Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalāʾ - Shams al‑Din al‑Dhahabi - (2/63)

Siyar Aʿlām al-NubalāʾShams al‑Din al‑Dhahabi

He said, “Yes—one whom Allah spoke to.”

I asked, “How many Messengers were there, O Messenger of Allah?”

He replied, “Three-hundred and fifteen—a great multitude.”(1)

Hishām narrated from Ibn Sīrīn that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to Abū Dharr:

“When building reaches (Mount) Salʿ, leave the city”—and he pointed with his hand toward Syria—“for I do not think your governors will let you remain.”

Abū Dharr asked, “Shall I not fight whoever blocks me from carrying out your command?”

He answered, “No.”

Abū Dharr said, “Then what do you order me to do?”

He said, “Listen and obey, even if the commander is an Abyssinian slave.”

When that time arrived, Abū Dharr departed for Syria, and Muʿāwiyah wrote (to ʿUthmān), “He has caused turmoil in Syria.” So ʿUthmān summoned him, and later they sent his family after him. They found with them a pouch—or something similar—which they supposed contained silver coins, so they exclaimed, “Whatever Allah wills!” Yet it proved to be only copper coins.

ʿUthmān said, “Stay with me.”

He replied, “I have no need of your worldly life; permit me to go to al-Rabadhah.”

ʿUthmān granted permission, and he set out. Over that locality was an Abyssinian slave belonging to ʿUthmān, and the prayer time was delayed(2) when he noticed Abū Dharr. Abū Dharr said, “Step forward and lead the prayer.”(3)

Sufyān ibn Ḥusayn reported from al-Ḥakam, from Ibrāhīm al-Taymī, from his father, from Abū Dharr, who said:

“I was riding behind the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on a donkey that had a saddle-cloth—or perhaps a woollen cloak—on it.”(4)

(1) Reported by Ahmad, 5/178–179; the isnad is weak because al-Masudi (Abd al-Rahman b. Abd Allah) became confused, Abu Amr al-Dimashqi is unreliable, and Ubayd b. al-Khashkhash is of doubtful standing. (2) That is, concerning the right to lead the prayer once the iqama has been called. Al-Tabaqat, 4/227, states: “He went out to al-Rabdha after the prayer had been established, and a Nubian slave owned by Uthman was leading it; he therefore stepped back, whereupon Abu Dhar said …”. (3) Ibn Saʿd, 4/226–227; all the transmitters are trustworthy, but the report is mursal (the chain stops at a Successor). Its full wording there reads: “Keep your distance, for I have been commanded to listen and obey even to an Abyssinian slave—and you are an Abyssinian slave.” (4) Sound isnad; also found in Ibn Saʿd’s Tabaqat, 4/228, and in Musnad Ahmad, 5/164.

قَالَ: (نَعَمْ، مُكَلَّمٌ) . قُلْتُ: فَكَمِ المُرْسَلُوْنَ يَا رَسُوْلَ اللهِ؟ قَالَ: (ثَلاَثُ مائَةٍ وَخَمْسَةَ عَشَرَ، جَمّاً غَفِيْراً (١)) . هِشَامٌ: عَنِ ابْنِ سِيْرِيْنَ: أَنَّ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ لأَبِي ذَرٍّ: (إِذَا بَلَغَ البِنَاءُ سَلْعاً، فَاخْرُجْ مِنْهَا - وَنَحَا بِيَدِهِ نَحْوَ الشَّامِ - وَلاَ أَرَى أُمَرَاءكَ يَدَعُوْنَكَ) . قَالَ: أَوَلاَ أُقَاتِلُ مَنْ يَحُوْلُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ أَمْرِكَ؟ قَالَ: (لاَ) . قَالَ: فَمَا تَأْمُرُنِي؟ قَالَ: (اسْمَعْ وَأَطِعْ، وَلَوْ لِعَبْدٍ حَبَشِيٍّ) . فَلَمَّا كَانَ ذَلِكَ، خَرَجَ إِلَى الشَّامِ، فَكَتَبَ مُعَاوِيَةُ: إِنَّهُ قَدْ أَفْسَدَ الشَّامَ. فَطَلَبَهُ عُثْمَانُ، ثُمَّ بَعَثُوا أَهْلَهُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ، فَوَجَدُوا عِنْدَهُمْ كِيْساً، أَوْ شَيْئاً، فَظَنُّوْهُ دَرَاهِمَ، فَقَالُوا: مَا شَاءَ اللهُ. فَإِذَا هِيَ فُلُوْسٌ. فَقَالَ عُثْمَانُ: كُنْ عِنْدِي. قَالَ: لاَ حَاجَةَ لِي فِي دُنْيَاكُمْ، ائْذَنْ لِي حَتَّى أَخْرُجَ إِلَى الرَّبَذَةِ. فَأَذِنَ لَهُ، فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهَا، وَعَلَيْهَا عَبْدٌ حَبَشِيٌّ لِعُثْمَانَ، فَتَأَخَّرَ وَقْتَ الصَّلاَةِ (٢) - لَمَّا رَأَى أَبَا ذَرٍّ -. فَقَالَ أَبُو ذَرٍّ: تَقَدَّمْ، فَصَلِّ (٣) . سُفْيَانُ بنُ حُسَيْنٍ: عَنِ الحَكَمِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ التَّيْمِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيْهِ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، قَالَ: كُنْتُ رِدْفَ رَسُوْلِ اللهِ ﷺ عَلَى حِمَارٍ وَعَلَيْهِ بَرْذَعَةٌ، أَوْ قَطِيْفَةٌ (٤) .

(١) أخرجه أحمد ٥ / ١٧٨ و١٧٩، وإسناده ضعيف، لاختلاط المسعودي واسمه عبد الرحمن بن عبد الله، وضعف أبي عمر الدمشقي، ولين عبيد بن الخشخاش. (٢) أي: عن الامامة وقت إقامة الصلاة، وفي " الطبقات " ٤ / ٢٢٧: فخرج إلى الربذة وقد أقيمت الصلاة، وعليها عبد لعثمان حبشي فتأخر، فقال أبو ذر ... (٣) ابن سعد ٤ / ٢٢٦، ٢٢٧، ورجاله ثقات إلا أنه مرسل. وتمامه عنده: فصل فقد أمرت أن أسمع وأطيع ولو لعبد حبشي، فأنت عبد حبشي. (٤) إسناده صحيح وهو في طبقات ابن سعد ٤ / ٢٢٨، ومسند أحمد ٥ / ١٦٤.