1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:15,220 --> 00:00:18,219 Mawaddah Association is pleased 3 00:00:18,219 --> 00:00:22,219 to present to you snapshots from the lives of the Companions, 4 00:00:22,219 --> 00:00:25,219 authored by 'Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 5 00:00:25,219 --> 00:00:27,260 may Allah have mercy on him. 6 00:00:27,260 --> 00:00:33,820 Abu Dharr al-Ghifari, may Allah be pleased with him. 7 00:00:46,890 --> 00:00:50,890 In the valley of Waddan, which connects Mecca to the outside world, 8 00:00:50,890 --> 00:00:53,890 dwelt the tribe of Ghifar. 9 00:00:53,890 --> 00:00:57,890 Ghifar made its living from the modest sustenance 10 00:00:57,890 --> 00:01:01,890 provided by the caravans carrying the trade of Quraysh, 11 00:01:01,890 --> 00:01:05,890 bound for the Levant or returning from it. 12 00:01:05,890 --> 00:01:09,890 At times, they lived by highway robbery against these caravans 13 00:01:09,890 --> 00:01:12,890 if the traders failed to offer them a satisfying tribute. 14 00:01:12,890 --> 00:01:16,890 Jundub ibn Junadah, known by his kunya Abu Dharr, 15 00:01:16,890 --> 00:01:19,890 was a son of this tribe. 16 00:01:19,890 --> 00:01:22,890 However, he was distinguished among them by his courageous heart, 17 00:01:22,890 --> 00:01:25,890 sound intellect, far-sighted wisdom, 18 00:01:25,890 --> 00:01:29,890 and his intense aversion to the idols 19 00:01:29,890 --> 00:01:32,890 that his people worshipped besides Allah. 20 00:01:32,890 --> 00:01:36,890 He denounced the corruption of religion among the Arabs 21 00:01:36,890 --> 00:01:38,890 and the triviality of their beliefs, 22 00:01:38,890 --> 00:01:41,890 longing for the emergence of a new prophet 23 00:01:41,890 --> 00:01:44,890 who would capture the minds and hearts of the people. 24 00:01:44,890 --> 00:01:47,890 “Whereby Allah guideth him who seeketh His good pleasure unto paths of peace. He bringeth them out of darkness unto light by His decree, and guideth them unto a straight path.” (5:16) 25 00:01:47,890 --> 00:01:50,980 Then, news reached Abu Dharr 26 00:01:50,980 --> 00:01:53,980 while he was in his desert abode regarding the new Prophet 27 00:01:53,980 --> 00:01:55,980 who had appeared in Mecca. 28 00:01:55,980 --> 00:01:57,980 He said to his brother Unays: 29 00:01:57,980 --> 00:01:58,980 "O Unays, 30 00:01:58,980 --> 00:02:00,980 travel to Mecca—may you be blessed— 31 00:02:00,980 --> 00:02:05,980 and learn about this man who claims to be a prophet 32 00:02:05,980 --> 00:02:08,979 and that revelation comes to him from the heavens. 33 00:02:08,979 --> 00:02:11,979 Listen to some of his speech and bring it back to me." 34 00:02:11,979 --> 00:02:13,979 Unays went to Mecca, 35 00:02:13,979 --> 00:02:17,979 met the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 36 00:02:17,979 --> 00:02:18,979 listened to him, 37 00:02:18,979 --> 00:02:20,979 and then returned to the desert. 38 00:02:20,979 --> 00:02:23,979 Abu Dharr met him eagerly, 39 00:02:23,979 --> 00:02:27,979 asking him fervently about the news of the new Prophet. 40 00:02:27,979 --> 00:02:33,979 Unays said: "By Allah, I saw a man calling to noble morals 41 00:02:33,979 --> 00:02:36,979 and speaking words that are certainly not poetry." 42 00:02:36,979 --> 00:02:39,979 Abu Dharr asked him: "And what do the people say about him?" 43 00:02:39,979 --> 00:02:45,979 He replied: "They say he is a sorcerer, a soothsayer, and a poet." 44 00:02:45,979 --> 00:02:49,979 Abu Dharr said: "By Allah, you have not quenched my thirst, 45 00:02:49,979 --> 00:02:51,979 nor fulfilled my need. 46 00:02:51,979 --> 00:02:55,979 Will you take care of my family so I may go and investigate his matter myself?" 