Hazrat Abu Zar Ghaffari

Mitaaya Qaysar-o-Kisra KeIstibdaad Ko Jis Ne,
Wo Kiya Tha? Zor-e-Hyder, Faqr-e-Bu Zar, Sidq-e-Salmani
The above two lines of poetry (Urdu language Couplets) have been taken
from Allama Iqbal'sfamous revolutionary long-poem Tuloo-e-Islam.In
these two short lines, Allama Iqbal has identified three major
elements in the Islamic spirit that once ruled the world, and in his
opinion, it was ready to repeat that once again, should those elements
berevived. Those are: (i) Thespirit of martyrdom personified in Imam
Ali bin Abi Talib, (ii) the socialistic fervor of Abu Zar Ghaffari,
and (iii) the devotional persistence of Salman al-Farsi.
What is very significant in these lines is the fact that Allama Iqbal
has used the names of two great empires (the Roman and the Persian) of
the past to identify oppression and tyranny. Then he quotes the names
of three individuals who, out of the strength of their
ownpersonalities, were able to subdue that tyranny. The message is
that it takes the collective effortof groups and countries to subdue
the human spirit but it takes only one individual's personal force to
break the tyranny. It is also accurate historically in that, when
Islam rose on the horizon of the world history, it were those
twoempires at the two ends of the Arabian peninsula, which were
competing which each other. In that process, they were crushing the
human spirit of freedom, liberty and human rights. Islam came and
destroyed bothempires by giving peoplefreedom by liberating them
spiritually by the message of Tawheed (Oneness of God), economically
by making them self-sufficient, and socially by giving them human
compassion and avalue-system.
Hazrat Abu Zar's real name was Jandab ibn Junadah ibn Sakan, better
known as Abu Dhar al-Ghaffari, or Abu Thar al-Ghaffari. Hazrat Abu
Zar's Kunniya was Abu Zar, which is becausehis eldest son was namedZar
(this word in Arabic means 'fragrance'). By one estimate, Abu Zar was
born in 568 AD, which means Abu Zar was two years older thanthe
Prophet Muhammad (saw).
Hazrat Abu Zar Ghaffari (Radhiallahu Anhu / May God be pleased with
him)had belonged to an Arab tribe by the name of Ghaffar, hence his
last name.
Abu Zar was most unhappy about the custom of Idol-worship that was
rampant in Arabia of the 7th century.He had already believed in a
Supreme God and he would spend most of his time reflecting on that.
As news of the Prophet's mission spread in Arabia, it also arrived in
the tribeof Ghafaar. Abu Zar heardof it. It was something that he
himself had been thinking about. He sent his brother to go to
Hijaz,find out about the new message and report back.His brother did
that. Abu Zar found the news and the report from his brother
encouraging.
Hazrat Abu Zar Ghaffari (Radhiallahu Anhu) then decided to meet with
theProphet Muhammad (saw) personally. This was the time when Islam had
only collected a handful of converts. He was first met with Imam Ali
bin Abi Talib who introduced him to his own father Abu Talib. Abu
Talib took him to Hazrat Hamza. After a thorough security check, Abu
Zar was finally introduced to the Prophet Muhammad (saw).
It is said that Abu Zar saidSalam to the Prophet Muhammad (saw). That
was long before the Islamic Salam was introduced into the early Muslim
culture of Arabia. Abu Zar was taken by the charm, the majesty and the
kindness of the Prophet Muhammad (saw). He said his Shahada (I bear
witness that there is no god but Allah and Mohammad is His Servant and
Messenger) and accepted Islam, so did his brother.
Hazrat Abu Zar Ghaffari (Radhiallahu Anhu) hung around in Makkah for
few days. During those few days he made a couple of speeches in
thetemple grounds. He was immediately subdued by the infidels and
actually was beaten up badly. Al-Abbas ibn Abdul Mutalib, the uncle of
the Prophet Muhammad (saw) came to his rescue both times and the
incidents were reported to the Prophet Muhammad (saw). Prophet
Muhammad (saw) called him and advised him to go back to his tribe of
Ghaffar and stay there until he (Prophet Muhammad (saw)) goes to
Yathrib (Madina) and Muslims had established themselves. Hence Abu Zar
went back home and under the influence of both sons, their mother also
accepted Islam.
