حَدَّثَنَا
أَبُو النَّضْرِ , حَدَّثَنَا
عَبْدُ الْحَمِيدِ بْنُ بَهْرَامٍ , حَدَّثَنَا
شَهْرُ بْنُ حَوْشَبٍ , حَدَّثَنَا
عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ غَنْمٍ , أَنَّهُ زَارَ أَبَا الدَّرْدَاءِ بِحِمْصَ , فَمَكَثَ عِنْدَهُ لَيَالِيَ , فأَمَرَ بِحِمَارِهِ فَأُوكِفَ , فَقَالَ أَبُو الدَّرْدَاءِ : مَا أَرَانِي إِلَّا مُتَّبِعَكَ , فَأَمَرَ بِحِمَارِهِ , فَأُسْرِجَ فَسَارَا جَمِيعًا عَلَى حِمَارَيْهِمَا , فَلَقِيَا رَجُلًا شَهِدَ الْجُمُعَةَ بِالْأَمْسِ عِنْدَ مُعَاوِيَةَ بِالْجَابِيَةِ , فَعَرَفَهُمَا الرَّجُلُ وَلَمْ يَعْرِفَاهُ , فَأَخْبَرَهُمَا خَبَرَ النَّاسِ , ثُمَّ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ قَالَ : وَخَبَرٌ آخَرُ كَرِهْتُ أَنْ أُخْبِرَكُمَا , أُرَاكُمَا تَكْرَهَانِهِ , فَقَالَ أَبُو الدَّرْدَاءِ : فَلَعَلَّ أَبَا ذَرٍّ نُفِيَ , قَالَ : نَعَمْ , وَاللَّهِ فَاسْتَرْجَعَ أَبُو الدَّرْدَاءِ وَصَاحِبُهُ قَرِيبًا مِنْ عَشْرِ مَرَّاتٍ , ثُمَّ قَالَ
أَبُو الدَّرْدَاءِ : ارْتَقِبْهُمْ وَاصْطَبِرْ كَمَا قِيلَ لِأَصْحَابِ النَّاقَةِ , اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كَذَّبُوا أَبَا ذَرٍّ فَإِنِّي لَا أُكَذِّبُهُ , اللَّهُمَّ وَإِنْ اتَّهَمُوهُ فَإِنِّي لَا أَتَّهِمُهُ , اللَّهُمَّ وَإِنْ اسْتَغَشُّوهُ فَإِنِّي لَا أَسْتَغِشُّهُ , فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يَأْتَمِنُهُ حِينَ لَا يَأْتَمِنُ أَحَدًا , وَيُسِرُّ إِلَيْهِ حِينَ لَا يُسِرُّ إِلَى أَحَدٍ , أَمَا وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ بِيَدِهِ , لَوْ أَنَّ أَبَا ذَرٍّ قَطَعَ يَمِينِي مَا أَبْغَضْتُهُ بَعْدَ الَّذِي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ :
" مَا أَظَلَّتْ الْخَضْرَاءُ , وَلَا أَقَلَّتْ الْغَبْرَاءُ مِنْ ذِي لَهْجَةٍ أَصْدَقَ مِنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ " .
Abdur Rahman bin Ghanm (may Allah be pleased with him) says that once he went to "Hims" to meet Hazrat Abu Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) and stayed with him for a few days. Then, upon his order, a saddle was placed on his donkey. Hazrat Abu Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "I will go with you as well." So, upon his order, a saddle was also placed on his donkey, and both of them mounted their respective rides and set off. On the way, they met a man who had performed the Friday prayer the previous day with Hazrat Amir Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) at Jabiyah. He recognized both of them, but they did not recognize him. He told them about the conditions of the people there, then said, "There is one more piece of news, but I do not feel good about telling you because I think it will burden you." Hazrat Abu Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "Perhaps Hazrat Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) has been exiled?" He said, "Yes! That is the news." Upon this, Hazrat Abu Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) and his companion recited "Inna lillah" about ten times. Then Hazrat Abu Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "You should wait and be patient just as it was said to the people of the she-camel (the people of Thamud). O Allah! If these people are denying Abu Dharr, then I am not among those who deny Abu Dharr. O Allah! If they are accusing him, then I do not accuse him. O Allah! If they are overpowering him, then I am not doing so, because the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to consider him trustworthy at a time when he did not consider anyone else trustworthy. At that time, he would go to him himself when he would not go to anyone else. By the One in whose hand is the life of Abu Darda (may Allah be pleased with him), even if Abu Dharr were to cut off my right hand, I would never bear any malice towards him, because I heard the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say: 'Under the shade of the sky and upon the face of the earth, there is no man more truthful than Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him).'"