Abuzar Ghafari (a.r.)
His name was Jundab bin Junadah. He belonged to the Bani Ghifar clan. He was one of the four pillars and was the third person, or according to some fourth, or fifth person, who embraced Islam. After embracing Islam he went to his own land. He was not present in the battles of Badr, Ohad and Khandaq. He however, subsequently came to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and served him most sincerely. The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) stated a large number of his merits and virtues. He had called him ‘the truthful one’ and the similitude of Christ son of Mary in piety and devoutness.
Allama Majlisi (a.r.) writes in his ‘Ainul Hayat’ that among the com-panions no one had reached the rank and moral excellence of Salmaan-e-Farsi, Abuzar and Miqdaad. Some traditions show that Salmaan was su-perior to Abuzar and Abuzar was superior to Miqdaad.
It is reported from Imam Moosa-e-Kazim (a.s.) that
On the day of Judgment an announcer from God Almighty will pro-claim, ‘Where are those who are the companions and geniune friends of Muhammad bin Abdullah (s.a.w.a.) and who strictly adhered to his ways, and did not break the covenant with him?’ and then will arise Salmaan, Abuzar and Miqdaad.
It is narrated from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) that
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said that God had commanded him for the friendship of four persons. The companions asked him who those per-sons were. The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) replied, ‘Ali ibne Abi Talib, Miqdaad, Salmaan and Abuzar.’
It is reported on the authority of a large number of sources of both Sunni and Shias books that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said,
The sky did not cast its shadow on any one and the earth did not sus-tain the weight of any one, who was more truthful than Abuzar.
Ibne Abdul Birr, who is one of the great ulema of Ahl-e-Sunnat, re-ports in his book ‘Isteeaab’ that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said, ‘Abuzar among my Ummat is the Christ son of Mary in devotion and piety.’ Ac-cording to another report the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said, ‘He is a similitude of Christ son of Mary in piety.’
It is also reported that Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) said,
Abuzar imbibed some of the learning, which no human being could sustain, and he secured them so firmly that nothing of it could come out.
Ibn-e-Babwaih, on the authority of reliable sources, quotes from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) that one day Abuzar (r.a.) passed by the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.). Angel Gabriel was sitting with the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) in
the guise of Dahya Kalbi and talking privately with him. Abuzar thought that he was Dahya Kalbi and was talking something private with the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) so he passed on. Gabriel said, ‘O Prophet of Allah! This is Abuzar. He passed on and did not salute us. If he had saluted, we would have responded to his salutation. Verily he has an invocation which is well-known among the heavenly beings when I go up, ask him.’ When Gabriel had left Abuzar came in. The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) asked Abuzar why he had not saluted them. Abuzar said, ‘I saw that Dahya Kalbi was sitting with you. I thought you had called him for some private talk, so I did not think it proper to disturb you.’ The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) told him that he was Gabriel, and he had said such and such thing. Abuzar felt very sorry for that. The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said, ‘Which is that invocation, with which you call upon Allah in prayer? Gabriel in-formed me that it is well-known over the heavens.’ Abuzar replied that he recited the following invocation:
‘I call on you, O Allah! In prayer that my belief in You be remain se-cure and my acknowledgement of your Prophet be proved and I may be immune from all the evils and I may be able to thank you for all your blessings and I remain free from the mischief of the wicked.’
It is reported from Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) that Abuzar wept so much for fear of God that he developed trouble in his eyes. People asked him to pray to Allah to cure his eyes. He said he did not worry so much about it. When he was asked what trouble had made him forget his eyes, he replied that he had two great things before him Paradise and Hell.
Ibne Babwaih (r.a.) quotes from Abdullah Ibne Abbas that one day the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.a.) was sitting in the Mosque of Quba, and a number of companions were with him. The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said: ‘The first person who enters at this hour from this door is a man from the people of Paradise’. When the companions heard this, some of them stood up so that they might take the initiative in entering there. Then the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said: ‘A group of men is entering shortly each one of them will try to take the lead. Among them one who informs me that the month of ‘Aazar’ has passed, will be among the people of Paradise.’ After this, Abuzar entered along with other people. The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) asked them: ‘In what Roomi month are we at present?’ Abuzar said, ‘O Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.a.)! ‘Aazar’ has passed.’ The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said:
I knew it, but I wanted that the companions might know that you be-long to Paradise; and how could it not because after me, you will be ex-iled from my ‘Haram’ (Medina) on account of your love for my Ahlul
Bait, and you will lead a lonely life and die a lonely death? A group of Iraqees, however, will shroud you, and bury you. They will be my com-panions in Paradise, for which Allah has made a promise to the pious ones.