47 00:02:55,979 --> 00:02:57,979 Unays said: "Yes, 48 00:02:57,979 --> 00:03:00,979 but be cautious of the people of Mecca." 49 00:03:00,979 --> 00:03:03,979 Abu Dharr prepared his provisions, 50 00:03:03,979 --> 00:03:06,979 carried a small waterskin, 51 00:03:06,979 --> 00:03:10,979 and set out the next morning for Mecca, seeking to meet the Prophet 52 00:03:10,979 --> 00:03:13,979 and learn about his news firsthand. 53 00:03:13,979 --> 00:03:16,050 Abu Dharr reached Mecca 54 00:03:16,050 --> 00:03:19,050 filled with apprehension regarding its people, 55 00:03:20,050 --> 00:03:24,050 for news had reached him of Quraysh's rage in defense of their idols 56 00:03:24,050 --> 00:03:27,050 and their brutal persecution of anyone who contemplated 57 00:03:27,050 --> 00:03:29,050 following Muhammad. 58 00:03:29,050 --> 00:03:33,050 Therefore, he disliked asking anyone about Muhammad, 59 00:03:33,050 --> 00:03:35,050 because he did not know 60 00:03:35,050 --> 00:03:39,050 whether the person he asked was a supporter or an enemy. 61 00:03:39,050 --> 00:03:41,050 When night fell, 62 00:03:41,050 --> 00:03:43,050 he lay down in the Sacred Mosque. 63 00:03:43,050 --> 00:03:46,050 'Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, passed by him 64 00:03:46,050 --> 00:03:48,050 and recognized that he was a stranger. 65 00:03:48,050 --> 00:03:51,050 He said: "Come with us, O man." 66 00:03:51,050 --> 00:03:55,050 So he went with him and spent his night at his home. 67 00:03:55,050 --> 00:04:00,050 In the morning, he took his waterskin and provisions and returned to the mosque, 68 00:04:00,050 --> 00:04:04,050 without either of them asking the other about anything. 69 00:04:04,050 --> 00:04:09,050 Abu Dharr spent his second day without coming to know the Prophet. 70 00:04:09,050 --> 00:04:13,050 When evening came, he took his place to sleep in the mosque again. 71 00:04:13,050 --> 00:04:16,050 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, passed by him 72 00:04:16,050 --> 00:04:20,050 and said: "Has the time not come for a man to know his lodging?" 73 00:04:20,050 --> 00:04:24,050 So he took him along and he spent his second night at his house, 74 00:04:24,050 --> 00:04:28,050 yet neither of them asked the other about anything. 75 00:04:28,050 --> 00:04:31,050 On the third night, 76 00:04:31,050 --> 00:04:33,050 'Ali said to his guest: 77 00:04:33,050 --> 00:04:37,050 "Will you not tell me what brought you to Mecca?" 78 00:04:37,050 --> 00:04:40,050 Abu Dharr replied: "If you give me a solemn promise 79 00:04:40,050 --> 00:04:43,050 to guide me to what I seek, I will do so." 80 00:04:43,050 --> 00:04:46,050 So 'Ali gave him the promise he desired, 81 00:04:46,050 --> 00:04:51,050 and Abu Dharr said: "I traveled to Mecca from afar 82 00:04:51,050 --> 00:04:54,050 seeking to meet the new Prophet 83 00:04:54,050 --> 00:04:57,050 and hear something of what he says." 84 00:04:57,050 --> 00:05:00,050 A smile beamed on the face of 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, 85 00:05:00,050 --> 00:05:04,050 and he said: "By Allah, he is truly the Messenger of Allah! 86 00:05:04,050 --> 00:05:07,050 He is indeed the Prophet! 87 00:05:07,050 --> 00:05:10,079 When morning comes, follow me wherever I go. 88 00:05:10,079 --> 00:05:13,079 If I see anything I fear for you, 89 00:05:13,079 --> 00:05:16,079 I will stop as if pretending to pour water. 90 00:05:16,079 --> 00:05:20,079 But if I keep walking, follow me until you enter where I enter." 91 00:05:20,079 --> 00:05:24,079 Abu Dharr could not sleep at all that night 92 00:05:24,079 --> 00:05:26,079 out of longing to see the Prophet 93 00:05:26,079 --> 00:05:31,079 and eagerness to hear some of what was revealed to him. 94 00:05:31,079 --> 00:05:36,079 In the morning, 'Ali walked with his guest to the house of the Noble Messenger, 95 00:05:36,079 --> 00:05:39,079 and Abu Dharr followed closely behind him, 96 00:05:39,079 --> 00:05:43,079 paying attention to nothing else until he entered upon the Prophet. 