- Hudbah ibn Khalid narrated to us—Hammam ibn Yahya narrated to us; Qatadah narrated to us, from Shahr ibn Hawshab—that Mu‘awiyah, may Allah have mercy on him, wrote to ‘Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him: “If you have any need in al-Sham, then send Abu Dharr back to yourself.”
Abu al-Darda’ remarked, “Even if Abu Dharr were to strike my back and sever my hands, I would still harbor no grievance against him, for I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say: ‘Neither has the green sky ever shaded nor the dusty earth borne anyone whose speech is more truthful than Abu Dharr. Whoever wishes to look at the person least attached to this world, let him look at Abu Dharr.’”
Abu Dharr subsequently came to ‘Uthman, and ‘Uthman said to him, “O Abu Dharr, stay with us; the milch she-camels will come to you in the morning and return in the evening.” He replied, “I have no need for them.” He then said, “Al-Rabadhah used to be my dwelling; grant me permission to go back there.” So he granted him permission.