Profiles Of The Benevolent Companions Of The Prophet (S)

HAZRAT ABU DHARR
Abu Dharr was his patronym and the given name was Jundab bin Junada.
He belonged to the tribe of Bani Ghaffar of Arabia. There are recorded
traditions to prove that after the Infallibles of the Prophet’s Family,
the most exalted amongst the companions were Salman, Abu Dharr and
Miqdad. The traditions of the Holy Ahle Baith bear witness that after the
demise of the Holy Prophet (a.s), most of the companions turned
apostate. But Salman, Abu Dharr and Miqdad were amongst the small
group of steadfastly dedicated followers of the Prophet (a.s) and his family.
It is another matter that many of the apostates came to the right path
later on and owed allegiance to Hazrat Ali ibne Abi Talib.(a.s)
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Chapter 2
THE QUALITIES OF SALMAN, ABU DHARR AND
MIQDAD
Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s) says that Ameer al Momineen, Ali (a.s), said to
Salman, “O Salman! Call at the door of Fatima, the daughter of the
Prophet, to give to you a portion of the gift that she has received from
the Janna {the Heaven}.Salman went to the door and made his request.
The Lady said, ‘three Houris came from the Heaven and brought gifts in
three containers. One Houri, whose name was Salma, said that Allah has
created her for Salman, the second Houri said that she was Zara and was
earmarked for Abu Dharr and the third was named Maqdooda and was
created for Miqdad!’
After this conversation Hazrat Fatima (a.s) gave to Salman a portion of
the gift received from the Heaven. The material was so fragrant that
wherever he went with it, the people asked him what material he was
carrying that similar fragrance they had never experienced in their lives.
Reliable books of both the Schools have it on record that the Prophet (a.s)
has said that there is none more truthful than Abu Dharr on the earth
and under the sky!
One person expressed his doubt to Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s) about this
Tradition that Abu Dharr couldn’t possibly be more truthful than Hazrat
Ali ibne Abi Talib (a.s).
Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s) asked the person if he was aware when and
under what circumstance the Prophet (a.s) made this remark about Abu
Dharr?
When the man replied in negative, the Imam (a.s) said, “Some persons
went to the Prophet (a.s) and complained that Abu Dharr was attributing
incomprehensible phenomena to Hazrat Ali ibne Abi Talib (a.s). At this
point the Holy Prophet (a.s) mentioned about the truthfulness of Abu
Dharr”
Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s) also told to the person that comparisons
between the Infallible and the fallible persons should not be made.
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Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s) has also said that once, when Abu Dhar
reached the presence of the Prophet (a.s), he found him deeply engrossed
in conversation with Wahia Kalabi, another companion. Abu
Dharr quietly walked away intending not to disturb the conversation. In
fact it was the Angel Gabriel in the guise of Wahia Kalabi who was visiting
the Prophet (a.s). Gabriel expressed his surprise that Abu Dharr went
away without greeting the Prophet (a.s). He also mentioned that one of
the supplications of Abu Dharr was a topic of discussion amongst the angels
in the Heaven. When Gabriel took leave and Abu Dharr visited the
Prophet (a.s), the Prophet (a.s) said, “O Abu Dharr! Why did you go
away so quietly even without greeting me!”Abu Dharr replied, “O
Hazrat! I found you so engrossed in conversation with Wahia Kalabi that
I thought you were discussing some confidential matters and it was not
discreet to disturb your talk.”The Prophet (a.s) asked Abu Dharr,
“Recount to me the supplication which you recite regularly. The Angel
Gabriel, who was with me in the guise of Wahia Kalabi, told me that
Abu Dharr walked away without greeting me and and also mentioned
that his supplication is the matter of discussion amongst the angels in the
Heaven!”
Hearing this, Abu Dharr recited the following supplication:
“Allahumma inni asalokal eemana beka wattasdeeq benabieka wal
aafiata min jami al bala walshukr alalaafia wal ghani an sahar al naas.”
A reliable tradition of the Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s) mentions that after
the passing away of the Prophet (a.s) it is obligatory on the followers of
the Faith to love the Companions who steadfastly followed the religion
without any dissent or innovation. Amongst these steadfast persons
were Salman Farsi, Abu Dharr Ghiffari, Miqdad bin Aswad Kindi, Ammar
bin Yassir, Jabir bin Abdallah Ansari, Abdallah bin Samit, Ibada bin
Samit, Abu Ayoob Ansari, Hudhaifa bin al Eeman, Abul Hasheem, Sahl
bin Haneef, Khazeema bin Sabit, Abu Saeed Khadri etc.
Ibne Babawia narrates from Abdallah ibne Abbas that one day the
Prophet (a.s) was sitting in the Quba Mosque with his Companions. He
said, “The first person who enters the door of the Mosque will be
destined for the Heaven.”Hearing this, some companions got up to leave
and grasp the privilege of entering the mosque first. The Prophet added,
“many persons will enter this mosque and everyone will try to preempt
the others, but the one amongst them who informs about the ending of
the month of Azur will be destined for the Heaven!”
Abu Dharr entered the Mosque along with the other persons. The
Prophet (a.s) asked the gathering about the current month of the Roman
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Calender. Abu Dharr replied that it was the end of the month of Azur.
The Prophet (a.sa.) said that he was aware of the fact but he wished to
impress on the gathering that Abu Dharr was destined for the Heaven.
The Prophet (a.s) further added that this Heavenly person will be banished
by the people because of his profound love for my family and that
he would spend the rest of his life in a desolate place and die a lonely
and hapless death! The people of Iraq would give him a burial taking
pity on him. These persons too will be in the Heaven that has been promised
by Allah to the benevolent.
Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s) also said that there are ten stages of faith. He
added that Salman was on the tenth stage, Abu Dharr on the ninth, and
Miqdad on the eighth stage!
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