Musnad Ahmad

It is narrated from Hazrat Umm Zar (may Allah be pleased with her) that when the time of Hazrat Abu Dharr’s (may Allah be pleased with him) death drew near, I began to weep. He asked, “Why are you crying?” I said, “Why should I not cry? You are dying in a wilderness in such a state that I have no means to bury you, nor do I have enough cloth to shroud you.” He said, “Do not cry and receive glad tidings, for I heard the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say: ‘Whoever dies among two or three Muslim children, and he bears their death with patience seeking reward, he will never see the fire of Hell.’ And I also heard the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say: ‘One of you will surely die in a wilderness, and a group of believers will be present with him.’ Now, each of those people has died in some city or among a group, and I am the one who is dying in the wilderness. By Allah, I am neither lying nor has a lie been told to me.” His wife said, “Now even the pilgrims have returned, so who will come?” He said, “Keep watch on the road.” While she was talking, she saw some people approaching, driving their mounts at full speed, as if vultures were swiftly coming. They stopped near her and asked, “What is your matter (that you are standing on the road)?” She replied, “There is a Muslim man here; arrange for his shrouding and burial, you will receive great reward.” They asked, “Who is he?” She replied, “Hazrat Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him).” They sacrificed their parents for him, placed their whips on the chests of their animals, and hurried on. When they reached there, Hazrat Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “Glad tidings to you, for you are the people about whom the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Glad tidings, for I heard the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say: If two or three children of two Muslim men and women die, and both bear it with patience seeking reward, they will never see Hell.’ Now, my condition today is before you. If you find any cloth among my clothes that is sufficient for me, then shroud me in it, and I swear by Allah, do not let anyone shroud me who is a chief, or a leader, or a notable among you.” Now, among those people, each one had some such quality, except for one young Ansari who had come with the people. He said, “I will shroud you. I have two garments which my mother had woven; one of them is on my body.” Hazrat Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “You are my companion, so you shroud me.”