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Moving to Rabzah:
Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) remained in Shaam until the era of Hazrat Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). During the rule of Hazrat Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), Hazrat Mu‘aawiyah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), the governor over Shaam, wrote to Hazrat Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and mentioned that the people were complaining about Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) on account of the great degree of abstinence of the dunya which he possessed. Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) had a natural aversion for wealth and would insist that those people who possessed extra wealth should give their extra wealth away in sadaqah. Hazrat Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) therefore summoned him from Shaam and asked him to stay in Rabzah. Rabzah is a place approximately three day’s journey from Madinah Munawwarah.
(Usdul Ghaabah 1/344, Siyar A’laam min Nubalaa 3/393, Mu’jamul Buldaan 3/24)
Hazrat Ibn ‘Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) says that the blood money paid to a murdered victim’s family initially comprised of ten camels. Amongst the Quraish and other Arabs, ‘Abdul Muttalib initiated the tradition of paying one hundred camels instead of the customary ten camels as blood money. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) also maintained this Sunnah in Islam. Following this incident, ‘Abdullah received the title of ‘Zabeeh’ (the sacrificed or slaughtered one). This is the reason why Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was referred to as ‘Ibnuz Zabeehain’ (the son of two Zabeeh’s).
Honoring the Guests:
‘Isa bin ‘Umailah Al-Fazaari (rahimahullah) mentions that a certain person told him the following:
I noticed that when Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) would milk his goats, he would give his neighbors and guests to drink before he drank himself. One night, I saw him milk his goats to the point where absolutely nothing remained in their udders. After presenting the milk to his guests, he placed a small amount of dates before them. He thereafter apologized to them saying, “If we had anything better than this, we would have definitely brought it before you.” I thereafter observed that Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) himself did not eat a single morsel that night as he had presented all that he had to his guests.
(Ibn Sa’d 4/178)
‘Abdul Muttalib drew lots for all his sons and the name of ‘Abdullah, his most beloved son, came up in the draw. He grasped ‘Abdullah’s hand and proceeded with a knife towards the sacrificial quarters. When ‘Abdullah’s sisters witnessed this distressing sight, they were moved to weeping in anguish. One of them pleaded with the father saying, “O father! Draw another lot with ten camels against ‘Abdullah’s name. If the lot is drawn in favour of the ten camels, slaughter the camels, but we implore you to spare ‘Abdullah.” At that time, ten camels was the blood money paid to a murdered victim’s family.
Kindness to Neighbors:
‘Isa bin ‘Umailah (rahimahullah) narrates from a person who had seen Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) that whenever Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) would milk his goats, he would first give his neighbors and guests the milk to drink and would only himself drink thereafter.
(Siyar A‘laam min Nubalaa’ 3/399)
While digging through the earth to excavate the well of Zam Zam, ‘Abdul Muttalib had nobody to assist him besides his only son, Haarith. He therefore took an oath that if Allah Ta‘ala blessed him with ten sons, who would grow up to be his helping hands; he would slaughter one of them in the name of Allah Ta‘ala.
The mother of Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) once needed to enquire regarding a certain mas’alah. She thus instructed Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) saying, “Go to ‘Umar bin Zar and ask him regarding this mas’alah.” As Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) knew the answer to the mas’alah, he told it to her. His mother, however, did not accept his answer and insisted that he go to ‘Umar bin Zar and ask him the question. Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) therefore went to ‘Umar bin Zar and said, “My mother is in such-and-such a predicament and has told me to ask you the ruling regarding this situation.” On hearing this, ‘Umar bin Zar was extremely surprised and exclaimed, “You are asking me the mas’alah?” In response, Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) replied, “My mother instructed me to ask you the mas’alah.” ‘Umar bin Zar did not know the answer to the question and thus said to Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah), “Tell me the answer so that I may tell it back to you.” Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) therefore told ‘Umar bin Zar the answer after which ‘Umar bin Zar repeated it back to him. Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) thereafter returned to his home and informed his mother of the answer of ‘Umar bin Zar.
(‘Uqoodul Jummaan pg. 272)
Hazrat Abu Zar Ghifaari (radhiyallahu 'anhu) - Part Six
Written by user2Hijrah (Migrating to Madinah Munawwarah):
Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) migrated to Madinah Munawwarah after the battles of Badr and Uhud were fought. In some narrations, it is mentioned that he migrated after the battle of Khandaq.
(Isaabah 7/107, Usdul Ghaabah 1/343, ibn Sa‘d 4/170, Istee‘aab 1/321)
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) testifies to the truthfulness of Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu):
Hazrat ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) narrates that he heard Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) saying, “The sky has not shaded and the earth has not carried a person more truthful than Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).” Note: While this hadith shows that Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) had attained the highest level of truthfulness, it does not negate other Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), such as the Khulafaa-e-Raashideen, also having the highest level of truthfulness.
