Men Around The Messenger
Cheerfully and happily did he turn toward Makkah. Indeed, the difficulty
of his journey and the hard, burning desert sand made him suffer pain. However,
the goal he was striving to reach made him forget his pain and filled his soul
with joy and delight.
He
entered Makkah disguised as one of those who came to circumambulate the great
idols of the Sacred House of the Ka'bah or as a passer-by who had lost his way
or who had traveled far and sought provision and shelter.
If
the inhabitants of Makkah knew that he had come to search for Muhammad (Sallalaho
alyhi wassalam) and to listen to him, they would cut him into pieces. He did
not fear being cut up piece by piece, but not before meeting the person he had
crossed the hot burning deserts to see and for whose sake afterwards he was
willing to risk his life because he believed in him and was convinced of his
honesty and the truth of his message.
He went about secretly
gathering information and whenever he heard someone speaking about Muhammad (Sallalaho
alyhi wassalam), he carefully approached him until he was finally able to
compile all the scattered pieces of information which he had heard here and
there. Finally, he was guided to the place where he was able to see Muhammad (Sallalaho
alyhi wassalam).
One morning he went there
and found the Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) sitting alone. He approached
him and said, "O my Arab brother, good morning." There upon the
Prophet replied, "And may peace be upon you, my brother." Abu Dhar
then said, "Sing to me some of what you are saying." The Prophet (Sallalaho
alyhi wassalam) answered, "It isn't a poem to be sung, but a Holy
Qur'aan." Abu Dhar said, "Then recite for me."
The Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi
wassalam) recited to him while he listened. It was not long until Abu Dhar
shouted, "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad
is His Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) and Messenger." The Prophet (Sallalaho
alyhi wassalam) asked him, "Where are you from, my Arab brother?" Abu
Dhar answered, "From Ghifaar." A broad smile appeared on the
Prophet's lips (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) and his face was filled with wonder
and astonishment.
However, Abu Dhar was also
smiling, for he knew well that the reason behind the Prophet's astonishment was
because the man who had just embraced Islam in front of him was from Ghifaar.
Ghifaar was a tribe with a notorious reputation for highway robbery. Its people
were famous for theft and were known as allies of darkness and night. Woe to
him who fell into their hands on a dark night!
Was it possible that one of
them would embrace Islam while it was still a new, secret religion?
Narrating the story himself,
Abu Dhar said: The Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) lifted his eyes out of
astonishment, due to Ghifaar's reputation. Then he said, "Allah guides
whom He wills:" Indeed, Allah guides whom He wills.
Abu Dhar (May Allah be
pleased with him) was one of those whom Allah wanted to be rightly guided and
for whom He wanted the best. His insight was always directed towards truth.
It has been narrated that he
worshiped Allah during the period of Jaahiliyah, which means that he revolted
against the worship of idols and turned towards the belief in One Great
Creator.
Therefore, he had hardly
heard about the appearance of a prophet rejecting idols and their worship and
calling to the worship of Allah, the One, the Sublime, the Vanquisher, when he
immediately set out and quickened his steps to meet this new Messenger of Allah
(Sallalaho alyhi wassalam).
Immediately; without hesitation, he embraced Islam: His order among the
converts was fifth or sixth, which means that he converted during the first
days, if not the first hours, of Islam. His conversion was, indeed very early.
When
he embraced Islam the Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) was till secretly
whispering the call to Islam to himself and to the five who believed in him.
Abu Dhar could not do anything except carry his faith within his heart,
secretly leaving Makkah and returning to his people.
However,
Abu Dhar - his real name was Jundub Ibn Janaadah - had a restless and agitated
temper. He had been created to revolt against falsehood wherever it existed.
Now he saw falsehood with his own eyes as lifeless rocks piled upon each other.
The birth of their worship was long before his existence: minds and foreheads
bowed down in front of them and people calling to them saying, "At your
service, at your service!" It is
true that he saw the Prophet's preference to whisper in those days, but he wished
that a loud shout declaring Islam publicly be made by the venerable and
honorable followers before his departure.
