ABU DHARR ACCEPTS ISLAM

Mohammed bin Yaqoob Kulaini narrates that Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s)
told to a person about the manner in which Salman and Abu Dharr accepted
Islam. He further said that one day Abu Dharr was grazing his
sheep in his hamlet, Marka, which is situated near Mecca. While the
sheep were grazing a wolf attacked them and Abu Dharr scared it away
with his staff. The wolf repeated its attempt to attack the sheep when
Abu Dharr ran after it shouting, “you cruel creature! Why are you not
running away!”The wolf miraculously uttered, “Am I cruel or the people
of Mecca who are perpetrating cruelty after cruelty on the Propet (a.s)!”
Abu Dharr, when he heard this from the dumb animal, started to walk
towards Mecca. When he reached Mecca it was very hot there and he
was uneasy with acute thirst. He drew some water from the spring of
Zam Zam. To his surprise Abu Dharr found that the container was having
milk instead of water. He drank it, quenched his thirst, and understood
that this was the first miracle of the truth of Allah’s Prophet (a.s)
that he was experiencing. When he proceeded towards the compound of
the Kaba he found some people talking irreverently about the Prophet
(a.s) of Allah. At this juncture arrived a person and noticing him the
group got scared and became quiet. When the person started to leave the
place, Abu Dharr too followed him. Catching up with the person Abu
Dharr asked, “Who are you?”He replied, “I am Abu Talib, the chief of
Mecca. Have you any work with me?”Abu Dharr said, “I wish to meet
the Prophet of Allah (a.s) to accept Islam.”Hazrat Abu Talib said,
“Tomorrow you can come with me to meet him at the same time as
now.”The next day Abu Dharr reached the place at the appointed time,
Hazrat Abu Talib joined him and they both proceeded to meet the
Prophet (a.s).
Abu Dharr says that Hazrat Abu Talib took him to a house where
Hazrat Hamza was present. He greeted him and Hazrat Hamza returned
his greeting and inquired about the purpose of his visit. When Abu
8
Dharr informed to him the purpose of his visit, Hazrat Hamza said that
there is one God, Allah, and Mohammed (a.s) is his Prophet. Abu Dharr
rejoined bearing witness that there is no god but Allah and Mohammed
(a.s) is his Prophet (la ilaha ill Allah Mohammad ur rasool Allah). Then
Hazrat Hamza took him to another house where Hazrat Jafar was there.
He too asked Abu Dharr the same questions and was given similar
replies. Then Hazrat Jafar Tayyar took Abu Dharr to the house of Hazrat
Ali ibne Abu Talib (a.s). There too Abu Dharr bore witness about Allah
and his Prophet (a.s) thrice.
Now Hazrat Ali (a.s) took Abu Dharr to the presence of the Prophet
(a.s). He greeted the Prophet (a.s) who kindly asked him to sit and bear
witness to the unity of Allah and that Mohammed (a.s) is Allah’s Prophet.
Now the Prophet (a.s) said, “O Abu Dharr! You must immediately return
to your place that your paternal cousin has expired and you are the
soul inheritor of his estate. Go home and take charge of the affairs of
your estate. You must join us when we summon you.”Therefore after the
migration (Hegira) Abu Dharr had the honour of meeting the Prophet
(a.s) in Medina.