Sending Abu Musa and Mu‘adh to Yemen

Narrated Abu Burda:

Allah's Apostle sent Abu Musa and Muadh bin Jabal to Yemen. He sent each of them to administer a province as Yemen consisted of two provinces. The Prophet ﷺ said (to them), "Facilitate things for the people and do not make things difficult for them (Be kind and lenient (both of you) with the people, and do not be hard on them) and give the people good tidings and do not repulse them. So each of them went to carry on his job. So when any one of them toured his province and happened to come near (the border of the province of) his companion, he would visit him and greet him. Once Mu'adh toured that part of his state which was near (the border of the province of) his companion Abu Musa. Mu'adh came riding his mule till he reached Abu Musa and saw him sitting, and the people had gathered around him. Behold! There was a man tied with his hands behind his neck. Mu'adh said to Abu Musa, "O 'Abdullah bin Qais! What is this?" Abu Musa replied. "This man has reverted to Heathenism after embracing Islam." Mu'adh said, "I will not dismount till he is killed." Abu Musa replied, "He has been brought for this purpose, so come down." Mu'adh said, "I will not dismount till he is killed." So Abu Musa ordered that he be killed, and he was killed. Then Mu'adh dismounted and said, "O Abdullah (bin Qais)! How do you recite the Qur'an ?" Abu Musa said, "I recite the Qur'an regularly at intervals and piecemeal. How do you recite it O Mu'adh?" Mu'adh said, "I sleep in the first part of the night and then get up after having slept for the time devoted for my sleep and then recite as much as Allah has written for me. So I seek Allah's Reward for both my sleep as well as my prayer (at night)."

حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ، عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، قَالَ بَعَثَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَبَا مُوسَى وَمُعَاذَ بْنَ جَبَلٍ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ، قَالَ وَبَعَثَ كُلَّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا عَلَى مِخْلاَفٍ قَالَ وَالْيَمَنُ مِخْلاَفَانِ ثُمَّ قَالَ " يَسِّرَا وَلاَ تُعَسِّرَا، وَبَشِّرَا وَلاَ تُنَفِّرَا ". فَانْطَلَقَ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا إِلَى عَمَلِهِ، وَكَانَ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا إِذَا سَارَ فِي أَرْضِهِ كَانَ قَرِيبًا مِنْ صَاحِبِهِ أَحْدَثَ بِهِ عَهْدًا، فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِ، فَسَارَ مُعَاذٌ فِي أَرْضِهِ قَرِيبًا مِنْ صَاحِبِهِ أَبِي مُوسَى، فَجَاءَ يَسِيرُ عَلَى بَغْلَتِهِ حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَيْهِ، وَإِذَا هُوَ جَالِسٌ، وَقَدِ اجْتَمَعَ إِلَيْهِ النَّاسُ، وَإِذَا رَجُلٌ عِنْدَهُ قَدْ جُمِعَتْ يَدَاهُ إِلَى عُنُقِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ مُعَاذٌ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ قَيْسٍ، أَيَّمَ هَذَا قَالَ هَذَا رَجُلٌ كَفَرَ بَعْدَ إِسْلاَمِهِ. قَالَ لاَ أَنْزِلُ حَتَّى يُقْتَلَ. قَالَ إِنَّمَا جِيءَ بِهِ لِذَلِكَ فَانْزِلْ. قَالَ مَا أَنْزِلُ حَتَّى يُقْتَلَ فَأَمَرَ بِهِ فَقُتِلَ ثُمَّ نَزَلَ فَقَالَ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ، كَيْفَ تَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ قَالَ أَتَفَوَّقُهُ تَفَوُّقًا. قَالَ فَكَيْفَ تَقْرَأُ أَنْتَ يَا مُعَاذُ قَالَ أَنَامُ أَوَّلَ اللَّيْلِ فَأَقُومُ وَقَدْ قَضَيْتُ جُزْئِي مِنَ النَّوْمِ، فَأَقْرَأُ مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لِي، فَأَحْتَسِبُ نَوْمَتِي كَمَا أَحْتَسِبُ قَوْمَتِي.

