“What will you do, O Abu Dharr, when death overwhelms the people to such an extent that a grave will be equal in value to a slave?” I said: “Whatever Allah and His Messenger choose for me, or Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said “Be patient.” He said: ‘What will you do when famine strikes the people so that you will go to the place where you pray and will not be able to return to your bed, or you will not be able to get up from your bed to go to the place where you pray?” He said: “I said: ‘Allah and His Messenger know best, or whatever Allah and His Messenger choose for me.” He said: “You must refrain from forbidden things.” He said: “What will you do when killing befalls the people so that Hijaratuz-Zait*is covered with blood?” I said: “Whatever Allah and His Messenger choose for me.” He said: “Stay with those whom you belong to.” He said: “I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, should I not take my sword and strike those who do that?’” He said: “Then you will be just like the people. Rather enter your house.” I said: “O Messenger of Allah, what if they enter my house?” He said: “If you are afraid that the flashing of the sword will dazzle you, then put the edge of your garment over your face, and let him carry his own sin and your sin, and he will be one of the people of the Hellfire.”  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَيْفَ أَنْتَ يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ وَمَوْتًا يُصِيبُ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يُقَوَّمَ الْبَيْتُ بِالْوَصِيفِ يَعْنِي الْقَبْرَ قُلْتُ مَا خَارَ اللَّهُ لِي وَرَسُولُهُ أَوْ قَالَ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ تَصَبَّرْ قَالَ كَيْفَ أَنْتَ وَجُوعًا يُصِيبُ النَّاسَ حَتَّى تَأْتِيَ مَسْجِدَكَ فَلاَ تَسْتَطِيعَ أَنْ تَرْجِعَ إِلَى فِرَاشِكَ وَلاَ تَسْتَطِيعَ أَنْ تَقُومَ مِنْ فِرَاشِكَ إِلَى مَسْجِدِكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ أَوْ مَا خَارَ اللَّهُ لِي وَرَسُولُهُ قَالَ عَلَيْكَ بِالْعِفَّةِ ثُمَّ قَالَ كَيْفَ أَنْتَ وَقَتْلاً يُصِيبُ النَّاسَ حَتَّى تُغْرَقَ حِجَارَةُ الزَّيْتِ بِالدَّمِ قُلْتُ مَا خَارَ اللَّهُ لِي وَرَسُولُهُ قَالَ الْحَقْ بِمَنْ أَنْتَ مِنْهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَفَلاَ آخُذُ بِسَيْفِي فَأَضْرِبَ بِهِ مَنْ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ قَالَ شَارَكْتَ الْقَوْمَ إِذًا وَلَكِنِ ادْخُلْ بَيْتَكَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ دُخِلَ بَيْتِي قَالَ إِنْ خَشِيتَ أَنْ يَبْهَرَكَ شُعَاعُ السَّيْفِ فَأَلْقِ طَرَفَ رِدَائِكَ عَلَى وَجْهِكَ فَيَبُوءَ بِإِثْمِهِ وَإِثْمِكَ فَيَكُونَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّارِ  

[Machine] I was behind the Prophet ﷺ when we left the outskirts of Medina. He said, "O Abu Dharr, pray the prayer on time. Even if you come and find the imam praying, you will have already achieved your prayer if you have prayed before that. And if you come and the prayer has not been offered, then pray with him. Your prayer will be considered a voluntary act for you, and you would have already achieved your obligatory prayer, O Abu Dharr. What do you think if the people are hungry to the point that they cannot make it to your mosque due to exhaustion or cannot return to their homes due to exhaustion, what would you do?" I replied, "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said, "Fast." I said, "O Abu Dharr, what do you think if the people die to the extent that the houses are filled with slaves, what would you do?" I replied, "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said, "Have patience." I said, "O Abu Dharr, what do you think if the people are killed to the extent that the stones of the oil become saturated with blood, what would you do?" I replied, "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said, "Enter your home." I said, "O Messenger of Allah, what if I am invited?" He said, "Then you should go if you are invited." I said, "And if I am carrying a weapon?" He said, "Then you are participating." I said, "How should I act, O Messenger of Allah?" He said, "If you fear that the shine of the sword would dazzle you, then throw part of your garment on your face. It would keep away both your sin and his sin."  

