Companions of the Prophet (PBUH): Hazrat Abu Dharr Ghifari

Among the companions of the Prophet (PBUH), Abu Dharr Ghifari, named Jundub ibn Junadah was associated with the Ghifar tribe. He is known as a courageous, far-sighted, and loyal companion of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) who sacrificed his life to defend Islam from all kinds of tyranny, injustice, and lawlessness. Islamic history will remain in debt for the relentless services he rendered in the way of Islam.

Companions of the Prophet (PBUH): Hazrat Abu Dharr Ghifari

The tribe of Ghifar originated from the Wadadn valley, which was a route to Makkah from other parts of the world. This tribe belonged to the Arab Pagan tribes hailed from Medina (then Yathrib). The Makkan trading caravans passed nearby the tribe, and those tribal people used to worship idols.

Abu Dharr’s birth took place twenty years before the advent of Islam; his father was Junadah, and his mother, Ramla bint al Waqi’a. As Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani wrote, « Abu Dhar was a tall, thin man with tanned skin. » Ibn Sa’d also portrayed his appearance as a tall, white-haired man with a full beard.

Who was Hazrat Abu Dharr (RA)?

Abu Dharr was among the first few people who embraced Islam, and his sword was the most powerful in supporting the then Islamic movement. Some narrations state that he was always against gambling, alcohol, and other unlawful practices in the era of ignorance. Hazrat Abu Dharr Ghifari took a stand against the idols at that time. His revulsion against them made him denounce the baseless religious beliefs and the corruption prevalent in the Arab culture.

Abdullah bin Amr (R.A.) said that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: 

« There is no one more truthful, that the sky has shaded and the earth has carried, than Abu Dharr. » [Tirmidhi: 3801]

During his time in the Waddan desert, Abu Dharr heard the news of a Prophet rising in Makkah. He wished that his arrival would change people’s mindsets and street them away from ignorance and superstitious activities.

Ibn al-‘Abbas has said: « When Abu Dhar became aware of Prophet Muhammad’s Prophethood in Mecca, he told his brother, Anis, « Inform me about the knowledge of the man who thinks he receives messages from the sky; listen to him and bring me the news. »

Abu Dharr immediately asked his brother, Anis, to visit Makkah and collect news about the man claiming to be a Prophet. He told his brother to gather the Prophet’s sayings and recite them to him. Anees walked thousands of miles and told his brother upon his return:

« I’ve seen a man. The man orders people to do good and avoid doing evil. He invites them to worship Allah. I’ve seen him praying near the Ka’aba. I’ve seen his cousin Ali, a young man praying beside him. And I’ve seen a woman, his wife Khadijah, praying behind them. »

Jundub asked: Then what have you seen? Anees answered: This is what I’ve seen. But I didn’t dare to approach him because I feared the Quraishi leaders.

Since he was among the first to come into the fold of Islam; some narrations tell that Abu Dharr said:

« I was the fourth one who went to the Prophet (PBUH) and told him: peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah! I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad (PBUH) is His messenger; it made him delighted. »

After listening to the Prophet’s stories, Abu Dharr set off for Makkah and met Muhammad (PBUH) in his house, accompanying Hazrat Ali.

Abu Dhar was the first to say to the Prophet: « Salam upon you, O Messenger of Allah. » 

Thus he joined Islam after reciting Kalimah, declaring his belief in the Oneness of Allah, and accepting Muhammad (PBUH) as the last Apostle of Allah.

Virtues of Hazrat Abu Dharr Ghifari (RA)

• Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said to Abu Dharr: « Well done, Abu Dharr, you are a member of Ahl al-Bayt (a). » Elsewhere, he declared that Abu Dharr is the most honest person. In another instance, Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) compared Abu Dharr to Prophet Jesus in holiness and humbleness.
• Hazrat Ali (KAW) said that ordinary people could not attain knowledge of Abu Dharr; he also considered him among those that Heaven awaits.
• The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (PBUH), once said that « the sky did not spread its canopy on any man who was more truthful than Abu Dharr. »
• Imam Jaffer Sadiq (RA) said about Abu Dhar worship that the central part of his worship was thinking. He cried in fear of Allah so much that he hurt his eyes.
• Abu Dharr said: I like three things people hate: death, poverty, and affliction. Imam al-Sadiq (a) explained that Abu Dharr meant death by order of Allah is better than living a sinful life; affliction in obeying Allah is better than health in disobeying Allah, and poverty in obeying Allah is better than committing sins in a prosperous life.

