Abu Muslim Al-Khawlani () (died 684) was a well-known ''tabi'i'' (plural:

taba'een The tābiʿūn (, also accusative or genitive tābiʿīn , singular ''tābiʿ'' ), "followers" or "successors", are the generation of Muslims who followed the companions (''ṣaḥāba'') of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and thus received their ...

) and a prominent religious figure in

Damascus, Syria Damascus ( , ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in the Levant region by population, largest city of Syria. It is the oldest capital in the world and, according to some, the fourth Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. Kno ...

. He was one of the 'Eight Ascetics,' who also included

Amir ibn Abd al-Qays Amir ibn Abd al-Qays (; died c. 661–680) was a '' tabi`i'' of Basra who died at Damascus, where he had become famous within the Muslim community for his austere and eloquent speeches. Numerous miracles are recorded of him; it is said that he live ...

, Uways al-Qarani,

Al-Rabi ibn Khuthaym Al-Rabi ibn Khuthaym al-Thawri (d.ca 682) was a pupil of Abdullah ibn Masud and a famous '' tabi'i'' ascetic of Kufa. Constantly ill with a form of palsy, in later generations he became a symbol of endurance in the face of suffering. He emphasiz ...

, al-Aswad ibn Yazid,

Masruq ibn al-Ajda' Masruq ibn al-Ajda' (Arabic , died 682) was a well-known and respected ''tabi'i'' (from '' taba'een''), jurist and ''muĥaddith'' (transmitter of Prophetic traditions or ''hadith''). Chiefly a resident of Kufa (Iraq) he was among the many studen ...

, Sufyan al-Thawri ibn Said and

Hasan al-Basri Abi Sa'id al-Hasan ibn Yasar al-Basri, often referred to as al-Hasan al-Basri, was an ancient Muslim preacher, ascetic, theologian, exegete, scholar, and judge. Born in Medina in 642,Mourad, Suleiman A., “al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī”, in: ''Encyc ...

Stories of his life

Sheikh 'Aa'id Abdullah al-Qarni said that Al Aswad al `Ansi, a man in

Yemen Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen, is a country in West Asia. Located in South Arabia, southern Arabia, it borders Saudi Arabia to Saudi Arabia–Yemen border, the north, Oman to Oman–Yemen border, the northeast, the south-eastern part ...

who claimed prophethood, asked Abu Muslim to believe in him and testify that he is a messenger. Abu Muslim told him: "I can't hear a thing." Al Aswad al `Ansi prepared firewood and threw him in fire. Abu Muslim said: "''Hasbuna'Llah wa ni`mal wakeel'' ("

Allah Allah ( ; , ) is an Arabic term for God, specifically the God in Abrahamic religions, God of Abraham. Outside of the Middle East, it is principally associated with God in Islam, Islam (in which it is also considered the proper name), althoug ...

is sufficient for us and He is the best Protector", words that Muslims believe Ibrahim (

Abraham Abraham (originally Abram) is the common Hebrews, Hebrew Patriarchs (Bible), patriarch of the Abrahamic religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In Judaism, he is the founding father who began the Covenant (biblical), covenanta ...

) said when he was thrown in fire, so God made the fire cool and safe for him. Al-‘Ansi’s advisors told him that if he did not banish Abu Muslim from

, he would be a source of Fitnah for his followers. So, Abu Muslim was ordered to leave the land. He travelled to Al-Madeenah and upon arriving there, he dismounted from his camel and entered the Masjid to perform prayer. ‘Umar saw him, so he approached this stranger and said, “Where are you from?” Abu Muslim said, “Yemen.” ‘Umar inquired, "Tell me about the man whom the liar threw into the fire?" Abu Muslim said, “His name is ‘Abdullaah ibn Thawb.” ‘Umar said, “Tell me, by Allaah, are you him?” He replied, “By Allaah, yes!” ‘Umar embraced him with tearful eyes then seated him between him and Abu Bakr and said, “Praise be to Allaah who did not take my soul until I saw a man from the nation of Muhammad to whom was done what was done to Ibraaheem Al-Khaleel.’”

During the campaigns against the Byzantines

Historian of Islam David Cook cites another story: "We he Muslim troopscame from the land of the Byzantines returning rom battle when we had left

Homs Homs ( ; ), known in pre-Islamic times as Emesa ( ; ), is a city in western Syria and the capital of the Homs Governorate. It is Metres above sea level, above sea level and is located north of Damascus. Located on the Orontes River, Homs is ...

going towards

Damascus Damascus ( , ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in the Levant region by population, largest city of Syria. It is the oldest capital in the world and, according to some, the fourth Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. Kno ...

we passed by a cultivated place which is near Homs—about four miles—at the end of the night. When the monk who was in the cell heard our speech, he came up to us and said: 'Who are you all?' We said: 'People from Damascus, coming from the land of the Byzantines.' He said: 'Do you know Abu Muslim al-Khawlani?' We said: 'Yes.' He said: 'When you come to him, greet him with the peace, and inform him that we find him in the Holy Books as a companion of

Jesus Jesus (AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the Jesus in Chris ...

son of

Mary Mary may refer to: People * Mary (name), a female given name (includes a list of people with the name) Religion * New Testament people named Mary, overview article linking to many of those below * Mary, mother of Jesus, also called the Blesse ...

'." Cook says that the Christian monk saw a spiritual kinship with the Muslim, Abu Muslim al-Khawlani said that when Jesus returns Abu Muslim will be a follower of Jesus. Abu Muslim al-Khawlani died during the reign of

Muawiya II Mu'awiya ibn Yazid ibn Mu'awiya (; –684), commonly known as Mu'awiya II, was the third Umayyad caliph, ruling for less than a year in 683–684. He succeeded his father Yazid I as the third caliph and last caliph of the Sufyanid line in the ...

in an expedition against the Byzantines. His last request to his commander was: "Put me in charge of the Muslims who died fighting with you, and tie for me a banner of military command over them, and make my grave the furthest of all graves nd the nearestto the enemy, since I wish to arrive on Resurrection Day carrying their banner."

Stories of his life

During the campaigns against the Byzantines

Notes

See also