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Seerah / Early Makkah

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Abu Dharr searches for the truth

Date
Early Makkan period · approximate
Location
Makkah
People
Abu Dharr (RA), 'Ali (RA)

Ibn 'Abbas (RA) narrates in Sahih al-Bukhari how Abu Dharr (RA) travelled to Makkah to find the Prophet ﷺ, was quietly guided to him by 'Ali (RA), accepted Islam and then declared it openly at the Ka'bah despite being beaten.

As it was narrated

The story, in the words of those who were there

Read slowly. These are the Companions' own words, from the verified hadith collections.

Hadith
Hadith collection

حَدَّثَنِي عَمْرُو بْنُ عَبَّاسٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا الْمُثَنَّى، عَنْ أَبِي جَمْرَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ لَمَّا بَلَغَ أَبَا ذَرٍّ مَبْعَثُ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ لأَخِيهِ ارْكَبْ إِلَى هَذَا الْوَادِي، فَاعْلَمْ لِي عِلْمَ هَذَا الرَّجُلِ الَّذِي يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ نَبِيٌّ، يَأْتِيهِ الْخَبَرُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ، وَاسْمَعْ مِنْ قَوْلِهِ، ثُمَّ …

Narrated Ibn `Abbas:When Abu Dhar received the news of the Advent of the Prophet (ﷺ) he said to his brother, "Ride to this valley (of Mecca) and try to find out the truth of the person who claims to be a prophet who is informed of the news of Heaven. Listen to what he says and come back to me." So his brother set out and came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and listened to some of his talks, and returned to Abu Dhar and said to him. "I have seen him enjoining virtuous behavior and saying something that is not poetry." Abu Dhar said, "You have not satisfied me as to what I wanted." He then took his journey-food and carried a waterskin of his, containing some water till he reached Mecca. He went to the Mos…

Sahih al-Bukhari · Hadith 3861 · Merits of the Helpers in Madinah (Ansaar)
Translation: Sahih al-Bukhari — English. Hadith data: fawazahmed0/hadith-api (numbering and gradings as published there).

Grading information unavailable in source data · from a collection regarded as sahih

Open source

Lessons

  • Sincere searching is met with guidance.
  • Courage for the truth can cost — and it is worth it.

Lessons are editorial reflections drawn from the event and its sources.

Pause for a moment

Which moment of your own life does this remind you of? Sit with it for a minute, then send salawat on the one who lived it ﷺ.

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Bibliography

  • Sahih al-Bukhari 3861 (Ibn 'Abbas) · primary source
  • Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq al-Makhtum (further reading)

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