Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash’ari Scholarly Status

Once the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, accompanied by Sayyidatuna ‘Aishah Siddiqah رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهَا, walked past a house, in which somebody was reciting Glorious Quran with very pleasing and heart touching voice. Both great personalities stayed there for a while and listened to the beautiful Quran recitation and then walked away. Next day, when the same blessed companion came in the court of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘I walked past your house last night. ‘Aishah was also with me. You were reciting Glorious Quran at that time. We both stayed there for listening to your recitation.’ The blessed companion رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ humbly said, ‘O Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! If I had known about your presence, I would have recited more beautifully.’ (Al-Mustadrak, vol. 4, pp. 586, Hadees 6020)

Dear Islamic brothers! This blessed companion رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ who, by virtue of his beautiful, pleasing and heart-touching voice, succeeded to draw the blessed attention of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was the great personage ‘Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin Qays Abu Musa Ash’ari رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ’, about whom the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم himself said, ‘Abu Musa was given the share from the pleasing voice of the descendants of Dawood (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم).’ (Sahih Muslim, pp. 310, Hadees 1852)

Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ would use to request Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin Qays Abu Musa Ash’ari رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ, ‘Recite Glorious Quran of our Rab عَزَّوَجَلَّ to us.’ Upon this, he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ would start reciting Glorious Quran in his spell-binding voice. (Musannaf Abdur Razzaq, vol. 2, pp. 321, Hadees 4190)

When Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash’ari رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ was living in Syria, Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’awiyah رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ after getting free from the kingdom affairs, would approach Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash’ari رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ and listen to the recitation of Glorious Quran. (Siyar A’laam-un-Nubala, vol. 4, pp. 45)

Strong eagerness for acting upon the blessed saying of Beloved Rasool ﷺ

Once Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash’ari رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ came to meet Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ and knocked on the door but Sayyiduna ‘Umar رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ was busy doing some work. He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ asked permission 3 times to come in. Upon receiving no response, he went back without meeting him. Later, when Sayyiduna ‘Umar رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ inquired [about the matter], he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ humbly said: I have heard the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم saying, ‘Ask permission thrice, if you receive permission, fine, otherwise return.’ (Sahih Muslim, pp. 915, Hadees 5631)

Fasting during intense heat

Once Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash’ari رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ was travelling by sea. The ship was sailing speedily towards its destination. Suddenly a voice was heard, ‘O people of the ship! Stop! Let me tell you a thing.’ He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ said, ‘I looked at the right and left side, I did not find anyone to the extent that voice was heard consecutively 7 times.’ Finally, I said, ‘Who are you and where are you? Do you not see that what is our condition? We cannot stop.’ The answer came, ‘Shall I not tell you about the matter which is on the mercy of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ.’ I said, ‘Why not! Surely tell us.’ He said, ‘Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has the matter on His mercy that whoever keeps himself thirsty during the hot day for His pleasure, He [عَزَّوَجَلَّ] will quench his thirst on the Day of Judgement.’ Thereafter, he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ would wait for a day of intense heat and when he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ would get it, he would surely fast. (Tareekh Ibn ‘Asakir, vol. 32, pp. 87)

Scholarly status

Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash’ari رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ was amongst those fortunate blessed companions رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُم who used to tell the Islamic rulings to people in the lifetime of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Seeing the forbearance and scholarly advancement and maturity of Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash’ari رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم appointed Sayyiduna Mu’aaz Bin Jabal رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ as an ‘Aamil [governor] of one part of Yemen and  Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash’ari رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ as an ‘Aamil [governor] of the other part of Yemen. (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 3, pp. 120, Hadees 4341; Mukhtasar Tareekh Dimashq, vol. 13, pp. 233)

Way of teaching the Glorious Quran

Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash’ari رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ would conduct scholarly and spiritual gathering daily in Basra. After the morning Salah, he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ would ask people to stay at their places then he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ would rearrange the rows and make every person recite Glorious Quran and move forward. (Mukhtasar Tareekh Dimashq, vol. 13, pp. 243)

Ijtima’ of Huffaz

Once Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash’ari رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ gathered all the Huffaz (memorizers of the Holy Quran) whose number had increased to 300 and said while describing the virtues of Glorious Quran, ‘Undoubtedly, this Glorious Quran is a means of reward for you but it may also become a burden on you so follow Glorious Quran and do not make it follow you because whoever follows Glorious Quran, the Glorious Quran takes him to the gardens of Jannah and whoever makes Glorious Quran follow him, the Glorious Quran drags  him on the neck into the Hell.’ (Hilya-tul-Awliya, vol. 1, pp. 323)

Ghusl at dark place

While Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash’ari رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ had an intense fear of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, he was also a paradigm of modesty and shyness. He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ himself said, ‘I perform Ghusl [ritual bath] at a dark place due to being shy of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and wear my clothes before standing up straight.’ (Hilya-tul-Awliya, vol. 1, pp. 323)

Cautiousness about observing Purdah

Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash’ari رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ had a small shawl. He would wrap it around the lower part of his body so that Satr does not become visible during sleep. (Tareekh Ibn ‘Asakir, vol. 32, pp. 91)

Services for the country

Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ granted Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash’ari رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ the governorship of Basra. Sayyiduna ‘Usman-e-Ghani رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ also continued his governorship in the era of his caliphate for some period then appointed him as the governor of Kufa. After the martyrdom of Sayyiduna ‘Usman-e-Ghani رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ, he separated himself from the administrating affairs and moved to Syria.

