“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] The Messenger of Allah, ﷺ , rode a donkey and made me ride behind him. He said, "O Abu Dharr, if people were to suffer from severe hunger and you couldn't walk from your bed to your mosque, what would you do?" I said, "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said, "Keep yourself chaste." He said, "O Abu Dharr, if people were to face a severe plague and the house, meaning the grave, is filled with a servant, what would you do?" I said, "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said, "Be patient." He said, "O Abu Dharr, if people were to kill each other until the streets are filled with blood, what would you do?" I said, "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said, "Stay in your house and lock the door." I said, "But what if I am not left alone?" He said, "Join those you are afraid of, and be among them." I said, "Should I take my weapons?" He said, "Then you would be participating in what they are in. However, if you fear the gleam of the sword, cover your face with the edge of your garment until he commits his sin and you commit yours."  

رَكِبَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ حِمَارًا وَأَرْدَفَنِي خَلْفَهُ وَقَالَ يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ أَصَابَ النَّاسَ جُوعٌ شَدِيدٌ لَا تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تَقُومَ مِنْ فِرَاشِكَ إِلَى مَسْجِدِكَ كَيْفَ تَصْنَعُ؟ قَالَ اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ تَعَفَّفْ قَالَ يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ أَصَابَ النَّاسَ مَوْتٌ شَدِيدٌ يَكُونُ الْبَيْتُ فِيهِ بِالْعَبْدِ يَعْنِي الْقَبْرَ كَيْفَ تَصْنَعُ؟ قُلْتُ اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ اصْبِرْ قَالَ يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ قَتَلَ النَّاسُ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضًا يَعْنِي حَتَّى تَغْرَقَ حِجَارَةُ الزَّيْتِ مِنَ الدِّمَاءِ كَيْفَ تَصْنَعُ؟ قَالَ اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ اقْعُدْ فِي بَيْتِكَ وَأَغْلِقْ عَلَيْكَ بَابَكَ قَالَ فَإِنْ لَمْ أُتْرَكْ؟ قَالَ فَأْتِ مَنْ أَنْتَ مِنْهُمْ فَكُنْ فِيهِمْ قَالَ فَآخُذُ سِلَاحِي؟ قَالَ إِذَنْ تُشَارِكَهُمْ فِيمَا هُمْ فِيهِ وَلَكِنْ إِنْ خَشِيتَ أَنْ يَرُوعَكَ شُعَاعُ السَّيْفِ فَأَلْقِ طَرَفَ رِدَائِكَ عَلَى وَجْهِكَ حَتَّى يَبُوءَ بِإِثْمِهِ وَإِثْمِكَ  

[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»  

“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 «