Time dealt him its inevitable blows (1), and Abu Dharr was dispatched to al-Rabadha.

When death approached, he instructed his wife and his servant, saying, “When I die, wash me, shroud me, and lay me on the road. The first caravan that passes by, say to them: This is Abu Dharr.”

After he died they carried out his wishes. A party of riders came upon them, and they were unaware of the bier until their mounts almost trod upon it. Among the riders was ʿAbd Allah ibn Masʿūd with a group of people from Kūfa. He asked, “What is this?” They answered, “The funeral of Abu Dharr.” Ibn Masʿūd burst into tears and said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ spoke the truth: ‘May Allah have mercy on Abu Dharr! He walks alone, he will die alone, and he will be resurrected alone.’” He then dismounted and personally oversaw the burial until he had placed him in the grave (2).

Sharīk narrated—from Ibrāhīm ibn Muhājir, from Kulayb ibn Shihāb—that he said: I heard Abu Dharr say, “The frailty of my bones and the whiteness of my hair do not cause me to despair of meeting Jesus, son of Mary (3).”

Ibn Sīrīn reported: I asked a nephew of Abu Dharr, “What did Abu Dharr leave behind?” He replied, “He left two she-asses, a donkey, some goats, and a few riding beasts (4).”

Yaḥyā ibn Saʿīd al-Anṣārī said: al-Ḥārith ibn Yazīd al-Ḥaḍramī informed us that Abu Dharr asked the Messenger of Allah for a position of authority, whereupon he said, “You are weak, and leadership is a disgrace and a cause for regret, except—”