I went out one night (and found) the Messenger of Allah ﷺ walking all alone. There was no man with him. I thought that he did not like anyone walking along with him. So I began to walk in the light of the moon. He, however turned his attention to me and saw me and said: Who is this? I said: It is Abu Dharr. Let Allah make me as ransom for you. He said: Abu Dharr, come on. He (Abu Dharr) said: So I walked along with him for some time and he said: The wealthy persons would have little (reward) on the Day of Resurrection, except upon whom Allah conferred goodness (wealth). He dispensed it to his right, left, in front of him and at his back (just as the wind diffuses fragrance) and did good with it (riches). I went along with him for some time when He said: Sit here. And he made me sit at a safe place and there were stones around it, and he said to me: Sit here till I come to you. He went away on the stony ground till I could not see him. He stayed away from me, and he prolonged his stay. Then I heard him as he came back and he was saying: Even if he committed theft and even if he committed fornication. When he came I could not help asking him: Apostle of Allah, let Allah make me ransom for you, whom were you speaking on the stony ground? I heard nobody responding to you. He (the Holy Prophet) said: It was Gabriel who met me by the side of the stony ground and said: Give glad tidings to your Ummah that he who died without associating ought with Allah would go into Paradise. I said: Gabriel, even if he committed theft and fornication? He said: Yes. I said: Even it he committed theft and fornication? He said: Yes, I again said: Even if he committed theft and fornication? He said: Yes, even if he drank wine.  

خَرَجْتُ لَيْلَةً مِنَ اللَّيَالِي فَإِذَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَمْشِي وَحْدَهُ لَيْسَ مَعَهُ إِنْسَانٌ قَالَ فَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ يَكْرَهُ أَنْ يَمْشِيَ مَعَهُ أَحَدٌ قَالَ فَجَعَلْتُ أَمْشِي فِي ظِلِّ الْقَمَرِ فَالْتَفَتَ فَرَآنِي فَقَالَ مَنْ هَذَا فَقُلْتُ أَبُو ذَرٍّ جَعَلَنِي اللَّهُ فِدَاءَكَ قَالَ يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ تَعَالَهْ قَالَ فَمَشَيْتُ مَعَهُ سَاعَةً فَقَالَ إِنَّ الْمُكْثِرِينَ هُمُ الْمُقِلُّونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِلاَّ مَنْ أَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا فَنَفَحَ فِيهِ يَمِينَهُ وَشِمَالَهُ وَبَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَوَرَاءَهُ وَعَمِلَ فِيهِ خَيْرًا قَالَ فَمَشَيْتُ مَعَهُ سَاعَةً فَقَالَ اجْلِسْ هَا هُنَا قَالَ فَأَجْلَسَنِي فِي قَاعٍ حَوْلَهُ حِجَارَةٌ فَقَالَ لِيَ اجْلِسْ هَا هُنَا حَتَّى أَرْجِعَ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ فَانْطَلَقَ فِي الْحَرَّةِ حَتَّى لاَ أَرَاهُ فَلَبِثَ عَنِّي فَأَطَالَ اللَّبْثَ ثُمَّ إِنِّي سَمِعْتُهُ وَهُوَ مُقْبِلٌ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ وَإِنْ سَرَقَ وَإِنْ زَنَى قَالَ فَلَمَّا جَاءَ لَمْ أَصْبِرْ فَقُلْتُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ جَعَلَنِي اللَّهُ فِدَاءَكَ مَنْ تُكَلِّمُ فِي جَانِبِ الْحَرَّةِ مَا سَمِعْتُ أَحَدًا يَرْجِعُ إِلَيْكَ شَيْئًا قَالَ ذَاكَ جِبْرِيلُ عَرَضَ لِي فِي جَانِبِ الْحَرَّةِ فَقَالَ بَشِّرْ أُمَّتَكَ أَنَّهُ مَنْ مَاتَ لاَ يُشْرِكُ بِاللَّهِ شَيْئًا دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقُلْتُ يَا جِبْرِيلُ وَإِنْ سَرَقَ وَإِنْ زَنَى قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَإِنْ سَرَقَ وَإِنْ زَنَى قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَإِنْ سَرَقَ وَإِنْ زَنَى قَالَ نَعَمْ وَإِنْ شَرِبَ الْخَمْرَ  