Hazrat Abu Zar Ghaffari (Radhiallahu Anhu) has had the reputation of
being an outspoken orator and he always spoke his mind whatever the
consequences. He and his brother began speaking about their new faith
among his tribesmen. Immediately there was resentment against Abu Zar
and his brother among the young men of the tribe. Finally the issue
was reported to the chief of the tribe. Abu Zar had a lot of respect
in the tribe.However, when the chief called him and his brother, they
both had toappear before him. He questioned Abu Zar and his brother
about the trouble that both of themhad started. Abu Zar pleaded his
case with strength of reason but with due respect and compassion. The
chief reflected on what Abu Zar had said and after some reflection he
announced his own Islam. A great number of the young men also accepted
Islam after that turn of events. Abu Zar continued to teach Islam to
his people.
Hazrat Abu Zar Ghaffari (Radhiallahu Anhu) is reported to be the
fourthMuslim in chronological order. He had the exclusive honour to
call the Prophet Muhammad (saw) as Ya Habibi (my dear friend), while
everybody else could only address him as Ya Rasool Allah. Abu Zar
finally arrived in Madina after the Battle of Ahzab / Battle of the
Trench(5th year of Hijra) and spent the rest of the days in thecompany
of the Prophet Muhammad (saw).
During those few years inMadina, Abu Zar became very friendly with
Imam Ali bin Abi Talib. The four people named Salman al-Farsi, Abu Zar
Ghaffari, Miqdad bin Aswad and Ammar Yasir were alwaysseen in the
company of Imam Ali bin Abi Talib. They came to be known as the Shia.
In the 9th year of Hijra, the Prophet Muhammad (saw) prepared a large
contingent to confront the Romans and moved out towards Tabuk. ImamAli
bin Abi Talib was appointed the administrator of Madina. Abu Zar also
accompanied the Prophet Muhammad (saw). However, at that time, he had
a very weak and old camel. It could not keep up with the restof the
group. Finally, when he was left behind by a great distance, he left
the camel, took a back-pack and decided to walk. Finally, people saw
Abu Zar coming and they reported to the Prophet Muhammad (saw) that
Abu Zar was coming on foot. The Prophet Muhammad (saw) looked at him
and said: "This is Abu Zar, my companion (Sahabi). He is walking
alone, he will live alone, and one day, die alone. A group of
strangers from Iraq will take care of his funeral and bury him."
Hazrat Abu Zar Ghaffari (Radhiallahu Anhu) lived a pious life and
spent his days in prayer and worship. His daily meal used to be a
handful of dates. He lived a contented life, always spoke the truth
and he was firm in his faith.
Once someone asked himthat he was always seen in one pair of clothes.
Abu Zar replied: Yes, I hadanother pair of clothes but I saw some one
who needed it more than I did. How could I keep a second pair of
clothes while there was another person who did not have even one? That
one episode speaks volumes of the thinking of Abu Zar.
Hazrat Abu Zar Ghaffari (Radhiallahu Anhu) seemsto have kept a very
low profile after the passing of our Prophet Muhammad (saw) and during
the first two Caliphates of both Abu Bakr and Umar ibn Khattab.
During the third Caliphate of Uthman ibn Affan, things moved fromgood
to bad and from bad to worse. Uthman refused to take advice from his
well-wishers such as Imam Ali bin Abi Talib and Abdur-Rahman bin Awf.
When Uthman ibn Affan began misappropriating the public treasury for
hisown use and began distributing it lavishly on his cousins and
in-laws, Abu Zar become active again and began reacting to it.
Uthman ibn Affan was very displeased about that. When Abu Zar's
activities became unbearable for him, Uthman ibn Affan ordered a
complete boycott of Abu Zar. No one was allowed to speak to him in the
Masjid, nobody was allowed to visit him or invite him to his place.
