Touching Stories Of The Sahaba (ra) ..

#7:;ABU DHARR AL-GHIFAR: (رضي الله عنه)

Abu Dhar al-Ghifari (ra) is one of the most remarkable personalities in Islam. He is a companion of the messenger of Allah (saw), a man who sought the after life and rejected the ephemeral world, a humble servant of God with no ambition except pleasing his Lord.

Unlike most of the early companions, he was neither from Mecca nor from the tribe of Quraish. Instead he was from the tribe of Ghifar, hence the word "Al-Ghifari" in his name. The Ghifar existed on the meagre offerings of the trade caravans of the Quraysh which plied between Syria and Makkah. It is likely that they also lived by raiding these caravans when they were not given enough to satisfy their needs.

He was known for the repugnance he felt against the idols which his people worshipped. He rejected the silly religious beliefs and the religious corruption in which the Arabs were engaged.

He was one of the earliest converts to Islam and brave enough to announce this to the Quraysh. The Quraysh seized him and would have killed him had they not been reminded of his clan's strategic position on their trade route.

Let us allow a companion of the prophet SAW describes for us the conversion of Abu Dhar to Islam.

Narrated Abu Jamra:

Ibn 'Abbas said to us, "Shall I tell you the story of Abu Dhar's conversion to Islam?" We said, "Yes." He said, "Abu Dhar said:

"I was a man from the tribe of Ghifar. We heard that a man had appeared in Mecca, claiming to be a Prophet. "I said to my brother, 'Go to that man and talk to him and bring me his news." He set out, met him and returned. I asked him, 'What is the news with you?' He said, 'By Allah, I saw a man enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil.' I said to him, 'You have not satisfied me with this little information.'

So, I took a waterskin and a stick and proceeded towards Mecca. Neither did I know him (i.e. the Prophetﷺ ), nor did I like to ask anyone about him. I Kept on drinking Zam zam water and staying in the Mosque. Then 'Ali passed by me and said, 'It seems you are a stranger?' I said, 'Yes.' He proceeded to his house and I accompanied him. Neither did he ask me anything, nor did I tell him anything. Next morning I went to the Mosque to ask about the Prophet (ﷺ) but no-one told me anything about him. 'Ali passed by me again and asked, 'Hasn't the man recognized his dwelling place yet' I said, 'No.' He said, 'Come along with me.' He asked me, 'What is your business? What has brought you to this town?'

I said to him, 'If you keep my secret, I will tell you.' He said, 'I will do,' I said to him, 'We have heard that a person has appeared here, claiming to be a Prophet. I sent my brother to speak to him and when he returned, he did not bring a satisfactory report; so I thought of meeting him personally.' 'Ali said (to Abu Dhar), 'You have reached your goal; I am going to him just now, so follow me, and wherever I enter, enter after me. If I should see someone who may cause you trouble, I will stand near a wall pretending to mend my shoes (as a warning), and you should go away then.'

Ali proceeded and I accompanied him till he entered a place, and I entered with him to the Prophet (ﷺ) to whom I said, 'Present (the principles of) Islam to me.' When he did, I embraced Islam 'immediately. He said to me, 'O Abu Dhar! Keep your conversion as a secret and return to your town; and when you hear of our victory, return to us. ' I said, 'By H him Who has sent you with the Truth, I will announce my conversion to Islam publicly amongst them (i.e. the infidels).

Abu Dhar went to the Mosque, where some people from Quraish were present, and said, 'O folk of Quraish ! I testify that None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, and I (also) testify that Muhammad is Allah's Slave and His Messenger.' (Hearing that) the Quraishi men said, 'Get at this Sabi (i.e. Muslim) !' They got up and beat me nearly to death. Al 'Abbas saw me and threw himself over me to protect me. He then faced them and said, 'Woe to you! You want to kill a man from the tribe of Ghifar, although your trade and your communications are through the territory of Ghifar?' They therefore left me.