Abu Dharr al-Ghifari: Difference between revisions

[[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>.

Also [[Imam Ali (a)]] said, ordinary people are unable to achieve the knowledge of Abu Dhar<ref>Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, ''al-Istīʿāb'', vol. 1, p. 255.</ref>. Imam Ali (a) also considers him among those people that [[Paradise]] awaits them.<ref>Ṣadūq, ''al-Khiṣāl'', p. 303.</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>.

[[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]] said about Abu Dhar's worship, the main part of his worship was thinking. He cried in 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 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 one of Islam's four pillars, 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 the 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>.

[[Sayyid Ali Khan al-Madani]] wrote on Abu Dhar: "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<ref>Madanī, ''al-Darajāt al-rafīʿa'', p. 226.</ref>."

  |title = Imam Ali (a) addressed Abu Dharr when he was exiled towards al-Rabatha:

  |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 deny 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."