Al-Aswad al-Ansi

Aswad al-Ansi (Arabic: الاسود العنسي; died 632[1]), also known as Abhala bin Ka'b (Arabic: عبهلة بن كعب), was the leader of the Banu Ans tribe and a self-proclaimed prophet, one of the four major false prophets of the Wars of Apostasy. He lived in Yemen and proclaimed his prophethood towards the end of the Muhammad's lifetime. He was also known as "the Veiled," or Dhu al-Khimar (Arabic: ذي الخمار),[2] as he used to cover his face to create an aura of mystery.[1]

History

A soothsayer and sorcerer, Aswad had the ability to dazzle a crowd with tricks.[1] According to tradition,[2] he had a donkey whom he had trained to kneel before him: he would tell the donkey "Kneel before your lord" and it would kneel, and then he would say to it "Bow before your lord" and it would bow. From this anecdote he acquired a second nickname, Dhu al-Himar (Arabic: ذو الحمار, "the master of the ass").[2]

When Muhammad became ill after his final pilgrimage to Mecca, Aswad declared himself a prophet. He claimed to receive divine revelation in the form of words, similar to Muhammad, and is recorded to have recited these revelations to his people. Aswad went on to invade Najran[2] and most of Yemen. He attacked Sana'a; Shahr, who was the ruler of Yemen and the son of Badhan, was killed[2] in battle against Aswad. Aswad married Shahr's widow[2] and declared himself ruler of Yemen.[3][4] After his invasion of Yemen, he changed his title from "Prophet of God" to Rahman ("The Merciful").

Aswad's rule over Yemen was short-lived: Fayruz al-Daylami, a Persian Muslim, brought an army against Aswad. According to tradition, Aswad was assassinated on the night immediately prior to Muhammad's own death.[2] After Aswad's death, the followers of Aswad continued their revolt under the leadership of Qays ibn Abd Yaghuth. Fayruz defeated them and they surrendered along with their leader.

See also

References
  1. Algül, Hüseyın (1995). ESVED el-ANSÎ - An article published in 11th Volume of Turkish Encyclopedia of Islam (in Turkish). Vol. 11. Istanbul: TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi. pp. 440–441. ISBN 978-97-53-89438-8. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  2. William Muir (1861). The Life of Mahomet. Vol. 4. London: Smith, Elder & Co. pp. 248–250.
  3. Ahmed, Mufti (2007-12-01). Encyclopaedia of Islam. Anmol Publications Pvt Ltd. ISBN 9788126123391.
  4. Michael M.J. Fischer; Mehdi Abedi (1990). Debating Muslims: Cultural Dialogues in Postmodernity and Tradition. University of Wisconsin Press. pp. 193–194. ISBN 9780299124342.
  • Sword of Allah: Khalid bin al-Waleed by A.I. Akram ISBN 0-19-597714-9
  • Abu al-Abbas Ahmad bin Jab al-Baladhuri
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