from Ibrahim ibn al-Ashtar:

When death overtook Abu Dharr at al-Rabadha, his wife began to weep. He asked, “Why are you crying?”

She replied, “I am crying because you must be buried and I have no cloth large enough to wrap you in a shroud.”

He said, “Do not weep. I once heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, while I was with him in the company of several men, say: ‘A man from among you will certainly die in a lonely desert, and a band of believers will attend him.’

“All of them (1) have since died amid townsfolk and settled communities; none remains but me. And here I am in the open wilderness, about to die. So keep watch on the road—you will soon see what I have foretold. I have neither lied, nor have I been lied to.”

She protested, “But how can that be when the pilgrims have already dispersed?”

He answered, “Just keep watch on the road.”

While she was doing so, behold, a company appeared, their mounts trotting toward her as though they were vultures (2). They continued until they halted before her.

They asked, “What is the matter with you?”

She said, “A Muslim man lies here; if you shroud him you will earn a reward.”

They asked, “Who is he?”

She said, “Abu Dharr.”

They exclaimed, “May our fathers and mothers be ransomed for him!” Then they threw their whips over their shoulders and rushed toward him.

He said, “Rejoice! You are the group about whom the Messenger of Allah ﷺ spoke as he did. I heard him say:

‘No two Muslim parents who lose two—or three—children, seek Allah’s reward and remain patient, will ever see the Fire.’

“Today, as you can see, I have reached my final hour. If any one of my garments were large enough I would be shrouded in nothing else. I beg you by Allah: let no man who has ever served as a governor, tax officer, or courier be the one to wrap me in my shroud.”