Suwayd ibn Ghafla
سويد بن غفلة
The Tamimi who warned Abu Musa against ever sitting as one of the two arbitrators — and whose reminder years later drew the evasive 'ask your Lord for wellbeing' 1.
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Overview
Suwayd ibn Ghafla, a Successor who was a contemporary of Abu Musa al-Ash'ari. His report with him appears in al-Mas'udi 2.
Abu Musa's report
al-Mas'udi reports that Abu Musa told him, before Siffin, that this community would send forth two arbiters. Suwayd said to him: "If you live to see that time, beware of being one of the two arbiters" 2.
Abu Musa used to take off his shirt and say: "God has not made for me an ascent in heaven, nor a seat on earth." Then Suwayd met him again and reminded him of what he had said, and he said to him: "Ask your Lord for well-being" 2.
Sources
- Muruj al-Dhahab — al-Masʼudi, p. 683
- Muruj al-Dhahab — al-Masʼudi, p.683
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “Suwayd ibn Ghafla”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/person/suwayd-ibn-ghafla/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed 2026-10-17.