Immediately after embracing
Islam, he turned to the Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) with the following
question: "O Messenger of Allah, what is it that you order me?" The
Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) replied, "Go back to your kin until my
order reaches you." Abu Dhar said, "In the name of the One Who owns
my soul between His hands, I am not going back until I cry out loudly declaring
Islam within the mosque!"
Did I not tell you? His
temper was restless and agitated. At the same moment when Abu Dhar discovered a
totally new world, a wonderful new world represented by the Prophet (Sallalaho
alyhi wassalam) whom he believed in and by the call which he became acquainted
with by the Prophet's tongue, at that same moment he was asked to return silently
to his kin. Was that possible? It was beyond his ability.
Hereupon, he entered the
Sacred House and cried out as loud as he could, "I bear witness that there
is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger!"
As far as we know, it was
the first public pronouncement declaring Islam and challenging the arrogance of
the Quraish which reached their ears. It was cried out by a stranger who did
not have any relatives, reputation, or protection in Makkah.
He acted out of his own
dedication and courage even though he knew what was going to happen. He was
surrounded by the polytheists, who hit him till he fell down.
This news reached Al
'Abbaas, the Prophet's uncle. He came quickly but could not rescue Abu Dhar
except by a clever trick. Thus he told them, "O you Quraish! You are
merchants and your route crosses over Ghifaar and this man here is one of their
tribesmen. Beware, he may incite his kin against you, provoking them to rob
your caravans while passing by." They came back to their senses and left
him alone.
Having tasted the sweetness
of being hurt in the cause of Allah, Abu Dhar did not want to leave Makkah
without being given more.
So, on the next day, or
perhaps on the same day, Abu Dhar encountered two women circling around two
idols (Usaaf and Naa'ilah) and calling upon them. He stood in front of them
rudely disgracing their idols. The women shouted loudly, and men hastened as
fast as lightening, immediately hitting him until he fell down unconscious.
When he regained
consciousness he shouted again that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad (Sallalaho
alyhi wassalam) is His Messenger.
The Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi
wassalam) realized the nature of his new disciple and his amazing ability to
encounter falsehood. However, the time for public declaration of the message
had not yet come, so again he ordered Abu Dhar to go back to his kin and
whenever he heard the announcement of the new religion, he would play his role.
* * *
Abu Dahr returned to his kin
and tribe, telling them about the Messenger (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) who
called people to worship Allah and who guided them to noble manners. His people
embraced Islam one by one. Bani Ghifaar alone did not suffice him; he turned to
Bani Aslim, to spread his lights there.
Time passed and the Prophet
(Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) emigrated to Al Madinah and there, together with
Muslims, he settled down.
One day the city welcomed
long lines of people on horseback and on foot. Their feet made a great noise.
Were it not for their loud shout "Allah is the Greatest", the viewer
would have thought it was an attacking polytheist army. The great parade
approached and entered Al-Madinah. Their destination was the Prophet's (Sallalaho
alyhi wassalam) Mosque. The parade consisted of two tribes, Bani Ghifaar and
Bani Aslim. Abu Dhar made them come as Muslims, all of them: men, women,
elderly, youth, and even the children!
No doubt, the Prophet's
wonder and astonishment increased. In the distant past he had been very
astonished when he witnessed one of the tribe of Ghifaar announce his
embracement of Islam, and he had expressed on that day his wonder saying,
"Allah guides whom He wills."
But now, the whole tribe had
come after already becoming Muslim. It had lived several years under the banner
of Islam since Allah guided it by means of Abu Dhar. Now it had come together
with Bani Aslim.
The former allies of the
devil, the notorious highwaymen, had become the allies of truth and great men
of good deeds.
