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Hazrat Abu Zar Ghifaari (radhiyallahu 'anhu) (14)
The Different Narrations Describing the Demise of Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) – continued
The second narration describing the demise of Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) is as follows:
When Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) had neared his end, his wife began to cry. “What makes you cry?” he asked her. She replied, “I am crying because there is nobody to help me bury you and I do not have sufficient cloth to enshroud you.” Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) responded, “Do not cry, for verily I heard Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) saying to a group of people which included me, “One of you will most definitely pass away in a deserted place. A group of believers will be present by him (at the time of his death).” There is no person from that group except that he has already passed away in a village and a group of believers. I am the one who is passing away in a deserted place. Keep a watch on the road for you will soon see what I mentioned to you regarding the group of believers. Verily, by the oath of Allah, neither do I lie through these words and nor did Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) lie when he mentioned this to me.”
Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu 'anhu) - Part Thirteen
Written by user2The Date of the Demise of Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu):
Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) passed away in Rabzah in the year 32 A.H. According some ‘Ulamaa, Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) passed away during Zul Hijjah in the year 31 A.H.
(Siyar A’laam min Nubalaa 3/397, Usdul Ghaabah 4/437)
The Different Narrations Describing the Demise of Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu):
There are essentially two narrations which explain the manner in which Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) passed away.
The Prophecy of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) regarding Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) Passing Away Alone
Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas‘ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) narrates:
When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) departed for Tabook, some people began to remain behind in order to abandon the expedition. As this would happen, the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) would inform Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) saying, “O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! So and so has remained behind.” On hearing this, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would say, “Leave him. If there is any good in him then he will soon join us. If there is no good in him then Allah Ta‘ala has relieved you of his presence.” This continued until someone eventually called out to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), “O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) has remained behind on account of his camel not being able to move.”
Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu 'anhu) - Part Eleven
Written by user2Glimpses of the Austerity and Asceticism of Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu):
Sa‘eed bin ‘Ataa’ bin abi Marwaan (rahimahullah) narrates the following from his father:
I once saw Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) performing Salaah while wearing only a lower garment. I therefore said to him, “O Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)! Do you have no clothing besides this sheet?” Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “If I had another sheet, you would see me wearing it.” I replied, “But a few days did pass in which I saw you wearing two sheets.” To this, Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “O my nephew! I gave those two sheets to someone who was more in need of them than me.” On hearing this, I exclaimed, “By Allah! You are definitely in need of those two sheets!” Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) responded saying, “O Allah! You forgive!” He then addressed me and said, “Indeed you attach much importance to the dunya! Do you not see me wearing this sheet while I possess another which I wear to the musjid? I possess goats which I milk, camels on which I carry my provisions and we have slaves who serve us and suffice for us by seeing to the preparation of our food. Which favor of Allah can be greater than the favors which we are enjoying?”
(Ibn Sa’d 4/178)
The Adherence of Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to the Instruction of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam):
When Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) left Shaam and arrived in Madinah Munawwarah, Hazrat Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) said to him, “Why don’t you stay with me? The milk-giving she camels will come to you in the morning and evening.” Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) declined this offer and replied, “I do not have any need for your wealth.” Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) thereafter asked Hazrat Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) for permission to settle in Rabzah to which Hazrat Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) consented. When Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) arrived in Rabzah, the salaah was commencing and the Imaam was an Abyssinian slave belonging to Hazrat Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). On seeing Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), the slave moved back so that Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) could advance forward and lead the jamaat. Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), however, refused and said, “Go forward and lead the salaah as I have been commanded to listen and obey, even if it be before an Abyssinian slave, and you are an Abyssinian slave.”
(Ibn Sa’d 4/171, Siyar A’laam min Nubalaa 3/389)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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.
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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 Abu Zar Ghifaari (radhiyallahu 'anhu) - Part Three
Written by user2The Second Narration:
The second narration regarding Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) embracing Islam is that which is narrated by Hazrat ‘Abdullah bin As-Saamit (rahimahullah). He reports that Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) said:
We departed from our tribe, the Ghifaar, who were a people who would revere and honor the sacred months. Our group consisted of my brother, Unais, my mother and I. After leaving our people, we came to my mother’s brother and began to stay with him. This uncle of ours honored us and treated us kindly. However, his tribe was jealous of us and thus said to him one day, “When you leave your family at home, Unais goes to them” (insinuating that Unais was interfering with his family). Our uncle came to us and told us what his tribe had said about us to which I replied, “You have spoilt all the good which you have shown us to date (by believing and entertaining this lie). There is nothing that will reunite us after this.” Saying this, we fetched our camels and began to load them in preparation to leave. Our uncle was watching us with his cloak wrapped around him and soon began to cry. We departed and travelled until we eventually encamped at a place near Makkah Mukarramah.
Hazrat Abu Zar Ghifaari (radhiyallahu 'anhu) - Part Two
Written by user2Accepting Islam: There are different narrations recorded regarding Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) accepting Islam.
The First Narration: The first narration is reported by Hazrat ibn ‘Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma). He says:
When the news reached Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had claimed Nubuwwah, he said to his brother, “Travel to the valley of Makkah Mukarramah and enquire regarding the person who claims that he is a Nabi who receives revelation from the sky. Listen to his message and thereafter return to me.”
Hazrat Abu Zar Ghifaari (radhiyallahu 'anhu) - Part One
Written by user2Name: Jundub bin Junaadah (Isaabah 7/105, Usdul Ghaabah 1/343)
Appellation: Abu Zar
Mother’s Name: Ramlah bint Al-Waqee‘ah (Usdul Ghaabah 4/436, Istee‘aab 1/321)
Physical Description: He was a tall, thin Sahaabi who was wheat colored in complexion and had a thick beard. (Isaabah 7/107, Siyar A‘laam min Nubalaa 3/379)