Reliable historians, record that Abuzar went to Syria during the period of Caliph Omar, and remained there till the time of Usmaan. Muawiyah bin Abu Sufyan was at that time Governor of Syria, and since he was very fond of worldly ostentations, laying foundation of, and erecting lof-ty buildings, Abuzar opened his slashing criticism against him and ex-horted the people to accept the right of ‘Vilayat’ (caliphate) for Ameerul Momineen Ali (a.s.). Also recounted the virtues of the Holy Imam (a.s.) before the Syrians with the result that most of them became inclined to Shiaism. It is generally believed that the Shias, who are in Syria and Jabal owe their existence to the blessings of Abuzar. Muawiyah, however, complained to Caliph Usmaan against Abuzar and warned him that if Abuzar remained in the land a few days more, he would make the people deviate from him. Replying Usmaan wrote to Muawiyah, ‘As soon as my letter reaches you, you should make Abuzar mount a frantic horse and send him along with a guide of irritable temper, who might ride the horse day and night, so that Abuzar might be subdued by sleep and forget any talk about you and me.’
When the letter reached Muawiyah he called Abuzar and made him sit on the hump of unruly and naked camel. A hot headed man was made to accompany with him. Abuzar (a.r.) was a tall thin man and at that time he was enfeebled by age and all the hair of his head and face had become hoary. He had become very weak and infirm. The conductor rode the camel very rashly. The camel had no load on its back. With the severe hardship and suffering, which Abuzar sustained, his thighs got wounded, and their flesh fell down.
Abuzar reached Medina in a state of extreme pain and affliction, and paid a visit to Usmaan. There too he objected to his actions and sayings. Abuzar recited a verse from the Quran which cast reflection on Us-maan’s action.
Usmaan, however, could not tolerate Abuzar’s exhortations regarding enjoining of good and prevention of evil and ordered his, and his wife’s and children’s, banishment from Medina to Rabazah, which he con-sidered the worst place to live in. Not content with this, he ordered that, while he was being exiled, no one should go to see him off. But Ameerul Momineen (a.s.), Hasnain (a.s.), Aqeel, Ammaar-e-Yasir and some oth-ers, went to see him off. Marwan bin Hakam came in their way and
asked them why they were committing an act which was in violation of the orders of Caliph Usmaan. The conversation took place between Arneerul Momineen (a.s.) and Marwan. Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) struck a lance between the two ears of Marwan’s camel. Marwan went to Us-maan and complained to him. When Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) and Us-maan met together, he told Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) that Marwan had complained that he had struck a lance between the two ears of Marwan’s camel in reply Ameerul Momineen said, ‘There is my own camel stand-ing at the door of the house. Order Marwan to go out and strike a lance between the two ears of the camel.’
Abuzar however, was in Rabzah. He had to suffer an ordeal. His son Zar passed away. Abuzar had a few goats, which provided him and his family with means of their subsistence. A tragedy occurred and all of them died. His wife also left this world and Abuzar was left alone with his daughter near him. Abuzar’s daughter said that three days had passed and she and her father had gone without food. They were ex-tremely hungry. Her father said, ‘Come on, my daughter, let us go to this desert tract, possibly we may get some grass to eat.’ When they went to the desert, they did not find any thing there. Her father collected some sand and rested his head on it. She looked at his eyes, and saw that they were turning, and death was fast approaching him. She began to weep and said, ‘O my father! What should I do with you in this desert, as we are alone and strangers here?’ He said, ‘My daughter, do not fear. When I die, a group of Iraqis will come and attend to my obsequies, as my friend the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.a.) had given me this information in the battle of Tabook. O my daughter! When I breathe my last cover my face with a cloth, and sit on the road leading to Iraq. When you see a caravan coming, go to it and tell them that Abuzar, a companion of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is dead.’
Abuzar’s daughter said that while her father was in this condition, some people of Rabzah came to see him. They asked him what trouble he had and what he complained of. Abuzar said, ‘Of my sins.’ They asked him what he wished for. He said, ‘I wish for my Creator’s Mercy.’ They asked him if he wanted them to bring him a physician. He said, ‘It was the physician, who made me ill. The real physician is Allah Almighty. III-ness and cure are from Him.’
Abuzar’s daughter said that when her father caught sight of ‘Malakul Maut’ (Angel of Death) he said, ‘Welcome is the friend who has come to me at a time, when I need him most. Who feels shy or ashamed of your sight, may not be rescued. O Allah! Take me under the shelter of Your
mercy. I swear you know that I have always been found of your face, and never had I any aversion to death.’ His daughter said that when his soul departed to heaven, she covered his face with a mantle, and sat at the way of the Iraq Caravan. Shortly afterwards a group of people ap-peared. She said to them, ‘O Muslims! Abuzar, companion of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) has died.’ They came and began to weep. They gave him a bath, shrouded him, and after offering funeral prayers laid him to rest. Maalik-e-Ashtar was among the people, who attended his funeral. It is narrated that Maalik said that he had a sheet of cloth with him with which he shrouded Abuzar. The cost of that sheet was four thousand dirham.
