Abu Dharr al-Ghifari: Difference between revisions

  | Other activities = Protesting against [[caliph]]s specially in the [[Event of Saqifa]], protesting against [[prohibition of writing hadiths]], criticizing Uthman for giving the treasury money to others as a gift

'''Jundab b. Junāda b. Sufyān al-Ghifārī''' (Arabic: {{ia|جُندَب بن جُنادة بن سفيان الغِفاري}}) (b. 33 [[BH]]/590 - d. [[32]]/653) known as '''Abū Dhar al-Ghifārī''' ({{iarabic|أبوذر الغفاري}}) was one of the greatest [[sahaba|companions]] of [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] and a companion of [[Imam 'Ali (a)]]; he was also one of those who were known as the [[four pillars of the Shiite]]. He was a true companion of Prophet Muhammad (s) and [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]]. Numerous virtues and excellences have been narrated for him by both [[Sunni]] and [[Shi'a]]. Scholars of [[rijal]] have considered him as one of the four pillars [of the Shiite]. Abu Dhar criticized actions of [['Uthman]], the third Caliph, and as a result, he was exiled to [[Syria]] and then to [[al-Rabadha]] where he passed away.

Abu Dhar was born twenty years before the emergence of [[Islam]], in Banu Ghifar, a famous and noble tribe among the Arabs.<ref>Amīn,''Aʿyān al-Shīʿa'', vol. 4, p. 225.</ref> His father, Junada, was the son of Ghifar and his mother, Ramla bt. al-Waqi'a, was from Banu Ghifar b. Malil.<ref>Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, ''al-Istīʿāb'', vol. 1, p. 252.</ref> Historians disagree about his father’s name; they mentioned Yazid, Jundab, Ishraqa, 'Abd Allah and Sakan.<ref> Ibn Hibbān, ''Mashāhīr ʿulamāʾ al-amṣār'', p. 30; Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī, ''Taqrīb al-tahdhīb'',vol. 2, p. 395.</ref>

As [[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." After visiting Prophet Muhammad (s) Anis returned to his brother. Then Abu Dhar himself went to Mecca to find Muhammad (s). Abu Dhar alongside [[Ali b. Abi Talib (a)]] visited Muhammad (s) in his house.<ref>Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, ''al-Istīʿāb'', vol. 4, p. 1654.</ref> Abu Dhar was the first one who said to Prophet: "[[Salam]] upon you, O Messenger of Allah". Then Abu Dhar converted to Islam after articulating [[Shahadatayn]] (Islamic creed declaring belief in the [[oneness of God]] and acceptance of Muhammad (s) as God's messenger)<ref>Ibn 'Abd al-Barr, ''al-Isti'ab'', vol. 4, p. 1654.</ref>.

[[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] said to Abu Dhar: "Well done Abu Dhar, you are a member of [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]]"<ref>Ṭūsī, ''al-Amālī'', p. 525; Ṭabrisī, ''Makārim al-akhlāq'', p. 256.</ref>. Elsewhere he said to the effect that Abu Dhar is the most honest person among all people<ref>Majlisī, ''Biḥār al-anwār'', vol. 22, p. 404.</ref>. On another occasion, Prophet (s) compared [[piety]] and [[humbleness]] of Abu Dhar to that of Prophet [[Jesus (a)]]<ref>Majlisī, ''Biḥār al-anwār'', vol. 22, p. 420.</ref>.

[[Imam al-Baqir (a)]] said: After Prophet Muhammad (s) had passed away, everybody became [[apostate]] and left 'Ali b. Abi Talib (a) except three people: [[Salman al-Farsi]], Abu Dar and [[Miqdad]]. [['Ammar b. Yasir]] was doubtful at first; however, he returned to Imam Ali (a)<ref>Mufīd, ''al-Ikhtiṣāṣ'', p. 10.</ref>.

As [[Ali b. Isa al-Irbili|al-Irbili]] narrated, Abu Dhar chose [[Ali b. Abi Talib]] as the executor of his will and said: By Allah, Ali b. Abi Talib (a) is my executor. By Allah, although his right was usurped in [[caliphate]], you will find [[peace]] and blessing with him<ref>Irbilī, ''Kashf al-ghumma'', vol. 1, p. 353.</ref>. [[Ibn Abi l-Hadid]] said: Abu Dhar told Ibn Rafi' in al-Rabadha, fear only Allah, soon a conspiracy will happen, you should support Imam 'Ali (a)<ref>Ibn Abī l-Ḥadīd, ''Sharḥ Nahj al-balāgha'', vol. 13, p. 228.</ref>. Abu Dhar also attended the [[funeral]] of [[Lady Fatima (a)]] which took place at midnight<ref>Yaʿqūbī, ''Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī'', vol. 2, p. 115.</ref>.

As Ibn Abi l-Hadid said, Abu Dhar was exiled to [[Syria]] because he criticized [[Uthman]], the [[third caliph]], for giving the treasury money to [[Marwan b. Hakam]], [[Zayd b. Thabit]] and others as a gift. He said: "Abu Dhar was shouting in streets and criticized Uthman. As a result, Uthman exiled him to Syria<ref>Ibn Abī l-Ḥadīd, ''Sharḥ Nahj al-balāgha'', vol. 8, p. 256-258.</ref>."

Abu Dhar passed away in [[Dhu l-Hijja]] [[32]]/653, in [[al-Rabadha]], in the time of Uthman's caliphate<ref>Ṭabarī, ''Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk'', vol. 3, p. 336; vol. 3, p. 354.</ref>. As [[Ibn Kathir]] has said, "no one was with him except his wife and his child when he passed away."<ref>Ibn Kathīr, ''al-Bidāya wa l-nihāya'', vol. 7, p. 185.</ref> Al-Zirikli said, "when he passed away his family did not have anything to enshroud his body".<ref>Ziriklī, ''al-Aʿlām'', vol. 2, p. 140.</ref>. Mihran b. Maymun said: "All the property of Abu Dhar valued only about two dirhams [an old currency in Arab countries less valuable than dinar]"<ref>Amīn,''Aʿyān al-Shīʿa'', vol. 4, p. 229.</ref>.

Al-Harbi, in ''al-Manasik'', said there was a mosque in al-Rabadha under the name of Abu Dhar; and it is said that the grave of Abu Dhar was in that mosque.<ref>Ḥarbī, ''al-Manāsik'', p. 327</ref>