Our Model of Austerity: Abu Dharr Al-Ghifari {R}



“When you are not greedy for this world, Allah {SWT} loves you, and when you don’t desire what people have, they love you.”—Ibn Majah



Abu Dharr Al-Ghifari was one of the companions of the prophet {S} noted for his austerity and truthfulness. One day, he said: 

“My provisions and savings during the time of the noble Prophet {S} had always been three kilograms of dates. As long as I live, I shall never seek to possess more than this quantity.”

‘Ata says: I noticed Abu Dharr offering prayers in an old garment. “O’ Abu Dharr! Don’t you have a better garment?” I asked him.

“If I had one, you would have seen me in it,” he replied.

“But for a period, I had seen you with two outfits,” I said.

“I gave the other one to my nephew, who was in greater need than me.”
“By Allah {SWT}! You are needy yourself,” I exclaimed.

He raised his head towards the sky and implored, “Indeed! O’ Lord! I am in need of Your forgiveness.”

He then turned to me and continued:

“It appears that you have come to regard this world as something very important and significant.

In addition to this garment that you see on me at present…

I have one more garment which is exclusive for the mosque…

Some goats which provide me with milk, a wooden case in which I carry my belongings…

And a wife who relieves me from the troubles of cooking…

What bounty could be greater than what I possess?” Allahu Akbar!

Some people asked Abu Dharr:

“Do you not desire to purchase properties for yourself as the others have done for themselves?”

“What need do I have to become an aristocrat?” he replied.

“A drink of milk and water every day and a (small) amount of wheat in a week are quite sufficient for me!”

This amazing man of truth should be one of our role models as Muslims because the Prophet {S} said: 

“The earth has not carried and the sky has not shaded a man truer than Abu Dharr.”—Ahmad

May Allah {SWT} grant us true understanding. Aameen


Reference: Paighambar Wa Yaran

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Maintaining the Bond of Kinship

  “Would you then, if you were given the authority, do mischief in the land, and sever your ties of kinship?”_ [Quran 47: 22]   “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him maintain the bonds of kinship.”_(Bukhari)   Out of the Mercy of Allah (SWT), Muslims have been given some measure of freedom in certain aspects of life and worship. And at the same time, Allah (SWT) has made certain things obligatory. He who knows this distinction and acts according to it is a person of knowledge and faith. But for a lot of people, a challenge occurs when something is obligatory but is quite easy to dismiss its importance because it has less to do with rituals of worship like daily prayers, Zakat and fasting in Ramadan. What I am referring to here is an aspect of religion that relates to the bond of kinship. This is an important aspect of worship that many people don’t realize. In fact, it is so important that Allah (SWT) has made it very clear both in the Quran a...
Read more

Tie Your Camel and Put Your Trust in Allah (SWT)

    In an authentic hadith from Sunan al-Tirmidhi ̄, a man asked the Prophet an important question that clarifies how to rely on Allah (SWT) as the Almighty Lord Who has Power over all things. As we shall see, though we know and believe that we are powerless to bring benefit and ward away harm from anyone including ourselves, we are nonetheless required to do the necessary things within our ability based on Allah endowment on us as intelligent human beings. This is the right way to put our trust in Allah. Now let’s get into the proof from Sunnah. Anas ibn Malik reported: A man said, “O Messenger of Allah, should I tie my camel and trust in Allah, or should I leave her untied and trust in Allah?” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Tie her and trust in Allah.”   Therefore, whatever, the challenges we have before us, we need to do what is most humanly possible and place our reliance on Allah (SWT) for the desirable result that we envisi...
Read more

Forgiveness Is Not Stupidity

    Allah said in Surah al-Ma’idah 5:45:       وَكَتَبْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ فِيهَا أَنَّ النَّفْسَ بِالنَّفْسِ وَالْعَيْنَ بِالْعَيْنِ وَالْأَنفَ بِالْأَنفِ وَالْأُذُنَ بِالْأُذُنِ وَالسِّنَّ بِالسِّنِّ وَالْجُرُوحَ قِصَاصٌ ۚ فَمَن تَصَدَّقَ بِهِ فَهُوَ كَفَّارَةٌ لَّهُ ۚ وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ   We ordained for them therein a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, and for wounds is legal retribution. But whoever gives up his right as charity, it is an expiation for him. Whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed, then it is those who are the wrongdoers.  
Read more