to stay with the community, for Allah will never unite the ummah upon misguidance—until the righteous can rest, or people are relieved of an evildoer.
Khalīfah said: Abū Masʿūd died before the year 40 AH (1).
Ibn Qāniʿ said: in the year 39 AH.
Al-Madāʾinī and others said: in the year 40 AH.
It is also reported that he was later received in audience by Muʿāwiyah.
Khaythamah ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān related:
When ʿAlī marched out, he appointed Abū Masʿūd over Kūfah, and a number of men hid themselves, refusing to accompany ʿAlī.
Abū Masʿūd then mounted the pulpit and said, ‘People! Whoever has gone into hiding should come out. By my life, if the matter depends on numbers, our supporters are many indeed. Nor do we regard it disgraceful that these two mountains of Muslims should meet tomorrow, so that these kill those and those kill these,
until only the rabble (2) of both sides remains, whereupon one of the two parties will gain the upper hand.
What we do deem disgraceful is that Allah should bring about some decree from Himself that spares their blood and reconciles their affairs.’
Yaḥyā al-Qaṭṭān said: Abū Masʿūd died the year ʿAlī was killed in Kūfah.
Al-Wāqidī said: He died in Medina during the caliphate of Muʿāwiyah (3).
- Usāmah ibn Zayd ibn Ḥārithah ibn Sharāḥīl, son of ʿAbd al-ʿUzzā ibn Imruʾ al-Qays, the freedman; the eminent commander.