(Sayyiduna Abu Zarr [radhiyallahu ‘anhu] – Part Two)

In part one of this series, one version describing the manner in which Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) accepted Islam was mentioned. However, there is another version as well, which is as follows:

The Ghifaar tribe, from which Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) hailed, violated the sanctity of the sacred months (by raiding and fighting). Therefore, Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), together with his brother and their mother, left the tribe and went to stay with his maternal uncle. He honoured them and treated them with kindness.

However, driven by jealousy, the local people falsely accused his brother, Sayyiduna Unais (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), of misconduct with his uncle’s wife during the uncle’s absence. When their uncle informed them of the accusation, Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) said, “As for the kindness you previously showed, you have now tainted it. We will no longer remain with you.” They then loaded their belongings onto their camels, while the uncle covered himself with his garment and began to cry.

Thereafter, they travelled to the outskirts of Makkah Mukarramah and settled there. Sayyiduna Unais (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), who was a skilled poet, challenged another poet to a contest, wagering their camels on the outcome. Sayyiduna Unais (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) won and returned with double the number of camels. He thereafter went to Makkah Mukarramah. Upon his return, he informed Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) that he met a man in Makkah Mukarramah who followed a religion similar to his.

Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) believed in the oneness of Allah Ta‘ala even during the days of ignorance. For three years before meeting Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), he had been worshipping Allah Ta‘ala alone and would even offer a form of salaah solely to Him.

His brother went on to explain that the man he had met in Makkah Mukarramah claimed that Allah Ta‘ala had sent him as a messenger. However, his people rejected him, accusing him of being a magician, a fortune-teller and a poet. Sayyiduna Unais (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), being an accomplished poet himself, solemnly affirmed, “I have heard the words of soothsayers, and this is not their speech. I scrutinized his words against every poetic metre and it does not conform to any known poetic form. By Allah! He is indeed truthful, and they are surely liars.”

Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) wished to see Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) for himself. He thus set out for Makkah Mukarramah and enquired from someone where he could find the man whom the people referred to as “As-Saabi” – a term used to describe one who had abandoned the religion of his forefathers.

He deliberately chose to ask a man who appeared weak and unlikely to cause him harm. However, upon hearing the question, the man cried out, “As-Saabi!” and pointed to Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) (accusing him of abandoning the religion of his forefathers).

The people of Makkah Mukarramah rushed at him, attacking him viciously with stones and bones, leaving him bloodied and unconscious. When he regained consciousness, he went to the well of Zamzam and washed the blood from his body and clothes.

He remained in Makkah Mukarramah for thirty days, consuming nothing but the water of Zamzam. Remarkably, through the blessings of Zamzam, he gained weight and did not experience even the slightest feeling of hunger.

One moonlit night, when everyone was asleep and no one was making tawaaf around the Ka’bah, Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) noticed two women invoking the idols, “Isaaf” and “Naailah”. As they passed by, he said, “Why not marry these idols to each other?” The women ignored him and continued with their supplication. When they passed by again, he bluntly declared, “These (idols) are like wood (i.e. lifeless and powerless).” The women went off wailing, crying out, “If only there was someone here from our people (to help us)!”

At that moment, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), appeared and walked towards them. (Seeing their distressed state,) Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) enquired what had happened. They replied that there was a “saabi” near the Ka’bah. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then asked, “What did he say to you?” They said that his words were so outrageous that they were too ashamed to repeat them.

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) proceeded to make istilaam of the Hajr Aswad, followed by tawaaf of the Ka‘bah, and then performed salaah. After he completed his salaah, Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) approached and greeted Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) with salaam – becoming the first person to greet him with the greeting of Islam.

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied to his salaam and asked him who he was. Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) informed him that he was from the Ghifaar tribe. Upon hearing this, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) placed his blessed fingers on his blessed forehead in astonishment that a person from the notorious Ghifaar tribe had been guided to Islam.