Abu Zar's voice, in spite of all that, was hard to silence. When
Uthman ibn Affan was not able to silence Abu Zar then, he ordered Abu
Zar to be transported to Muawiyahin Damascus, Syria.
What Abu Zar saw in Damascus was even worse. People were building
palaces for themselves and living in luxury. He realized that all that
was a far cry fromthe Islamic heritage that the Prophet Muhammad (saw)
had given to the community. He built a hutout of blankets on the
outskirts of the city and began living in that with his family.
One day Abu Zar passed by the location where Muawiyah was having
hisGreen Palace built. He went upto Muawiyah andsaid: "O Muawiyah, if
you are spending Allah's wealth in this project, you are being
dishonest because you are embezzling Allah's wealth; if this is being
built of your personal wealth then it is disgusting extravagance."
Muawiyah could not say a word in reply.
Abu Zar then proceeded to the central mosque. Hestood among the people
and delivered a speech. People began to gather round Abu Zar and
listen to his discourses. The poor and the dispossessed were attracted
to him and the rich were scared of him.
A man named Habib bin Muslim Fehri saw all this and said to himself:
This is a big Fitna. He then went up to Muawiyah and said: "If you
wish to continue to rule over Syria, do something about Abu Zar,
otherwisehe will bring a revolutionhere."
Muawiyah was greatly perturbed. He consideredit one of his great
failures if he could not control one old 'fool' such as Abu Zar. First
Muawiyah tried to silenceAbu Zar by bribing him. He sent three hundred
Dinar to Abu Zar. He immediately returned it to him saying: "I do not
need your money."
As Abu Zar was openly criticizing Muawiyah by name in the mosque,
oneperson bent over and whispered in his ear:"What are you saying
against the ruler? Be afraid of his wrath." Abu Zar turned to him and
said:" My friend (meaning the Prophet Muhammad (saw)) had advised me
to speak the truth at all times even if itis bitter, and not to be
afraid of any critic in truth's path. I pray to Allah: O Allah, I ask
your protection against cowardice, save me from being miserly, I do
not wish for long life, I ask Allah's forgiveness from this world and
the Hellfire in the other world."
Then he said: "People arepreparing various kinds of food, then they
take medicine to digest that food (so that they can eateven more). The
Prophet Muhammad (saw) passed on and he never took his fill with two
meals in any one day. When he ate dates he would not take bread that
day. The people of the House of the Prophet never ate barley bread for
three contiguous days, until the Prophet Muhammad (saw) met up with
his Lord. Many times months would change and no fire would burn in his
kitchen."
Someone asked: "How did he then survive?" AbuZar replied, 'he would
eatdates and then take a drink of water. Man needs only enough food so
that he keeps his strength. Never eat to your fill, because that
creates laziness and lethargy. It destroys your body and brings
illness and disease. Live a moderate life.'
Abu Zar continued with his preaching to the wealthy. Finally, one day,
Muawiyah called him. He came. Muawiyah sat him down next to himself.
Food was served. The place was filled with all kinds of delicious
dishes. Muawiyah invited him to eat. Abu Zar refused. He said: "I only
eat a handfulof wheat (flour) in a week. This is what I used to do
during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) and I will continue with
that practice until I will pass on and meet up with my friend."
Addressing Muawiyah he said: 'You have changed your life style. It
wasn't like this. You eat bread made of strained flour. You have many
different dishes at a time; you eat all kinds of colourful foods. You
change into a new dress twice-a-day. You were not like that during the
time of the Prophet Muhammad (saw). During that periodyou lived like a
beggar.'
Muawiyah tried all kinds of tricks against Abu Zar but Abu Zar
defeated every one of them. Finally, he banished Abu Zar to the area
of JABAL AAMIL (this is located in present day Lebanon, in that time
the larger country of Shaam (Syria) contained all of today's Syria,
Lebanon, parts of Jordan and all of the country of Israel.)