Is it not true that Allah guides whom He pleases? The Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) looked at their kind faces with eyes full of joy,
tenderness, and love. He looked at Bani Ghifaar and said, "May Allah forgive."
Then, he turned to Bani Aslim and said, "May Allah make peace with Aslim."
Abu Dhar, this magnificent propagator
of Islam who was obstinate; unyielding, and difficult to be defeated: was the
Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) not going to salute him with a special
greeting?
Indeed, his reward was going
to be abundant and his greeting blessed. He was going to carry on his chest-
but also his history was going to carry - the highest, most honorable, and most
respectable medals. Generations and centuries will pass away, but the Prophet's
opinion about Abu Dhar will always stay alive in people's memory: “The earth
never carried above it, nor did the sky ever shade under it more truthful
tongue than Abu Dhar's”.
* * *
The Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi
wassalam) determined his Companion's future and summed up his whole life in
those simple words.
Bold and daring truthfulness
was the essence of Abu Dhar's whole life. Truthfulness of his inner soul as
well as his appearance. Truthfulness of his faith as well as his tongue: All
his life he was truthful. Neither deceiving himself or anyone else, nor
allowing anyone to deceive him.
His truthfulness was not
mute merit. According to Abu Dhar, truthfulness is never silent. Truthfulness
is equivalent to openness and publicity, publicity of truth and challenge to
falsehood, support of right and refutation of wrong. Truthfulness is a
reasonable ally to truth and a courageous expression of it; both quicken their
pace.
The Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi
wassalam) could see with his unmistaken insight - across remote distances and
the far unknown future - all the different difficulties Abu Dhar had to face due
to his truthfulness and firmness. He therefore was always ordering him to let
patience and deliberateness be his manner.
The Prophet once asked him,
"O Abu Dhar! What would you do if you witnessed a time when commanders
monopolize the war booty?" He replied, "I swear by Allah Who sent you
with the truth, I would strike them with my sword!" The Prophet (Sallalaho
alyhi wassalam) said to him, "Shall I guide you to what is better? Be
patient till you meet me.
Why did the Prophet (Sallalaho
alyhi wassalam) ask him this specific question? Commanders, money? It was the
cause Abu Dhar was going to devote his life to and the problem he was to
encounter with society in the future.
The
Prophet (PBUH) knew it; therefore he asked him this question in order to
provide him with this precious advice: "Be patient till you meet me."
Abu Dhar kept his teacher and Prophet's instruction unforgotten. Therefore, he
did not carry a sword against those commanders who enriched themselves by
taking what was the public money. But also, he did not keep silent, and he did
not let them rest.
Indeed,
although the Prophet (PBUH) had forbidden him to carry his sword against them,
he did not forbid him to carry a sharp truthful tongue. And that is what he
did.
*
* *
The era of the Prophet (Sallalaho
alyhi wassalam) and of Abu Bakr and 'Umar passed with its complete
transcendence over all worldly temptations. Even the tempted desirous and
greedy souls could not find a paved and open way for their devious desires. In
those days there were no deviations to be opposed loudly by Abu Dhar's sharp
words. As long as the Commander of the Faithful 'Umar lived, Muslim governors,
rulers, and even the wealthy, were forced to live a humble modest, aesthetic
and just life, almost beyond human capacity. No governor of the Caliph, whether
in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, or anywhere else in the region, could ever eat a kind of
sweet unaffordable by ordinary people without such a piece of information soon
reaching 'Umar, who would immediately order that governor to return to Al-Madinah,
where he would face a severe punishment.
Therefore, Abu Dhar lived
without trouble and happily, with much inward peace, as long as 'Umar was
Commander of the Faithful. Nothing ever annoyed Abu Dhar more than the abuse of
power and the monopoly of wealth. 'Umar's firm control over power and his fair
distribution of wealth allowed him tranquility and satisfaction.
It was because of this that
he was able to devote himself to Allah's worship and jihaad in the cause of
Allah, never keeping silent if any infringement was seen here or there, which
rarely happened.
