so I abandoned trade and devoted myself to worship. (1)

I say: The best course is to combine both pursuits—commerce and worship—along with jihad. This is the path followed by a number of the early generations and the Sufis. Undeniably, people’s natures vary: some are strong enough to bring the two together, like al-Ṣiddīq, ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿAwf, and likewise Ibn al-Mubārak; others are unable and confine themselves to worship alone; some begin with strength and later weaken, and others the reverse. All of these approaches are acceptable, yet one must still uphold the rights of one’s wife and household.

Saʿīd ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz said: Abu al-Dardāʾ entered Islam on the day of Badr, then he was present at Uḥud. On that day the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered him to send back those who had climbed the mountain, so he single-handedly drove them back, for his acceptance of Islam had been only shortly before. (2)

Shurayḥ ibn ʿUbayd al-Ḥimṣī reported: When the Companions of the Messenger of Allah were put to flight on the day of Uḥud, Abu al-Dardāʾ was among those who returned to the Messenger of Allah while he was still with the people. When the idolaters loomed over them from above, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed, “O Allah, do not allow them to overpower us.” Some men then came back and volunteered, among them ʿUwaymir—Abu al-Dardāʾ—until they dislodged the enemy from their position, and Abu al-Dardāʾ on that day distinguished himself with fine deeds.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “What an excellent horseman ʿUwaymir is!” (3)