Abu Muslim al-Khawlani
Encyclopedia
Abu Muslim Al-Khawlani was a well known tabi'i (plural: taba'een) and a very prominent religious figure in Damascus, Syria. He was one of the 'Eight Ascetics,' who included Amir ibn Abd al-Qays
, Abu Muslim al-Khawlani, Uways al-Qarani, Al-Rabi ibn Khuthaym
, al-Aswad ibn Yazid, Masruq ibn al-Ajda'
, Sufyan al-Thawrt ibn Said
and Hasan al-Basri.
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
is sufficient for us and He is the best Protector" - the words that Muslims believe the prophet Ibrahim
said when he was thrown in fire), so Allah made the fire cool and safe for him.
"We [the Muslim troops] came from the land of the Byzantines
returning [from battle]; when we had left Homs
going towards Damascus
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
son of Mary'."
It appears that the Christian
monk sees a spiritual kinship with the Muslim, Abu Muslim al-Khawlani, and even outright says that in the messianic future when Jesus returns that there will be a unity. Abu Muslim al-Khawlani died during the reign of Muawiya II
in an expedition against the Byzantines. His last requests presented to his commander were as follows:
"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 [and the nearest] to the enemy, since I wish to arrive on Resurrection Day carrying their banner."
Amir ibn Abd al-Qays
Amir ibn Abd al-Qays 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 lived in the desert where wild beasts came tamely to him. He was also known for...
, Abu Muslim al-Khawlani, Uways al-Qarani, Al-Rabi ibn Khuthaym
Al-Rabi ibn Khuthaym
Al-Rabi ibn Khuthaym al-Thawri was a pupil of Abdullah ibn Abbas 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 emphasized the importance of silence, scrupulousness in religious...
, al-Aswad ibn Yazid, Masruq ibn al-Ajda'
Masruq ibn al-Ajda'
Masruq ibn al-Ajda was a well-known and respected tabi'i , jurist and muĥaddith . Chiefly a resident of Kufa he was among the many students of Abdullah ibn Mas'ud...
, Sufyan al-Thawrt ibn Said
Sufyan al-Thawrt ibn Said
Sufyan ath-Thawri ibn Said was a tabi'i Islamic scholar, Hafiz and jurist, founder of the Thawri madhhab. He was also a hadith compiler, of whom a great number of anecdotes are recorded.-Biography:...
and Hasan al-Basri.
Stories of His Life
It is recorded by Sheikh 'Aa'id Abdullah al-Qarni that Al Aswad al `Ansi, a man in YemenYemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
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
Allah is a word for God used in the context of Islam. In Arabic, the word means simply "God". It is used primarily by Muslims and Bahá'ís, and often, albeit not exclusively, used by Arabic-speaking Eastern Catholic Christians, Maltese Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Mizrahi Jews and...
is sufficient for us and He is the best Protector" - the words that Muslims believe the prophet Ibrahim
Abraham
Abraham , whose birth name was Abram, is the eponym of the Abrahamic religions, among which are Judaism, Christianity and Islam...
said when he was thrown in fire), so Allah made the fire cool and safe for him.
During the Campaigns Against the Byzantines
Another story is mentioned concerning Abu Muslim, which has been cited by contemporary scholars of Muslim-Christian relations during the early years of the Islamic expansion:"We [the Muslim troops] came from the land of the Byzantines
Byzantine Greeks
Byzantine Greeks or Byzantines is a conventional term used by modern historians to refer to the medieval Greek or Hellenised citizens of the Byzantine Empire, centered mainly in Constantinople, the southern Balkans, the Greek islands, Asia Minor , Cyprus and the large urban centres of the Near East...
returning [from battle]; when we had left Homs
Homs
Homs , previously known as Emesa , is a city in western Syria and the capital of the Homs Governorate. It is above sea level and is located north of Damascus...
going towards Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
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
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
son of Mary'."
It appears that the Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
monk sees a spiritual kinship with the Muslim, Abu Muslim al-Khawlani, and even outright says that in the messianic future when Jesus returns that there will be a unity. Abu Muslim al-Khawlani died during the reign of Muawiya II
Muawiya II
Muawiyah II was an Umayyad caliph for about four months after the death of his father Yazīd...
in an expedition against the Byzantines. His last requests presented to his commander were as follows:
"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 [and the nearest] to the enemy, since I wish to arrive on Resurrection Day carrying their banner."
See also
- Taba'een
- SalafSalafA Salaf is an early Muslim of the first three generations of proponents of the religion.-First generation:* See: List of SahabaThe Salaf are the first generation of Muslims, which included Muhammad's companions and followers at the time....