Aqdam أقدام

Companion of the Prophet ﷺ

أبو ذر الغفاري

رضي الله عنه

Abu Dharr al-Ghifari

Jundab ibn Junadah al-Ghifari

One of the earliest believers, praised by the Prophet as exceptionally truthful, and known for simple living and care for neighbours and workers.

  • al-Ghifari
A day in his footsteps
  • KunyaAbu Dharr
  • Family and tribeGhifar (Kinanah)
  • Died652 CE / 32 AH
  • Resting placeal-Rabadhah, east of Madinah
  • Counted amongMuhajirun

Introduction

Abu Dharr came from the tribe of Ghifar, who lived along the caravan road between Makkah and Syria. Hearing of a man in Makkah who claimed prophethood, he sent his brother to investigate, then went himself, and became one of the first to accept Islam. Ibn Abbas later told the story of how he found the Prophet and declared his faith publicly in Makkah despite the danger.

He is remembered for simplicity and bluntness in speaking the truth. The Prophet said of him that the sky had not shaded and the earth had not carried anyone more truthful than Abu Dharr. He was equally known for a tender heart: he fed his neighbours, treated his workers as brothers, and passed on short, practical teachings about doing small good deeds.

In later life he settled at al-Rabadhah, east of Madinah, where he died in 32 AH. The Prophet had told him that leadership was a heavy trust and he was too weak for it, and Abu Dharr chose a life of quiet worship and plain advice over office.

The story

  1. Early Makkan period

    Travelled from Ghifar to Makkah, accepted Islam and declared it openly; Ibn Abbas narrates the story of his conversion.

    Read the wording
    Sahih al-Bukhari 3522Sahih
    Arabic text

    رَأَيْتُ رَجُلاً يَأْمُرُ بِالْخَيْرِ وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الشَّرِّ. فَقُلْتُ لَهُ لَمْ تَشْفِنِي مِنَ الْخَبَرِ. فَأَخَذْتُ جِرَابًا وَعَصًا، ثُمَّ أَقْبَلْتُ إِلَى مَكَّةَ فَجَعَلْتُ لاَ أَعْرِفُهُ، وَأَكْرَهُ أَنْ أَسْأَلَ عَنْهُ، وَأَشْرَبُ مِنْ مَاءِ زَمْزَمَ وَأَكُونُ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ. قَالَ فَمَرَّ بِي عَلِيٌّ فَقَالَ كَأَنَّ الرَّجُلَ غَرِيبٌ. قَالَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ. قَالَ فَانْطَلِقْ إِلَى …

    “Shall I tell you the story of Abu Dhar's conversion to Islam?”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih al-Bukhari)

  2. Date not recorded

    After insulting a man by his mother, the Prophet reminded him that a trace of ignorance remained in him, and he began dressing his servant as he dressed himself.

    Read the wording
    Sahih al-Bukhari 30Sahih
    Arabic text

    … رَجُلاً، فَعَيَّرْتُهُ بِأُمِّهِ، فَقَالَ لِيَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ أَعَيَّرْتَهُ بِأُمِّهِ إِنَّكَ امْرُؤٌ فِيكَ جَاهِلِيَّةٌ، إِخْوَانُكُمْ خَوَلُكُمْ، جَعَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ تَحْتَ أَيْدِيكُمْ، فَمَنْ كَانَ أَخُوهُ تَحْتَ يَدِهِ فَلْيُطْعِمْهُ مِمَّا يَأْكُلُ، وَلْيُلْبِسْهُ مِمَّا يَلْبَسُ، وَلاَ تُكَلِّفُوهُمْ مَا يَغْلِبُهُمْ، فَإِنْ كَلَّفْتُمُوهُمْ …

    “You still have some characteristics of ignorance”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih al-Bukhari)

  3. After the Prophet's death

    Settled outside Madinah at al-Rabadhah.

  4. 32 AH / 652 CE

    Died at al-Rabadhah.

A day in their footsteps

7 small, repeatable practices from Abu Dharr al-Ghifari's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.

  1. Sharing food with neighbours

    The Prophet told him that when he prepared a broth he should add more water and send some to his neighbours, keeping their households in mind.

    Try this today

    Make your dinner stretch: cook a little extra and share it with the people next door.

    Sit with this

    Could tonight's dinner stretch to a bowl for the people next door?

    Source

    Sahih Muslim 2625Sahih

    قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ إِذَا طَبَخْتَ مَرَقَةً فَأَكْثِرْ مَاءَهَا وَتَعَاهَدْ جِيرَانَكَ".

