Towards the end of the blessed life of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), there was a man named Aswad ‘Anasi who took over Yemen by force and proclaimed prophethood. Among the people that he summoned was Abu Muslim Al-Khawlaani (rahimahullah).

When Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) stood before him, he asked him, “Do you testify that Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is the Rasul of Allah?” Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) replied, “Yes.” Aswad ‘Anasi next asked him, “Do you testify that I am the Rasul of Allah?” To this question, Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) replied, “I cannot hear.”

Aswad ‘Anasi thereafter repeated the same two questions to Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) for a second and third time and received exactly the same answers. Aswad ‘Anasi was now frustrated and had realized that Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) would not accept his self-proclaimed prophethood. He thus issued the command for a large fire to be lit. Once the fire was ignited and blazing, Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) was seized and cast into its depths! However, by the command of Allah Ta‘ala, the fire did not harm him. When the followers of Aswad ‘Anasi witnessed this, they said to him, “If you leave Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) in your land, he will cause corruption (i.e. the story of the fire not harming him will spread and he will cause people to turn away from you)”. Aswad ‘Anasi heeded their advice and commanded Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) to leave his land. Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) thus departed and set out for Madeenah Munawwarah.

When Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) arrived in Madeenah Munawwarah, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had already departed from this world and Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) had been appointed as the khaleefah. Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) proceeded to Musjid Nabawi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and began to perform salaah near one of the pillars. After some time, ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) caught sight of him and asked, “Where are you from?” Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) replied, “From Yemen.” Hearing this, ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) asked, “What has the enemy of Allah (i.e. Aswad ‘Anasi) done with our friend who was cast into the fire without it harming him?” Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) replied, “Here he is, ‘Abdullah bin Thuwab.” When he heard this, ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) exclaimed, “I ask you in the name of Allah Ta‘ala, are you really the same person?” When Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) confirmed that he was, ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) kissed him between his eyes and thereafter proceeded with him to Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).

When they came to Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) seated Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) between himself and Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). He then said, “All praise is due to Allah Ta‘ala who did not take my life before he allowed me to see, in the Ummah of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), a person who underwent the same experience as Nabi Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam).”

(Sifatus Safwah vol. 2 pg. 370)

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‘Alqamah bin Marthad (rahimahullah) has mentioned that eight Taabi‘een had excelled in attaining the highest levels of zuhd (asceticism). Among these eight Taabi‘een was Abu Muslim Al-Khawlaani (rahimahullah). Explaining the zuhd of Abu Muslim (rahimahullah), ‘Alqamah bin Marthad (rahimahullah) quoted the following incident as an example of his disinterest in the world:

Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) would not sit with any person who was engaged in speaking of the dunya. If the person with whom he was seated began to speak of anything related to the dunya, Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) would immediately turn away and leave.

On one occasion, Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) entered the musjid and saw a few people sitting in a group. Seeing this group, Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) joined them in the hope that they were engaged in the zikr of Allah Ta‘ala. However, on sitting with them, he heard one person say, “My slave arrived having earned such-and-such wealth”, while another was saying, “I equipped my slave (to begin earning wealth)”. When he heard the subject of their conversation, Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) was extremely disappointed. He addressed them saying, “Subhaanallah! Do you know the example of yourselves and myself? Our example is that of a man who was caught in a heavy deluge of rain. As the rain began to soak him, he turned and caught sight of two large doors. Seeing the doors, he became hopeful of finding shelter and thought to himself, “If only I can enter this home and seek its shelter until the rain ceases.” However, as soon as he entered the home, he found, to his dismay, that it had no roof and thus could afford him no shelter. I am that person. I joined your gathering hoping that you were people who are engaged in zikr and other acts of worship, but instead discovered that you are people of the dunya.”

(Sifatus Safwah vol. 2, pg. 370)

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On one occasion, the wife of Abu Muslim Al-Khawlaani (rahimahullah) said to him, “O Abu Muslim! We do not have any flour!” Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) asked her, “Do you have any money?” She replied, “I have one dirham which we earned through selling yarn.” Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) instructed, “Hand me the dirham and give me a sack.”

Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) thereafter proceeded to the market and stood before a man who was selling food. However, at that moment, a beggar also arrived and stood before Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) imploring, “O Abu Muslim! Give me some charity!” As Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) only had one dirham and there was no food at home, he turned and fled from the beggar, arriving at another food stall. The beggar, however, followed him and continued to call out to him. Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) thus fled for a third time and went to a third stall, but the beggar persistently followed him and continued to implore him for charity.

Finally, viewing the beggar’s persistence, he relented and gave him the dirham. Abu Muslim (rahimahullah), not wanting to take the sack home empty, filled it with sawdust and sand and proceeded home. When he reached the door of his home, he was afraid to enter as he did not have any food to give his wife. Not knowing what else to do, he knocked on the door and when his wife opened it, he gave her the bag, turned and left.

His wife, not knowing what had transpired, took the bag and opened it, finding it full of white flour! She thus formed the dough and baked the bread. After a short portion of the night had passed, Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) arrived at home and knocked on the door. When he entered, she spread the tablecloth and placed loaves of bread before him. Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) was surprised and asked, “Where did you get this bread?” She replied, “O Abu Muslim, from the flour that you brought.” When Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) heard this, he began to eat the bread as he wept in gratitude to Allah Ta‘ala.

(Sifatus Safwah vol. 2 pg. 371)

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Whenever Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) would leave the musjid and return home, then on arriving at the entrance of his yard, he would call out the takbeer (Allahu Akbar). Hearing his takbeer, his wife would reply by also calling out the takbeer. After entering the courtyard of the home, Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) would again call out takbeer and his wife would similarly respond. Finally, when he would arrive at the door of his home, he would call out the takbeer and his wife would similarly respond with takbeer. Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) would thereafter enter the home after which his wife would take his sandals and shawl and bring him his food.

One day, when Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) arrived at the entrance of his yard, he called out the takbeer, as normal, but was surprised when he received no response. He next entered the courtyard and called out the takbeer, but again received no reply. Finally, when entering the home, he called out the takbeer, and again received no reply.

On entering, he found that the lamp had not been lit, and saw his wife seated with her head lowered, scratching at the ground with a stick. Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) was perplexed at her behaviour and asked her, “What is the matter?” She replied, “You have a good relationship with the leader, Mu‘aawiyah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). We do not have a servant. Why do you not ask him to provide us with a servant and give us some wealth as well?”

When he heard this, Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) became upset and understood that someone had influenced and corrupted his wife. He thus exclaimed, “O Allah! Blind the one who corrupted my wife!”
Coincidentally, a woman had come to visit his wife earlier and had said to her, “Your husband has a good relationship with Mu‘aawiyah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). Why do you not tell him to ask Mu‘aawiyah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to give him a servant and some wealth so that you can live in comfort?”

When Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) made the du‘aa, while that woman was seated in her home, she was surprised to find that she could not see and all was dark! She asked her household, “What happened to the lamp? Is it extinguished?” When they replied that the lamp was still burning, she instantly realized her error. She thus went to Abu Muslim (rahimahullah), crying, and begged him to make du‘aa for her vision to be restored. Abu Muslim (rahimahullah) immediately felt pity for her and made du‘aa for her, due to which Allah Ta‘ala restored her sight.

(Sifatus Safwah vol. 2, pg. 371)