كُنْتُ خَلْفَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ حِينَ خَرَجْنَا مِنْ حَاشِي الْمَدِينَةِ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ صَلِّ الصَّلَاةَ لِوَقْتِهَا وَإِنْ جِئْتَ وَقَدْ صَلَّى الْإِمَامُ كُنْتَ قَدْ أَحْرَزْتَ صَلَاتَكَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ وَإِنْ جِئْتَ وَلَمْ يُصَلِّ صَلَّيْتَ مَعَهُ وَكَانَتْ صَلَاتُكَ لَكَ نَافِلَةً وَكُنْتَ قَدْ أَحْرَزْتَ صَلَاتَكَ يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنِ النَّاسُ جَاعُوا حَتَّى لَا تَبْلُغَ مَسْجِدَكَ مِنَ الْجَهْدِ أَوْ لَا تَرْجِعَ إِلَى فِرَاشِكَ مِنَ الْجَهْدِ فَكَيْفَ أَنْتَ صَانِعٌ؟ قَالَ قُلْتُ اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ تَعَفَّفْ قَالَ يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنِ النَّاسُ مَاتُوا حَتَّى يَكُونَ الْبَيْتُ بِالْعَبْدِ فَكَيْفَ أَنْتَ صَانِعٌ؟ قَالَ قُلْتُ اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ تَصَبَّرْ قَالَ يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنِ النَّاسُ قُتِلُوا حَتَّى تَغْرَقَ حِجَارَةُ الزَّيْتِ مِنَ الدِّمَاءِ كَيْفَ أَنْتَ صَانِعٌ؟ قُلْتُ اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُقَالَ تَدْخُلُ بَيْتَكَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ فَإِنْ أَنَا دُخِلَ عَلَيَّ؟ قَالَ تَأْتِي مَنْ أَنْتَ مِنْهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَأَحْمِلُ السِّلَاحَ؟ قَالَ إِذًا شَارَكْتَ قَالَ قُلْتُ كَيْفَ أَصْنَعُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ؟ قَالَ إِنْ خِفْتَ أَنْ يَبْهَرَكَ شُعَاعُ السَّيْفِ فَأَلْقِ طَائِفَةً مِنْ رِدَائِكَ عَلَى وَجْهِكَ يَبُؤْ بِإِثْمِكَ وَإِثْمِهِ  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "O Abu Dharr, what will you do when people are hungry to the point where you cannot make it from your mosque to your bed, or from your bed to your mosque?" Abu Dharr replied, "Allah and His Messenger know best." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Fast." Then he asked, "What will you do when people die, to the point where your house is full of guests?" Abu Dharr responded, "Allah and His Messenger know best." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Be patient." Then he asked, "What will you do when people come, to the point where the noble ones are covered in blood?" Abu Dharr answered, "Allah and His Messenger know best." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Join whoever you are with." Abu Dharr asked, "What if they come after me?" The Prophet ﷺ replied, "If you fear that the rays of the sword will dazzle you, then throw a piece of your garment on your face. It will bear the sin of both you and him, and you will be among the people of Hellfire." Abu Dharr asked, "Should I not carry a weapon?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "Then you will be part of it."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ كَيْفَ تَصْنَعُ إِذَا جَاعَ النَّاسُ حَتَّى لَا تَسْتَطِيعَ أَنْ تَقُومَ مِنْ مَسْجِدِكَ إِلَى فِرَاشِكَ وَلَا مِنْ فِرَاشِكَ إِلَى مَسْجِدِكَ؟» قَالَ قُلْتُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ «تَعِفُّ» ثُمَّ قَالَ «كَيْفَ تَصْنَعُ إِذَا مَاتَ النَّاسُ حَتَّى يَكُونَ الْبَيْتُ بِالْوَضِيفِ؟» قَالَ قُلْتُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ «تَصْبِرُ» ثُمَّ قَالَ «كَيْفَ تَصْنَعُ إِذَا أَقْبَلَ النَّاسُ حَتَّى يَغْزُوَ أَصْحَابُ الرُّتَبِ بِالدِّمَاءِ؟» قَالَ قُلْتُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ «تَأْتِي مَنْ أَنْتَ مِنْهُ» قُلْتُ فَإِنْ أُتِيَ عَلَيَّ؟ قَالَ «إِنْ خِفْتَ أَنْ يَبْهَرَكَ شُعَاعُ السَّيْفِ فَأَلْقِ طَائِفَةً مِنْ رِدَائِكَ عَلَى وَجْهِكَ يَبُوءُ بِإِثْمِكَ وَإِثْمِهِ فَيَكُونُ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّارِ» قُلْتُ أَفَلَا أَحْمِلُ السِّلَاحَ؟ قَالَ «إِذًا تُشَارِكُهُ»  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me: O AbuDharr. I replied: At thy service and at thy pleasure, Messenger of Allah. He then mentioned the tradition in which he said: What will you do when there the death of the people (in Medina) and a house will reach the value of a slave (that is, a grave will be sold for a slave). I replied: Allah and His Apostle know best. Or he said: What Allah and His Apostle choose for me. He said: You must show endurance. Or he said; you may endure. He then said to me: What will you do, AbuDharr, when you see the Ahjar az-Zayt covered with blood? I replied: What Allah and His Apostle choose for me. He said: You must go to those who are like-minded. I asked: Should I not take my sword and put it on my shoulder? He replied: you would then associate yourself with the people. I then asked: What do you order me to do? You must stay at home. I asked: (What should I do) if people enter my house and find me? He replied: If you are afraid the gleam of the sword may dazzle you, put the end of your garment over your face in order that (the one who kills you) may bear the punishment of your sins and his. Abu Dawud said: No one mentioned al-Mush'ath in the chain of this tradition except Hammad b. Zaid. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 4261)   

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ» قُلْتُ لَبَّيْكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَسَعْدَيْكَ قَالَ «كَيْفَ أَنْتَ إِذَا أَصَابَ النَّاسَ جُوعٌ تَأْتِي مَسْجِدَكَ فَلَا تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تَرْجِعَ إِلَى فِرَاشِكَ وَتَأْتِي فِرَاشَكَ فَلَا تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تَنْهَضَ إِلَى مَسْجِدِكَ» قُلْتُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ أَوْ مَا خَارَ اللَّهُ لِي وَرَسُولُهُ قَالَ «عَلَيْكَ بِالْعِفَّةِ» ثُمَّ قَالَ «يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ» قُلْتُ لَبَّيْكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَسَعْدَيْكَ قَالَ «كَيْفَ أَنْتَ إِذَا رَأَيْتَ أَحْجَارَ الزَّيْتِ قَدْ عُرِّفَتْ بِالدَّمِ؟» قُلْتُ مَا خَارَ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ قَالَ تَلْحَقُ بِمَنْ أَنْتَ مِنْهُ أَوْ قَالَ عَلَيْكَ بِمَنْ أَنْتَ مِنْهُ قُلْتُ أَفَلَا آخُذُ سَيْفِي فَأَضَعُهُ عَلَى عَاتِقِي؟ قَالَ «شَارَكْتَ إِذًا» قُلْتُ فَمَا تَأْمُرُنِي؟ قَالَ «تَلْزَمُ بَيْتَكَ» قُلْتُ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ دَخَلَ عَلَيَّ بَيْتِي؟ قَالَ «فَإِنْ خَشِيتَ أَنْ يَبْهَرَكَ شُعَاعُ السَّيْفِ فَأَلْقِ رِدَاءَكَ عَلَى وَجْهِكَ يَبُوءُ بِإِثْمِهِ وَإِثْمِكَ»  

“What will you do, O Abu Dharr, when death overwhelms the people to such an extent that a grave will be equal in value to a slave?” I said: “Whatever Allah and His Messenger choose for me, or Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said “Be patient.” He said: ‘What will you do when famine strikes the people so that you will go to the place where you pray and will not be able to return to your bed, or you will not be able to get up from your bed to go to the place where you pray?” He said: “I said: ‘Allah and His Messenger know best, or whatever Allah and His Messenger choose for me.” He said: “You must refrain from forbidden things.” He said: “What will you do when killing befalls the people so that Hijaratuz-Zait*is covered with blood?” I said: “Whatever Allah and His Messenger choose for me.” He said: “Stay with those whom you belong to.” He said: “I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, should I not take my sword and strike those who do that?’” He said: “Then you will be just like the people. Rather enter your house.” I said: “O Messenger of Allah, what if they enter my house?” He said: “If you are afraid that the flashing of the sword will dazzle you, then put the edge of your garment over your face, and let him carry his own sin and your sin, and he will be one of the people of the Hellfire.” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 3958)   

