Abhala bin Ka'b al-Aswad al-Ansi (Arabic:عبهلة بن كعب الاسود العنسي; died June 632), was a 7th-century leader of theBanu Ans tribe and a self-proclaimedprophet, one of the four major figures who declared to be prophets during theWars of Apostasy.[1][2]
He was born nearNajran and later lived inYemen and proclaimed his prophethood towards the end of theMuhammad's lifetime. He was also known as "the Veiled," orDhu al-Khimar (Arabic:ذي الخمار), as he used to cover his face to create an aura of mystery.[2]
Asoothsayer andsorcerer, Aswad had the ability to dazzle a crowd with tricks.[2] According to tradition,[1][better source needed] 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").[1]
When Muhammad became ill after his final pilgrimage toMecca, Aswad declared himself a prophet.[2] He claimed to receivedivine revelation in the form of words, similar to Muhammad, and is recorded[citation needed] to have recited these revelations to his people. Aswad went on to invadeNajran[1] and most of Yemen. He attackedSana'a; Shahr, who was the ruler of Yemen and the son ofBadhan, was killed in battle against Aswad.[1] Aswad married Shahr's widow and declared himself ruler of Yemen.[3][4] After his invasion of Yemen, he changed his title from "Prophet of God" toRahman of Yemen ("The Merciful for Yemen").[2]
Aswad's rule over Yemen was short-lived asFayruz 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.[1] 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.
 | This Yemeni biographical article is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
