The Ash’ari Emigrant
Abu Musa al-Ash’ari — Abdullah ibn Qays — was of the Ash’ari tribe of Yemen. He set out by sea with some fifty of his people, was carried to Abyssinia (where they met Ja’far), and reached the Prophet ﷺ at the conquest of Khaybar — so that the Ash’aris held the honour of two emigrations. The Prophet ﷺ said he could know the voices of the Ash’aris by their recitation of the Qur’an in the night. 1 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 1 · pp. 359–360 — Kandhlawi — the Ash'aris' sea-emigration via Abyssinia to the Prophet at Khaybar; the Prophet knows their voices by night.
Reciter, Teacher, and Governor
His recitation was of surpassing beauty. He taught the Qur’an in the great mosque of Basra, and Umar — who appointed him over Basra — called him a man of keen intellect. 2 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 3 · pp. 268–269 — Kandhlawi — Abu Musa teaches the Qur'an at Basra; Umar's praise of his intelligence.
Virtues in the Hadith
The Prophet ﷺ, hearing him recite, said:
يَا أَبَا مُوسَى لَقَدْ أُوتِيتَ مِزْمَارًا مِنْ مَزَامِيرِ آلِ دَاوُدَ
”O Abu Musa, you have been given a beautiful voice (mizmar) from the mizmars of the family of Dawud.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 5048 · Book 66 (Virtues of the Qur’an), Hadith 72 · USC-MSA: Vol. 6, Book 61, Hadith 568 · narrated by Abu Musa al-Ash’ari
Life Timeline
Born in Yemen
Of the Ash'ari tribe; his name Abdullah ibn Qays.
Reaches the Prophet ﷺ at Khaybar
With the Ash'ari emigrants, by way of Abyssinia.
Sent to teach in Yemen
With Mu'adh ibn Jabal.
Governor and teacher of the Qur'an at Basra
Dies in Kufa
References
- Hayatus Sahaba — Kandhlawi — the Ash'aris emigrate from Yemen by sea, via Abyssinia, reaching the Prophet ﷺ at Khaybar Vol 1 · pp. 359–360
- Hayatus Sahaba — Kandhlawi — Abu Musa's melodious recitation; his teaching of the Qur'an at Basra; Umar's praise Vol 3 · pp. 268–269
- Sahih al-Bukhari — 'You have been given a mizmar from the mizmars of the family of Dawud' pp. 5048 (Book 66, Hadith 72)