Later historical sources preserve a striking report about Abu Muslim al-Khawlani رحمه الله during the rebellion of the false claimant al-Aswad al-‘Ansi in Yemen. Al-Aswad demanded that Abu Muslim acknowledge his claim to prophethood; Abu Muslim refused while affirming Muhammad ﷺ as the Messenger of Allah. A great fire was then kindled and Abu Muslim was cast into it, yet the report says that it did not harm him. Al-Aswad’s followers advised removing him from Yemen lest his survival weaken their cause. Abu Muslim later reached Medina, where ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه recognized him from the report, embraced him and wept.
When intimidation failed, al-Aswad ordered a great fire to be kindled. The historical report says that Abu Muslim was then cast into the flames. Yet the same report states simply and emphatically that the fire did not harm him.
The scene did not end at the fire. Al-Aswad’s own people became concerned about what Abu Muslim’s survival might do to those who followed the false claimant. They warned al-Aswad that if Abu Muslim remained in the land, he could undermine his followers. Al-Aswad therefore ordered Abu Muslim to leave.
Abu Muslim travelled to Medina. By the time he arrived, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had passed away and Abu Bakr al-Siddiq رضي الله عنه had become caliph. The report says that Abu Muslim tied his riding animal at the mosque, entered, and stood in prayer beside one of its pillars.
‘Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه noticed the newcomer and approached him. He asked where he was from. Abu Muslim answered that he was from Yemen. ‘Umar then asked what had happened to the man whom the liar had burned in the fire without harming him. Abu Muslim answered with his own personal name, ‘Abd Allah ibn Thawb. ‘Umar pressed him by Allah to say whether he himself was that man. Abu Muslim acknowledged that he was.
The recognition transformed the meeting. The parallel historical reports describe ‘Umar embracing him and weeping. He then took Abu Muslim to Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه and seated him between them. ‘Umar praised Allah for allowing him to see, within the community of Muhammad ﷺ, a man to whom something had happened resembling the deliverance of Ibrahim عليه السلام from fire.
The central story is therefore clear: Abu Muslim refuses a false prophetic claim, is reportedly cast into a great fire and remains unharmed, is expelled because his survival threatens the claimant’s authority, and later reaches Medina where ‘Umar recognizes and honors him. At the same time, al-Dhahabi explicitly notes that Shurahbil transmitted the story mursal. It should therefore be presented as a famous historical karamah report with a discontinuous chain, not as an unqualified fully connected sahih hadith.
Conclusion
This is a high-confidence classification as divine salvation, but the historical report itself is published with isnad caution. Its preserved core is that Abu Muslim al-Khawlani رحمه الله stood firm against al-Aswad’s false claim, was reportedly cast into a great fire without being harmed, and later reached Medina where ‘Umar رضي الله عنه recognized and honored him. The story is best read as a classical report of steadfast faith and extraordinary deliverance while retaining al-Dhahabi’s explicit mursal warning.