97 00:05:43,079 --> 00:05:48,079 Abu Dharr said: "Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah." 98 00:05:48,079 --> 00:05:54,079 The Messenger replied: "And upon you be the peace of Allah, His mercy, and His blessings." 99 00:05:54,079 --> 00:05:59,079 Thus, Abu Dharr was the first to greet the Messenger with the greeting of Islam, 100 00:05:59,079 --> 00:06:02,079 which subsequently spread and became the universal greeting. 101 00:06:02,079 --> 00:06:06,079 The Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, turned to Abu Dharr, 102 00:06:06,079 --> 00:06:11,079 calling him to Islam and reciting the Qur'an to him. 103 00:06:11,079 --> 00:06:14,079 It was not long before Abu Dharr declared the word of truth 104 00:06:14,079 --> 00:06:18,079 and embraced the new religion before leaving his spot. 105 00:06:18,079 --> 00:06:23,079 He was the fourth or fifth person to embrace Islam. 106 00:06:23,079 --> 00:06:25,079 Let us leave the account to Abu Dharr 107 00:06:25,079 --> 00:06:28,079 to relate to us himself the rest of his story. 108 00:06:28,079 --> 00:06:33,079 He said: "I stayed after that with the Messenger of Allah in Mecca, 109 00:06:33,079 --> 00:06:38,079 and he taught me Islam and recited some of the Qur'an to me. 110 00:06:38,079 --> 00:06:42,079 Then he said to me: 'Do not tell anyone in Mecca of your Islam, 111 00:06:42,079 --> 00:06:45,079 for I fear they might kill you.' 112 00:06:45,079 --> 00:06:48,079 I said: 'By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, 113 00:06:48,079 --> 00:06:52,079 I will not leave Mecca until I go to the mosque 114 00:06:52,079 --> 00:06:56,079 and proclaim the call of truth aloud amidst Quraysh!' 115 00:06:56,079 --> 00:06:58,079 The Messenger remained silent. 116 00:06:58,079 --> 00:07:02,079 So I went to the mosque while Quraysh were sitting and conversing. 117 00:07:02,079 --> 00:07:06,079 I stepped into their midst and shouted at the top of my voice: 118 00:07:06,079 --> 00:07:08,079 'O people of Quraysh! 119 00:07:08,079 --> 00:07:11,079 I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, 120 00:07:11,079 --> 00:07:14,079 and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah!' 121 00:07:14,079 --> 00:07:18,269 No sooner had my words touched their ears 122 00:07:18,269 --> 00:07:20,269 than they were all alarmed. 123 00:07:20,269 --> 00:07:23,269 They sprang from their seats and said: 124 00:07:23,269 --> 00:07:25,269 'Get this apostate!' 125 00:07:25,269 --> 00:07:29,269 They rushed at me and began beating me to death. 126 00:07:30,269 --> 00:07:33,269 Then al-'Abbas ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib reached me— 127 00:07:33,269 --> 00:07:35,269 the uncle of the Prophet— 128 00:07:35,269 --> 00:07:37,269 and threw himself over me to protect me from them. 129 00:07:37,269 --> 00:07:40,269 He then turned to them and said: 130 00:07:40,269 --> 00:07:43,269 'Woe to you! Would you kill a man from Ghifar, 131 00:07:43,269 --> 00:07:46,269 when your trade caravans must pass through their lands?' 132 00:07:46,269 --> 00:07:48,269 So they desisted and let me go. 133 00:07:48,269 --> 00:07:53,269 When I regained consciousness, I came to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. 134 00:07:53,269 --> 00:07:56,269 When he saw my condition, he said: 135 00:07:56,269 --> 00:07:59,269 'Did I not forbid you from announcing your Islam?' 136 00:07:59,269 --> 00:08:02,269 I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, 137 00:08:02,269 --> 00:08:05,269 it was a yearning in my heart that I felt compelled to fulfill.' 