Hadith of Abu Dharr al-Ghifari -

The following beautiful Hadith is narrated by Abu Dharr al-Ghifari who is one of the famous companions of our dearest Allah’s Prophet Muhammad (صلي الله عليه وآله وبارك وسلم) . This single Hadith has a mountain of knowledge in it . There are many questions asked by Abu Dharr al-Ghifari which are carries precious information . This Hadith can be found in the following books.

Abu-Naeem Al-Asbahani, “Hilyatul-Awliya’wa Tabaqat Al-Asfiya”. Volume 1 Page 166 .
Tarikh-i Tabari 9/120.
Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān (صحيح ابن حبان). Vol 2 page 76 Hadeeth Number 361 .
Kanz al-Ummal Fee Sunan al-Aqwal wa al-Af’al (known in English as Treasures of the Doers of Good Deeds).

You can also check this also in Arabic and in Urdu.[ Arabic and Urdu version under construction]

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

The lovely hadith of Hazrat Abu Dhar Ghaffari's questions

I have only skipped some parts of this Hadith which are considered Daif . Also I have only changed just a single order of one question. The rest of the Hadith is exactly written below. To make it easy to memorize, I have divided the Hadith in easy to read topics.

Order of praying two Rakah salat after entering mosque

It is narrated by Hazrat Abu Dharr that once I entered the mosque and saw that the Messenger of Allah, (صلي الله عليه وآله وبارك وسلم), was sitting alone in the mosque. The Dearest Prophet (صلي الله عليه وآله وبارك وسلم) said: O Abu Dharr, without a doubt, there are manners in the mosque, one is to recite two rak’ahs, so stand up and pray two rak’ahs.
I stood up and prayed two rak’ahs, then you asked the beloved Messenger of Allah, may God bless him and grant him peace, these things.

The Reality of Salah, Fasting and Allah's favorite act

I said; O Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وآله وبارك وسلم) ,you ordered me for Salah, so what is Salah? He (صلي الله عليه وآله وبارك وسلم) said: “Prayer is the best (worship) that has been revealed! So pray more or less of it! (That is, the choice is yours, but the more Sunnahs and Nawafl you perform in addition to obligatory prayers, the better for you).
I said; O Rasulullah (صلي الله عليه وآله وبارك وسلم) What is fasting? A duty that has many times the reward with Allah
I said; Which action is more favorite with Allah ? He (صلي الله عليه وآله وبارك وسلم) said: Believing in Allah Ta’ala and doing Jihad in His way.

The perfect believer and the most secure Muslim

I said; O Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وآله وبارك وسلم), who is a perfect believer? He said: He who has the best morals.
I said; O Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وآله وبارك وسلم), which Muslim is the most secure? He said: From whose hand and tongue people are safe.

Excellent migration

I said; O Messenger of Allah ﷺ Which migration is best? He said: He who migrates from sins.

Best night ever

I said; Ya Rasoolullah ﷺ: Which night is best? He said: The remaining half of the night

The best charity

I said; O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, which charity is best? He said: The effort to give charity by a person who has very little himself and (yet) secretly gives to the poor.

The best verse of Quran

I said ; O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, what is the best verse that Allah has revealed to you? He said: Ayat al-Kursi.

The majesty of the Kursi [chair] and Throne of Allah

Then he said: “Oh Abu Zar ,the seven heavens in comparison to the Kursi is not except like a ring thrown in vast open land (like a desert). And the virtue of the throne over the Kursi is like the superiority of that land over that ring.”

The best jihad

I said; O Messenger of Allah ﷺ Which Jihad is best? He said: The legs of his horse are cut off and its (owner’s) blood is spilled. [Meaning that both the rider and the ride are injured. In modern times,it can also be said as the ride is destroyed and the warrior is injured]

Questions related to previous prophets and books of Allah

The following part of the Hadith is considered very weak or not authentic.

I said; O Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وآله وبارك وسلم) how many prophets have there been: He said: One hundred and twenty four thousand.
I said; O Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وآله وبارك وسلم) how many of them are the Rasool ? He said: Three hundred ,a big group.
I said; O Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وآله وبارك وسلم) Who is the first among them? He said: Adam (peace be upon him).
I said;O Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وآله وبارك وسلم), was he also a messenger? He said: Yes. Allah created Adam with His own hands, then He breathed His Spirit into him and then talked to him.
Then he(صلي الله عليه وآله وبارك وسلم) said: O Abu Dharr! The four prophets are Aramic . Adam, Shesh, Enoch (Idris (peace be upon him) )was the first to write with a pen) and Noah (peace be upon him).
Four Prophets were born from Arabs: Hud, Saleh, Shoaib and your Prophet.
Abu Dhar! The first prpohet is Adam and the last Prophet is Muhammad(صلي الله عليه وآله وبارك وسلم).
The first prophet of Bani Israel is Musa (peace be upon him) and their last prophet is Jesus (peace be upon him), while there are a thousand prophets among them.
I said; O Rasoolullah (صلي الله عليه وآله وبارك وسلم) How many books has Allah revealed? He said: One hundred and four books.
Fifty scriptures were revealed to Seth (peace be upon him),
three scriptures were revealed to Enoch (peace be upon him),
ten scriptures were revealed to Abraham (peace be upon him),
ten scriptures were revealed to Moses (peace be upon him) before the Torah, and Allah Almighty revealed the Torah, the Gospel, the Psalms and the Furqan(Quran).

