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Al-Aswad Al-Ansi’s claim to prophethood (10 A.H)

Al-Aswad Al-Ansi’s claim to prophethood (10 A.H)

After Mua’th ibn Jabal and Abu Musa Al-Ashari were sent to Yemen to teach the Islamic legislation to its people, in the same year, Al-Aswad Al-Ansi appeared in the same area. His name was Abhalah ibn Kaab ibn Ghawth. He claimed he was a prophet. This trial became even worse than this, with him leaving with 700 warriors from a city called Kahf Khibban. He also wrote to the Prophet (peace be upon him) governors in Yemen, “Oh invaders, keep for us the land and harvest you have taken from us (i.e., zakat); we have more right to it, especially since you are who you are (i.e. have wealth).” He then rode to Najran and took it ten days later. Next he headed towards Sana’a, so Shahr ibn Badhan went out to confront him. They both engaged in fighting, and Al-Aswad overcame Shahr and killed him. Al-Aswad then occupied Sana’a, 25 days after leaving Kahf Khubban. As a result, Mu’ath ibn Jabal ran away from the area to join Abu Mosa Al-Ashari. The two then went to Hadramawt, and Amr ibn Hazm and Khalid ibn Sa’eed ibn Al-'As returned to Medinah. All of Yemen fell into the hands of Al-Aswad Al-Ansi, causing many trials; the people of Yemen apostatized from Islam. Al-Aswad married the wife of Shahr ibn Badhan by force, after killing her husband. The wife was the cousin of Fayruz Al-Daylami on her father’s side. She was called Azath. She was a kind, beautiful lady who believed in Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him): a righteous lady. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) heard the news about Al-Aswad Al-Ansi, he sent a message with Wabri ibn Yuhannas Al-Daylami ordering the Muslims to kill Al-Aswad Al-Ansi. Mu’ath ibn Jabal and those with him received the message, and told the Muslim governors in Yemen about the Prophet’s order. Consequently, the governors agreed together to kill Al-Aswad. The governors hated him and hated his rule because of the way he degraded them. They made a plan with his wife Azath to kill him. As a result, she let Fayruz Al-Daylami into the room for him to kill Al-Aswad while he was asleep [See: The Beginning and the End by Ibn Kathir].