“O Abu Zar, you became angry for the sake of Almighty. So repose hope in
the One, for whom you became angry. Those people dread for their life from you
and you feared from them for your religion. Thus, you leave free in their hands
that for which they feared you or that for which you feared them. Leave it! As
how needy they are for that which you prevented them from and how needless
you are from that which they prevented you from. And it shall be known
tomorrow who has won and who shall be more vied? If the heavens and the earth
are closed for a servant and he had been pious, Almighty Allah makes a way out
for him. Nothing can give you consolation except truth. Truth will be your
companion in loneliness and you can get alarmed only by falsehood. Because if
you had accepted their world, they would have loved you, and if you had tore
with your teeth a thing from them they would have given security to you…”1
In his Sharh Nahjul Balagha,2 Ibne Abil Hadid has mentioned the details of
the incident of Abu Zar and regarded it well known and clear; and remarked: The
incident of Abu Zar and his expulsion to Rabdha was one of the points for which
Uthman was condemned.
Come with me, so that we may see through the glasses of research
You know Abu Zar Ghiffari’s rank in faith and his steadfastness on the path
of God and his position of excellence and his situation regarding knowledge, his
position from truth and rightfulness and his relation with piety and his lofty rank
of religiosity. And his enmity and hatred on the path of God and his lofty status
near the Last Prophet. If you don’t know, you should read the following
statements:
Abu Zar’s piety
Abu Zar’s piety before declaration of prophethood, his precedence in Islam and his steadfastness in religion:
1. In Tabaqat,3 Ibne Saad has narrated through Abdullah bin Samit that Abu
Zar said: “I prayed for three years before embracing Islam and before meeting
Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.).” I asked: “To whom did you pray?” He replied:
“To Allah.” I asked: “In which direction?” He replied: “In any direction God
turned my attention to.”
2. In Tabaqat,4 Ibne Saad has narrated that Abu Zar said: “I was the fifth person to embrace Islam.” And in the report of Ibne Saad from Ibne Waza, it is
mentioned that Abu Zar was the fourth or fifth person to embrace Islam.5
In Hilya,6 Abu Nuaim has narrated through Ibne Abbas from Abu Zar that: I
remained in Mecca with the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) and he taught Islam to
me and I recited a part of Quran. So, I asked: “O Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.), I
want to make my religion apparent.”
The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) replied: “I fear that you would be killed.”
I said: “There is no option; I would be killed anyway.” He did not say anything.
So I came out while Quraish were seated in a circle in the Masjid talking among
themselves. I said: “I testify that there is no god, except Allah and that
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”
That circle broke up. They rose and started beating me. When they left me I
was transformed into a red idol. I thought that they had killed me. Then I
regained consciousness and came to the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.).
When he saw me, he said: “Did I not forbid you?” I said: “O Messenger of
Allah (s.a.w.a.), I had a feeling, which I wanted to express.” Then I rose up with
Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) and he said: “Go and join your community and
when you receive the news of my advent, come to me.”
Tradition of Abu Zar’s knowledge
1. In Tabaqatul Kubra,7 Ibne Saad has narrated through channels of Zazan
that: Ali was asked regarding Abu Zar. He said: He had placed a knowledge in
himself [to bear which he was helpless] and he was miserly [in his religion] and
greedy [regarding knowledge]. And he asked excessive questions, some of which
were replied and some were denied. Indeed, knowledge was poured in his vessel
till it became full.
2. Mahamili has mentioned in his Amali; and Tibrani has narrated through
Abu Zar that he said:8 “The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) did not leave anything
from what Jibraeel and Mikaeel had revealed to his heart, but that he transferred
it to my breast.”
Tradition of his truthfulness and piety
1. Ibne Saad and Tirmidhi have narrated through channels of Abdullah bin
Amr Aas that: Abdullah bin Amr and Abu Darda have mentioned in a chainless
tradition that: “The sky has not shaded anyone, and the earth has not carried
anyone more truthful than Abu Zar.”
This traditional report, with difference of wordings, is narrated by Ibne Saad,
Tirmidhi, Ibne Majah, Ahmad, Ibne Abi Shaibah,9 Ibne Jarir,10 Abu Umar, Abu
Nuaim, Baghawi, Hakim, Ibne Asakir,11 Tibrani,12 and Ibne Jauzi.13
2. Tirmidhi has mentioned this chainless tradition in his Sahih:14 Abu Zar
treads the earth on the piety of Isa Ibne Maryam (a.s.).
Tradition of Abu Zar’s excellence
1. It is narrated from Buraidah from Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) that he
said: “Indeed, Almighty Allah commanded me to love four persons; and
informed me that He loves them: Ali, Abu Zar, Miqdad and Salman.”15
2. Ibne Hisham in his Seerah,16 has narrated a chainless tradition that: “May
Allah have mercy on Abu Zar. He lives alone, he would die alone and would be
raised alone.”17
10. Bazzaz has narrated from Anas bin Malik in a chainless tradition that:
“Paradise is eager for three individuals: Ali, Ammar and Abu Zar.”
Haithami has mentioned this report in Majmauz Zawaid and remarked: “Its
chains of narrators is good.”18
Prophet’s bequest to Abu Zar
1. Hakim in Mustadrak,19 through a channel, which he regards as valid, has
narrated from Abu Zar that: The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) said: O Abu Zar,
how would you be when you live among degraded people? And he pointed to
them. I replied: O Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.), what do you order me? He
replied: “Be patient, be patient, be patient; conduct with them according to good
manners and confront their behavior.”
2. Abu Nuaim has mentioned in Hilya20 through channels of Salma bin
Akwa from Abu Zar that: “When I was standing with Messenger of Allah
(s.a.w.a.), he said: “O Abu Zar, you are a righteous man and very soon, after me calamities would befall you.” I asked: “In the path of God?” He replied: “In the
path of God.” I said: “Welcome to the command of God.”
3. In Tabaqat,21 Ibne Saad has narrated through Abu Zar that he said: The
Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) asked: “O Abu Zar, what would you do when rulers
rule over you, who appropriate booty for themselves?” I said: “In such case, I
swear by one, who sent you with truth, I would fight with the sword till I meet
Allah.” He said: “Should I not guide you, for something, which is better than this
for you? Be patient till you meet me.”