{"id":21781,"date":"2025-08-21T15:13:39","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T13:13:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alhaadi.org.za\/?p=21781"},"modified":"2025-08-21T15:25:00","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T13:25:00","slug":"the-first-salaam-in-islam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alhaadi.org.za\/?p=21781","title":{"rendered":"The First Salaam in Islam"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Sayyiduna Abu Zarr [radhiyallahu \u2018anhu] \u2013 Part Two)<\/em><\/p>\n

In part one<\/a> of this series, one version describing the manner in which Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) accepted Islam was mentioned. However, there is another version as well, which is as follows:<\/p>\n

The Ghifaar tribe, from which Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) hailed, violated the sanctity of the sacred months (by raiding and fighting). Therefore, Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu), together with his brother and their mother, left the tribe and went to stay with his maternal uncle. He honoured them and treated them with kindness.<\/p>\n

However, driven by jealousy, the local people falsely accused his brother, Sayyiduna Unais (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu), of misconduct with his uncle\u2019s wife during the uncle\u2019s absence. When their uncle informed them of the accusation, Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) said, \u201cAs for the kindness you previously showed, you have now tainted it. We will no longer remain with you.\u201d They then loaded their belongings onto their camels, while the uncle covered himself with his garment and began to cry.<\/p>\n

Thereafter, they travelled to the outskirts of Makkah Mukarramah and settled there. Sayyiduna Unais (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu), who was a skilled poet, challenged another poet to a contest, wagering their camels on the outcome. Sayyiduna Unais (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) won and returned with double the number of camels. He thereafter went to Makkah Mukarramah. Upon his return, he informed Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) that he met a man in Makkah Mukarramah who followed a religion similar to his.<\/p>\n

Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) believed in the oneness of Allah Ta\u2018ala even during the days of ignorance. For three years before meeting Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam), he had been worshipping Allah Ta\u2018ala alone and would even offer a form of salaah solely to Him.<\/p>\n

His brother went on to explain that the man he had met in Makkah Mukarramah claimed that Allah Ta\u2018ala had sent him as a messenger. However, his people rejected him, accusing him of being a magician, a fortune-teller and a poet. Sayyiduna Unais (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu), being an accomplished poet himself, solemnly affirmed, \u201cI have heard the words of soothsayers, and this is not their speech. I scrutinized his words against every poetic metre and it does not conform to any known poetic form. By Allah! He is indeed truthful, and they are surely liars.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) wished to see Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam) for himself. He thus set out for Makkah Mukarramah and enquired from someone where he could find the man whom the people referred to as \u201cAs-Saabi\u201d \u2013 a term used to describe one who had abandoned the religion of his forefathers.<\/p>\n

He deliberately chose to ask a man who appeared weak and unlikely to cause him harm. However, upon hearing the question, the man cried out, \u201cAs-Saabi!\u201d and pointed to Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) (accusing him of abandoning the religion of his forefathers).<\/p>\n

The people of Makkah Mukarramah rushed at him, attacking him viciously with stones and bones, leaving him bloodied and unconscious. When he regained consciousness, he went to the well of Zamzam and washed the blood from his body and clothes.<\/p>\n

He remained in Makkah Mukarramah for thirty days, consuming nothing but the water of Zamzam. Remarkably, through the blessings of Zamzam, he gained weight and did not experience even the slightest feeling of hunger.<\/p>\n

One moonlit night, when everyone was asleep and no one was making tawaaf around the Ka\u2019bah, Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) noticed two women invoking the idols, \u201cIsaaf\u201d and \u201cNaailah\u201d. As they passed by, he said, \u201cWhy not marry these idols to each other?\u201d The women ignored him and continued with their supplication. When they passed by again, he bluntly declared, \u201cThese (idols) are like wood (i.e. lifeless and powerless).\u201d The women went off wailing, crying out, \u201cIf only there was someone here from our people (to help us)!\u201d<\/p>\n

At that moment, Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam) and Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu), appeared and walked towards them. (Seeing their distressed state,) Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam) enquired what had happened. They replied that there was a \u201csaabi\u201d near the Ka\u2019bah. Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam) then asked, \u201cWhat did he say to you?\u201d They said that his words were so outrageous that they were too ashamed to repeat them.<\/p>\n

Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam) and Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) proceeded to make istilaam of the Hajr Aswad, followed by tawaaf of the Ka\u2018bah, and then performed salaah. After he completed his salaah, Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) approached and greeted Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam) with salaam \u2013 becoming the first person to greet him with the greeting of Islam.<\/p>\n

Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam) replied to his salaam and asked him who he was. Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) informed him that he was from the Ghifaar tribe. Upon hearing this, Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam) placed his blessed fingers on his blessed forehead in astonishment that a person from the notorious Ghifaar tribe had been guided to Islam.<\/p>\n

