Abu Musa Al Ash'ari

wa alaykum as salaam wa rahma!

As for Abu Musa, it is not just the Shia who dispraise him. He was also dispraised by the Prophet (according to some of the Companions), 'Ali, other Companions and the Mu'tazila. It is reported that the Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wa alihi wa sallam, said to him: ((There will be two astray arbitrating factions, and the one who follows them will be astray)). Abu Musa used this narration as a proof that he shouldn't take sides in the battle between Imam Ali (as) and Mu'awiya. One of the Followers, Suwayd bin Ghafla replied: "O Abu Musa make sure that you are not one of them!" Then he said: "He did not die except that I saw him as one of them!" So according to this Follower, Abu Musa is imprecated in this hadith.

This makes sense because in another hadith Allah's Messenger, salla Allahu alayhi wa alihi wa sallam, ordered Ali to fight the Naakitheen, Qaasiteen and Maariqeen and ordered the Companions to fight these groups with Ali. The Qaasiteen are those forces of Mu'awiya that rebelled against Ali (as). Therefore, it wouldnt make sense that Allah's Messenger, salla Allahu alayhi wa alihi wa sallam, commanded Ali and the Companions to fight the Qaasiteen and then referred to both factions as astray as in the narration of Abu Musa. It therefore makes sense that the two astray factions refer to the faction of Mu'awiya and the faction of Abu Musa.

Ali dispraised him as well as is well known that Amir al-Mumineen (as) used to openly curse him. This also includes him in the imprecation of Allah's Messenger, salla Allahu alayhi wa alihi wa sallam, on Ghdir Khumm: ((O Allah be an enemy to those who are his enemy!)) and ((O Allah, abandon those who abandon him!)) Not only was Abu Musa an enemy to Ali but he also abandoned him when he called him to support him.

Abu Musa was called a liar by Ammar (ra). Malik al-Ashtar (ra) also referred to Abu Musa as a hypocrite.

Some of the Mu'tazila, such as Abu Muhammad bin Matwiya, dispraised him. He said in his Kitaab al-Kifaya that Abu Musa committed a great sin by what he did and caused a lot of harm. He also said that it is not established that Abu Musa repented. According to the Mu'tazila, a person who died after having committed a major sin will remain in Hell forever.

As for his crimes, he was accused of lying on the Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wa alihi wa sallam; dissuading support from Ali and masking his irreligiosity with piety.

Hopefully, this answers your questions. And Allah knows best!

IRS

All of the information I referenced can be found in Sunni books of history such as Tarikh at-Tabari and other books. His agitations against Imam 'Ali (as) and 'Ali's imprecation of him are well known and established.

And Allah knows best!

IRS

Thank you for your question! As for your Abu Musa's status in the hereafter, I can't really say. However, it is clear from the Quran and the authenticated traditions that the enemy of the Wali of Allah is an enemy of Allah. If that person died without repenting from his enmity with Allah's Wali such person is Hellbound without any doubt.

One thing is evident though. He abandoned the Mawla Ali (as) in his 'negotiations' with Amr b. al-As and Allah's Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny, prayed: ((O Allah abandon those who abandon him [i.e. 'Ali]!)). 'Ali (as) also had strong words for Abu Musa in some of his sermons cited in Nahj al-Balaagha. All of that withstanding, I don't know or haven't read whether Abu Musa repented before his death or not.

And Allah knows best!

IRS