Abu-Dahr
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Abu-Dahr was born Jundab bin Junada, but when he accepted Islam, the Prophet named him Abdullah. He belonged to the tribe of Ghifar. He was a Muhaddith who spoke fluent and eloquent Arabic.
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Islamic conversion
He heard of the arrival of a Prophet in Makka and sent his brother Unais to see him. On Unais's return Abu-Dahr went to Makka to see for himself and after seeing the Prophet, accepted Islam immediately. After he had accepted Islam and left the company of the Prophet he went to the Ka'ba and shouted out: "Hear O Quraish! I stand witness that Allah is one and Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah". He was beaten up, but he persisted in his preaching until the Prophet told him to return to his tribe and spread the true word of Allah there until he heard that the Prophet had migrated to the city of date palms (Yathrib-Madina).
While home, he succeeded in converting his family and the majority of the tribe of Ghifar, including Khafaf, the chief of the tribe, to Islam. The first Salatul Jama'a was prayed by the tribe of Ghifar. When the Prophet migrated to Madina (Hijra), he passed through the place where the tribe of Ghifar stayed and they testifed their faith to him. Soon, Abu-Dhar left his home to spend his life near the Prophet in Madina. He was the brother of Salman in Madina.
Related Prophecies
The Prophet was once sitting in Masjid-e-Quba with his companions and he said: "The man who is first to enter the gate of this Masjid will be from the people of Janna". After a while Abu-Dahr entered and the Prophet told him: "You will be sent away from here on account of your love of my Ahlulbayt. You will live in a foreign land and die in loneliness. A group of people of Iraq will give you 'ghusl' and 'kafan' and you will be with me in heaven". The Prophet also said: "The sun has not shone on nor has the earth borne the weight of a man more truthful than Abu-Dahr Ghifari" (Besides Ma'sumeen).
Prophet's death
When the Prophet went to the battle of Zaat-al-Ruq'a (battle of the Patch of cloth) he left Abu-Dahr as the chief of Madina. The Prophet's death grieved him greatly and he continuously reminded the people of the events of Ghadeer. He was also present at Bibi Fatima's funeral. The Prophet had told him that when he saw the population of Madina extending to Mount Sala then he should leave Madina and migrate to Syria. After Abu Bakr's death he went with his wife and daughter to Syria where he stayed for 10 years. He returned to Madina when Umar was killed.
Exposing greed and pride
When Abu-Dahr found out how the public treasury was being squandered, he complained loudly using the verse of the Qur'an (Suratul Tawba 9:34,35), "and those who hoard gold and silver and do not spend it in Allah's way, announce to them a painful punishment. On the Day of Judgement when it shall be heated in the fire of hell and with it their foreheads, sides and back will be branded and they will be told: This is what you hoarded for yourselves and now taste what you have hoarded."
Abu-Dahr was expelled to Syria where it was thought that Muawiya would be able to deal with him. However, this was not the case. When Abu-Dahr saw Muawiya priding over his palace that had just been built, Abu-Dahr told him: "O Muawiya! If this palace is being built with the public treasury than it is breach of trust and if it is being built with your own money than it is extravagance". Abu-Dahr used to go daily to the gate of Damascus and to the palace of Muawiya and shout out loudly at the injustices and squandering of public money done by Muawiya. Muawiya was furious and imprisoned Abu-Dahr, before sending him back to Madina.
Exiled
Abu-Dahr was put on a wild camel's bare back and the camel was made to run all day and night without any stops until he reached Madina. By the time Abu-Dahr reached Madina he had grown weak and old and his skin was ruptured and wounded. His family was left behind in Syria.
In Madina Abu-Dahr continued preaching the truth and this angered Uthman who on seeing that none of his warnings were taken heed of by Abu-Dahr. He called Abu-Dahr and banished him to Rabza (a desert area 3 miles away from Madina). Imam Ali and Imams Hasan and Husayn went to accompany him until they got outside Madina and Imam Ali told him: "O Abu-Dahr! Don’t worry, people got scared of you because of their greed for the world, and you did not fear them on account of your faith till the time came when they exiled you. The truth will be your companion in times of loneliness. I know that you can get alarmed only by untruth and that can not come near you".
Final years
When Muawiya found out that Abu-Dahr had been exiled to Rabza he sent Abu-Dahr's wife and family there too. Rabza was a desert land where no food could grow and they soon became weak. His son Dharr became ill and died. His wife too died of eating poisonous grass. After the death of his wife, he became even more lonely. Hunger and weakness took over and he died. As the Prophet had said, a group of passing Iraqis including Malike Ashtar gave him ghusl and kafan and buried Abu-Dahr. He died on the 8th of Dhulhijjah 32 A.H. at the age of 85 years.
External links
- Al-Syyed, Kamal, "Abu Dhar al-Ghifari (http://www.al-islam.org/gallery/kids/Books/companion5/)". Ansariyan Foundation. Qum, Iran.
- And Once Again Abu-Dhar by Dr. Ali Shariati (http://www.iranchamber.com/personalities/ashariati/works/once_again_abu_dhar1.php)