Upon witnessing the reaction of Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam), Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) thought that perhaps he disapproved of his being from the Ghifaar tribe. He therefore reached for the hand of Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam) but Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) stopped him (understanding that Rasulullah [sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam] had raised his hand in surprise, not dislike).<\/p>\n

Thereafter, Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam) raised his head and asked Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) how long he had been in Makkah Mukarramah. He replied that he had been there for thirty days. Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam) then enquired who had provided him with food. Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) said, \u201cI had no food except the water of Zamzam. Yet, I gained so much weight that the folds of my belly split, and I did not feel even the slightest pang of hunger.\u201d Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam) remarked, \u201cIndeed, it (Zamzam) is blessed, and it is food that satiates a person.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) sought permission from Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam) to host Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) for a meal that evening. Permission was granted, and he accompanied them. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) gave him some raisins to eat, and this was the first food he had eaten since his arrival.<\/p>\n

Thereafter, he went to Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam), who informed him that a land with date palms had been shown to him (through revelation) \u2013 which he believed to be Madeenah Munawwarah (where he would soon migrate).<\/p>\n

Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam) then asked Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu), \u201cWill you convey (my message) to your people on my behalf? Perhaps Allah Ta\u2018ala will benefit them through you (by guiding them) and will reward you as a result of them (accepting Islam on your hands).\u201d<\/p>\n

When he returned, Sayyiduna Unais (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) asked him what had transpired. Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) informed him that he had accepted Islam. Upon hearing this, Sayyiduna Unais (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) also embraced Islam. They then approached their mother, and she too accepted Islam.<\/p>\n

They subsequently returned to their tribe, the Ghifaar, and conveyed the message of Islam to them. Half of the tribe embraced Islam, and their leader, Sayyiduna Eemaa bin Rahadhah Al-Ghifaari (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu), would lead them in salaah. The other half declared that they would accept Islam once Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam) migrated to Madeenah Munawwarah. True to their word, when Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam) migrated to Madeenah Munawwarah, the remaining half also accepted Islam. On this occasion, Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam) remarked, \u201cMay Allah Ta\u2018ala forgive the Ghifaar!\u201d (NB: The word for \u201cforgive\u201d in Arabic is \u201cghafara\u201d, which has the same three root letters as Ghifaar.)<\/p>\n

(Saheeh Muslim #6359, Sharhun Nawawi and Takmilatu Fathil Mulhim)<\/em><\/p>\n

Lessons:<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu), his mother, and his brother left the Ghifaar tribe due to the tribe\u2019s disregard for the sanctity of the sacred months \u2013 even before they had accepted Islam. This highlights the importance of distancing ourselves from environments in which the commands of Allah Ta\u2018ala are violated, and from people who transgress the laws Allah Ta\u2018ala, as they may negatively impact our Deen.<\/p>\n

2. The life of this world is a test. Trials and difficulties are inevitable \u2013 especially for the one striving in the path of Deen. Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) endured a severe beating simply for enquiring about Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam), yet he remained firm and did not give up. For thirty days, surviving on Zamzam alone, he patiently awaited the moment he could meet Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam). We thus need to remain steadfast in our religious obligations, regardless of the circumstances, and continue to tread the road to righteousness, despite the obstacles that may come our way.<\/p>\n

3. Many ahadeeth explain the benefits of Zamzam. Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam) has said, \u201cThe water of Zamzam is for whatever purpose it is drunk.\u201d (Sunan Ibni Maajah #3062) <\/em>In this incident, Rasulullah (sallallahu \u2018alaihi wasallam) described it as blessed and food that satiates. The experience of Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) reflects this reality \u2013 for thirty days he survived only on Zamzam, remaining nourished and even gaining strength. Zamzam is no ordinary water \u2013 it is a gift from Allah Ta\u2018ala, infused with barakah (blessings), shifaa (cure) and nourishment for the one who drinks it.<\/p>\n

4. When Allah Ta\u2018ala decrees guidance for a servant, nothing can prevent it \u2013 not one\u2019s background, not family name, and not even the sins of the past. Sayyiduna Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu \u2018anhu) came from the Ghifaar tribe, notorious for robbery and violating the sacred months, and he himself was a highway robber. Yet Allah Ta\u2018ala chose him, drew him out of darkness, and brought him into the light of Islam. Furthermore, Allah Ta\u2018ala guided the entire tribe thereafter. Hidaayah (guidance) lies only in Allah Ta\u2018ala\u2019s hands, and no heart is too distant for Him to guide.<\/p>\n

>>>Download Musjid Poster\u00a0Page 1<\/a>, Page 2<\/a> and Page 3<\/a><<<<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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