Send your son to my residence (to carry this haudaj), and my father said to me: Carry it (for him). So I carried it and there went along with him (with Abu Bakr) my father in order to fetch its price and he ('Azib) said to Abu Bakr: Abu Bakr, narrate to me what you both did on the night when you set out on a journey along with Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He said: We set out during the night and went on walking until it was noon, and the path was vacant and so none passed by that (until) there appeared prominently before us a large rock. It had its shade and the rays of the sun did not reach that place. So we got down at that place. I then went to the rock and levelled the ground with my hands at the place where the Prophet ﷺ would take rest under its shade. I then set the bedding and said: Messenger of Allah, go to sleep and I shall keep a watch around you. I went out and watched around him. There we saw a shepherd moving towards that rock with his flock and he intended what we intended (i. e. taking rest). I met him and said to him: Young boy, to which place do you belong? He said: I am a person from Medina. I said, is there any milk in the udders of your sheep and goats? He said: Yes. He took hold of a goat, and I said to him: Clean the udder well so that it should be free from hair, dust and impurity. I saw al-Bara' striking his hand upon the other (to give an indication) how he did that. He milked the goat for me in a wooden cup which he had with him and I had with me a bucket in which I kept water for drinking and for performing ablution. I came to Allah's Apostle ﷺ and did not like to awaken him from sleep but he was accidentally startled from the sleep. I poured water upon the milk (till It was cold) and I said: Messenger of Allah, take this milk. He then took It and I was delighted and he (the Holy Prophet) said: Is now not the time to march on? I said: Of course. So he marched on after the sun had passed the meridian and Suraqa b. Malik pursued us and we had been walking on soft, level ground. I said: Messenger of Allah, we are about to be overtaken by them. Thereupon he said: Be not grieved. Verily, Allah is with us. Then Messenger of Allah ﷺ cursed him and his horse sank into the earth. I think he also said: I know you have hurled curse upon me. So supplicate Allah for me and I take an oath that I shall turn everyone away who would come in search of you. So he (Messenger of Allah) supplicated Allah and he was rescued and he came back and to everyone he met, he said: I have combed all this side. In short, he diverted everyone whom he met and he in fact fulfilled his promise.  

لِعَازِبٍ ابْعَثْ مَعِيَ ابْنَكَ يَحْمِلْهُ مَعِي إِلَى مَنْزِلِي فَقَالَ لِي أَبِي احْمِلْهُ فَحَمَلْتُهُ وَخَرَجَ أَبِي مَعَهُ يَنْتَقِدُ ثَمَنَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبِي يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ حَدِّثْنِي كَيْفَ صَنَعْتُمَا لَيْلَةَ سَرَيْتَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ نَعَمْ أَسْرَيْنَا لَيْلَتَنَا كُلَّهَا حَتَّى قَامَ قَائِمُ الظَّهِيرَةِ وَخَلاَ الطَّرِيقُ فَلاَ يَمُرُّ فِيهِ أَحَدٌ حَتَّى رُفِعَتْ لَنَا صَخْرَةٌ طَوِيلَةٌ لَهَا ظِلٌّ لَمْ تَأْتِ عَلَيْهِ الشَّمْسُ بَعْدُ فَنَزَلْنَا عِنْدَهَا فَأَتَيْتُ الصَّخْرَةَ فَسَوَّيْتُ بِيَدِي مَكَانًا يَنَامُ فِيهِ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فِي ظِلِّهَا ثُمَّ بَسَطْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَرْوَةً ثُمَّ قُلْتُ نَمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَأَنَا أَنْفُضُ لَكَ مَا حَوْلَكَ فَنَامَ وَخَرَجْتُ أَنْفُضُ مَا حَوْلَهُ فَإِذَا أَنَا بِرَاعِي غَنَمٍ مُقْبِلٍ بِغَنَمِهِ إِلَى الصَّخْرَةِ يُرِيدُ مِنْهَا الَّذِي أَرَدْنَا فَلَقِيتُهُ فَقُلْتُ لِمَنْ أَنْتَ يَا غُلاَمُ فَقَالَ لِرَجُلٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ قُلْتُ أَفِي غَنَمِكَ لَبَنٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ أَفَتَحْلُبُ لِي قَالَ نَعَمْ فَأَخَذَ شَاةً فَقُلْتُ لَهُ انْفُضِ الضَّرْعَ مِنَ الشَّعَرِ وَالتُّرَابِ وَالْقَذَى قَالَ فَرَأَيْتُ الْبَرَاءَ يَضْرِبُ بِيَدِهِ عَلَى الأُخْرَى يَنْفُضُ فَحَلَبَ لِي فِي قَعْبٍ مَعَهُ كُثْبَةً مِنْ لَبَنٍ قَالَ وَمَعِي إِدَاوَةٌ أَرْتَوِي فِيهَا لِلنَّبِيِّ ﷺ لِيَشْرَبَ مِنْهَا وَيَتَوَضَّأَ قَالَ فَأَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ وَكَرِهْتُ أَنْ أُوقِظَهُ مِنْ نَوْمِهِ فَوَافَقْتُهُ اسْتَيْقَظَ فَصَبَبْتُ عَلَى اللَّبَنِ مِنَ الْمَاءِ حَتَّى بَرَدَ أَسْفَلُهُ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ اشْرَبْ مِنْ هَذَا اللَّبَنِ قَالَ فَشَرِبَ حَتَّى رَضِيتُ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِلرَّحِيلِ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ فَارْتَحَلْنَا بَعْدَ مَا زَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَاتَّبَعَنَا سُرَاقَةُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ قَالَ وَنَحْنُ فِي جَلَدٍ مِنَ الأَرْضِ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أُتِينَا فَقَالَ لاَ تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَنَا فَدَعَا عَلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَارْتَطَمَتْ فَرَسُهُ إِلَى بَطْنِهَا أُرَى فَقَالَ إِنِّي قَدْ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّكُمَا قَدْ دَعَوْتُمَا عَلَىَّ فَادْعُوَا لِي فَاللَّهُ لَكُمَا أَنْ أَرُدَّ عَنْكُمَا الطَّلَبَ فَدَعَا اللَّهَ فَنَجَى فَرَجَعَ لاَ يَلْقَى أَحَدًا إِلاَّ قَالَ قَدْ كَفَيْتُكُمْ مَا هَا هُنَا فَلاَ يَلْقَى أَحَدًا إِلاَّ رَدَّهُ قَالَ وَوَفَى لَنَا  

[Machine] I was walking with the Prophet ﷺ in the outskirts of the city at night when we came across a trench. The Prophet ﷺ said, "Abu Dharr, I do not want that this trench be made of gold and a night comes upon me possessing only a dinar that I am not free from debt except that I would say to it in the servants of Allah, 'This way and that way,' and he pointed with his hand. Then he said, 'O Abu Dharr, I said, 'Labbayka' (at your service) and 'Saddayk' (I obey and agree with you), O Messenger of Allah.' He said, 'Indeed, the majority of the people are those who have the least (in terms of faith and piety), except for those who say this way and that way and this way.' Then he said to me, 'Stay where you are, O Abu Dharr, until I return to you.' He then left until he was out of my sight, and I heard a sound, so I feared that it might be a danger for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. I intended to go to him, but then I remembered his statement, 'Do not move from here,' so I said, 'O Messenger of Allah, I heard a sound and I feared that it might be a danger for you.' Then I remembered your statement, so I stayed there.' The Prophet ﷺ said, 'That was Jibril who came to me and informed me that whoever dies from my Ummah without associating anything with Allah will enter Paradise.' I said, 'O Messenger of Allah, even if he commits adultery or theft?' He said, 'Even if he commits adultery or theft.'"  

كُنْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَمْشِي فِي حَرَّةِ الْمَدِينَةِ عِشَاءً فَاسْتَقْبَلْنَا أُحُدًا فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ مَا أُحِبُّ أَنَّ أُحُدًا ذَاكَ لِي ذَهَبًا تَأْتِي عَلَيْهِ لَيْلَةٌ وَعِنْدِي مِنْهُ دِينَارٌ إِلَّا دِينَارًا أَرْصُدُهُ لِدَيْنٍ إِلَّا أَنْ أَقُولَ بِهِ فِي عِبَادِ اللهِ هَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا وَأَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ قُلْتُ لَبَّيْكَ وَسَعْدَيْكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ قَالَ أَلَا إِنَّ الْأَكْثَرِينَ هُمُ الْأَقَلُّونَ إِلَّا مَنْ قَالَ هَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي مَكَانَكَ لَا تَبْرَحْ يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ حَتَّى أَرْجِعَ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ وَانْطَلَقَ حَتَّى غَابَ عَنِّي فَسَمِعْتُ صَوْتًا فَتَخَوَّفْتُ أَنْ يَكُونَ عَرَضَ لِرَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَأَرَدْتُ أَنْ آتِيَهُ ثُمَّ ذَكَرْتُ قَوْلَهُ لَا تَبْرَحْ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ سَمِعْتُ صَوْتًا خَشِيتُ أَنْ يَكُونَ عَرَضَ لَكَ ذَاكَ ثُمَّ ذَكَرْتُ قَوْلَكَ فَأَقَمْتُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ ذَاكَ جِبْرَائِيلُ أَتَانِي فَأَخْبَرَنِي أَنَّهُ مَنْ مَاتَ مِنْ أُمَّتِي لَا يُشْرِكُ بِاللهِ شَيْئًا دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ وَإِنْ زَنَا وَإِنْ سَرَقَ؟ قَالَ وَإِنْ زَنَا وَإِنْ سَرَقَ  

"عَنْ حَرْبِ بْنِ شُرَيْحٍ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي رَجُلٌ مِنْ بلعدوية حَدَّثَنِي جَدِّي قَالَ: انْطَلَقْتُ إِلى المدِينَة فَنَزَلْتُ إلى الوَادِي وَإِذَا رَجُلَانِ بَيْنَهُمَا وَاحِدٌ، وَإِذَا المُشْتَرِي يَقُولُ لِلْبَائِع: أَحْسِنْ مُبَايَعتِي، فَقُلْت فِي نَفْسِي: هَذَا الهَاشِميُّ الذي أَضَلَّ النَّاسَ أَهُوَ هُوَ فَنَظَرْتُ فَإذَا رَجُلٌ حَسَنُ الوجْهِ، عَظيمُ الجَبْهَةِ دَقِيقُ الأَنْفِ، دَقِيقُ الحَاجِبَيْنِ، وَإِذَا من ثُغرة نحره إِلى سُرَّتِهِ مِثْلُ الخَيْطِ الأَسْوَدِ، وَإِذَا هُوَ بَيْنِ طِمْرَيْنِ ودنا منه فَقَالَ: السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ فَرَدُّوا عَلَيْهِ فَلَمْ أَلْبَثْ إذْ دَعَا المُشْتَرِي فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ الله قُلْ لَهُ فَلْيُحْسِنْ مُبَايَعِتي، فَمَرَّ يده وَقَالَ: أَمْوَالكُمْ تَمِلكُون إِنِّي لا أَرجو أنْ أَلْقَى الله - تَعَالَى- يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ لا يَطْلُبُني أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ بِشِيْءٍ ظَلَمْتُهُ فِي مَالٍ وَلا دَمٍ وَلَا عِرْضٍ، ولا لحَقِّهِ (*) رَحِمَ اللهُ - تَعَالَى- امْرَأ سَهْلَ البَيْعِ، سَهْلَ الشِّرَاءِ، سَهْلَ الأَخْذِ، سَهْلَ الإِعْطَاءِ، سَهْل القَضَاءِ، سَهْلَ التَّقَاضِي، ثُمَّ مَضَى فَقُلْتُ: واللهِ لأَقضي هذَا، فَإنَّهُ حَسَنُ القَوْلِ فَتَبِعْتهُ فَقُلْتُ يَا مُحَمَّد فالتفت إِلَي بِجَمِيعِهِ فَقَالَ مَا تَشَاءٌ، قَالَ: أنْتَ الَّذِي أَضْلَلْتَ النَّاسَ وَأَهْلَكْتَهُمْ وَصَدَدْتَهُمْ عَمَّا كَانَ يَعْبُد آبَاؤُهُمْ؟ قَالَ: ذَاكَ اللهُ، قُلْتُ: مَا تَدْعُو إلَيْهِ؟ قال: أدْعُو عِبَادَ اللهِ إلى اللهِ - تَعَالَى- قُلْتُ: مَا تَقُولُ؟ قَالَ: فَتَشْهَدُ أنْ لَا إله إلا اللهُ، وأَنَّ مُحَمّدًا رَسُولُ اللهِ وَتُؤْمِنُ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللهُ - تَعَالَى- عَلَيَّ وَتَكْفُر باللاِت وَالعُزَّى، وَتُقِيمُ الصَّلَاةَ، وَتُؤْتِي الزكاة، قُلْتُ: وَمَا الزَّكَاةُ؟ قَالَ تعود غنيًا فقيرنا (* *)، قُلْتُ نعم إنني (* * *) تدعو إليه، قَال: فَلَقْدَ كَانَ وَمَا عَلَى ظَهر الأرض أَحَدٌ يَتَنَفَّسُ أَبْغَضُ إلَيَّ مِنْهُ، فَمَا بَرِحَ حَتَّى كَانَ أَحَبَ إلَيَّ مِنْ وَلَدِي وَوَالدِي، وَمِنَ النَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ، قَالَ: قَدْ عَرَفْتَ، قُلْتُ: نَعمْ، قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إني أرد ماءً عليه كثير من الناس فادعوهم إلى ما تدعونني إليه، فإني أرجو أن يتبعوك، قال: نعم فادعهم، وأسلم أهل ذلك الماء رجالهم ونساؤهم، فمسح رسول الله ﷺ رأسه".