However, the greatest, most
just and most magnificent ruler that human beings were ever to experience left
our world one day, leaving behind a tremendous gap, causing inevitable
reactions beyond human expectations.
The Islamic campaigns
continued, thus bringing under control more regions. At the same time, desires
and longing for ambition to enjoy the comforts and luxury of life started to
float to the surface. In these events, Abu Dhar saw the impending danger. The
banners of personal glory were about to tempt those whose role in life was to
lift the standard of Allah. Life with its false embellishments and its wild
arrogance was about to tempt those whose role was to make out of life a
plantation of good deeds.
Money - created by Allah to
be obedient to His servants for the benefit of mankind - was about to turn into
a tyrant master. A master of whom? The Prophet's Companions.
The Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi
wassalam) passed way with a pawned shield, although piles of war booty were
under his service. The excellence of the earth created by Allah for all human
beings and with their rights upon it mutually corresponding - was about to turn into a
monopoly and privilege.
Power
- a responsibility that pious people tremble at when thinking about its
horrible charge in the Hereafter - turned into a means of authority, wealth,
and destructive luxury.
Abu
Dhar realized all that. He did not search for his duties or responsibilities,
but rather took his sword, waved it in the air and set out to face his society
with his unbeatable sword. But soon the echo of the Prophet's (Sallalaho alyhi
wassalam) advice struck his heart, so he returned it to its scabbard. He
remembered the Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) had said he should not lift
it in the face of a Muslim.
< It is not lawful for a believer to kill another
believer except by error > (4: 92)
His
role was not to fight but to oppose. The sword was not a means of change and
reformation, but the truthful, sincere, and brave word was. The fair word does
not lose its path, and its consequences are not terrifying. The Prophet (Sallalaho
alyhi wassalam) once said, while surrounded by his Companions, that the earth
never carried above it, nor did the sky ever shade a more truthful tongue than
Abu Dhar's.
Why
should someone who owns such a truthful tongue and truthful conviction need a
sword?
A single word by him hit the
target more than uncountable swords. Therefore, Abu Dhar was to encounter all
the governors, the wealthy, and all those who worshipped the worldly life and
relied upon it, thereby representing an even greater danger to the religion
which came to be a guide, not a tax collector; prophet hood, not dominion;
mercy, not affliction; humbleness, not superiority; equality, not
differentiation; satisfaction, not greed; sufficiency, not luxury and a life of
ease full of temptation, with this life the only goal.
So Abu Dhar went out to face
all those challenges, and Allah will judge truthfully between him and them, and
Allah is the Most Just of judges.
* * *
Abu Dhar went out to the
strongholds of power and wealth, attacking them one after the other. Within a
short time he became the standard around which the laborers of Islam and the
masses gathered. Even in the remote districts where people had not yet met him,
word about him got around and he became well known until he hardly passed
through a land in which his name had not reached the ears of some of the people
and without crucial questions being raised which threatened the welfare and
worldly interests of the powerful and wealthy.
If this honorable,
rebellious Companion was to select an appropriate standard for himself and his
movement, he would not find a better one than an iron, a glowing, hot, and
flaming iron. Thus he turned the following words into his chant and earnest
appeal, repeating them every time and every place he went. People repeated them
after him as if they were an anthem:
Announce to those who hoard
up gold and silver, the warning of branding irons with which their foreheads
and bodies will be branded in the hereafter.
He never ascended a mountain
or descended a valley or entered a city or faced a ruler without repeating the
same words, so much so that people would always welcome him when he approached
them by repeating "Announce to those who hoard up gold and silver, the
warning of branding irons."
This statement turned into
"signature time" for his message to which he devoted his life. That
was because he saw wealth being accumulated and monopolized for power and being
turned into a means of supremacy and abuse. He saw an overwhelming passion for
life which was about to erase all beauty, piety, devotion, and sincerity built
up during the previous years of the great mission of the Messenger of Allah.
