al-Dardaʾ, from Salman, from Ibn Masʿud, and from ʿAbd Allah ibn Salam—who had been a Jew and then accepted Islam. (1)

Ibn Masʿud also said, “The scholars of the people are three: one in Iraq, another in Syria—meaning Abu al-Dardaʾ, though he in turn needs the one in Iraq, meaning myself—and both of us need the one in Medina, that is, ʿAli (may Allah be pleased with him).” (2) Its chain of transmission is weak.

Ibn Wahb reported: Yahya ibn ʿAbd Allah told me, from ʿAbd al-Rahman al-Hajari, who said:
Abu Dharr said to Abu al-Dardaʾ, “No speckled bird that ever flew, nor any stretch of green sky that ever cast its shade, has sheltered anyone more knowledgeable than you, O Abu al-Dardaʾ.” (3)

Mansur narrated—from a man—on the authority of Masruq, who said:
“I found that the knowledge of the Companions culminated in six: ʿUmar, ʿAli, Ubayy, Zayd, Abu al-Dardaʾ, and Ibn Masʿud; then it was distilled into two of them: ʿAli and ʿAbd Allah.” (4)

Khalid ibn Maʿdan said: Ibn ʿUmar used to say, “Tell us about the two men of sound reason.” When asked, “Who are the two men of sound reason?” he would reply, “Muʿadh and Abu al-Dardaʾ.” (5)