Upon witnessing the reaction of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) thought that perhaps he disapproved of his being from the Ghifaar tribe. He therefore reached for the hand of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) but Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) stopped him (understanding that Rasulullah [sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam] had raised his hand in surprise, not dislike).

Thereafter, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) raised his head and asked Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) how long he had been in Makkah Mukarramah. He replied that he had been there for thirty days. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then enquired who had provided him with food. Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) said, “I had no food except the water of Zamzam. Yet, I gained so much weight that the folds of my belly split, and I did not feel even the slightest pang of hunger.” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) remarked, “Indeed, it (Zamzam) is blessed, and it is food that satiates a person.”

Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) sought permission from Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to host Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) for a meal that evening. Permission was granted, and he accompanied them. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) gave him some raisins to eat, and this was the first food he had eaten since his arrival.

Thereafter, he went to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), who informed him that a land with date palms had been shown to him (through revelation) – which he believed to be Madeenah Munawwarah (where he would soon migrate).

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then asked Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), “Will you convey (my message) to your people on my behalf? Perhaps Allah Ta‘ala will benefit them through you (by guiding them) and will reward you as a result of them (accepting Islam on your hands).”

When he returned, Sayyiduna Unais (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) asked him what had transpired. Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) informed him that he had accepted Islam. Upon hearing this, Sayyiduna Unais (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) also embraced Islam. They then approached their mother, and she too accepted Islam.

They subsequently returned to their tribe, the Ghifaar, and conveyed the message of Islam to them. Half of the tribe embraced Islam, and their leader, Sayyiduna Eemaa bin Rahadhah Al-Ghifaari (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), would lead them in salaah. The other half declared that they would accept Islam once Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) migrated to Madeenah Munawwarah. True to their word, when Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) migrated to Madeenah Munawwarah, the remaining half also accepted Islam. On this occasion, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) remarked, “May Allah Ta‘ala forgive the Ghifaar!” (NB: The word for “forgive” in Arabic is “ghafara”, which has the same three root letters as Ghifaar.)

(Saheeh Muslim #6359, Sharhun Nawawi and Takmilatu Fathil Mulhim)

Lessons:

1. Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), his mother, and his brother left the Ghifaar tribe due to the tribe’s disregard for the sanctity of the sacred months – even before they had accepted Islam. This highlights the importance of distancing ourselves from environments in which the commands of Allah Ta‘ala are violated, and from people who transgress the laws Allah Ta‘ala, as they may negatively impact our Deen.

2. The life of this world is a test. Trials and difficulties are inevitable – especially for the one striving in the path of Deen. Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) endured a severe beating simply for enquiring about Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), yet he remained firm and did not give up. For thirty days, surviving on Zamzam alone, he patiently awaited the moment he could meet Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). We thus need to remain steadfast in our religious obligations, regardless of the circumstances, and continue to tread the road to righteousness, despite the obstacles that may come our way.

3. Many ahadeeth explain the benefits of Zamzam. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) has said, “The water of Zamzam is for whatever purpose it is drunk.” (Sunan Ibni Maajah #3062) In this incident, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) described it as blessed and food that satiates. The experience of Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reflects this reality – for thirty days he survived only on Zamzam, remaining nourished and even gaining strength. Zamzam is no ordinary water – it is a gift from Allah Ta‘ala, infused with barakah (blessings), shifaa (cure) and nourishment for the one who drinks it.

4. When Allah Ta‘ala decrees guidance for a servant, nothing can prevent it – not one’s background, not family name, and not even the sins of the past. Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) came from the Ghifaar tribe, notorious for robbery and violating the sacred months, and he himself was a highway robber. Yet Allah Ta‘ala chose him, drew him out of darkness, and brought him into the light of Islam. Furthermore, Allah Ta‘ala guided the entire tribe thereafter. Hidaayah (guidance) lies only in Allah Ta‘ala’s hands, and no heart is too distant for Him to guide.