When he began his attack, he
started with the most, authoritative and horrible stronghold: there in Syria,
where Mu'aawiyah Ibn Abi Sufyaan was ruling one of the most fertile lands in
the world of Islam, granting and distributing money carelessly thereby
bestowing undeserved privileges upon people of power and rank in order to
guarantee his future, a future he aspired to promote.
There
in Syria, the country of overwhelming palaces, country estates and fortunes
which tempted the remnants of the carriers of the Islamic message, he began his
attack. Abu Dhar wanted to confront the center of danger before it ruined and
destroyed all Muslims.
The leader of the opposition
to corrupt worldly power wore his humble gown and hastened as fast as lightning
towards Syria. Ordinary people hardly heard about his arrival before they hurried
to welcome him with great enthusiasm and 1onging desire, surrounding him
wherever he would go or stay. "O Abu Dhar, please tell us . . . O,
Companion of the Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) please tell us . . ."
Sharp-eyed, he would take a
glance at the multitude around him, seeing the majority of them suffering from
poverty and need. He then directed his eyes to a place not too far away where
he saw many palaces and landed estates. Then he shouted to those around him,
"I wonder why those who don't find something to eat don't go out holding
their swords ready to fight?"
Then he immediately
remembered the Prophet's admonition to replace opposition and rebellion with
patience, and to replace the sword with brave and daring words, abandoning the
language of war; and returning to logic, reason, and conviction; teaching
people that they are all equal like the teeth of a comb; that they are all
partners as far as the means of living are concerned; that no one is superior
to another except in piety; and that their ruler should be the first to starve
if the people suffer hunger and the last to satisfy his appetite if they become
sated.
He decided to create by
means of his words and bravery a public opinion all over the Muslim countries
which would represent, through its intelligence, indomitability, and strength,
a hindering force to the deviations of the rulers and the rich and wealthy, in
order to hinder the appearance and spread of a power- and wealth monopolizing
class.
Within a few days, the whole
of Syria turned into what resembled a beehive, which had found its queen. If
Abu Dhar would have given the slightest passing gesture of revolt, the whole of
Syria would have been set on fire. But, as mentioned before, he focused his
interest on creating a respectable public opinion. His words turned into the
subject of conversation everywhere, inside mosques, during meetings, and even
on roads. Danger increased and reached its peak for Abu Dhar, speaking about
the newly acquired privileges of the rich and powerful, on the day in which be
argued with Mu'aawiyah in front of the masses. Every witness of that debate
told those who missed it, so that its news spread as fast as wildfire.
Abu Dhar, who possessed the
most truthful tongue on earth, as the Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam)
described him, stood up. He asked Mu'aawiyah about his wealth before and after
being in power, about the house in which he was living in Makkah, and the
castles he owned in Syria. Then he raised the question to the Companions who
had accompanied Mu'aawiyah to Syria and were now owners of estates and castles.
After that he cried to them,
"Is it you among whom the Prophet lived when the Qur'aan was being
revealed?" Then he answered himself, "Yes, it is you! The Qur'aan was
revealed among you. It is you who experienced with the Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi
wassalam) all the different scenes.
Then he asked them again,
"Can't you find this verse in the Book of Allah? <. . . and those who
hoard up gold and silver, and do not expend it in the cause of GOD, announce to
them a painful chastisement - On the Day when it shall be heated in the Fire of
Hell, and with it their foreheads, and their bodies, and their backs shall be
branded, "This is what you treasured for yourselves, so taste the evil of
what you were treasuring ." > (9: 34-35).
However,
Mu'aawiyah wanted to end the whole dispute by arguing that this verse was mentioned
regarding the People of the Book (i.e. the Jews and Christians). Here upon
cried Abu Dhar, "No, it has been revealed for us all."