138 00:08:05,269 --> 00:08:06,269 He said: 139 00:08:06,269 --> 00:08:08,269 'Go back to your people 140 00:08:08,269 --> 00:08:11,269 and inform them of what you have seen and heard, 141 00:08:11,269 --> 00:08:13,269 and call them to Allah. 142 00:08:13,269 --> 00:08:17,269 Perhaps Allah will benefit them through you and reward you for them. 143 00:08:17,269 --> 00:08:19,269 And when news reaches you that I have prevailed, 144 00:08:19,269 --> 00:08:21,300 then come to me.'" 145 00:08:21,300 --> 00:08:23,300 Abu Dharr said: 146 00:08:23,300 --> 00:08:26,300 "I set out until I reached the dwellings of my people, 147 00:08:26,300 --> 00:08:28,300 and my brother Unays met me. 148 00:08:28,300 --> 00:08:29,300 He asked: 149 00:08:29,300 --> 00:08:30,300 'What have you done?' 150 00:08:30,300 --> 00:08:31,300 I said: 151 00:08:31,300 --> 00:08:34,299 'I have embraced Islam and believed.' 152 00:08:34,299 --> 00:08:37,299 It was not long before Allah opened his heart, and he said: 153 00:08:37,299 --> 00:08:40,299 'I have no dislike for your religion; 154 00:08:40,299 --> 00:08:43,299 I too have embraced Islam and believed.' 155 00:08:43,299 --> 00:08:47,299 Then we went to our mother and called her to Islam, 156 00:08:47,299 --> 00:08:48,299 and she said: 157 00:08:48,299 --> 00:08:50,299 'I have no dislike for your religion,' 158 00:08:50,299 --> 00:08:52,299 and she embraced Islam as well. 159 00:08:52,299 --> 00:08:54,299 From that day onward, 160 00:08:54,299 --> 00:08:58,299 the believing family set out calling to Allah among Ghifar, 161 00:08:58,299 --> 00:09:01,299 never tiring nor wearying, 162 00:09:01,299 --> 00:09:04,299 until a vast number of Ghifar embraced Islam, 163 00:09:04,299 --> 00:09:07,299 and the prayer was established among them. 164 00:09:07,299 --> 00:09:09,299 A group among them said: 165 00:09:09,299 --> 00:09:11,299 'We will remain as we are 166 00:09:11,299 --> 00:09:14,299 until the Messenger comes to Medina, then we will embrace Islam.' 167 00:09:14,299 --> 00:09:17,299 So when the Messenger arrived in Medina, they embraced Islam. 168 00:09:17,299 --> 00:09:20,299 Upon this, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him said: 169 00:09:20,299 --> 00:09:23,299 'Ghifar—may Allah forgive them! 170 00:09:23,299 --> 00:09:25,299 And Aslam—may Allah grant them peace!' 171 00:09:25,299 --> 00:09:28,370 Abu Dharr remained in his desert home 172 00:09:28,370 --> 00:09:31,370 through the events of Badr, Uhud, and the Trench. 173 00:09:31,370 --> 00:09:33,370 Then he came to Medina 174 00:09:33,370 --> 00:09:37,370 and devoted himself exclusively to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. 175 00:09:37,370 --> 00:09:41,370 He asked his permission to serve him, 176 00:09:41,370 --> 00:09:42,370 and the Prophet granted him permission. 177 00:09:42,370 --> 00:09:45,370 He delighted in his companionship and found joy in serving him. 178 00:09:45,370 --> 00:09:49,370 The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, continued 179 00:09:49,370 --> 00:09:51,370 to favor him and honor him; 180 00:09:51,370 --> 00:09:54,370 he never met him without shaking his hand, 181 00:09:54,370 --> 00:09:57,370 greeting him with a warm and cheerful smile. 182 00:09:57,370 --> 00:10:01,370 When the Noble Messenger passed away to the highest companionship, 183 00:10:01,370 --> 00:10:04,370 Abu Dharr could no longer bear to remain 184 00:10:04,370 --> 00:10:06,370 in Medina 185 00:10:06,370 --> 00:10:08,370 after it had been vacated of its master 186 00:10:08,370 --> 00:10:11,370 and deprived of the light of his gatherings. 