He was amongst those Sahaaba (RA) who migrated from Makkah to Abysinnia. Hadhrat Umar (RA) appointed him as the governor of Basrah, and he was also the governor of Kufa when Hadhrat Uthmaan (RA) was martyred. Hadhrat Ali (RA) nominated him to be the arbitrator from his camp when the warring Muslim factions entered into an arbitration. Thereafter, he returned to Makkah, where he passed away during the 54th year after the Hijrah.

Hadhrat Abu Moosa Ash'ari (RA) has reported the hadith wherein Rasulullaah (sallAllaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) instructed the Muqtadi to remain silent while the Imaam recited the Qiraa'ah. Imaam Muslim (A.R) reports this hadith from Hadhrat Is'haaq bin Ibraheem, who reports from Hadhrat Ibn Jareer (A.R), who reports from Hadhrat Sulaymaan Taymi (A.R), who reports from Hadhrat Qataada (A.R), who reports from Hadhrat Abu Moosa Ash'ari (RA), whose words are quoted from Rasulullaah (sallAllaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam). Rasulullaah (sallAllaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) says, "Remain silent when the Imaam recites." Imaam Muslim (A.R) says that he regards this hadith to be authentic. [Vol.1 Pg.174]

It has been reported from Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (RA) that the person who misses the Surah Faatiha recited by the Imaam has missed a great good. Imaam Maalik (A.R) reports that he said, "Whoever loses the recitation of Ummul Qur'aan (Surah Faatiha) has indeed lost a great good." [Mu'atta of Imaam Maalik, Pg. 29 - Egypt print] He did not say that the person who misses the recitation of Surah Faatiha has lost the salaah or should recite it himself. He was therefore of the opinion that the Muqtadi should not recite Surah Faatiha.