It was recorded by Aḥmad in his Musnad (1).

And in the Musnad it is related: Abū al-Mughīrah narrated to us; Ṣafwān ibn ʿAmr narrated to us; from Abū al-Yamān and Abū al-Mathannā:

That Abū Dharr said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ pledged me to five matters, covenanted with me on seven, and made me call Allah to witness over seven: that I would not fear, for Allah’s sake, the blame of any blamer.” (2)

Abū al-Yamān is al-Hawzanī (3).

Al-Daghūlī (4) reported: Abū Jaʿfar al-Ṣāʾigh in Mecca narrated to us; al-Muqriʾ narrated to us; al-Masʿūdī narrated to us; Abū ʿUmar al-Shāmī narrated to us, from ʿUbayd ibn al-Khashkhāsh, from Abū Dharr—may Allah be pleased with him—who said:

I came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the mosque and sat beside him. He asked, “Have you prayed?”

I replied, “No.”

He said, “Stand and pray.”

So I stood, performed the prayer, and then returned to him.

He said, “O Abū Dharr, seek refuge with Allah from the devils of humankind and jinn.”

I asked, “Are there devils among humankind?”

He answered, “Yes.”

Then he said, “O Abū Dharr, shall I not direct you to a treasure from the treasures of Paradise? Say: lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh (There is no might and no power except with Allah).”

I asked, “What about the prayer?”

He said, “It is the finest act instituted; whoever wishes may increase in it, and whoever wishes may reduce.”

I asked, “What about fasting?”

He said, “It is an obligation that suffices.”

I asked, “What about charity?”

He said, “It is multiplied many times over, and with Allah there is further increase.”

I asked, “Which type is best?”

He said, “The effort of one who possesses little, or a secret gift to a pauper.”

I asked, “Which revelation that Allah has sent down to you is the greatest?”

He said, “Allāhu lā ilāha illā Huwa al-Ḥayy al-Qayyūm (Allah—there is no deity but Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer).”

I asked, “Which of the prophets was the first?”

He said, “Adam.”

I asked, “Was he a prophet—”