187 00:10:11,370 --> 00:10:13,370 So he departed for the desert of the Levant 188 00:10:13,370 --> 00:10:17,370 and resided there throughout the caliphates of al-Siddiq and al-Faruq, 189 00:10:17,370 --> 00:10:20,370 may Allah be pleased with them both and with him. 190 00:10:20,370 --> 00:10:22,370 During the caliphate of 'Uthman, 191 00:10:22,370 --> 00:10:23,370 he settled in Damascus, 192 00:10:23,370 --> 00:10:26,370 where he saw people turning to worldly pursuits 193 00:10:26,370 --> 00:10:28,370 and indulging in luxury, 194 00:10:28,370 --> 00:10:31,370 which astounded him and drove him to condemn it. 195 00:10:31,370 --> 00:10:35,370 'Uthman ibn 'Affan summoned him to Medina, 196 00:10:35,370 --> 00:10:36,370 so he came to the city. 197 00:10:36,370 --> 00:10:40,370 However, he soon grew weary of the people's pursuit of worldly pleasures, 198 00:10:40,370 --> 00:10:43,370 and the people grew weary of his strictness with them 199 00:10:43,370 --> 00:10:45,370 and his stern rebukes. 200 00:10:45,370 --> 00:10:48,370 So 'Uthman ordered him to move to al-Rabdhah, 201 00:10:48,370 --> 00:10:51,370 which was a small village among the villages of Medina, 202 00:10:51,370 --> 00:10:53,370 so he departed for it 203 00:10:53,370 --> 00:10:56,370 and resided there far away from people, 204 00:10:56,370 --> 00:10:59,370 abstaining from the ephemeral vanities of the world in their hands, 205 00:10:59,370 --> 00:11:03,370 firmly adhering to the path of the Messenger and his two companions 206 00:11:03,370 --> 00:11:06,370 in preferring the everlasting Abode over the fleeting world. 207 00:11:06,370 --> 00:11:09,370 A man once entered upon him 208 00:11:09,370 --> 00:11:12,370 and began looking around his house, 209 00:11:12,370 --> 00:11:14,370 but he found no furnishings or provisions in it, 210 00:11:15,370 --> 00:11:16,370 so he said, 211 00:11:16,370 --> 00:11:17,370 "O Abu Dharr, 212 00:11:17,370 --> 00:11:19,370 where are your household belongings?" 213 00:11:19,370 --> 00:11:20,370 He replied, 214 00:11:20,370 --> 00:11:22,370 "We have a house over there," 215 00:11:22,370 --> 00:11:24,370 meaning the Hereafter, 216 00:11:24,370 --> 00:11:27,370 "to which we send the best of our goods." 217 00:11:27,370 --> 00:11:30,370 The man understood his meaning and said to him, 218 00:11:30,370 --> 00:11:34,370 "But you must have some provisions as long as you are in this abode," 219 00:11:34,370 --> 00:11:36,370 meaning this worldly life. 220 00:11:36,370 --> 00:11:37,370 So he answered, 221 00:11:37,370 --> 00:11:41,429 "Indeed, the owner of the house will not leave us in it." 222 00:11:41,429 --> 00:11:45,429 And the governor of Sham sent him three hundred dinars, 223 00:11:45,429 --> 00:11:46,429 saying to him, 224 00:11:46,429 --> 00:11:49,429 "Use this to fulfill your needs." 225 00:11:49,429 --> 00:11:52,429 But he returned it to him and said, 226 00:11:52,429 --> 00:11:57,429 "Could the governor of Sham find no servant of Allah more insignificant in his eyes than me?" 227 00:11:57,429 --> 00:12:00,429 In the thirty-second year after the Hijrah, 228 00:12:00,429 --> 00:12:04,429 the hand of death claimed this devout, ascetic worshiper, 229 00:12:04,429 --> 00:12:08,429 regarding whom the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, said, 230 00:12:08,429 --> 00:12:10,429 "Earth has not borne, 231 00:12:10,429 --> 00:12:12,429 nor has the sky sheltered, 232 00:12:12,429 --> 00:12:15,429 anyone more truthful than Abu Dharr." 233 00:12:15,429 --> 00:12:18,840 "Earth has not borne, 234 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:20,840 nor has the sky sheltered, 235 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:24,840 anyone more truthful than Abu Dharr." 236 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:28,059 Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.