Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) said: When Sayyiduna Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) was sent as governor of Basra, Sayyiduna al-Bara bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) was also sent with him, and he was one of his ministers. Sayyiduna Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say to him: "You too should choose a post." At this Sayyiduna al-Bara (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Will you give me the post I ask of you?" He (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Yes!" He said: "Indeed, I do not ask you for the supervision of a city or for the collection of the land tax. Rather, give me my bow, my horse, my spear and my sword, and leave me to wage jihad in the way of Allah." So he (may Allah be pleased with him) sent him as commander over an army, and he was the first man to be martyred.