Abu-Dharr al-Ghaffary -1-

Abu-Dharr al-Ghaffary

The tribe of Ghaffar was one of the Arab Pagan tribe. It lived near al-Madena al-Monawwara (Yathrib), where the Meccan trading caravans passed.

The members of the tribe of Ghaffar worshiped an idol named Munat. They thought that Munat decided r predestination and chance. So, they visited and sacrificed sheep for it.

One day, a poor young man belonged to the tribe of the Ghaffar went to Munat. He gave Munat some yogurt and began looking at it. But Munat was motionless and did not drink the yogurt. He waited.

A fox passed by Jundub but did not see him. The fox drank the yogurt and, in addition, it raised its leg and made water in the ear of Munat. Still Munat was motionless. The young man laughed. He sneered at Munat. Then he criticized himself because he worshipped a dumb rock, which did not understand anything.

While Jundub was coming back home, he remembered the words Qais bin Saydah. He said to them in Ukadh Market:

People, hear and understand!

He who lives will die!

And he who dies will perish.

Future things will happen.

Why do I see people go and do not come back?

Are they satisfied with the stay there?

Or have they left anything there, so they have slept?

Jundub looked at the blue, clear sky and at the wide desert. Then he remembered what the fox did to Munat. So, he believed that the world had a God greater than Munat, Hubal, al-Lat, and all idols.

Since then Jundub bin Junadah had deeply believed in the Creator of the sky and the earth.



The Sunrise

The people of the Book (Christians and Jews) gave good news to the appearance of a new Prophet whose time was about to happen.

The Arab tribes reported the news. Those who sneered at the idols longed for the seeing of the new Prophet.

One day, a man came from Macca and said to Jundub:

There's a man in Macca says that there is no god but claims that he is a prophet.

Jundub asked: Which tribe does he belong to?

The man answered: He belongs to the Quraish.

Jundub asked: Which tribe of the Quraish does he belong to?

The man answered: He belongs to bani Ha shim. What have the Quraish done?

They've accused him of lying. They say that he's a magician and an insane.

The man went away. But Jundub thought again and again.

Anees

Jundub thought to send his brother Anees to Mecca to get him some news about the new Prophet. Anees set off to Mecca.

Anees covered hundreds of miles.

Anees quickly came back to tell his brother:

I've seen a man.

The man orders people to do good and avoid doing evil He invites them to worship Allah.

I've seen a young man, his cousin Ali, praying beside him. And I've seen a woman, his wife Khadijah praying behind them.

Jundub asked: Then what have you seen?

Anees answered: This is what I've seen. But I didn't dare to approach him because I was afraid of the Quraishi leaders.



To Mecca

Jundub was dissatisfied with what he had heard. So he set out for Macca to know the Prophet.

When the Gheffarian young man arrived in Macca the sun was about to set. So, he went round the Kaaba. Then he sat in a corner of the Holy Then Shrine to take a rest and to think about a way to meet the Prophet (p.b.u.h).

It got dark. Kaaba became empty of people.

In the meantime, a young man came in to the yard of Holy Mosque. He began going round the Kaaba.

The young man saw a stranger. He came and asked him politely:

You're a stranger aren't you?

The Gheffarian answered: Yes.

The young man said: Let's go home.

Jundub was following the young man silently.

In the morning, Jundub thanked the young man for his good hospitality. He saw him off and set out to Zamzam well to see the Prophet (p.b.u.h).

The hours passed. Jundub waited till it got dark.



The Meeting



Again the young man came and went round the Kaaha.

He saw the foreign man at his place.

The young man said to Jundub: Isn't it time to know your house?

"No!" Jundub said.

The young man said to Jundub: Come with me to the house.

Jundub stood up and went with him to the house. He was silent, too. So, the young man said:

I can see you thinking-what's your need?

Jundub said carefully: I'll tell you i/you keep it a secret. I'll keep ft a secret if Allah had pleased.

Jundub' relieved when he heard Allah's Name. So, he said slowly:

I've heard about the appearance of a Prophet in Mecca. So, I want to see him.

The young man said with a smile:

Allah has guided you. I'll show you his house. Follow me in the distance. When I see a suspicious person, I'll stop as if I repaired my slippers. So, don't stop and go on your way.

The young man went on walking to our Master Muhammad's house. At the same time, Jundub was following him.