Abu Dharr al-Ghifari: Difference between revisions

  | Known for = One of the prominent[[:template:Companions of Imam 'Ali (a)|Companions]] of [[Imam 'Ali (a)]]

  | 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 Hajar al-'Asqalani]] has stated: Abu Dhar was a tall, thin man with tanned skin<ref>Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī, ''Taqrīb al-tahdhīb'',vol. 7, p. 107.</ref>. Ibn Sa'd described him as a tall man with white hair and beard<ref>Ibn Saʿd, ''al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā'', vol. 4, p. 23.</ref>. [[Al-Dhahabi]] also described him as a bulky man with full beard.<ref>Dhahabī, ''Siyar aʿlām al-nubalāʾ'', vol. 2, p. 47.</ref>

His name was Abu Dhar because of his child's name, Dhar. However his real name is not certain and it is mentioned differently in history books: Badr b. Jundab, Burayr b. 'Abd Allah, Burayr b. Junada, Burayr b. Ishraqa, Jundab b. 'Abd Allah, Jundab b. Sakan and Yazid b. Junada<ref>Dhahabī, ''Siyar aʿlām al-nubalāʾ'', vol. 2, p. 47; Ibn Athīr, ''Usd al-ghāba'', vol. 5, p. 186; Mizzī, ''Tahdhīb al-kamāl'', vol. 33, p. 294.</ref>. It seems Jundub b. Yazid is his real and famous name<ref>Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, ''al-Istīʿāb'', vol. 4, p. 1652.</ref>.

</ref> According to some narrations, he was a [[monotheism|monotheist]] before the emergence of Islam, he worshiped [[God]] three years before [[Bi'tha]]<ref>Shūshtarī, ''Qāmūs al-rijāl'', vol. 11, p. 322.</ref>. Ibn Habib al-Baghdadi maintains that Abu Dhar considered drinking alcohol and [[gambling]] (azlam) unlawful in [[Jahiliyya era]]<ref>Baghdādī, ''al-Muḥabbar'', p. 237.</ref>. After the emergence of Islam, he was among the first people who came to [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] and converted to [[Islam]]. According to a narration, Abu Dhar said: "I was the fourth one who went to the Prophet (s) 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 (s) is His messenger; it made him delighted<ref>Ibn Ḥibbān, ''al-Ṣaḥīḥ'', vol. 16, p. 83.</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>.

  |quote = "Allah ordered me to love four men, He also informed me that He loves them: [['Ali (a)]], [[Miqdad]], Abu Dhar, and [[Salman]]"

[[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>.

[[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]] said about Abu Dhar's worship, the main part of his worship was thinking. He cried in the fear of Allah so much that he hurt his eyes<ref>Ṣadūq, ''al-Khiṣāl'', p. 40, 42.</ref>. Abu Dhar also said: I like three things that people hate: death, poverty and affliction. Imam al-Sadiq (a) explained, Abu Dhar meant death by the 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<ref>Kulaynī, ''al-Kāfī'', vol. 8, p. 22.</ref>.

In [[Shi'a]] sources Abu Dhar is considered as one of the four pillars of Islam, alongside Salman al-Farsi, Miqdad and Ammar b. Yasir<ref>Mufīd, ''al-Ikhtiṣāṣ'', p. 6-7; Ṭūsī, ''al-Rijāl'', p. 598.</ref>. [[Al-Shaykh al-Mufid]] has narrated a hadith from [[Imam al-Kazim (a)]]: On the [[Day of Judgment]], a caller will call: Where are the disciples of Prophet Muhammad (s) those who did not break their promise; and then Salman, Abu Dhar and Miqdad would stand up<ref>Mufīd, ''al-Ikhtiṣāṣ'', p. 61.</ref>.

[[Aqa Buzurg Tihrani]], mentioned two books about characteristics and life of Abu Dhar: ''Akhbar Abi Dhar'' by [[Abu Mansur Zafar b. Hamdun Badra'i]]<ref>Āghā Buzurg al-Tihrānī, ''al-Dharīʿa'', vol. 1, p. 316.</ref> and ''Akhbar Abi Dhar al-Ghifari wa fada'iluh'' by [[Al-Shaykh al-Saduq]]<ref>Āghā Buzurg al-Tihrānī, ''al-Dharīʿa'', vol. 1, p. 317.</ref>.

  |quote = "O Abu Dharr! You showed anger in the name of Allah, therefore, have hope in Him for Whom you became angry. The people were afraid of you in the matter of their (pleasure of this) world while you feared them for your faith. Then leave to them that for which they are afraid of you and get away from them taking away what you fear them about. How needy are they for what you dissuade them from and how heedless are you towards what they are denying you. You will shortly know who is the gainer tomorrow (on the Day of Judgement) and who is more enviable. Even if these skies and earth were closed to some individual and he feared Allah, then Allah would open them for him. Only rightfulness should attract you while wrongfulness should detract you. If you had accepted their worldly attractions they would have loved you and if you had shared in it they would have given you asylum."

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>.

At the beginning of [[Abu Bakr]]'s Caliphate, Abu Dhar refused to pay [[allegiance]] to him, in order to support Ali b. Abi Talib (a).<ref>Yaʿqūbī, ''Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī'', 1378 Sh, vol. 1, p. 524.</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>.

It is said, when his wife "Umm Dhar" was crying she said to Abu Dhar: "You die in the desert and I have nothing to enshroud your body. He replied: Do not cry and be happy, for [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] said one of you will die in desert and he will be buried by a group of Muslims. The others have passed away in cities and I am the only one left, and I die in desert; Prophet Muhammad (s) was talking about me<ref>Amīn,''Aʿyān al-Shīʿa'', vol. 4, p. 241.</ref>.

When he died [[Abd Allah b. Mas'ud]] and a number of [[Ansar]], [[Hujr b. Adi]], [[Malik al-Ashtar]] and several young Muslims, were passing the desert and coincidentally they noticed Abu Dhar. Therefore, they enshrouded his body and buried him and Abd Allah b. Mas'ud performed [[Funeral Prayer|Funeral prayer]] on his body<ref>Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, ''al-Istīʿāb'', vol. 1, p. 253; Ibn Ḥibbān, ''al-Thiqāt'', vol. 3, p. 55. </ref>.