ʿAffān reported: Salām Abū al-Mundhir informed us, from Muḥammad ibn Wāsiʿ, from ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Ṣāmit, from Abū Dharr, who said:

“My intimate friend ﷺ gave me seven directives:
He commanded me to love the poor and stay close to them; he instructed me to look at those who are below me (in worldly matters); never to ask anyone for anything; to maintain the ties of kinship even when they turn away; to speak the truth even if it is bitter; not to fear the blame of any critic for Allah’s sake; and to make frequent recitation of ‘la ḥawla wa-la quwwata illā billāh’ (there is no might and no power except by Allah), for these words are a treasure kept beneath the Throne.” (1)

Al-Awzāʿī reported: Abū Kathīr narrated to me, from his father, who said:
“I came to Abū Dharr while he was sitting at the Middle Jamrah and people had gathered around him seeking legal rulings. A man approached and said, ‘Has not the Commander of the Believers forbidden you to issue fatwas?’

Abū Dharr lifted his head and replied, ‘Are you a watcher set over me? Even if you were to place the sword—Samṣāmah—on the back of my neck, and I thought I could still convey a single word I heard from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ before you struck me down, I would certainly convey it.’” (2)

(The given name of Abū Kathīr was Marthad.)

Thalabah ibn al-Ḥakam narrated from ʿAlī, who said:
“No one remains who is unafraid of the critics’ reproach for the sake of Allah except Abū Dharr—and not even myself.” Then he struck his chest with his hand. (3)

Al-Jurayrī narrated from Yazīd ibn al-Shikhkhīr, from al-Aḥnaf, who said: “I arrived …"