Abu
Dhar then continued his talk, advising Mu'aawiyah and his followers to give up
their landed estates, castles, money, and all their possessions, and to abstain
from saving for themselves more than their daily need. Through the people's assemblies,
congregations, and meetings, the news of the debate spread and reached everyone's
ears.
Louder
and louder was Abu Dhar's anthem to be heard everywhere: "Announce to
those who hoard up gold and silver the warning of branding irons."
Mu'aawiyah felt the danger of the words of the great, honorable, and rebellious
Companion who terrified him. Yet Mu'aawiyah appreciated his value and did not
harm him, but he immediately wrote to the Caliph 'Uthmaan (May Allah be pleased
with him), "Abu Dhar spoils the people in Syria." 'Uthmaan sent for Abu Dhar, asking him to
come to A1 - Madinah. Abu Dhar set off from Syria with kindness, affection, and
honor. His farewell day was celebrated in Syria in a manner Damascus had never
witnessed the like of.
*
* *
Indeed,
he did not need people's world. He was one of those saints who searched for the
enrichment of their soul, dedicating his life to giving, not to receiving!
He asked the Caliph 'Uthmaan
(May Allah be pleased with him) to allow him to go out to Ar-Rabadhah, and he
allowed him.
Despite
his fierce opposition, he stayed close to Allah and His Prophet (Sallalaho
alyhi wassalam) in a very honest way, always keeping within his soul the
Prophet's advice never to carry a sword. It was as if the Prophet had seen the
whole of Abu Dhar's destiny and future, so he bestowed upon him this precious
advice.
Abu Dhar never hid his
annoyance when seeing those who liked to ignite the flames of civil strife by
using his words and opinions as a means to satisfy their passionate desire and
cunning deceits.
One day, while in
Ar-Rabadhah, a delegation from Kufa came to ask him to raise the flag of
revolution against the caliph. He drove them back with decisive words: "By
Allah, if 'Uthmaan was to crucify me on the longest board or on a mountain, I
would patiently obey, for Allah's reward would be waiting for me, and I see it
to be the
best for me. And if he was to force me to walk from one end of the horizon to
the other, I would patiently obey, for Allah's reward would be waiting for me,
and I see it to be the best for me. And if he was to force me back to my home I
would patiently obey, for Allah's reward would be waiting for me, and I see it
to be the best for me.
He was a man who was not
interested in any worldly gain; thus he was blessed with insight by Allah. He
realized again the tremendous danger involved in armed civil strife; therefore,
he abstained from it. But he also realized the tremendous danger involved in
silence; therefore, he abstained from it. That is why he raised his voice, not
his sword, and raised the word of truth and sincerity.
He was not tempted by greedy
desires nor hindered by worldly obstacles.
Abu
Dhar kept himself busy with and devoted himself to sincere, honest opposition. He
spent his whole life focusing on the faults of power and the faults of money.
Thus power and money possessed the temptation. Abu Dhar was afraid his brethren
would fall into their traps - his same brethren who had carried the standard of
Islam with the Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) and whom he wanted to remain
the carriers of the Prophet's message (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam).
Power and money were,
furthermore, the backbone of societies and communities. If misused, the destiny
of people would encounter serious and imminent danger.
Abu Dhar wished so much that
the Prophet's Companions would not be appointed as governors and would not
collect fortunes, but would rather stay as they always had been: as spiritual
guides to the right path for Allah's worshipers.
He knew well the voracity of
life and the voracity of money, and he knew that the example of Abu Dhar and
'Umar was never going to be repeated! How often did he hear the Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) asking his Companions to be aware of the
temptation of authority saying, "It's a deposition in trust, and an the
Day of Resurrection it will be a shame and regret except to the one who was
endowed with it justly and accomplished his duty."
Abu Dhar went so far that he
avoided his brethren if he did not boycott them, for no other reason than that
they had become rules and, of course, had become wealthier.
