CHAPTER 14: THE STORY OF HOW ABU DHARR EMBRACED ISLAM
THE STORY OF HOW ABU DHARR EMBRACED ISLAM
Al-Bukhari narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said, “When news of the sending of the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) was conveyed to Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with him, he said to his brother, “Ride to this valley and bring me the news of this man (i.e., the Prophet Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) who claims to be a Prophet receiving information from the heavens. Listen to him and then come to me.” His brother set out till he met the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) and listened to his speech and returned to Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with him, and said to him, “I have seen him exhorting people to virtues and his speech was not like poetry.” Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “You have not satisfied me as to what I wanted.”
So he packed some provisions for the journey and filled a water skin full of water, then he set out till he reached Makkah, where he went to the Mosque looking for the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), whom he did not know and about whom he was unwilling to ask anyone. After a portion of the night had passed, ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, saw him and realized that he was a stranger. Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with him, followed him (to his house), but neither of them asked the other about anything till it was morning, when he carried his water skin and food and went to the Mosque. He spent that day without being observed by the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) till it was night, when he returned to his sleeping place.
‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, again passed by him and said, “Has not the man (i.e Abu Dharr) recognized his dwelling place yet?” So, ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, let him get up and took him (to his house), but neither of them asked the other about anything, till it was the third day when ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, had the same experience with him and Abu Dharr again stayed with him. ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, then asked, “Will you not you tell me what has brought you here?” He replied, “If you give me a promise and a covenant that you will guide me, then I will tell you.” When ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, had done so, Abu Dharr informed him (of his purpose). ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “It is the Truth, and he (i.e. Muhammad) is the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him). So when the morning comes, follow me, and if I should perceive any danger threatening you, I will give you a hint by pretending to go to the water closet. But if I carry on walking, follow me till you enter the place that I will enter.” Abu Dharr agreed and followed ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, till he entered the place of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) and Abu Dharr entered with him. He then listened to the speech of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) and embraced Islam on the spot. The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said to him: “Go back to your people and inform them (of this religion) till you receive my (further) orders.” Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, I will proclaim my conversion to Islam publicly amongst them (i.e., the disbelievers).”
He went out till he reached the Mosque and announced as loudly as possible, “I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” The people then got up and beat him till they knocked him down. Al-‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, came and threw himself over him (to protect him), saying, “Woe to you! Don’t you know that he is from Ghifar and there is the route (road) to your merchants toward Ash-Sham (i.e., through the place where this tribe dwells)?” Thus he saved him from them. Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with him, did the same on the next day and the people beat him again and Al-‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, threw himself over him (to save him as before).” This is the wording of Al-Bukhari, but the story of how he embraced Islam has also been described at length in Saheeh Muslim and in other sources.
By Ibn Katheer
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