It is narrated from Ibn Ishaq that the name of Sayyiduna Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) is Abdullah bin Qays, and he was an ally of the family of Utbah bin Rabi'ah bin Abd Shams.

It is narrated from Muhammad bin Umar (al-Waqidi) that the name of Sayyiduna Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) is Abdullah bin Qays bin Sulaym bin Haddar bin Harb bin Amir bin Bakr bin Amir bin Adhar bin Wa'il bin Najiyah bin al-Jumahir bin al-Ash'ar, and al-Ash'ar is Nabt bin Udad bin Yashjub bin Ya'rub bin Qahtan. His mother was Zabyah bint Wahb bin Atik, who accepted Islam and passed away in Madinah. Sayyiduna Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) came to Makkah and became an ally of Abu Uhayhah Sa'id bin al-As, accepted Islam there in Makkah, emigrated to Abyssinia, and then arrived with the people of the two ships at the time when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was at Khaybar.

It is narrated from Ibn Ishaq that Sayyiduna Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) was among those who emigrated to the land of Abyssinia, and he remained there until the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent Amr bin Umayyah al-Damri to the Negus. He brought them back aboard two ships, and they reached him (peace and blessings be upon him) at the conquest of Khaybar, after the Treaty of al-Hudaybiyah.