Introduction
Abu Musa, Abdullah ibn Qays, came from the Ash'ar tribe of Yemen. When he heard of the Prophet's migration, he set out with his brothers and other people from his tribe, but the ship carried them to Abyssinia, where they met Ja'far. They joined the Prophet at Madinah around the conquest of Khaybar.
His voice for the Quran was the thing the Prophet praised most about him: he told Abu Musa he had been given a flute of the family of David. He was a jurist and judge, was appointed over Yemen, then governed Basra and Kufa under Umar and Uthman, and took part in the conquest of Persia.
His family later produced Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari, whose school of theology bears the name. Abu Musa died in the 40s or 50s AH, and the reports about the exact year and place differ.
The story
Before the Hijrah
Heard of the Prophet's migration in Yemen and sailed with his brothers; the boat landed in Abyssinia.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 4230Sahih Arabic text
… قَوْمِي، فَرَكِبْنَا سَفِينَةً، فَأَلْقَتْنَا سَفِينَتُنَا إِلَى النَّجَاشِيِّ بِالْحَبَشَةِ، فَوَافَقْنَا جَعْفَرَ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَأَقَمْنَا مَعَهُ حَتَّى قَدِمْنَا جَمِيعًا، فَوَافَقْنَا النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ افْتَتَحَ خَيْبَرَ، وَكَانَ أُنَاسٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ يَقُولُونَ لَنَا ـ يَعْنِي لأَهْلِ السَّفِينَةِ ـ سَبَقْنَاكُمْ بِالْهِجْرَةِ، وَدَخَلَتْ أَسْمَاءُ بِنْتُ …
“Our boat took us to Negus in Ethiopia”
7 AH
Joined the Prophet in Madinah when Khaybar had been conquered.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 4230Sahih Arabic text
… طَالِبٍ فَأَقَمْنَا مَعَهُ حَتَّى قَدِمْنَا جَمِيعًا، فَوَافَقْنَا النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ افْتَتَحَ خَيْبَرَ، وَكَانَ أُنَاسٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ يَقُولُونَ لَنَا ـ يَعْنِي لأَهْلِ السَّفِينَةِ ـ سَبَقْنَاكُمْ بِالْهِجْرَةِ، وَدَخَلَتْ أَسْمَاءُ بِنْتُ عُمَيْسٍ، وَهْىَ مِمَّنْ قَدِمَ مَعَنَا، عَلَى حَفْصَةَ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم زَائِرَةً، وَقَدْ كَانَتْ هَاجَرَتْ …
“met the Prophet (ﷺ) at the time of the conquest of Khaibar”
8 AH
Sent with Abu Amir to Awtas after Hunayn; the Prophet prayed for forgiveness for him.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 4323Sahih Arabic text
… اغْفِرْ لِعُبَيْدٍ أَبِي عَامِرٍ". وَرَأَيْتُ بَيَاضَ إِبْطَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ" اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَوْقَ كَثِيرٍ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ". فَقُلْتُ وَلِي فَاسْتَغْفِرْ. فَقَالَ" اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ ذَنْبَهُ وَأَدْخِلْهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مُدْخَلاً كَرِيمًا". قَالَ أَبُو بُرْدَةَ إِحْدَاهُمَا لأَبِي عَامِرٍ وَالأُخْرَى لأَبِي …
“O Allah, forgive the sins of `Abdullah bin Qais”
Under Umar and Uthman
Governed Basra and Kufa and served as judge (biographical sources).
After Siffin
Chosen as an arbitrator between Ali and Mu'awiyah (biographical sources).
c. 42-53 AH
Died, reported at Kufa or Makkah.
A day in their footsteps
6 small, repeatable practices from Abu Musa al-Ash'ari's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.
Reciting the Quran beautifully
The Prophet told Abu Musa he had been given one of the mazamir of the family of Dawud, and that he had listened to his recitation the night before. Abu Musa kept improving his voice for the Quran, with no change to the words.
Try this today
Beautify your recitation and recite aloud in your home so others hear it.