Sayyid Ali Khan al-Madani narrated: « He was a notable scholar and a grand ascetic, who would give away 400 dinars (an old currency in Arab countries) every year and never saved any for himself. »

Abu Nu’aym al-Isfahani said: « Abu Dhar served Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and learned the principles of Islam. He was against riba (usury) even before the emergence of Islam. Walking on the right path, he was never influenced by those who blamed him, and the power of rulers never overwhelmed him. »

Famous Iranian revolutionary intellectual and sociologist Dr. Ali Shariati writes in his book, And Once Again Abu Dharr,

“Whenever I think about the beautiful life of Abu Dharr, and I see his worship of God, I recall Pascal. Pascal says, “The heart has reasoning powers which the intellect does not attain. The heart bears witness to God’s existence, not the intellect; faith comes this way.” Abu Dharr says, ‘In this unbounded existence, I have found signs by which I have been guided to God. There is no hope that the intellect will reach His Essence through discussion and analysis because He is greater than any of that, and there is no possibility of encompassing Him.’

“Abu Dharr, just like Pascal, believed in God, knew God through the heart, and had worshipped God for three years before he met the Prophet. When he spoke of capitalism and the hoarding of wealth and vigorously defended the wretched, and when he was turned against the aristocrats and the palace-dwellers of Damascus and Medina, he resembles an extreme socialist like Proudhon. Still, the truth is that Abu Dharr is one thing, and Pascal and Proudhon are different. Abu Dharr knew God; from that day on, he never stopped upon God’s Way; not for a moment did he weaken in thought or action. Neither does Proudhon have the purity, devotion, and worship of Abu Dharr, nor does Pascal have his activity and enthusiasm. Abu Dharr had become a complete human being in the School of Islam, and this commentary alone is sufficient to demonstrate his greatness.”

In his other book, The Great Companion of the Prophet (PBUH) Abu Dharr (RA), Shariati writes,

“Some of the companions of the Holy Prophet who were staunch believers in Islam and were imbued with his and his Ahlul Bayt’s love rose to fight, tooth and nail, against these evil forces. They were the true followers of Prophet Muhammad and his Ahlul Bayt and took guidance from what they had said and done. There were other companions also who assumed power and authority in the name of Islam. But instead of serving the cause of Islam, they misused Islam’s name and wealth for their personal and family aggrandizement.”

“They squandered away the nation’s wealth as if it was their property. Among the companions, one went so far as to say: « By Allah, until I have exterminated the name of Prophet Muhammad from the face of the earth, I shall have no peace. » It resulted in a new trend, i.e., kingship, which brought about horrors in the years to come. Such a deviation from Islam was intolerable for the true companions who could not refrain from uttering the truth even at the cost of their life. 

“Abu Dharr is a clear example of forbearance, steadfastness, and courage, which he showed when tortures were inflicted on him so much so that he courted death but did not give up uttering truth, as had been predicted by the Holy Prophet. His example was followed by his servant Jaun also on the sands of Karbala when he bravely sacrificed his life on the side of the Holy Prophet’s grandson Husayn.”

Seven (7) powerful advice of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to Hazrat Abu Dharr (RA)

Following pieces of advice given to Hazrat Abu Dharr (RA) by the Messenger of Allah are the best universal gifts to the entire humanity. His (PBUH) teachings to Abu Dharr (RA) are the universal guide for all the Muslims who wish to align their lives according to the Qur’an and Sunnah.

• O, Abu Dharr! There are two blessings seriously taken for granted (misused) by humankind, health and spare time.
• O, Abu Dharr! Take advantage of five things before five things seize you; Your youth before Your old age, your health before your sickness, Your wealth before your poverty, your spare time before your being busy, and your life before your death.
• O, Abu Dharr! Beware of Procrastination, for you are (in) today and not (in) tomorrow. If there is a tomorrow for you, be tomorrow as you are today. If there isn’t a tomorrow for you, you will regret the opportunity you missed today.
• O, Abu Dharr! When you wake up in the morning, don’t talk to yourself about tonight, and when night has come, don’t worry about the morning; for sure, you don’t know what your state will be tomorrow.
• O, Abu Dharr! The pious are the masters. And the learned are the leaders. Keeping their company is an increase (in good). Indeed the believer sees his sin as if it is a boulder; he fears that it will fall on him, and indeed the unbeliever sees his sin as if it is a fly passing on his nose.
• O, Abu Dharr! He whose words conform with his deed, so he is the one who has attained his share—he whose words don’t conform with his deed.
• O, Abu Dharr! Blessedness is for those who are abstemious in the world, those who long for the hereafter; they take the earth of Allah as a carpet and its soil as a pillow and its water as perfume. They read the book of Allah lowly and call Him loudly, and they cut themselves off from worldliness completely.

This brave and patient companion of the Prophet (PBUH) passed away in 32 AH. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, « The earth does not carry, nor the heavens cover a man more true and faithful than Abu Dharr. »