    “Abu Dharr, when you prepare the broth, add water to that and give that (as a present) to your neighbour”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih Muslim)

  2. A cheerful face

    He was told never to dismiss a small good deed, even meeting his brother with a cheerful face.

    Try this today

    Greet everyone you meet today with a real smile.

    Sit with this

    Who will you meet today who needs a real smile from you?

    Source

    Sahih Muslim 2626Sahih

    قَالَ قَالَ لِيَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ تَحْقِرَنَّ مِنَ الْمَعْرُوفِ شَيْئًا وَلَوْ أَنْ تَلْقَى أَخَاكَ بِوَجْهٍ طَلْقٍ".

    “Don't consider anything insignificant out of good things even if it is that you meet your brother with a cheerful countenance”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih Muslim)

  3. The treasure of Paradise: la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah

    The Prophet offered Abu Dharr a treasure from the treasures of Paradise and taught him to say that there is no power and no strength except with Allah.

    Try this today

    When overwhelmed, say la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah and hand the burden to Allah.

    Sit with this

    What burden could you hand to Allah with la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah?

    Source

    Sunan Ibn Majah 3825Sahih

    قَالَ قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ" أَلاَ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى كَنْزٍ مِنْ كُنُوزِ الْجَنَّةِ". قُلْتُ بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ. قَالَ" لاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ".

    “La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah (There is no power and no strength except with Allah)”

    Grade: Sahih (al-Albani)

  4. Morning charity and the two Duha rak'ahs

    Abu Dharr narrated that every morning charity is due on every joint of the body, and that each tasbih, praise, declaration of oneness and takbir is charity, as is enjoining good, and two rak'ahs of Duha are enough to cover it.

    Try this today

    Pray two rak'ahs after sunrise and count your tasbih as charity.

    Sit with this

    How many small charities could your tongue give before noon?

    Source

    Sahih Muslim 720Sahih

    أَنَّهُ قَالَ " يُصْبِحُ عَلَى كُلِّ سُلاَمَى مِنْ أَحَدِكُمْ صَدَقَةٌ فَكُلُّ تَسْبِيحَةٍ صَدَقَةٌ وَكُلُّ تَحْمِيدَةٍ صَدَقَةٌ وَكُلُّ تَهْلِيلَةٍ صَدَقَةٌ وَكُلُّ تَكْبِيرَةٍ صَدَقَةٌ وَأَمْرٌ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ صَدَقَةٌ وَنَهْىٌ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ صَدَقَةٌ وَيُجْزِئُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ رَكْعَتَانِ يَرْكَعُهُمَا مِنَ الضُّحَى".

    “two rak'ahs which one prays in the forenoon will suffice”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih Muslim)

  5. Treating workers as brothers

    After insulting a man's mother, he was reminded by the Prophet that those under his command are his brothers; they must be fed and clothed as he is. Abu Dharr dressed his servant in the same cloak as himself.

    Try this today

    Treat those who work for you with equality: feed, dress and help them as you would yourself.

    Sit with this

    Do the people who work for you eat and dress the way you would want to?

    Source

    Sahih al-Bukhari 30Sahih

    … رَجُلاً، فَعَيَّرْتُهُ بِأُمِّهِ، فَقَالَ لِيَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ أَعَيَّرْتَهُ بِأُمِّهِ إِنَّكَ امْرُؤٌ فِيكَ جَاهِلِيَّةٌ، إِخْوَانُكُمْ خَوَلُكُمْ، جَعَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ تَحْتَ أَيْدِيكُمْ، فَمَنْ كَانَ أَخُوهُ تَحْتَ يَدِهِ فَلْيُطْعِمْهُ مِمَّا يَأْكُلُ، وَلْيُلْبِسْهُ مِمَّا يَلْبَسُ، وَلاَ تُكَلِّفُوهُمْ مَا يَغْلِبُهُمْ، فَإِنْ كَلَّفْتُمُوهُمْ …

    “So whoever has a brother under his command should feed him of what he eats and dress him of what he wears”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih al-Bukhari)

  6. Fasting the white days

    The Prophet told Abu Dharr that if he fasted three days of the month, he should choose the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth.

    Try this today

    Fast the three white days each month.

    Sit with this

    Have you marked the 13th, 14th and 15th of this lunar month?

