Aswad Ansi

Who is Aswad Ansi?

Aswad Ansi, better known as Abhala son of Kaab, was a prophet in Yemen towards the end of Prophet Muhammad's lifetime, around 630 AD. Awsad claimed to receive divine inspiration in the form of words, similar to Prophet Muhammad, and is recorded to have recited them to his people.

He was known to be a soothsayer and a sorcerer who had a passion for consumption of alcohol. He had an ability to dazzle a crowd with tricks, according to traditional accounts he had a donkey whom he had trained to kneel before him, he would tell the donkey, in front of a large crowd "Kneel before your lord" and it would kneel, and then he would say to it "Bow before your lord" and it would bow. He eventually managed to convince the people of Yemen that he was a prophet.