Fath al-Rabbani

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was sitting in the mosque. The noble Companions thought that revelation was descending upon him, so they remained silent towards him, until Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) came and entered the gathering and sat near the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) turned towards him and said: "Abu Dharr! Have you performed the Duha (forenoon) prayer today?" He replied: "No." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Get up and perform the prayer." He performed four units of Duha prayer, then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) turned towards him and said: "Abu Dharr! Seek refuge from the evil of the jinn and human devils." Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "O Messenger of Allah! Are there devils among humans too?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Yes, the jinn and human devils deceive and cast false words to one another." Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Abu Dharr! Shall I not teach you a word from the treasures of Paradise?" He said: "May Allah make me your ransom, do teach me." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Say: LAA HAWLA WA LAA QUWWATA ILLA BILLAAH (There is no power and no strength except with Allah)." I repeated this phrase, after which he remained silent towards me. I waited for his words and said: "O Messenger of Allah! We were polytheists and idol worshippers, Allah sent you as a mercy to the worlds. Please tell us about prayer, what kind of thing is it?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "It is the best act of worship. Now it is up to people whether they do little or much worship." Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I asked: O Messenger of Allah! What about fasting?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "It is obligatory and its reward is great." Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I asked: O Messenger of Allah! Tell me about charity, what is its reward with Allah?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Its reward is multiplied many times and with Allah there is even more reward for it." Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I asked: O Messenger of Allah! Which charity is best?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "To give charity secretly to a needy destitute person and to give charity to a poor person is the best charity." Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "O Messenger of Allah! Of the Qur'an that has been revealed to you, which verse is the greatest?" He said: {اَللّٰہُ لَا اِلٰہَ إِلَّا ہُوَ الْحَیُّ الْقَیُّومُ} that is, Ayat al-Kursi. Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I asked: O Messenger of Allah! Which martyr is the most virtuous?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The one whose blood is shed in the way of Allah and whose horse's legs are cut." Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I asked: O Messenger of Allah! Which type of slave is best to free?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The one who is the most valuable and most beloved in the eyes of his owners." Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I said: O Messenger of Allah! Who was the first Prophet?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Adam (peace be upon him)." Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I asked: O Messenger of Allah! Was Adam (peace be upon him) a Prophet?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Yes, he was a Prophet to whom Allah spoke directly. Allah created him with His blessed hand, then breathed into him of His created soul, then Allah said to him: 'Adam!'" Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I asked: O Messenger of Allah! How many Prophets are there?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "One hundred and twenty-four thousand, and among them, a large group of three hundred and fifteen are Messengers."