Sit with this
Who in your home hears you recite the Quran?
Sources
Sahih al-Bukhari 5048Sahih قَالَ لَهُ " يَا أَبَا مُوسَى لَقَدْ أُوتِيتَ مِزْمَارًا مِنْ مَزَامِيرِ آلِ دَاوُدَ".
“You have been given one of the mazamir (sweet melodious voices) of the family of David”
Sahih Muslim 793eSahih وَحَدَّثَنَا دَاوُدُ بْنُ رُشَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا طَلْحَةُ، عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لأَبِي مُوسَى " لَوْ رَأَيْتَنِي وَأَنَا أَسْتَمِعُ لِقِرَاءَتِكَ الْبَارِحَةَ لَقَدْ أُوتِيتَ مِزْمَارًا مِنْ مَزَامِيرِ آلِ دَاوُدَ".
“as I was listening to your recitation (of the Qur'an) yester-night”
Reciting at night
The Prophet said he recognised the voices of the Ash'aris reciting the Quran at night as they entered their homes, and could tell their houses by it though he had not seen them by day. Abu Musa and his people made nighttime Quran a habit.
Try this today
Make some Quran a regular part of your night, even a page.
Sit with this
What would your home sound like if a page of Quran was read in it every night?
Sources
Sahih al-Bukhari 4232Sahih قَالَ أَبُو بُرْدَةَ عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنِّي لأَعْرِفُ أَصْوَاتَ رُفْقَةِ الأَشْعَرِيِّينَ بِالْقُرْآنِ، حِينَ يَدْخُلُونَ بِاللَّيْلِ، وَأَعْرِفُ مَنَازِلَهُمْ مِنْ أَصْوَاتِهِمْ بِالْقُرْآنِ بِاللَّيْلِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتُ لَمْ أَرَ مَنَازِلَهُمْ حِينَ نَزَلُوا بِالنَّهَارِ، وَمِنْهُمْ حَكِيمٌ، إِذَا لَقِيَ الْخَيْلَ ـ أَوْ قَالَ الْعَدُوَّ ـ قَالَ لَهُمْ …
“I recognize the voice of the group of Al- Ashariyun, when they recite the Qur'an, when they enter their homes at night”
Sahih Muslim 2499Sahih قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنِّي لأَعْرِفُ أَصْوَاتَ رُفْقَةِ الأَشْعَرِيِّينَ بِالْقُرْآنِ حِينَ يَدْخُلُونَ بِاللَّيْلِ وَأَعْرِفُ مَنَازِلَهُمْ مِنْ أَصْوَاتِهِمْ بِالْقُرْآنِ بِاللَّيْلِ وَإِنْ كُنْتُ لَمْ أَرَ مَنَازِلَهُمْ حِينَ نَزَلُوا بِالنَّهَارِ وَمِنْهُمْ حَكِيمٌ إِذَا لَقِيَ الْخَيْلَ - أَوْ قَالَ الْعَدُوَّ - قَالَ لَهُمْ إِنَّ أَصْحَابِي يَأْمُرُونَكُمْ …
“I recognise the voice of the Ash'arites while they recite the Qur'an as they arrive during the night”
Pooling food when it runs short
When the Ash'ari men ran low on supplies on campaign, they gathered what remained into a single sheet and divided it equally by a measuring bowl. The Prophet said, "They are from me and I am from them."
Try this today
When resources run short, pool and share equally instead of everyone guarding their own.
Sit with this
When things run short, do you guard your own share or pool it with others?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 2486Sahih قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ الأَشْعَرِيِّينَ إِذَا أَرْمَلُوا فِي الْغَزْوِ، أَوْ قَلَّ طَعَامُ عِيَالِهِمْ بِالْمَدِينَةِ جَمَعُوا مَا كَانَ عِنْدَهُمْ فِي ثَوْبٍ وَاحِدٍ، ثُمَّ اقْتَسَمُوهُ بَيْنَهُمْ فِي إِنَاءٍ وَاحِدٍ بِالسَّوِيَّةِ، فَهُمْ مِنِّي وَأَنَا مِنْهُمْ".
