A Glimpse in to the life, merits and qualities of a great companion of our beloved Nabi ﷺ, Abu Al-Darda رضي الله عنه
Who is Sayyiduna Abu Al-Darda رضي الله عنه ?
- Name: Sayyiduna Abu Al-Darda رضي الله عنه
- Born: No dates found
- Demise: 21 years after our beloved Nabi sallallahu alayhi wasallam (32 AH)
● Abu al-Darda رضي الله عنه was known for his knowledge, wisdom and piety and was known for his dislike for the world.
● His real name was Uwaymir but He is mostly known by his title Abu Al-Darda radhiyallahu anhu. He was also given the title Hakeemul Ummah (the wise of the ummah).
● He belonged to the Khazraj tribe and was among the Ansar who resided in Madeenah Munawwarah before the arrival of our beloved Nabi ﷺ.
● Before Islam, Abu Al-Darda radhiyallahu anhu was a businessman, after Islam he tried combining business with worship but when he found this wasn’t possible, he left his business and adopted a life of worship to Allah Ta’ala.
● He was among the last of the Ansari companions to accept Islam, embracing Islam in 2AH during the battle of Badr.
● After accepting Islam, he participated in the battle of Uhud where he fought very courageously protecting our beloved Nabi ﷺ.
● He had the honour of reciting the Qur’an to our beloved Nabi ﷺ and was chosen to be of the people to gather the Qur’an during the time of our beloved Nabi ﷺ.
● The sahabah would say: Uwaymir has followed the elite (Special) companions in intellect. (Siyar)
● When Muadh Ibn Jabal radhiyallahu anhu was on his deathbed, he advised the people around him to take Ilm from four people, one of whom was Abu Al-Darda radhiyallahu anhu. (Siyar)
● One outstanding quality he possessed was His abstinence and dislike for the material things of this world. His house was small and his living conditions were very minimal, many times even dire. He had very little interest with worldly possessions.
● He was also very knowledgeable and would constantly advise on gaining Ilm and practicing upon it.
● During the time of Umar radhiyallahu anhu he was sent to Damascus to teach the people. He taught thousands of people.
● Our beloved Nabi ﷺ regarded him as one of his close companions. He narrated 179 Ahadeeth from our beloved Nabi ﷺ.
●After our beloved Nabi ﷺ passed away, he continued to serve Deen and give strength to Islam.
● He passed away in Damascus, during the reign of Sayyiduna Uthman رضي الله عنه in the year 32AH.
May Allah Ta’ala grant a great amount of reward for all of his services to Rasulullah ﷺ and to deen and give us all the ability to emulate his great companions in every way.
Sayyiduna Anas radhiyallahu anhu says, When the Prophet ﷺ passed away, none had gathered the Qur’an except four people: Abu al-Darda, Muadh Ibn Jabal, Zaid Ibn Thabit and Abu Zayd radhiyallahu anhum. (Bukhari)
Sayyiduna Abdullah Ibn Umar radhiyallahu anhuma would say: “The two intellectual people are Muadh Ibn Jabal and Abu al-Darda (radhiyallahu anhum)”. (Siyar)
When Muadh Ibn Jabal radhiyallahu anhu was on his deathbed, he advised people around him. Part of his advice was to take Ilm from four people, one being Abu al-Darda radhiyallahu anhu. (Siyar)
Umm al-Darda radhiyallahu anha says:
Abu al-Darda would never narrate a Hadeeth except that he would be smiling. So I said to him: I fear that the people will think you are a fool. He said: Rasoolullah ﷺ would never narrate a Hadeeth except that he would smile. (Ahmad)
Rasoolullah ﷺ made brotherhood between Abu Darda and Salman radhiyallahu anhuma.
Once Salman came to visit him and he saw his wife Umm Darda was not in a good state
He said:
what’s happened?
She said:
Your brother has no need for the world. He stands in prayer all night, and fasts the day.
When Abu al-Darda came and was presented food,Salman radhiyallahu anhu said:
“Eat!”
He replied:
“I am fasting.”
Salman forced him to eat so he ate with him.
Then Salman spent the night with him. When Abu Darda intended to get up for prayer, Salman prevented him and said
“Verily your body has a right over you. So does your lord, so does your family. Fast and don’t fast. Perform Salah and go to your family. Give each their due right”
They went to Rasoolullah ﷺ the next day. Abu al-Darda told Rasulullah ﷺ the incident. Rasulullah ﷺ also told him what Salman told him.
(Tirmidhi)
Once, Umar radhiyallahu anhu in his khilafah went to visit Abu al-Darda radhiyallahu anhu. After knocking on the door, he realised there was no lock on it. He entered. He entered the house, which was just a room and because of the severe darkness, he was not able to see him which tells us that he did not have any means of light or candles lit for that matter. He touched his pillow and he realised he was using a saddle as his pillow. He felt his blanket and he realised it was a really thin piece of clothing.
Umar radhiyallahu anhu said: Have I not given you enough? Have I not treated you well?
Abu al-Darda radhiyallahu anhu said: I remember a Hadeeth which Rasulullah ﷺ told us, “Let your provisions be in this world, that of a traveller/rider”
He then said: what have we done after his demise? They both began to weep until the morning.
(Siyar)
Other from 'The Great Companions'
