governor of Basrah, where he proved to be an able and just administrator. He was also known as a respected judge and jurist. He narrated hundreds of hadith and was a key authority for scholars in Basrah. Abu Musa participated in major battles and was later involved as an arbiter after the Battle of Siffin during the caliphate of Ali. He died in Kufah in 44 AH. He was remembered for his piety, his administrative ability, and above all, for the voice with which he recited the Book of Allah.