“they would collect all their remaining food in one sheet and then distribute it among themselves equally”
Saying "la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah"
During a journey, as the Companions raised their voices, the Prophet heard Abu Musa saying this silently. He told him it is a treasure from the treasures of Paradise.
Try this today
Say "La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah" often, especially when overwhelmed.
Sit with this
What weighs on you today that you could hand over with la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 6384Sahih … غَائِبًا، وَلَكِنْ تَدْعُونَ سَمِيعًا بَصِيرًا". ثُمَّ أَتَى عَلَىَّ وَأَنَا أَقُولُ فِي نَفْسِي لاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ. فَقَالَ" يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ قَيْسٍ قُلْ لاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا. كَنْزٌ مِنْ كُنُوزِ الْجَنَّةِ". أَوْ قَالَ" أَلاَ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى كَلِمَةٍ هِيَ كَنْزٌ مِنْ كُنُوزِ الْجَنَّةِ، لاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ …
“for it is one of the treasures of Paradise”
Serving and passing on the Prophet's blessings
When the Prophet asked for water and washed his face and hands, he told Abu Musa and Bilal to drink from the vessel and pour some on their faces and chests. Abu Musa was always at the Prophet's side to learn directly.
Try this today
Stay beside the people of knowledge and take from their manners as well as their words.
Sit with this
Whose manners, not just words, are you learning from right now?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 188Sahih وَقَالَ أَبُو مُوسَى دَعَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِقَدَحٍ فِيهِ مَاءٌ، فَغَسَلَ يَدَيْهِ وَوَجْهَهُ فِيهِ، وَمَجَّ فِيهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُمَا اشْرَبَا مِنْهُ، وَأَفْرِغَا عَلَى وُجُوهِكُمَا وَنُحُورِكُمَا.
“Drink from the tumbler and pour some of its water on your faces and chests”
Traveling far for the deen
Abu Musa left Yemen for the Prophet with his brothers and fifty or so of his people, through sea travel that took them first to Abyssinia, and arrived finally in Madinah. He treated reaching the Prophet as worth the whole journey.
Try this today
Set out toward knowledge even if the route is not the one you planned.
Sit with this
How far would you travel to learn something that matters?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 4230Sahih … وَخَمْسِينَ رَجُلاً مِنْ قَوْمِي، فَرَكِبْنَا سَفِينَةً، فَأَلْقَتْنَا سَفِينَتُنَا إِلَى النَّجَاشِيِّ بِالْحَبَشَةِ، فَوَافَقْنَا جَعْفَرَ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَأَقَمْنَا مَعَهُ حَتَّى قَدِمْنَا جَمِيعًا، فَوَافَقْنَا النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ افْتَتَحَ خَيْبَرَ، وَكَانَ أُنَاسٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ يَقُولُونَ لَنَا ـ يَعْنِي لأَهْلِ السَّفِينَةِ ـ سَبَقْنَاكُمْ بِالْهِجْرَةِ، وَدَخَلَتْ …
“We got on board a boat and our boat took us to Negus in Ethiopia”
Virtues
The Prophet prayed that Allah forgive Abdullah ibn Qais (Abu Musa) and admit him to a noble entrance on the Day of Resurrection.
“O Allah, forgive the sins of `Abdullah bin Qais and admit him to a nice entrance”
Arabic text
… اغْفِرْ لِعُبَيْدٍ أَبِي عَامِرٍ". وَرَأَيْتُ بَيَاضَ إِبْطَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ" اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَوْقَ كَثِيرٍ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ". فَقُلْتُ وَلِي فَاسْتَغْفِرْ. فَقَالَ" اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ ذَنْبَهُ وَأَدْخِلْهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مُدْخَلاً كَرِيمًا". قَالَ أَبُو بُرْدَةَ إِحْدَاهُمَا لأَبِي عَامِرٍ وَالأُخْرَى لأَبِي …
Sahih al-Bukhari 4323Sahih
The Prophet told him he had been given a sweet voice like Dawud's.