Abu Muusaa Al-Ash'ariy once
met him. He had hardly seen him when he stretched his arms with joy and delight
shouting, "Welcome Abu Dhar! Welcome my brother!" But Abu Dhar held
himself back saying, "I am not your brother; I was so before you became an
administrator and governor."
In the same way, Abu
Hurairah once met and embraced him in welcome, but Abu Dhar pushed him back and
said, "Isn't it you who became governor, then extended your buildings and
possessed plantations and cattle?" Abu Hurairah defended himself, trying
to prove his innocence and refute those rumors.
It may seem that Abu Dhar
had an exaggerated position towards power and wealth, but he had a logic which
was shaped by his sincerity to himself and his faith. Thus, Abu Dhar stood with
his dreams, deeds, behavior, and viewpoints according to the same standard the
Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) and his two Companions Abu Bakr and'Umar had
left behind.
If some people saw that
standard to be an out-of-reach ideal, Abu Dhar saw it to be an example charting
the path of life and toil especially for those who had actually experienced the
Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam), prayed behind him, taken part in jihaad
with him, and sworn the oath of allegiance to him.
In addition to that - as
mentioned before - his inspired intellect knew the decisive influence of power
and property in determining people's destiny. Therefore, any disturbance which might
afflict the trustworthiness of power or the fairness of wealth represents an
imminent danger which must be resisted and opposed.
* * *
As long as he lived, Abu Dhar upheld the standard of the Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) and his two Companions' good example. He was a
great figure in the art of predominance over the temptation of power and
wealth. The governorship of Iraq was once offered to him, but he said, "By
Allah, you will never tempt me with your world."
Once,
one of his companions saw him wearing an old gown and asked him, "Don't
you have another one? I saw you a couple of days ago with two other gowns in
your hands." Abu Dhar replied, "O cousin! I gave them to someone who
needed them more than I do." He said to him, " By Allah, you need
them!" Abu Dhar then answered, "May Allah forgive us. You glorify
this life! Can't you see that I am wearing a gown? And I own another one for
the congregational Friday prayer. Moreover, I own a goat which I milk and a
donkey which I ride. Is there a better blessing?"
*
* *
He
once sat down talking to people and said, "My friend advised me to do
seven things:
·
He asked me to love the poor and to get closer
to them.
·
He asked me to look to those who are inferior
and not to those who are superior.
·
He asked me never to ask anyone for anything
(i.e. to abstain from begging).
·
He asked me to be kind to my relatives.
·
He asked me to say the truth, no matter how
sour it may be.
·
He asked me never to be afraid of a critic's
censure.
·
And he asked me to frequently say, 'There is no
power nor might except Allah's.' "
He lived according to this advice until he became a living moving among
his people. .
Imam `Ali once said,
"There is no one nowadays who is nonchalant about people's criticism - as
far as Allah and His rules are concerned - except Abu Dhar."
He lived opposing the abuse
of power and the monopoly of property. He lived resisting all that was wrong
and building all that was right. He lived devoted to the responsibility of good
advice and warning.
When he was hindered from
spelling out his fatwaa (formal legal opinion in Islamic law); he raised his
voice and said to those hindering him, 'By the name of the One in Whose hands
my soul is, if you put the sword to my neck and I still thought that I could
carry out a word I've heard from the Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) before
you cut, I would carry it out."
Had the Muslims listened on
that day to his advice, a lot of civil strife and turmoil would have been
prevented - turmoil that reached its peak and dangers that became grave,
serious, and imminent. The state, society and Muslim nation had to face all
that rebellion and aggravated; alarming danger.
But then Abu Dhar was
suffering the agony of death in Ar-Rabadhah, the place he chose to stay in
after his disagreement with Uthmaan (May Allah be pleased with him). Let us go
to him to give him farewell and let us see how the last scene of his admirable
life is.