    Source

    Jami at-Tirmidhi 761Hasan Sahih

    … وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو وَقُرَّةَ بْنِ إِيَاسٍ الْمُزَنِيِّ وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ وَأَبِي عَقْرَبٍ وَابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَعَائِشَةَ وَقَتَادَةَ بْنِ مِلْحَانَ وَعُثْمَانَ بْنِ أَبِي الْعَاصِي وَجَرِيرٍ. قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ أَبِي ذَرٍّ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ. وَقَدْ رُوِيَ فِي بَعْضِ الْحَدِيثِ أَنَّ" مَنْ صَامَ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ كَانَ كَمَنْ صَامَ …

    “When you fast three days out of a month, then fast the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth”

    Grade: Hasan Sahih (al-Albani)

  7. Humility about authority

    Abu Dharr once asked the Prophet to appoint him to office. The Prophet gently told him that he was weak and that authority is a trust which will be a cause of regret on the Day of Judgement except for one who fulfils it properly.

    Try this today

    Know your limits; do not seek roles you cannot carry.

    Sit with this

    Is there a role you want that you are not yet ready to carry?

    Source

    Sahih Muslim 1825Sahih

    قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَلاَ تَسْتَعْمِلُنِي قَالَ فَضَرَبَ بِيَدِهِ عَلَى مَنْكِبِي ثُمَّ قَالَ " يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ إِنَّكَ ضَعِيفٌ وَإِنَّهَا أَمَانَةٌ وَإِنَّهَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ خِزْىٌ وَنَدَامَةٌ إِلاَّ مَنْ أَخَذَهَا بِحَقِّهَا وَأَدَّى الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ فِيهَا".

    “thou art weak and authority is a trust”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih Muslim)

Virtues

  • The Prophet said no one under the sky or on the earth was more truthful than Abu Dharr.

    “There is no one more truthful, that the sky has shaded and the earth has carried, than Abu Dharr”

    Arabic text

    قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " مَا أَظَلَّتِ الْخَضْرَاءُ وَلاَ أَقَلَّتِ الْغَبْرَاءُ أَصْدَقَ مِنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ". وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ وَأَبِي ذَرٍّ. وَهَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ.

    Jami at-Tirmidhi 3801Sahih

  • Abu Dharr was among those who heard the Prophet's account of the night journey and the splitting of his chest, preserving the details for the community.

    “While I was at Mecca the roof of my house was opened and Gabriel descended”

    Arabic text

    قَالَ كَانَ أَبُو ذَرٍّ يُحَدِّثُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ" فُرِجَ عَنْ سَقْفِ بَيْتِي وَأَنَا بِمَكَّةَ، فَنَزَلَ جِبْرِيلُ فَفَرَجَ صَدْرِي، ثُمَّ غَسَلَهُ بِمَاءِ زَمْزَمَ، ثُمَّ جَاءَ بِطَسْتٍ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ مُمْتَلِئٍ حِكْمَةً وَإِيمَانًا، فَأَفْرَغَهُ فِي صَدْرِي ثُمَّ أَطْبَقَهُ، ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِيَدِي فَعَرَجَ بِي إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا، فَلَمَّا جِئْتُ إِلَى …

    Sahih al-Bukhari 349Sahih

Words on this page

Duhaالضحى
The voluntary forenoon prayer, prayed after the sun has risen well above the horizon and before midday, usually two or more rak'ahs.
La hawla wa la quwwata illa billahلا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله
"There is no power and no strength except with Allah": words the Prophet ﷺ called a treasure of Paradise.
Madinahالمدينة
The city, formerly Yathrib, to which the Prophet ﷺ migrated and where the first Muslim community was built.
Makkahمكة
The city of the Ka'bah, where the Prophet ﷺ was born and revelation began.
Rak'ahركعة
One unit of the prayer: standing and reciting, bowing, and two prostrations.
Takbirتكبير
Saying "Allahu akbar", Allah is the greatest.
Tasbihتسبيح
Glorifying Allah by saying "SubhanAllah" (glory be to Allah); also used for counted dhikr.
White daysالأيام البيض
The 13th, 14th and 15th of each lunar month, when the moon is full; fasting them is a Sunnah.

The full glossary

Sources and review

Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com. Each report links to sunnah.com, and, where the numbering matches, to al-Hadees or HadithUnlocked as well. Quran verses link to quran.com, Tafsir Ibn Kathir and Tanzil. The Arabic is taken from the hadith editions and trimmed around the quoted words, so read the full report at the source before relying on it. Grades are the ones those editions give.

This page is pending scholar review. It was compiled from public sources, and its citations were last checked on 7 October 2026. If you notice a mistake or a missing source, please tell us.

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