No accumulation of wealth

In his 63-year lifetime, Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash’ari رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ held the position of governorship at many places and also remained appointed to other positions but he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ neither accumulated wealth nor acquired any property but rather he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ led a very simple life. It can be judged by this fact that after being appointed as a governor of Basra, he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ entered Basra riding a blackish white camel, and after serving as the governor of Basra for ten years when he was leaving Basra on 29^th AH, he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ was riding the same camel. (Siyar A’laam-un-Nubala, vol. 4, pp. 50)

Matchless demise

According to one source, Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash’ari رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ, the great Islamic practicing scholar and the embodiment of piety departed this life in Zul-Hijja-til-Haraam 44 AH. (Tareekh Ibn ‘Asakir, vol. 32, pp. 100)

May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ have mercy on him and forgive us without accountability for his sake!

اٰمِيۡن   بِجَاهِ   النَّبِيِّ  الۡاَمِيۡن   صَلَّى  اللّٰهُ  عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

The third Caliph, Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen, Sayyiduna Zun-Nurayn ‘Usman-e-Ghani رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ possessed the beautiful attributes of modesty, simplicity and humility. He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ possessed the heart filled with Divine fear and the yearning for following Sunnah. He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ embraced martyrdom on 18 Zul-Hijjah 35 Hijri on Friday after ‘Asr Salah. (Ma’rifat-is-Sahabah, vol. 1, pp. 85; Al-Mu’jam-ul-Kabeer, vol. 1, pp. 77)

After becoming the caliph, along with making outstanding efforts for improving the worldly life and afterlife of the Muslim Ummah and for the betterment and benefit of all common people, Sayyiduna ‘Usman-e-Ghani رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ also provided guidance. Some of those points are:

٭   O people! You live in a temporary house and are spending the remaining part of your life. Therefore, quickly carry out as many good deeds as possible till death. Whether you enter into morning or evening, remember that the world is engulfed in deception. Therefore, the worldly life should not deceive you at all and the highly deceptive Satan should not deceive you at all by making you think of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ being Most Forbearing.

٭   Wealth and sons are the liveliness of worldly life; and in the sight of your Rab عَزَّوَجَلَّ, good things which remain alive are better in relation to Sawab [reward] and better in relation to hope. (Part 15, Surah Al-Kahf, Ayah 45, 46; Tareekh Tabari, vol. 2, pp. 589)

٭   (Giving instructions to rulers, he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ has stated:) I fear that you people will get engaged in filling treasure, and not fulfil the obligation of protecting the Ummah. If you do so, remember that modesty, Amanat [trust], and loyalty will die out (from the society). Listen! The best justice is that contemplate the matters of the benefit and betterment of Muslims; what their right is, do give them, and what right they need to fulfil, do take it. (Tareekh Tabari, vol. 2, pp. 590)

٭   Amanat is (the name of) honesty. Stay firm on it, and do not become the first amongst treacherous people, otherwise, whosoever amongst the people coming afterwards will commit treachery, you will become a partner with him (in the sin). Well-wishing is to fulfil complete right. Do not oppress orphans and those who make contract as the one who has oppressed them will have to be answerable in the court of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ on the Day of Judgement. (Tareekh Tabari, vol. 2, pp. 591)

٭   (Advising common people, he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ has stated:) You have been commanded to obey and follow; therefore, do not become interested in the world at all in your matters. (Tareekh Tabari, vol. 2, pp. 591)

٭   O people! Certainly, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has granted you this world so that you prepare for the Hereafter through it. He عَزَّوَجَلَّ has not granted you this world for the purpose that you become interested in it… (He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ further stated:) Keep fearing Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ because the fear of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is a safeguard against torment and also a Wasilah (medium) in the court of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. Fear Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ regarding the matter of “rights of people”; live while being a single group and do not split into different groups. Remember Allah’s favours on you; when you were the enemies of each other, He inspired love in your hearts. Thus by His favour, you became brothers with each other. (Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 7, pp. 369)

May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ bless us with the ability of acting upon these sayings of Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ.

اٰمِيۡن   بِجَاهِ   النَّبِيِّ  الۡاَمِيۡن   صَلَّى  اللّٰهُ  عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم