Heroic Stands by Shiekh Abu Nizhar Ash Shaami: Abu Dhar Al-Ghifari (ra)

Our lives are a collection of stands taken. These stands are what will decide our status and value before Allah (swt) on the Day of Judgement. Heroic stands, which changed the course of history, produced events, and greatly influenced all who witnessed them or heard of them. Heroic stands, which we mention while living at a time when most stands, we see are those of humiliation and shame. Heroic stands, we mention them whose heroes are mentioned in the Quran, and the pages of the Seerah and our Ummah's past and recent history are overflowing with them. Heroic stands, which we mention in order to take lessons from. We mention them in order to receive flames of glory, optimism, and expecting good from Allah (swt), and to prove that our Ummah, by the permission of Allah (swt), is capable of bringing back the dignified stands which will fill the world with justice and light after it was filled with injustice and tyranny.

Do you know who Afeef Al-Kindi is? I suppose most of you do not know of him. Who amongst us doesn't know Abu Dharr Al-Ghifari (ra)? The difference between the two of them, my brothers and sisters - both of them lived at the same time and saw the same scene but the stand they each took was the difference between heroism and a lack.

Afeef Al-Kindi came to Makkah for trade with Al-Abbas and while doing business, he sees a striking scene. He said, "I saw a man come out of his house for prayer..." I.e., The Messenger (saw) "Abbas, who is this?" "That is my nephew." The Sayyida Khadija (ra) stood behind him and Ali (ra) next to him. Afeef said: "What is he doing?" Abbas said: "He is praying. He says that he is a prophet sent by the Creator of the Heavens and Earth and that he will conquer the Romans and Persians." Afeef Al-Kindi's Fitra began to move. Al-Abbas took the opportunity: "Shall I speak to him for you?" "Shall I speak to him for you" meaning to meet him? To meet him? As in to believe in him or not? A man going against his people's laws - the price of doing so may be very painful. Afeef made the worst decision of his life and took a stance which he regretted for his entire life. His demeanor was as if to say: "No, Abbas, let's stick to our business." Due to the stance Afeef bin Qays took here, he returned to his country and embraced Islam 20 years later. 20 years later, when everyone embraced Islam in the year of delegations around the 9th year after Hijra. All the people were happy and jovial except for Afeef who was weeping. "What makes you weep, Afeef? It is a day which doesn't sadden anyone." He said: "I weep because I could have been the fourth of Islam". Number 4! He could have been the fourth Muslim.

What did he miss? By Allah (swt), he missed so much goodness. He missed out on being a forerunner. He missed out on helping the Sahabah in establishing the Islamic State. He missed out on Badr, Uhud, Khandaq and so much more virtue. At the same time, my brothers, Abu Dharr was in Ghifar which is also a very distant village. He heard of the Prophet (saw) and the call to Islam. He also heard the misleading media which was scaring people from following Him (saw). "Soothsayer", "Poet", "Magician", "Madman", "Ancient Legends" etc. and that anyone asking about will get beaten. He sent his brother to gather more news but wasn't satisfied. So, he took an initiative himself and travelled from Ghifar all the way to Makkah alone, knowing the danger in asking about this wanted man. He stayed for 10 days, and his supplies and money ran out. He was eating and drinking from Zamzam only until his belly caved in and skin became pale. Sayyiduna Ali (ra) met him and took him in as a guest for 3 days then Ali (ra) asked him: "Is it not time for the man to know where he belongs?" He said: "Yes". He now decided to venture and take the risk of declaring his intention. He said: "Guide me to where Muhammad (saw) is". How much, my brothers and sisters, does the whole world need us to guide them to Muhammad (saw). Abu Dharr (ra) entered and met the Prophet (saw). He rejoiced and saluted first. He said: Assalamu Alaika O Messenger of Allah (saw)" "Where are you from?" "From Ghifar." The Messenger (saw) said: "Subhanallah! From Gihfar?" The land infamous for criminality, murder and highway robbery. You leave all of that and come here? You overcome yourself and all this propaganda to meet the Prophet (saw)? The Prophet (saw) invited him to Islam, and he immediately embraced it. "What do you command me with, O Messenger of Allah(saw)?" The habit of the Prophet (saw) with all the new Muslims, even if their Islam was only one minute old: "Go and call your people. When you see that I have prevailed, then bring them to me." He said: "No, O Messenger of Allah (saw) By Allah, I will proclaim it loudly between them."

So, Abu Dharr (ra) went and publicly proclaimed the Shahadah and was the first person to do so in front of the leaders of Quraysh. So, they beat him up until he became red with blood. He was saved by Al-Abbas and then returned to his people. The Prophet (saw) did not see Abu Dharr (ra) again for 14 years. He came with 2 tribes: All of Ghifar became Muslims and so did Banu Aslam. The Prophet(saw) was delighted with this and made Du'a for them and made Du'a for Abu Dharr (ra), saying: "The earth does not carry, nor the heavens cover a man truer and more faithful than Abu Dharr (ra)." "May Allah (swt) have mercy upon Abu Dharr (ra)! He' walks alone, will die alone and will be summoned on the Day of Judgement alone."

My brothers and sisters, a piece of advice from the heart be like Abu Dharr (ra) and do not be like Afeef bin Qays. Hasten and do not delay joining the ranks of the Du'aat since, life runs out quickly and the Dunya will sweep you away from the path of Allah (swt). Do not place obstacles between yourself and the Dawah exactly like how the rulers today wish you to be. "The Dawah will put you at risk!" "All Du'aat are corrupt!" "Look to yourself!" Destroy all of these obstacles that divert you from the Dawah just as Abu Dharr (ra) destroyed all the obstacles. He rejected all the prejudiced propaganda and went himself to listen from the Du'aat and not about them. We learn from Abu Dharr (ra) the virtue of being a forerunner and to be first in the eyes of Allah. "And the first forerunners among the Muhajireen and the Ansar and those who followed them with good conduct - Allah is pleased with them" Abu Dharr (ra) used to pass by the Sahabah and say: "I was the fourth of Islam" I am number 4. I am from the forerunners. Today, my brothers most of the Ahkam of Islam are disabled. The enemies of Islam are roving around the world. By Allah (swt), they are not equal in the eyes of Allah (swt): a youth who hastened to join the ranks of the Du'aat so he studied and expended his entire life in defending His Deen, and someone who lived comfortably only concerned with himself and his safety and waits for others to support [the Deen], for others to undertake Dawah, and for others to change the situation. "Not equal among you are those who spent before the conquest [of Makkah] and fought [and those who did so after it]. Those are greater in degree than they who spent afterwards and fought."

Ummah Voice Podcast