(Dha’eef Jiddan – Very weak )

Knowledge in the Book of Allah revealed to Hazrat Ibrahim (peace be upon him).

Advice for rulers

I said : “O Messenger of Allahv(صلي الله عليه وآله وبارك وسلم)! “What were the scrolls of Ibraaheem? He (صلي الله عليه وآله وبارك وسلم)said: “They were all Parables. Oh you insolent, wretched, self-conceited King! Indeed I did not send you to collect the worldly benefits (dunya) together, rather I sent you to respond to the supplication of the oppressed on my behalf, for indeed I do not reject it, even if it comes from a Kaafir (non believer).

The order of dividing time for the wise

It is obligatory on a wise person, that until he is overcome by his mind (i.e. by some mental illness), his time should be divided like this :

A time in which he calls upon his Lord,
A time in which he takes account of himself.
A time in which he contemplates the creation of Allah,
A time in which he spends in obtaining the necessities of food and drink.

Knowledge in the Book of Allah revealed to Hazrat Musa (peace be upon him).

I said; O Messenger of Allah ﷺ ,what was in the scriptures of the Prophet Musa ?

He said: “They were all lessons (and admonitions).[for example]

Five lessons

I am amazed at the one who is certain of death then he is happy. And I am amazed at the who is certain of the (presence) of the fire then he laughs, and I am amazed at the one who is certain of pre-decree (concerning that which has been allotted to him) then he wears himself out. And I am amazed at the one who sees this world, and how affairs change for its people then he is tranquil within it. And I am amazed at the one who has certainty that the reckoning is tomorrow yet he doesnt act”

Mention of the scriptures of Abraham (peace be upon him) and Moses (peace be upon him) in Qur'an

I said; O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, has something been revealed to you in the scriptures of Abraham (peace be upon him) and Moses (peace be upon him)?

He said: Read O Abu Dharr [ Quran Chapter Al-Ala ,verse 14 to 19].

قَدۡ أَفۡلَحَ مَن تَزَكَّىٰ (١٤) وَذَكَرَ ٱسۡمَ رَبِّهِۦ فَصَلَّىٰ (١٥) بَلۡ تُؤۡثِرُونَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا (١٦) وَٱلۡأَخِرَةُ خَيۡرٌ۬ وأَبۡقَىٰٓ (١٧) إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَفِى ٱلصُّحُفِ ٱلۡأُولَىٰ (١٨) صُحُفِ إِبۡرَٲهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ (١٩)

ا مراد ہوا جو شخص (قرآن سن کر خبائث عقائد و اخلاق سے) پاک ہو گیا۔ (۱۴) اور اپنے رب کا نام لیتا اور نماز پڑھتا رہا۔ (۱۵) (مگر اے منکرو تم آخرت کا سامان نہیں کرتے بلکہ) تم دنیوی زندگی کو مقدم رکھتے ہو۔ (۱۶) حالانکہ آخرت (دنیا سے) بدرجہا بہتر اور پائیدار ہے۔ (۱۷) (اور یہ مضمون صرف قرآن ہی کا دعویٰ نہیں بلکہ) یہ مضمون اگلے صحیفوں میں بھی ہے۔ (۱۸) یعنی ابراھیمؑ اور موسیٰؑ کے صحیفوں میں (پس زیادہ تر مؤکّد ہوا)۔ (۱۹)

Indeed whosoever purifies himself (by avoiding polytheism and accepting Islâmic Monotheism) shall achieve success, (14) And remembers (glorifies) the Name of his Lord (worships none but Allâh), and prays (five compulsory prayers and Nawâfil — additional prayers). (15) Nay, you prefer the life of this world, (16) Although the Hereafter is better and more lasting. (17) Verily, this is in the former Scriptures — (18) The Scriptures of Ibrâhim (Abraham) and Mûsa (Moses). (19)

Advices to Hazrat Abu Dhar Ghaffari

The first will: recitation of the Qur'an and remembrance of Allah

I said; O Messenger of Allah ﷺ: Give me more will.

He said: Make recitation of the Qur’an and remembrance of Allah obligatory on yourself. Because they will be a light for you on earth and your mention in the heavens.

Second Will: Silence

I said; O Messenger of Allah ﷺ: Give me more will.

He said: Make silence obligatory upon yourself. Yes, you must talk about goodness, because silence will drive away the devil from you and help you in the matters of your religion.