Narrated Abi Burda:

That Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari said that the Prophet had sent him to Yemen and he asked the Prophet about certain (alcoholic) drink which used to be prepared there The Prophet ﷺ said, "What are they?" Abu Musa said, "Al-Bit' and Al-Mizr?" He said, "Al-Bit is an alcoholic drink made from honey;
and Al-Mizr is an alcoholic drink made from barley." The Prophet ﷺ said, "All intoxicants are prohibited."

حَدَّثَنِي إِسْحَاقُ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، عَنِ الشَّيْبَانِيِّ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيِّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ بَعَثَهُ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ، فَسَأَلَهُ عَنْ أَشْرِبَةٍ تُصْنَعُ بِهَا، فَقَالَ " وَمَا هِيَ ". قَالَ الْبِتْعُ وَالْمِزْرُ. فَقُلْتُ لأَبِي بُرْدَةَ مَا الْبِتْعُ قَالَ نَبِيذُ الْعَسَلِ، وَالْمِزْرُ نَبِيذُ الشَّعِيرِ. فَقَالَ " كُلُّ مُسْكِرٍ حَرَامٌ ". رَوَاهُ جَرِيرٌ وَعَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ عَنِ الشَّيْبَانِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ.

Narrated Abu Burda:

That the Prophet sent his (i.e. Abu Burda's) grandfather, Abu Musa and Mu'adh to Yemen and said to both of them "Facilitate things for the people (Be kind and lenient) and do not make things difficult (for people), and give them good tidings, and do not repulse them and both of you should obey each other." Abu Musa said, "O Allah's Prophet! In our land there is an alcoholic drink (prepared) from barley called Al-Mizr, and another (prepared) from honey, called Al-Bit"' The Prophet ﷺ said, "All intoxicants are prohibited." Then both of them proceeded and Mu'adh asked Abu Musa, "How do you recite the Quran?" Abu Musa replied, "I recite it while I am standing, sitting or riding my riding animals, at intervals and piecemeal." Muadh said, "But I sleep and then get up. I sleep and hope for Allah's Reward for my sleep as I seek His Reward for my night prayer." Then he (i.e. Muadh) pitched a tent and they started visiting each other. Once Muadh paid a visit to Abu Musa and saw a chained man. Muadh asked, "What is this?" Abu Musa said, "(He was) a Jew who embraced Islam and has now turned apostate." Muadh said, "I will surely chop off his neck!"

حَدَّثَنَا مُسْلِمٌ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ بَعَثَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ جَدَّهُ أَبَا مُوسَى، وَمُعَاذًا إِلَى الْيَمَنِ فَقَالَ " يَسِّرَا وَلاَ تُعَسِّرَا، وَبَشِّرَا وَلاَ تُنَفِّرَا، وَتَطَاوَعَا ". فَقَالَ أَبُو مُوسَى يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ، إِنَّ أَرْضَنَا بِهَا شَرَابٌ مِنَ الشَّعِيرِ الْمِزْرُ، وَشَرَابٌ مِنَ الْعَسَلِ الْبِتْعُ. فَقَالَ " كُلُّ مُسْكِرٍ حَرَامٌ ". فَانْطَلَقَا فَقَالَ مُعَاذٌ لأَبِي مُوسَى كَيْفَ تَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ قَالَ قَائِمًا وَقَاعِدًا وَعَلَى رَاحِلَتِهِ وَأَتَفَوَّقُهُ تَفَوُّقًا. قَالَ أَمَّا أَنَا فَأَنَامُ وَأَقُومُ، فَأَحْتَسِبُ نَوْمَتِي كَمَا أَحْتَسِبُ قَوْمَتِي، وَضَرَبَ فُسْطَاطًا، فَجَعَلاَ يَتَزَاوَرَانِ، فَزَارَ مُعَاذٌ أَبَا مُوسَى، فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ مُوثَقٌ، فَقَالَ مَا هَذَا فَقَالَ أَبُو مُوسَى يَهُودِيٌّ أَسْلَمَ ثُمَّ ارْتَدَّ. فَقَالَ مُعَاذٌ لأَضْرِبَنَّ عُنُقَهُ. تَابَعَهُ الْعَقَدِيُّ وَوَهْبٌ عَنْ شُعْبَةَ. وَقَالَ وَكِيعٌ وَالنَّضْرُ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ. رَوَاهُ جَرِيرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ عَنِ الشَّيْبَانِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ.

Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ashari:

Allah's Apostle sent me (as a governor) to the land of my people, and I came while Allah's Apostle was encamping at a place called Al-Abtah. The Prophet ﷺ said, "Have you made the intention to perform the Hajj, O Abdullah bin Qais?" I replied, "Yes, O Allah's Apostle!" He said, "What did you say?" I replied, "I said, 'Labbaik' and expressed the same intention as yours." He said, "Have you driven the Hadi along with you?" I replied, "No, I did not drive the Hadi." He said, "So perform the Tawaf of the Ka'ba and then the Sai, between Safa and Marwa and then finish the state of Ihram." So I did the same, and one of the women of (the tribe of) Banu-Qais combed my hair. We continued follow in that tradition till the caliphate of Umar.

حَدَّثَنِي عَبَّاسُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ بْنِ عَائِذٍ، حَدَّثَنَا قَيْسُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ طَارِقَ بْنَ شِهَابٍ، يَقُولُ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيُّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِلَى أَرْضِ قَوْمِي، فَجِئْتُ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مُنِيخٌ بِالأَبْطَحِ فَقَالَ " أَحَجَجْتَ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ قَيْسٍ ". قُلْتُ نَعَمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ. قَالَ " كَيْفَ قُلْتَ ". قَالَ قُلْتُ لَبَّيْكَ إِهْلاَلاً كَإِهْلاَلِكَ. قَالَ " فَهَلْ سُقْتَ مَعَكَ هَدْيًا ". قُلْتُ لَمْ أَسُقْ. قَالَ " فَطُفْ بِالْبَيْتِ وَاسْعَ بَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ ثُمَّ حِلَّ ". فَفَعَلْتُ حَتَّى مَشَطَتْ لِي امْرَأَةٌ مِنْ نِسَاءِ بَنِي قَيْسٍ، وَمَكُثْنَا بِذَلِكَ حَتَّى اسْتُخْلِفَ عُمَرُ.

Narrated Ibn Abbas:

Allah's Apostle ﷺ said to Muadh bin Jabal when he sent him to Yemen. "You will come to the people of Scripture, and when you reach them, invite them to testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammad is His Apostle. And if they obey you in that, then tell them that Allah has enjoined on them five prayers to be performed every day and night. And if they obey you in that, then tell them that Allah has enjoined on them Sadaqa (i.e. Zakat) to be taken from the rich amongst them and given to the poor amongst them. And if they obey you in that, then be cautious! Don't take their best properties (as Zakat) and be afraid of the curse of an oppressed person as there is no screen between his invocation and Allah.

حَدَّثَنِي حِبَّانُ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنْ زَكَرِيَّاءَ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ صَيْفِيٍّ، عَنْ أَبِي مَعْبَدٍ، مَوْلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لِمُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ حِينَ بَعَثَهُ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ " إِنَّكَ سَتَأْتِي قَوْمًا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ، فَإِذَا جِئْتَهُمْ فَادْعُهُمْ إِلَى أَنْ يَشْهَدُوا أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ، وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، فَإِنْ هُمْ طَاعُوا لَكَ بِذَلِكَ فَأَخْبِرْهُمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ فَرَضَ عَلَيْهِمْ خَمْسَ صَلَوَاتٍ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ، فَإِنْ هُمْ طَاعُوا لَكَ بِذَلِكَ، فَأَخْبِرْهُمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ فَرَضَ عَلَيْكُمْ صَدَقَةً، تُؤْخَذُ مِنْ أَغْنِيَائِهِمْ، فَتُرَدُّ عَلَى فُقَرَائِهِمْ، فَإِنْ هُمْ طَاعُوا لَكَ بِذَلِكَ، فَإِيَّاكَ وَكَرَائِمَ أَمْوَالِهِمْ، وَاتَّقِ دَعْوَةَ الْمَظْلُومِ فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ اللَّهِ حِجَابٌ ". قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ {طَوَّعَتْ} طَاعَتْ وَأَطَاعَتْ لُغَةٌ، طِعْتُ وَطُعْتُ وَأَطَعْتُ.