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ كَيْفَ أَنْتَ وَمَوْتٌ يُصِيبُ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يَكُونَ الْبَيْتُ بِالْوَصِيفِ؟» يَعْنِي الْقَبْرَ قُلْتُ مَا خَارَ اللَّهُ لِي وَرَسُولُهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ «كَيْفَ أَنْتَ وَجُوعٌ يُصِيبُ النَّاسَ حَتَّى تَأْتِيَ مَسْجِدَكَ فَلَا تَسْتَطِيعَ أَنْ تَرْجِعَ إِلَى فِرَاشِكَ وَلَا تَسْتَطِيعَ أَنْ تَقُومَ مِنْ فِرَاشِكَ إِلَى مَسْجِدِكَ؟» قُلْتُ مَا خَارَ اللَّهُ لِي وَرَسُولُهُ قَالَ «عَلَيْكَ بِالْعِفَّةَ» ثُمَّ قَالَ «كَيْفَ أَنْتَ وَقَتْلٌ يُصِيبُ النَّاسَ حَتَّى تُغْرَقَ حِجَارَةُ الزَّيْتِ بِالدَّمِ؟» قُلْتُ مَا خَارَ اللَّهُ لِي وَرَسُولُهُ أَوِ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ «الْزَمْ مَنْزِلَكَ» قَالَ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَفَلَا آخُذُ سَيْفِي فَأَضْرِبُ بِهِ مَنْ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ؟ قَالَ «فَقَدْ شَارَكْتَ الْقَوْمَ إِذًا» قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ دَخَلَ بَيْتِي؟ قَالَ «إِنْ خَشِيتَ أَنْ يَبْهَرَكَ شُعَاعُ السَّيْفِ فَقُلْ هَكَذَا فَأَلْقِ طَرَفَ ثَوْبِكَ عَلَى وَجْهِكَ فَيَبُوءَ بِإِثْمِهِ وَإِثْمِكَ وَيَكُونَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّارِ»  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked Abu Dharr, "What would you do if people were hungry to the point where you couldn't get up from your bed to go to your mosque?" I said, "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said, "Fast." Then he asked, "What would you do if people died to the point where your house was surrounded by corpses?" I said, "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said, "Be patient." Then he asked, "What would you do if people fought until the oil stone sank?" I said, "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said, "Join those you are safe with." I asked, "What if they come to me?" He said, "Enter your house." I asked, "What if they come to me?" He said, "If you fear being dazzled by the sword's gleam, then throw your garment over your face, which will both protect you and him from sin." I asked, "Shouldn't I carry a weapon?" He replied, "Then you will share in the sin."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ لَهُ «يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ كَيْفَ تَفْعَلُ إِذَا جَاعَ النَّاسُ حَتَّى لَا تَسْتَطِيعَ أَنْ تَقُومَ مِنْ فِرَاشِكِ إِلَى مَسْجِدِكَ»؟ فَقُلْتُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ «تَعَفَّفْ» ثُمَّ قَالَ «كَيْفَ تَصْنَعُ إِذَا مَاتَ النَّاسُ حَتَّى يَكُونَ الْبَيْتُ بِالْوَصِيفِ»؟ قُلْتُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ «تَصْبرُ» ثُمَّ قَالَ «كَيْفَ تَصْنَعُ إِذَا اقْتَتَلَ النَّاسُ حَتَّى يَغْرَقَ حَجَرُ الزَّيْتِ»؟ قُلْتُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ «تَأْتِي مَنْ أَنْتَ فِيهِ» فَقُلْتُ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ أَتَى عَلَيَّ؟ قَالَ «تَدْخُلُ بَيْتَكَ» قُلْتُ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ أَتَى عَليَّ؟ قَالَ «إِنْ خَشِيتَ أَنْ يَبْهَرَكَ شُعَاعُ السَّيْفِ فَأَلْقِ طَائِفَةَ رِدَائِكَ عَلَى وَجْهِكَ يَبُوءُ بِإِثْمِكَ وَإِثْمِهِ» فَقُلْتُ أَفَلَا أَحْمِلُ السِّلَاحَ؟ قَالَ «إِذًا تَشْرَكُهُ»  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ rode on a donkey and asked me to join him on the back. Then he said, "O Abu Dharr, what do you think if the people suffer from severe hunger to the extent that they cannot go from their beds to their mosques, what would you do?" I replied, "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said, "Fast." He then asked, "O Abu Dharr, what do you think if the people face a severe epidemic to the point that houses would be filled with dead bodies, what would you do?" I replied, "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said, "Be patient." He then asked, "O Abu Dharr, what do you think if people start killing one another and blood flows in the streets, what would you do?" I replied, "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said, "Stay in your house and close your door." I asked, "What if I am not allowed to do so?" He replied, "Join those who are like you." I asked, "Should I take my weapon with me?" He said, "If you fear that the sword might intimidate you, then cover your face with your robe, for that would deter both you and their aggression."  

رَكِبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حِمَارًا وَأَرْدَفَنِي خَلْفَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ «يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ أَصَابَ النَّاسَ جُوعٌ شَدِيدٌ حَتَّى لَا تَسْتَطِيعَ أَنْ تَقُومَ مِنْ فِرَاشِكَ إِلَى مَسْجِدِكَ كَيْفَ تَصْنَعُ»؟ قَالَ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ «تَعَفَّفْ» قَالَ «يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ أَصَابَ النَّاسَ مَوْتٌ شَدِيدٌ حَتَّى يَكُونَ الْبَيْتُ بِالْعَبْدِ كَيْفَ تَصْنَعُ؟ قَالَ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ » اصْبِرْ يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ قَتَلَ النَّاسُ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضًا حَتَّى تَغْرَقَ حِجَارَةُ الزَّيْتِ مَوْضِعٌ بِالْمَدِينَةِ مِنَ الدِّمَاءِ كَيْفَ تَصْنَعُ «؟ قَالَ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ » اقْعُدْ فِي بَيْتِكَ وَأَغْلِقْ عَلَيْكَ بَابَكَ « قَالَ » أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ لَمْ أُتْرَكْ «؟ قَالَ » فَائْتِ مَنْ أَنْتَ مِنْهُ فَكُنْ فِيهِمْ « قَالَ فَآخُذُ سِلَاحِي؟ قَالَ » إِذًا تُشَارِكُهُمْ فِيهِ وَلَكِنْ إِنْ خَشِيتَ أَنْ يَرُوعَكَ شُعَاعُ السَّيْفِ فَأَلْقِ طَرَفَ رِدَائِكَ عَلَى وَجْهِكَ يَبُوءُ بِإِثْمِكَ وَإِثْمِهِ «  

"قَالَ لى رَسُولُ الله ﷺ يَا أبا ذر: أَرَأيْتَ إِنْ أَصَابَ النَّاسَ جُوعٌ شَديدٌ لَا تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تَقُومَ مِنْ فِرَاشِكَ إِلَى مَسْجِدِكَ، كَيْفَ تَصْنَعُ؟ قَالَ: الله وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ، قَالَ: تَعَفَّفْ، يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ أَرَايْتَ إِنْ أَصَابَ النَّاسَ مَوْتٌ شَدِيدٌ كَيفَ يَكُونُ الْبَيْتُ فِيهِ بِاللَّيْلِ بِمَعْنَى الْقَبْرِ كَيْفَ تَصْنَعُ؟ قَالَ: الله وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ، قَالَ: اقْعُدْ في بَيْتِكَ وَأَغْلِقْ عَلَيْكَ بَابَكَ

قَالَ: فَإِنْ لَمْ أَتْرُكْ؟ قَالَ: فَأتِ مَنْ أَنْتَ مِنْهُ فَكُنْ فِيهِمْ، قَالَ: فَآخُذ سِلَاحِى؟ قَالَ إِذَنْ تُشَارِكهُمْ فِيِمَا هُمْ فِيهِ، وَلَكِنْ إِنْ أَحْسَنْتَ "إن خشيت" أَن يُرَوِّعَكَ شُعَاعُ السَّيْفِ فَأَلْقِ مِنْ طَرَفِ رِدَائِكَ عَلَى وَجْهِكَ كَىْ يَبُوء بِإِثْمِهِ وَإثْمِكَ وَيَكُونَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّارِ".