Fath al-Rabbani

It is narrated from Ibrahim bin Al-Ashtar that Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) was in Rabadhah. When the time of his death approached, his wife began to weep. He asked her, "Why are you crying?" She replied, "I am crying because how will I, alone, bury you? And I do not even have enough cloth for your shroud." Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "Do not weep. One day I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say, while I was present with a group of companions in his service, 'One man among you will die in the wilderness, and a group of believers will reach him.' All those who were present with me at that time have died in such a state that groups of people were around them, or they died in a populated area. Only I remain among those people, and now I am dying in the wilderness. Keep watch on the road. What I am telling you, you will soon see for yourself. By Allah, I am neither lying nor did the one who conveyed it—the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)—lie." Sayyiduna Abu Dharr's (may Allah be pleased with him) wife asked in astonishment, "How will this happen? The pilgrims have all returned to their regions after completing Hajj." He said, "Nevertheless, keep watch on the road." She was in this state when she saw people coming from afar, their mounts bringing them swiftly. From a distance, it seemed as if they were a flock of birds. The people came and reached Sayyiduna Abu Dharr's (may Allah be pleased with him) wife. They asked, "What is the matter?" She replied, "There is a Muslim man here. Please stop and perform his burial. May Allah reward you." They asked, "Who is he?" The woman informed them that he was Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him). All those people said to Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him), "May our parents be sacrificed for you," and they hung their staffs on the necks of their mounts and quickly busied themselves in his service. Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "Glad tidings to you! You are the people about whom the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) spoke. Congratulations to you! I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say that two Muslims (husband and wife) whose two or three (minor) children die, and they both remain patient over their deaths, hoping for reward from Allah, will never see Hell. And today you see my condition. If any of my clothes are sufficient, shroud me in them. I beseech you by Allah, let not any man among you who is a leader of a people or a chief of his tribe or a messenger of his people shroud me." All those people had fulfilled these responsibilities, except for one Ansari youth. He said, "I will serve you in this matter. I have two extra garments in my belongings. These two garments were spun by my mother with her own hands, and the two garments I am wearing are sufficient for my own use." Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "Alright, you shroud me." This hadith is also narrated in brief from Sayyidah Umm Dharr (may Allah be pleased with her).