Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalāʾ - Shams al‑Din al‑Dhahabi - (سيرة 2/237)

Siyar Aʿlām al-NubalāʾShams al‑Din al‑Dhahabi

caravan that passes by, say: “This is Abu Dharr.” When he died, they did exactly as he had instructed. A caravan soon appeared; its riders did not notice the bier until their mounts were about to trample it. With that caravan was Ibn Masʿūd and a group of people from Kufah.

He asked, “What is this?” They answered, “The funeral of Abu Dharr.” Ibn Masʿūd immediately burst into tears and said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ spoke the truth: ‘May Allah have mercy on Abu Dharr—he walks alone, dies alone, and will be raised alone.’” Then he dismounted and personally supervised the burial until Abu Dharr was laid to rest.

Ibn Isḥāq said: ʿAbd Allāh ibn Abī Bakr related to me that Abu Khaythamah, one of the Banū Sālim, returned to his household several days after the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had departed. It was a sweltering day. He found his two wives in their orchard; each had sprinkled water over her trellised arbor, cooled water for him, and prepared food. When he reached the entrance he stopped and said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ is out in the glare, the wind, and the heat, while I enjoy cool shade, chilled water, ready food, and a beautiful wife. How can I stay with my wealth? This is not fair.” He added, “No, by Allah, I will not enter either of your arbors until I catch up with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Prepare provisions for me.” They did so. He saddled his swift camel, mounted, and set out in pursuit of the Prophet until he reached him at Tabūk after the Prophet had already encamped there.

On the road he had met ʿUmayr ibn Wahb, and the two traveled together. When they drew near Tabūk, Abu Khaythamah said to ʿUmayr, “I have a sin to atone for; stay behind me until I come to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.” ʿUmayr agreed. Abu Khaythamah went ahead until he stood before the Prophet. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Let it be Abu Khaythamah!” They replied, “By Allah, it is indeed Abu Khaythamah.” He approached and offered greetings, and the Prophet said, “Well done, Abu Khaythamah.” He then recounted the whole story, and the Prophet prayed good for him.

Ibn Lahīʿah, reporting from Abū l-Aswad, from ʿUrwah, and likewise Mūsā ibn ʿUqbah, transmitted a narration similar in wording to that of Ibn Isḥāq.

Maʿmar and ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad ibn ʿAqīl said, concerning the Almighty’s words:

ركب يمرون بكم فقولوا: هذا أبو ذر. فلما مات فعلوا به ذلك. فاطلع ركب، فما علموا به حتى كادت ركائبهم توطأ سريره، فإذا ابن مسعود في رهط من أهل الكوفة. فقال: ما هذا؟ فقيل: جنازة أبي ذر. فاستهل ابن مسعود يبكي، فقال: صدق رسول الله ﷺ: "يرحم الله أبا ذر، يمشي وحده، ويموت وحده، ويبعث وحده" فنزل، فوليه بنفسه حتى أجنه. وقال ابن إسحاق: حدثني عبد الله بن أبي بكر، أن أبا خيثمة، أحد بني سالم، رجع -بعد مسير رسول الله ﷺ أياما- إلى أهله في يوم حار، فوجد امرأتين له في حائط قد رشت كل واحدة منهما عريشها، وبردت له فيه ماء، وهيأت له فيه طعاما، فلما دخل قام على باب العريش، فقال: رسول الله في الضح والريح والحر، وأنا في ظل بارد وما بارد وطعام مهيأ وامرأة حسناء، في مالي مقيم؟ ما هذا بالنصف. ثم قال: لا، والله، لا أدخل عريش واحدة منكما حتى ألحق برسول الله ﷺ، فهيئا لي زادا. ففعلتا. ثم قد ناضحه فارتحله. ثم خرج في طلب رسول الله ﷺ، حتى أدركه بتبوك حين نزلها. وقد كان أدركه عمير بن وهب في الطريق فترافقا، حتى إذا دنوا من تبوك، قال أبو خيثمة لعمير: إن لي ذنبا، تخلف عني حتى آتي رسول الله ﷺ. ففعل. فسار حتى دنا مع رسول الله ﷺ. فقال رسول الله ﷺ: "كن أبا خيثمة". فقالوا: هو والله أبو خيثمة، فأقبل وسلم، فقال له: "أولى لك أبا خيثمة". ثم أخبر رسول الله ﷺ الخبر، فقال له خيرًا. وقال ابن لهيعة، عن أبي الأسود، عن عروة. وقاله موسى بن عقبة فذكرا نحوا من سياق ابن إسحاق. وقال معمر، عبد الله بن محمد بن عقيل: في قوله -تعالى: