The Most Honest In Speech

’Abû Dhar Al Ghifârî

May Allah be pleased with him

Jundab Ibn Gunâdah known as ’Abû Dhar Al Ghifârî was from the tribe of Ghifâr which was known for stealing the caravans, yet he believed that there was only One God worthy of worship and obedience… He did not bow in worship to any idol nor worship one, and when he received the news of the advent of the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, he said to his brother: Ride to this valley (of Makkah), and try to find out the truth of the person who claims to be a prophet who is informed of the news of Heaven. Listen to what he says and come back to me... So his brother set out and came to the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, and listened to some of his talks, and returned to ’Abû Dhar and said to him: I have seen him enjoining virtuous behaviour and saying something that is not poetry. ’Abû Dhar said: You have not satisfied me as to what I wanted... He himself left and set out for Makkah disguised, looking for this man claiming to be a prophet… Whenever he met a crowd of people, he sat near them, hearing their words until he was noticed by ‘Alî Ibn ’Abî Tâlib who tried to find out who he was, and what he wanted.. When ’Abû Dhar felt reassured towards him, he told him what he was looking for.. ‘Alî Ibn ’Abî Tâlib took him to the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him,.. So, ’Abû Dhar told him: Recite what you say.. The Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, said: “It is not poetry, how can I recite, it is Qur’ân”. ’Abû Dhar said: Then read it to me.. The Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, read from the Qur’ân so ’Abû Dhar said: I testify that there is none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and you are the Messenger of Allah.. The Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, asked him: “Where are you from?”.. He replied: From Ghifâr.. The Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, looked at him in astonishment repeatedly and then said: “Allah guides whom He wills”.. Yes, Allah guides whom He wills, for there is a man from the most hateful tribe, who invades and steals caravans… and the most famous for that invasion and stealing… He himself becomes a believer, and becomes a Muslim before he leaves his seat, for he was the fifth to become a Muslim.. ’Abû Dhar said: By what do you order me, O Prophet of Allah?.. The Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, said: “Go back to your people and inform them (about it), till you receive my order”.. ’Abû Dhar said: By Him Who sent you with the Truth, I will proclaim my conversion to Islam publicly amongst them (i.e. the infidels).

The Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, told him: “Do not expose yourself to their hurting you”.. But ’Abû Dhar insisted on announcing it while Quraish were already gathered around the Ka‘bah, he said:  I testify that there is none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.. 

They got up to him and beat him until he became unconscious. No body could save him from their hands except Al ‘Abbâs Ibn ‘Abdul Muttalib who told them: Waihakom[1], he is from the tribe of Ghifâr, and if they hear of it, they would not allow your goods or merchandise or caravans to pass through.. So they left him.. He went back to them the following day and started again, so they started beating him again, and Al ‘Abbâs saved him once more… The Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, ordered him to return to his tribe to invite them to Islam, he did not invite his tribe only but he extended to ’Aslam tribe, and they all responded well to his logic, wisdom, and influence…

Time and days pass, and the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, immigrates to Al-Madînah and the Muslim’s affairs are quite settled there. One day, the people of Al-Madînah were surprised by crowds of people, some walking, some riding, elderly people, young people, men, women, blocking the roads, and if it is not for their crying (Allah-u Akbar).. Allah is the Most Great.. The people of Al-Madînah would have thought that an army was invading them… The crowds approach the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, mosque. He comes out to greet them and finds out that ’Abû Dhar is their leader. ’Abû Dhar greets the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, then he points to the right saying: Ghifâr tribe O Allah’s Prophet. So the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, says: “Ghifâr, may Allah forgive them”. Then ’Abû Dhar points to the left saying: ’Aslam tribe O Allah’s Prophet.. So the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, says: “ ’Aslam, may Allah protect them”.

So, ’Abû Dhar was the reason behind the two tribes (Ghifâr and ’Aslam); men, women, all becoming Muslims.

’Abû Dhar Al Ghifârî, may Allah be pleased with him, secludes himself totally to the companionship of the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, and being with him inside the country and in traveling. He, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, grants him a precious saying: “Nowhere on earth, desert or in green land, has there been a man more honest in speech than ’Abû Dhar Al Ghifârî”[2].

And in the battle of Tabûk[3] -also known as Al-‘Usrah-which were in days of severe heat and drought. This was one of the furthest conquests that the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, made, and that’s why many men did not go with him in battle, and who joined had little supply… Every ten men were using one camel to ride as there were very few camels to supply all men... Some of the men retreated during the way because of the severe heat, and long distance.

The companions would say to the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him,: That man stayed back… He would say: “Let him be… for if his presence is for the best, Allah will send him back to you… and if not, then Allah has done what is better for you and relieved you of him”.

The army marches for twenty four hours then they stop for rest. ’Abû Dhar was one of the people who stayed back because his camel couldn’t continue so he left it and carried his belongings on his back. He kept walking trying to catch up with the rest. The companions were watching out for the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, words: “If his presence is for the best, Allah will send him back to you”.

A man appears from a far distance trying with great effort to remove his legs from the sand, carrying his belongings on his back.. They cried: O Allah’s Prophet, here is a man coming from far away walking alone.. The Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, says: “Be ’Abû Dhar”.. They all watch out carefully for that man approaching slowly and with difficulty, almost falling towards the ground and he is ’Abû Dhar Al Ghifârî!!

All the crowd cry in one voice: It is by Allah ’Abû Dhar.

The Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, meets him happily and says: “May Allah have mercy on ’Abû Dhar, he lives alone, dies alone, and will be raised alone on the Judgment Day”[4].

The days pass by and the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, dies and  ’Abû Bakr As-Siddîq became Khalifah (caliph) then followed by ‘Umar Ibn Al Khattâb’s Khilafat (caliphate), both followed the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, rules. ’Abû Dhar is devoted to worship and praying, living like an ascetic not caring for worldly pleasures, remembering the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, words to him. He relates what the Prophet told him, he says: The Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, advised me to seven matters… To love the poor, to be close to them, to tell the truth even if it was hard and bitter, not to worry about people blaming me if I speak of truth, to repeat frequently: There is no might or power except with Allah the Most Great and the Most High… and to see only who is less than me, not to see who is higher than me[5].

 ‘Uthmân Ibn ‘Affân became Khalifah (caliph) while ’Abû Dhar is in Shâ’m witnessing what he doesn’t like, for the houses made of mud have become castles, the guards around the powerful people have increased in number, money has become abundant, people lived in exaggerated luxury and wealth… ’Abû Dhar goes to Mu‘âwiyah Ibn ’Abû Sufyân the ruler of  Shâ’m, while he is amongst his friends and tells him: Are you the people who were with the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, when he received the Qur’ân:?!! Yes you are they.. Haven’t you read in Allah’s Book: (..And  those who hoard up gold and silver [Al-Kanz: the money, the Zakât of which has not been paid] and spend them not in the Way of Allâh, announce unto them a painful torment). (At-Taubah “The Repentance”,34)  

Mu‘âwiyah answers him gently: O ’Abû Dhar, this verse was sent to the people who believed in the previous books (religions), haven’t you read its beginning words where   Allah says: (..Verily, there are many of the (Jewish) rabbis and the (Christian) monks who devour the wealth of mankind in falsehood, and hinder (them) from the Way of Allâh (i.e. Allâh’s religion of Islâmic Monotheism)..).(At-Taubah “The Repentance”,34)  

’Abû Dhar replies: It has been sent to us and to them… and for us and for them…

’Abû Dhar leaves Mu‘âwiyah saying: Warn the people who are savers of money by the fire of hell that will burn their foreheads, and their bodies (backs and sides) on the Day of Judgment.. He walks amongst people saying: I am amazed at one who does not find in his home his daily food, then he does not go out to the people by his sword. (i.e. asking for his right?).  

Then he remembers the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, saying to him: “O ’Abû Dhar. How will you feel when you find the rich keeping the shade of life to themselves?”

He replied: By Him who sent you with the Truth, I will hit them by my sword.. The Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, tells him: “Shall I not lead you to what is better than that?” .. He says: Yes.. The Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, replies: “Be patient till you meet  me”[6].

So ’Abû Dhar waits patiently. He then goes to the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, companions and orders them to let go of their great wealth, to be satisfied by the little that they need, and to live the way the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, and his companions ’Abû Bakr and ‘Umar  had lived.

Mu‘âwiyah sends for help from ‘Uthmân saying: O Ruler of the believers… Help us… ’Abû Dhar shattered the people and turned them against us.

‘Uthmân calls upon him to Al-Madînah. When he came to him, ‘Uthmân told him:  O ’Abû Dhar… Stay with me and I shall give you from Bayt-ul-Mal (the people’s house of treasury)..

So ’Abû Dhar says: O Ruler of the believers, I do not need what you would give me, but do allow me to go to Al-Rabadhâh[7]  so I can be alone and away from people.

‘Uthmân granted him his need… For it is not true what some writers have claimed that ‘Uthmân Ibn ‘Affân had exiled ’Abû Dhar to Al Rabadhâh…For the truth was that ’Abû Dhar himself asked and chose to be secluded. He chose Al-Rabadhâh in particular so that the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, saying would fit him when he said: “’Abû Dhar in my people is like ‘Îisah Ibn Maryam (Jesus the son of Marry) in his indifference to life”[8].

Also ‘Uthmân was not the man to exile a companion of the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, for saying the truth and fearing of Allah only regardless of people’s blaming.

’Abû Dhar goes to Al-Rabadhâh only with his wife and his little girl… Some people from Kûfah know where he is. They go to him and try to encourage him to revolt against ‘Uthmân. He tells them: I have to obey ‘Uthmân, and by Allah, if he crucifies me on the longest piece of wood, I would still listen to him and obey him, be patient with him, and ask for Allah’s reward knowing that this would be better for me.

That made the people who were trying to make him revolt leave in despair.

 Days go… and ’Abû Dhar falls sick, very sick. his wife weeps but he tells her: Why do you weep… Death is a fact and reality?!.. She says: I do not weep for you dying, I weep because I cannot provide a shroud to wind you with, and I do not know what to do and we are alone, without people.. ’Abû Dhar says: Do not cry… A group of believers will come with my shroud and they will take care of me.. She replies: How is that, and there are no more pilgrims?!.. And we are in barren land where there is no trace of any human being.. He replies: One day I was sitting amongst the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, and his companions and he said: “One of you men will die on barren land, but witnessing that, will be a group of believers”. All who were present then have died amongst people and not alone. I only am left and I’m dying in barren land, so watch out for the direction where people come and you will see what I tell you, for by Allah I have not lied nor being accused of being a lair.. The woman is surprised by a group of people approaching towards them and asking: Who is it?!!.. The woman cries and says: ’Abû Dhar, the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, companion.. The group quickly approaches crying, and leading them is ‘Abdullah Ibn Mas‘ûd, may Allah be pleased with him, who leans very closely on ’Abû Dhar and says: To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.. ’Abû Dhar tells them: Rejoice… rejoice… you are the ones that the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, said about you: “A group of believers”. You are they.. Then he said: I am now where you see and find me, and if I had a garment that would fit me, I would be winded in it. I plead to you by Allah, no man of you who has any position on the ruling state, to wind me in my shroud.. A young man from Ansâr (supporters) said: By Allah, I am the one who was never a ruler, nor a man who collected money out of any position, nor ever carried any messages (i.e. between rulers), and I have two new garments my mother has woven to me by her own hands from lawful money.. ’Abû Dhar was pleased and said: You are my friend… Do wind me.. His soul departs to its Creator happy and content… The group of believers wind him.. His honourable friend ‘Abdullah Ibn Mas‘ûd leads the funeral prayer.. He was buried in Al-Rabadhâh and so the prophecy of the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, comes true which was: “May Allah will have mercy on ’Abû Dhar, he walks and goes through life alone, he dies alone, and will be raised alone on the Judgment Day”.

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