[Machine] I went to visit Abu Dharr, but I couldn't find him. I saw his wife and asked her about him. She said, "He is in his farm, driving or leading two camels, one of which carries a load on its back, while the other carries a load around its neck." I said, "O Abu Dharr, there is no one among the people whom I love to meet more than you, and there is no one whose meeting I hate to miss more than you." He said, "May Allah be your father, what brought you here?" I said, "During the time of ignorance, I committed some sins and I was hoping that in meeting you, you would inform me whether there is any chance for my repentance and a way out for me. And I was also afraid that in meeting you, you would tell me that there is no chance for my repentance." He asked, "During the time of ignorance?" I said, "Yes." Then he said, "May Allah forgive what is past." After that, he swung his head to the woman and ordered her to bring some food. So she brought some dates for him, and he took them and started to eat. Then Abu Dharr explained the statement of the Prophet ﷺ regarding the woman. He said, "If she goes to straighten it, she will break it, and if she leaves it, then it will be a means of seduction." So, she left her hair as it was, and it was as if there were birds' nests in it. Abu Dharr said, "Keep away from women, as I am fasting." Then he stood up and prayed. I saw him performing a perfect rukoo' (bowing) and a perfect sujood (prostration). Then I saw him looking to see if he had eaten enough or if there was any food remaining. Afterwards, he placed his hand on mine and said, "We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return." I said, "What is the matter with you?" He replied, "I am afraid that due to the severe hunger you may tell me something which is not true." I said, "I am afraid that it might be a lie if I said I am fasting while you see me eating." He said, "Allah is your father, if I lied to you once I met you, then why didn't you tell me that you were fasting when I saw you eating?" I said, "Yes, I am fasting these three days of the month, so I accepted the food with you."
أَتَيْتُ أَبَا ذَرٍّ فَلَمْ أَجِدْهُ وَرَأَيْتُ الْمَرْأَةَ فَسَأَلْتُهَا فَقَالَتْ هُوَ ذَاكَ فِي ضَيْعَةٍ لَهُ فَجَاءَ يَقُودُ أَوْ يَسُوقُ بَعِيرَيْنِ قَاطِرًا أَحَدَهُمَا فِي عَجُزِ صَاحِبِهِ فِي عُنُقِ كُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا قِرْبَةٌ فَوَضَعَ الْقِرْبَتَيْنِ قُلْتُ يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ مَا كَانَ مِنَ النَّاسِ أَحَدٌ أَحَبَّ إِلَيَّ أَنْ أَلْقَاهُ مِنْكَ وَلَا أَبْغَضَ أَنْ أَلْقَاهُ مِنْكَ قَالَ لِلَّهِ أَبُوكَ وَمَا يَجْمَعُ هَذَا؟ قَالَ قُلْتُ إِنِّي كُنْتُ وَأَدْتُ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ وَكُنْتُ أَرْجُو فِي لِقَائِكَ أَنْ تُخْبِرَنِي أَنَّ لِي تَوْبَةً وَمَخْرَجًا وَكُنْتُ أَخْشَى فِي لِقَائِكَ أَنْ تُخْبِرَنِي أَنَّهُ لَا تَوْبَةَ لِي فَقَالَ أَفِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ؟ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ فَقَالَ عَفَا اللهُ عَمَّا سَلَفَ ثُمَّ عَاجَ بِرَأْسِهِ إِلَى الْمَرْأَةِ فَأَمَرَ لِي بِطَعَامٍ فَالْتَوَتْ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ أَمَرَهَا فَالْتَوَتْ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى ارْتَفَعَتْ أَصْوَاتُهُمَا قَالَ إِيهًا دَعِينَا عَنْكِ فَإِنَّكُنَّ لَنْ تَعْدُونَ مَا قَالَ لَنَا فِيكُنَّ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ قُلْتُ وَمَا قَالَ لَكُمْ فِيهِنَّ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ؟ قَالَ الْمَرْأَةُ ضِلَعٌ فَإِنْ تَذْهَبْ تُقَوِّمُهَا تَكْسِرْهَا وَإِنْ تَدَعْهَا فَفِيهَا أَوَدٌ وَبُلْغَةٌ فَوَلَّتْ فَجَاءَتْ بِثَرِيدَةٍ كَأَنَّهَا قَطَاةٌ فَقَالَ كُلْ وَلَا أَهُولَنَّكَ إِنِّي صَائِمٌثُمَّ قَامَ يُصَلِّي فَجَعَلَ يُهَذِّبُ الرُّكُوعَ وَيُخَفِّفُهُ وَرَأَيْتُهُ يَتَحَرَّى أَنْ أَشْبَعَ أَوْ أُقَارِبَ ثُمَّ جَاءَ فَوَضَعَ يَدَهُ مَعِي فَقُلْتُ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ فَقَالَ مَا لَكَ؟ فَقُلْتُ مَنْ كُنْتُ أَخْشَى مِنَ النَّاسِ أَنْ يَكْذِبَنِي فَمَا كُنْتُ أَخْشَى أَنْ تَكْذِبَنِي قَالَ لِلَّهِ أَبُوكَ إِنْ كَذَبْتُكَ كِذْبَةً مُنْذُ لَقِيتَنِي فَقَالَ أَلَمْ تُخْبِرْنِي أَنَّكَ صَائِمٌ ثُمَّ أَرَاكَ تَأْكُلُ؟ قَالَ بَلَى إِنِّي صُمْتُ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ هَذَا الشَّهْرِ فَوَجَبَ لِي أَجْرُهُ وَحَلَّ لِي الطَّعَامُ مَعَكَ