Fath al-Rabbani

Naeem bin Qanab Riyahi says: I came to Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him), but I did not find him and asked his wife. She said: He is over there at his property. Meanwhile, he arrived, driving two camels, one tied to the back of the other, and each had a water skin on its neck. He unloaded the water skins, and I said: O Abu Dharr! Among the people, I most desired to meet you, and at the same time, meeting you was most disliked by me. He said: What is the reason for this? May your father’s life be prolonged. He said: In the days of ignorance, I used to bury daughters alive. I desired to meet you in the hope that you would tell me whether there is any repentance or way out for me or not, and I feared meeting you lest you say that there is no repentance for me. Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Was this burying alive done in the days of ignorance? I said: Yes. He said: What has passed before, Allah Almighty has forgiven. Then he gestured with his head to his wife to bring food for me, but she did not pay attention. Then he ordered her, but again she did not pay attention, until their voices arguing grew loud. He said to his wife: Be quiet and go away from here. You can never exceed what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has said about you. Naeem says: I asked: What did the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say about these women? Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Woman is like a rib; if you try to straighten her, you will break her, and if you leave her crookedness as it is, you will continue to benefit from her. Then Sayyiduna Abu Dharr’s wife left and after a while brought tharid (a dish of bread and meat). Its taste was like that of the meat of a qata (a bird the size of a pigeon or quail). Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said to me: Eat, and do not be upset by my not eating with you, for I am fasting. Then he himself stood up and began to pray, making his bowing and other movements very light. I think when he realized that I was about to be full, he came and sat with me and started eating. I expressed regret by saying “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un.” Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: What happened? I said: If an ordinary person had lied, I would not have regretted it, but I never imagined that a lie could come from you. He said: You have spoken well. Since you and I have met, have I ever told a lie? I said: Just a little while ago you said you were fasting, and now I see you have started eating. He said: Certainly, certainly, the reason is that I have already fasted three days of this month. One good deed is equal to ten, so the reward of a month has been established, and eating with you was permissible for me.