(Tirmizi #3801)
‘Abdul Muttalib informed the Quraish of his dream and informed them of his decision to dig up a certain point of the Haram. The Quraish opposed him but their resistance and opposition did not concern him. Carrying his pick and shovel, he set out with his son, Haarith, and commenced digging at the designated spot. ‘Abdul Muttalib would go on digging while Haarith would collect and dispose of the sand. On the third day, he came across a deep hole. Out of extreme delight, he burst out chanting “Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!” He then happily remarked:
هذا طوى اسمٰعيل
“This is evidently the well of Ismaa‘eel (‘alaihis salaam).”
When the rule of Makkah Mukarramah fell onto the shoulders of ‘Abdul Muttalib and the divine will of Allah Ta’ala decreed that the well which had been totally forgotten should now be rediscovered, He directed ‘Abdul Muttalib, by means of pious dreams, to dig up the area of the well. Distinct markings and clues indicating to the whereabouts of the well were also revealed to him in the dream.
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Hazrat Abu Zar Ghifaari (radhiyallahu 'anhu) - Part Five
Written by user2Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) Advises the Commander of the Army to Uphold Justice
Imaam Bayhaqi (rahimahullah) narrates:
When Hazrat Yazid bin Abi Sufyaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was governor over Shaam, the people engaged in Jihaad and acquired booty and were victorious. Among the spoils of war was a beautiful slave girl who fell into the share of one of the Muslims. Shortly after, Hazrat Yazid bin Abi Sufyaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), the commander of the army, had taken this slave girl for himself from the soldier in whose share she had fallen. Hazrat Abu Zar Ghifaari (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was in Shaam at that time and this soldier went to him and sought his assistance in recovering his slave girl from Hazrat Yazid bin Abi Sufyaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) thus went to Hazrat Yazid bin Abi Sufyaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) with the man and thrice instructed Hazrat Yazid bin Abi Sufyaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to return the slave girl to him. Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) thereafter said, “Alas! By Allah! If you take the slave girl from this soldier unjustly then know that I have heard Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) saying, ‘The first person to change my blessed Sunnah will be a man from Banu Umayyah.’” Saying this, Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) turned and began to walk away. Hazrat Yazid bin Abi Sufyaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) quickly followed him and asked, “I beg you in the name of Allah! Tell me, do you think that I will be the person who is referred to in this hadith?” Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “No.” after which Hazrat Yazid bin Abi Sufyaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) returned the slave girl to the man.
After the demise of Hazrat Ismaa‘eel (‘alaihis salaam), his son, Qaydaar, assumed the role of trustee of the Ka'bah. This was in accordance with his parting advice. In this manner, the Banu Ismaa‘eel (the progeny of Hazrat Ismaa‘eel (‘alaihis salaam)) remained the trustees of the Ka'bah.
As time passed, however, hostilities and aggression erupted between the Banu Ismaa‘eel and the Banu Jurhum. In due course, the Banu Jurhum prevailed and subsequently established their rule over Makkah Mukarramah. Before long, the Jurhum rulers had unleashed their aggression, tyranny and cruelty over the people of Makkah Mukarramah. This ruthless brutality drove the Banu Ismaa‘eel out of Makkah Mukarramah and forced them to settle on its outskirts.
Hazrat Abu Zar Ghifaari (radhiyallahu 'anhu) - Part Four
Written by user2The Second Narration (continued):
Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) said (continuing the incident of his embracing Islam):
One bright, moonlit night, I was by the Ka‘bah when the people of Makkah Mukarramah were sound asleep. Myself aside, there were only two women present and they were making tawaaf. Whenever these women would pass by the two idols, Isaaf and Naa’ilah, they would call out to them in supplication. As they drew close to me, I called out to them in mockery of their idols, “Marry one to the other!” My statement drew no response, however, as they continued calling out to their idols in supplication. The next time they came close to me, I called out, “Your idol has a private part of wood!” except that I did not use an ambiguous word indicating towards it but rather used an explicit word to refer to the private part. This statement finally excited a response as the two women now began to go about calling out in supplication to their idols for me to be destroyed and were proclaiming, “If only some of our people were here to punish you!”
Hazrat Ismaa'eel ('alaihis salaam) and the Jurhum Tribe
Written by user2The birthplace of the Jurhum tribe was actually Yemen. A severe drought had struck Yemen and this had forced the Banu Jurhum to leave Yemen in search of more promising livelihood.
During the course of their travels, they coincidentally met Hazrat Ismaa‘eel (‘alaihis salaam) and his honourable mother, Hazrat Haajar (‘alaihas salaam), in the vicinity of the Zam Zam well. Banu Jurhum took a liking for this area and decided to settle down here. Hazrat Ismaa‘eel (‘alaihis salaam) also later on married a lady from the same tribe. After blessing him with the position of prophethood, Allah Ta‘ala commissioned him to the ‘Amaaliqah, Jurhum and the people of Yemen.
He passed away at the age of one hundred and thirty and was buried in the area of the Hateem, close to the grave of his honourable mother.
(Extracted from Seeratul Mustafa 1/34)