Bukhari

Narrated Abu Jamra: Ibn `Abbas said to us, "Shall I tell you the story of Abu Dhar's conversion to Islam?" We said, "Yes." He said, "Abu Dhar said: I was a man from the tribe of Ghifar. We heard that a man had appeared in Mecca, claiming to be a Prophet. ! said to my brother, 'Go to that man and talk to him and bring me his news.' He set out, met him and returned. I asked him, 'What is the news with you?' He said, 'By Allah, I saw a man enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil.' I said to him, 'You have not satisfied me with this little information.' So, I took a waterskin and a stick and proceeded towards Mecca. Neither did I know him (i.e. the Prophet ), nor did I like to ask anyone about him. I Kept on drinking Zam zam water and staying in the Mosque. Then `Ali passed by me and said, 'It seems you are a stranger?' I said, 'Yes.' He proceeded to his house and I accompanied him. Neither did he ask me anything, nor did I tell him anything. Next morning I went to the Mosque to ask about the Prophet but no-one told me anything about him. `Ali passed by me again and asked, 'Hasn't the man recognized his dwelling place yet' I said, 'No.' He said, 'Come along with me.' He asked me, 'What is your business? What has brought you to this town?' I said to him, 'If you keep my secret, I will tell you.' He said, 'I will do,' I said to him, 'We have heard that a person has appeared here, claiming to be a Prophet. I sent my brother to speak to him and when he returned, he did not bring a satisfactory report; so I thought of meeting him personally.' `Ali said (to Abu Dhar), 'You have reached your goal; I am going to him just now, so follow me, and wherever I enter, enter after me. If I should see someone who may cause you trouble, I will stand near a wall pretending to mend my shoes (as a warning), and you should go away then.' `Ali proceeded and I accompanied him till he entered a place, and I entered with him to the Prophet to whom I said, 'Present (the principles of) Islam to me.' When he did, I embraced Islam 'immediately. He said to me, 'O Abu Dhar! Keep your conversion as a secret and return to your town; and when you hear of our victory, return to us. ' I said, 'By H him Who has sent you with the Truth, I will announce my conversion to Islam publicly amongst them (i.e. the infidels),' Abu Dhar went to the Mosque, where some people from Quraish were present, and said, 'O folk of Quraish ! I testify that None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, and I (also) testify that Muhammad is Allah's Slave and His Apostle.' (Hearing that) the Quraishi men said, 'Get at this Sabi (i.e. Muslim) !' They got up and beat me nearly to death. Al `Abbas saw me and threw himself over me to protect me. He then faced them and said, 'Woe to you! You want to kill a man from the tribe of Ghifar, although your trade and your communications are through the territory of Ghifar?' They therefore left me. The next morning I returned (to the Mosque) and said the same as I have said on the previous day. They again said, 'Get at this Sabi!' I was treated in the same way as on the previous day, and again Al-Abbas found me and threw himself over me to protect me and told them the same as he had said the day before.' So, that was the conversion of Abu Dhar (may Allah be Merciful to him) to Islam."

Zaid, the son of Akhzam, narrated to us, he said: Abu Qutaiba Salm bin Qutaiba narrated to us, from him Mathna bin Saeed Qaseer narrated, he said that Abu Jamrah narrated to me, he said that Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) said to us: "Shall I tell you the story of Abu Dharr's (may Allah be pleased with him) acceptance of Islam?" We said: "Please do." He narrated that Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) told: "I belonged to the tribe of Ghifar. News reached us that in Mecca, a man has appeared who claims to be a Prophet. (At first) I said to my brother: 'Go to this man in Mecca, talk to him, and then come back and tell me all about him.' So my brother went to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and met him, then returned. I asked: 'What news do you bring?' He said: 'By Allah! I have seen a man who calls to good deeds and forbids evil deeds.' I said: 'Your words have not satisfied me.' So I took my provisions and staff and came to Mecca. There, I did not know anyone, and I was afraid to ask anyone about the Prophet (peace be upon him). I would only drink Zamzam water and stay in Masjid al-Haram." He narrated: "Once, Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) passed by me and said: 'It seems you are a stranger in this city.' I said: 'Yes.' He said: 'Then come to my house.' Then he took me to his house. I went with him. He did not ask me anything, nor did I say anything. In the morning, I went again to Masjid al-Haram to ask someone about the Prophet (peace be upon him), but there was no one to tell me about him." He narrated: "Then Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) passed by me again and said: 'Have you not yet found your destination?' I said: 'No.' He said: 'Alright, then come with me.' He narrated: "Then Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) asked: 'What is your purpose? Why have you come to this city?' I said: 'If you promise not to reveal it, I will tell you about my matter.' He said: 'I will do so.' Then I told him: 'We have heard that a man has appeared here who claims Prophethood. I first sent my brother to talk to him, but when he returned, he did not give me any satisfactory information. So I have come with the intention of meeting him myself.' Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: 'You have found the right way by meeting me. I am going to him. You walk behind me. Wherever I enter, you also enter. If I see someone about whom I fear for you, I will stand by a wall as if I am fixing my shoe. At that time, you move ahead.' So he went, and I followed him, and finally, he entered a house, and I entered with him into the presence of the Prophet (peace be upon him). I said to the Prophet (peace be upon him): 'Explain to me the principles and pillars of Islam.' The Prophet (peace be upon him) explained them to me, and I became Muslim. Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'O Abu Dharr! Keep this matter hidden for now and return to your city. Then, when you hear of our dominance, come back here.' I said: 'By Him who has sent you with the truth, I will proclaim the word of Islam before all of them.' So he went to Masjid al-Haram. The Quraysh were present there, and he said: 'O people of Quraysh! (Listen) I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger.' The Quraysh said: 'Take care of this apostate.' So they rushed at me and beat me so much that I was close to death. At that moment, Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) came and fell upon me, shielding me with his body, and turned to the Quraysh and said: 'O fools! Will you kill a man from the tribe of Ghifar? You have trade with Ghifar, and your caravans pass through their territory.' So they let me go. Then, when the next morning came, I again went to Masjid al-Haram and repeated what I had proclaimed the previous day. The Quraysh again said: 'Seize this apostate.' They did to me what they had done the previous day. Coincidentally, Abbas bin Abdul Muttalib (may Allah be pleased with him) again came and shielded me with his body, and said to the Quraysh what he had said the previous day. Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) said: "This was how Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) began his acceptance of Islam."