Abuzer
The Veddan valley connects Mecca with
the outside world. The Gifar Tribe
lived in that valley. They got food and
money from Qureish caravans going from Mecca to Syria. If they didn’t get enough, they attacked the
caravans.
Abu Zer was a member of the Gifar Tribe. He was a brave and far-sighted person. Other people of his tribe worshipped idols, but Abu Zer believed in one God. He felt the darkness of the pagan beliefs. He was waiting for a new prophet to come.
One day Abu Zer heard about Muhammad
(pbuh). He quickly called his brother,
Enis. “Go to Mecca and get all the news
about this prophet,” said Abu Zer.
“Listen to what he says carefully.”
Enis agreed to do what Abu Zer
wanted. He went to Mecca and found
Muhammad (pbuh).
After listening to his talks, Enis returned to the village. Abu Zer asked his brother about what he had
heard. “I saw a man who brings out the
best in others. His words have nothing
to do with poetry,” said Enis.
“What do others say about him?” asked Abu Zer.
“They say he’s a magician and a poet,” replied Enis.
“I need to look into this matter myself,” said Abu Zer. “Will you take care of my family while I’m
gone?”
Enis
answered, “Okay, but beware of the Meccans.”
The next day Abu Zer arrived at Mecca. He didn’t ask anyone about the Prophet. He knew the Qureish were very angry with
Muhammad (pbuh). That night he went to
the masjid. Ali Ibn Abu Talib came and
invited him to sleep at his house.
The next day, Abu Zer again went to the masjid. He didn’t tell anyone who he was. That night Ali
invited him
to sleep at his house again. On the
third night, Ali asked Abu Zer, “Why are you in Mecca?”
“I came to see the new prophet,” replied Abu Zer.
“Follow me tomorrow morning,” said Ali. “If I see anything dangerous, I’ll stop on the road. If I don’t stop, keep following me.”
That night Abu Zer couldn’t
sleep. He was too excited. The next morning he followed Ali. They went to see the Prophet. “Assalamu
alaika, Rasulullah,” said Abu Zer.
“Wa alayka salamullahi ve rahmatuhu ve berakatuhu,” replied the Prophet.
Abu Zer was the first person to greet
the Prophet in this way. After that all
Muslims greeted each other this way.
Muhammad (pbuh) welcomed Abu Zer and
invited him to accept Islam. He recited
some of
the
Qur’an. Abu Zer declared his faith and
became a Muslim. He was one of the
first
persons to
accept Islam.
Abu Zer stayed for a while with the
Prophet. He learned about Islam. He also learned to recite some of the
Qur’an. The Prophet told him,
“Don’t
tell anyone in Mecca that you are a Muslim.
I’m afraid they might kill you.”
But
Abu Zer replied, “I swear by God who holds my life in His hands, I will not
leave Mecca until I’ve shouted to the Qureish that I’m a Muslim.” Muhammad (pbuh) didn’t say anything.
Abu Zer went to the masjid. A number of Qureish were sitting and talking
there. He went to the middle of their
group and shouted, “Hey, people of Qureish.
There is no god but God, and Muhammad (pbuh) is His messenger.”
The Qureish became very angry. They jumped up and said, “Grab this
man. He doesn’t believe in our
religion.” The Qureish began beating
Abu Zer. They wanted to kill him. But the Prophet’s
uncle, Abbas, recognized Abu
Zer.
Abbas protected Abu Zer from the others. He
said, “Shame on you. Are you going to kill someone from the Gifar
Tribe? Our caravan routes are in their
hands.”
The Qureish stepped back. They didn’t touch Abu Zer. He left and went to see the Prophet. “Didn’t I tell you not to let anyone know
you’re Muslim?” asked the Prophet.
“Go and tell your people about Islam.
Invite them to become Muslims.
They will benefit from you, and you will be rewarded for that. When I begin to preach openly about Islam,
come to me.”
Abu Zer left Mecca and went back to
his people. He told his family about
Islam. First his brother, Enis, became
Muslim. Then his mother accepted Islam,
too. His whole family began to invite
others to the new religion. Many
members of the Gifar Tribe accepted Islam because of their efforts.
After the battles of Bedir, Uhud and Hendek, Abu Zer went to
Medina to join the Prophet.
Abu Zer
asked to personally serve him. Muhammad
(pbuh) accepted. He showed Abu Zer special attention. Abu Zer was very happy to
be with the Prophet.
After the Prophet’s death, Abu Zer
didn’t want to stay in Medina. He went
to the Syrian desert during the caliphates of Abu Bekir and Omar.
During the caliphate of Osman, Abu Zer went to Damascus. He saw that Muslims were busy working for
their own comfort. This made Abu Zer
unhappy. Osman invited him to
Medina. He went there, but he saw
Muslims there busy with this world as well.
When he criticized people for this, they became angry.
Osman invited Abu Zer to go to a small
village near Medina. Abu Zer went
there. He lived a simple life far away
from people. He preferred the next
world to this one.
The Prophet said about Abu Zer,
“No man truer than Abu Zer
walked on this earth under the heavens.”