Khalifa Uthman bin Affan - Governors of Uthman: Abu Musa Ash'ari

Abu Musa Ash'ari during the Caliphate of Umar
Abu Musa Ashiari was the Governor of basra during the caliphate of Umar. During this period, some complaints were made against him to Umar. The main complaints against him were: that out of the captives he had kept sixty persons for himself; that he had paid one thousand diners to a poet; that he had a maid Aquila who was paid a stipend which was twice the stipend paid to other Muslims; that he had entrusted most of his work to a young man Ziyad.

Umar held a regular Inquiry into these charges. Abu Musa Ash'ari offered his defense as follows: He had to kept these slaves for himself; they were under his charge till they were ransomed. The amount of the ransom was duly credited to the Baitul Mall He had paid the poet out of his own money and not out of the Baitul Mall There was something exceptional and extraordinary with the physical make up of the maid for she consumed twice as much as a common person. Under the circumstances it was necessary to assign her two shares. The young man Ziyad was very intelligent, and as Governor he was justified in making use of his intelligence in public interest.

Umar after a detailed inquiry exonerated Abu Musa Ash'ari of all the charges leveled against him, and allowed him to continue in his office.

Another complaint
On another occasion a person complained that Abu Musa Ash'ari had given him a lesser share than what he was entitled to. When the man saw Abu Musa he behaved rudely. Abu Musa felt annoyed, and had him struck with twenty lashes. He also had his hair shaved. The man complained to Umar, and Umar asked him to lay his complaint before a congregation in the mosque at Basra.. When the man laid his complaint before the congregation in the main mosque at Basra, Abu Musa admitted his mistake and said to the man "You can have your revenge. You may strike me with twenty lashes and have my hair shaved." The man felt satisfied and withdrew his complaint.