“You are in fact endowed with a sweet voice like that of David himself”
Arabic text
وَحَدَّثَنَا دَاوُدُ بْنُ رُشَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا طَلْحَةُ، عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لأَبِي مُوسَى " لَوْ رَأَيْتَنِي وَأَنَا أَسْتَمِعُ لِقِرَاءَتِكَ الْبَارِحَةَ لَقَدْ أُوتِيتَ مِزْمَارًا مِنْ مَزَامِيرِ آلِ دَاوُدَ".
Sahih Muslim 793eSahih
The Prophet said of his tribe that they were from him and he from them.
“So, these people are from me, and I am from them”
Arabic text
قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ الأَشْعَرِيِّينَ إِذَا أَرْمَلُوا فِي الْغَزْوِ، أَوْ قَلَّ طَعَامُ عِيَالِهِمْ بِالْمَدِينَةِ جَمَعُوا مَا كَانَ عِنْدَهُمْ فِي ثَوْبٍ وَاحِدٍ، ثُمَّ اقْتَسَمُوهُ بَيْنَهُمْ فِي إِنَاءٍ وَاحِدٍ بِالسَّوِيَّةِ، فَهُمْ مِنِّي وَأَنَا مِنْهُمْ".
Sahih al-Bukhari 2486Sahih
Sayings and moments
He relayed the Prophet's teaching that "la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah" is a treasure of Paradise.
“it is one of the treasures of Paradise”
Arabic text
… غَائِبًا، وَلَكِنْ تَدْعُونَ سَمِيعًا بَصِيرًا". ثُمَّ أَتَى عَلَىَّ وَأَنَا أَقُولُ فِي نَفْسِي لاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ. فَقَالَ" يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ قَيْسٍ قُلْ لاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا. كَنْزٌ مِنْ كُنُوزِ الْجَنَّةِ". أَوْ قَالَ" أَلاَ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى كَلِمَةٍ هِيَ كَنْزٌ مِنْ كُنُوزِ الْجَنَّةِ، لاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ …
Sahih al-Bukhari 6384Sahih
Words on this page
- La hawla wa la quwwata illa billahلا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله
- "There is no power and no strength except with Allah": words the Prophet ﷺ called a treasure of Paradise.
- Madinahالمدينة
- The city, formerly Yathrib, to which the Prophet ﷺ migrated and where the first Muslim community was built.
- Makkahمكة
- The city of the Ka'bah, where the Prophet ﷺ was born and revelation began.
Related companions
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- عمر بن الخطابUmar ibn al-KhattabUmar ibn al-Khattab, al-Faruq and second caliph: his night prayer, justice, generosity and respect for the Bo…
- أسماء بنت عميسAsma bint UmaysAsma bint Umays, who migrated twice, to Abyssinia and Madinah, and was the wife of Ja'far, Abu Bakr and Ali…
- علي بن أبي طالبAli ibn Abi TalibCousin and son-in-law of the Prophet, among the first to believe, and fourth caliph; remembered for knowledge…
- عبد الله بن مسعودAbdullah ibn Mas'udEarly Muslim and shepherd boy of Mecca whom the Prophet named first among those to learn the Quran from; a ju…
Sources and review
- Sunnah.com hadith collections (text confirmed via hadith-api mirror) (opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia: Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (dates and biography) (opens in a new tab)
Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com. Each report links to sunnah.com, and, where the numbering matches, to al-Hadees or HadithUnlocked as well. Quran verses link to quran.com, Tafsir Ibn Kathir and Tanzil. The Arabic is taken from the hadith editions and trimmed around the quoted words, so read the full report at the source before relying on it. Grades are the ones those editions give.
This page is pending scholar review. It was compiled from public sources, and its citations were last checked on 7 October 2026. If you notice a mistake or a missing source, please tell us.