Mukhtasar Muslim

‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with both of them) narrates that when Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) heard the news of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) being sent in Makkah, he said to his brother, “Mount your ride and go to this valley and see that person who claims that news comes to him from the sky. Listen to what he says and then come back to me.” So his brother set out, until he reached Makkah and heard the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), then returned to Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) and said, “I have seen that person; he commands good character and recites a speech which is not poetry.” Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “This did not satisfy me.” Then he himself took provisions and a water-skin until he reached Makkah and entered Masjid al-Haram. There he searched for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) but did not recognize him, nor did he consider it appropriate to ask. Night fell and he lay down. ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) saw him and recognized that he was a traveler, so he followed him, but neither spoke to the other until morning came. Then he brought his provisions and water-skin to the mosque and stayed there all day, but did not see the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) until evening. Then he went to his sleeping place. ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) passed by and said, “Has the time not come for this man to know his place?” Then he stood him up and took him along, but neither spoke to the other. The same happened on the third day. ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) stood him up and took him along, then said, “Why do you not tell me the reason for which you have come to this city?” Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “If you promise and pledge to guide me, I will tell you.” ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) promised, so he told him. ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “That person is truthful and he is indeed the Messenger of Allah. In the morning, walk with me. If I see anything that makes me fear for your life, I will stand as if pouring water (i.e., I will pretend to urinate), and if I move on, then follow me. Wherever I enter, you also enter.” Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) did so and followed him until ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) reached the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) also reached with him. Then Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) listened to the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and accepted Islam right there. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Go to your people and inform them about the religion until my command reaches you.” Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “By Him in Whose hand is my soul, I will proclaim this (i.e., my acceptance of Islam) to the people of Makkah.” Then Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) came out to the mosque and proclaimed loudly, “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is the true Messenger of Allah.” The people attacked him and beat him until he fell down. ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) came and leaned over Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) and said to the people, “Woe to you! Do you not know that this man is from (the tribe of) Ghifar, and your trade route to Syria passes through the land of Ghifar (so they may cut off your trade)?” Then he rescued Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) from them. The next day, Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) did the same, and the people rushed and beat him, and ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) came and rescued him.