This slim dark-skinned woman
sitting crying beside him is his wife. He is asking her, "Why do you cry
and death is true?" She answers crying, "You are dying and I don't
have a gown which suffices to be a winding sheet!!" He smiles like a
passing evening glow and says to her "Calm down. Don't cry. I heard the
Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) saying while I was sitting among a number of
Companions; 'One of you will die in a desert land, and a group of the faithful
will witness him.' All those who were sitting with me at that assembly have died, whether in a
village or among a congregation. No one is left except me, and now I am dying
in a desert land. Watch out, a group of the faithful will soon show up. By
Allah, I didn't lie in my life." He passed away. Blessed was he.
There
is a caravan which sets off on a journey across the desert. It consists of a
group of the faithful with 'Abd Allah Ibn Mas'uud, the Prophet's Companion, at
their head. Ibn Mas'uud visualized the scene before he reached it: scenes of an
out-stretched body like that of a dead person and beside him a crying woman and
boy.
He
redirects his camel's bridle and the whole caravan follows him towards the
scene. He has hardly taken a look at the dead body, when he realizes that it is
his companion and brother in Islam, Abu Dhar.
His tears
roll down abundantly while he stands in front of this virtuous body saying,
"The Messenger of Allah was truthful. You will walk alone, die alone, and
resurrect alone."
* * *
Ibn
Mas'uud (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated the interpretation of the
statement "You will walk alone, die alone, and resurrect alone," to
his companions:
* * *
That
was in the ninth year after Hijrah, during the Battle of Tabuuk, when the
Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) had ordered full preparation to meet the
Romans, who had begun to carry out their conspiracies and cunning tricks
against Islam.
The days in which people
were asked to go out for jihaad were very hot, distressful, and hard. The
destination was far away and the enemy terrifying.
A group of Muslims refrained
from going forth, justifying their position with different apologies. The
Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) and his companions went forth. The farther
they went, the more exhausted they became. Whenever a man stayed behind people
said, Prophet! So-and-so stayed behind." He then said, "Let him! If
he's good, he will reach you. If he's something else, then Allah will save you
his trouble."
One day the people turned
around. They could not find Abu Dhar. They told the Prophet (PBUH) that Abu
Dhar had stayed behind and his camel had slowed down. It is here that the
Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) repeated his first statement. Abu Dhar's
camel became weaker under the severe pressure of hunger; thirst, and hot
weather. It stumbled due to weakness and fatigue. Abu Dhar tried by all means
to force it to move forward; but the burden of the camel's exhaustion was too
heavy.
Finally, Abu Dhar felt that
he would be left behind, losing the van's traces. Therefore, he dismounted from
his camel, took his belongings, carried them on his back, and continued his
route on foot over the burning desert sand, hurrying in order to rejoin the
Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) and his Companions.
In the early morning, while
the Muslims were stopped for a while to rest, one of them saw a cloud of dust
and sand behind which the shadow of a man could be seen. The one who saw that said
to the Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam), "O Messenger of Allah, there is
someone walking alone." The Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) said,
"It is Abu Dhar."
The Muslims continued their
talk until the man crossed the remaining distance between them. Only then were
they able to know he was.
The respectful traveler
approached little by little. Although he could only with great effort pull his
feet out of the burning sand and a lot of pain carry the heavy burden on his
back, he was very delighted to have finally reached the blessed caravan without
staying behind and abandoning the Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) and his
Companions.
When he at last reached the caravan, someone shouted; "O Prophet, it's
Abu Dhar. Abu Dhar headed towards the Prophet (Sallalaho
alyhi wassalam). 'The Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) had hardly seen him, when
he tenderly; kindly, and sadly smiled and said, "Allah will have mercy
upon Abu Dhar. He walks alone, dies alone, and resurrects alone."
* * *
Twenty years or more had
passed since then: Abu Dhar died alone in the desert of Ar-Rabadhah, having walked
on a path no one else had passed over so gloriously.
He is also remembered alone
by history for his brave resistance and his great asceticism. Allah will also
resurrect him alone; because the multitude of his various merits, will not enable
anyone else to find a place near him.