Abu-d Darda (RA)
Early Idolatry:
Abu-d Darda’ would go to his idol, based in his house, every morning and would spend time worshipping it.
Friendship with Abdullah ibn Rawahah:
One morning, when the streets of Yathrib (Madinah) were crowded with the army of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ returning from the Battle of Badr, Abu-d Darda’ asked about his close friend Abdullah ibn Rawahah.
Abdullah ibn Rawahah returned safely from the Battle and Badr.
When Islam first came to Yathrib, Abdullah ibn Rawahah accepted Islam but Abu-d Darda’ rejected it.
Abdullah ibn Rawahah kept on visiting him and reminding him of the virtues and benefits of Islam in order to convince him to accept the religion.
Destruction of the Idol:
One day, Abdullah ibn Rawahah went to the house of Abu-d Darda’, who was not present but his wife Umm ad-Darda’ was home.
Abdullah ibn Rawahah then went to the room where the idol was kept and began destroying it. He said whilst destroying it: Isn’t everything ‘Batil’ (falsehood) which is worshipped besides Allah.
When the idol was completely smashed, he left Abu-d Darda’s house.
When Abu-d Darda’ returned home, he saw his wife upset and asked her: what’s wrong? His wife replied: Your brother Abdullah ibn Rawahah visited us and did with your idols what you see!
Abu-d Darda’ was shocked when he saw the broken idol and was very angry. However, after a while, his anger subsided and he said to himself: If there was any good in this idol, it would have defended himself from any injury.
Abu-d Darda’s Acceptance of Islam:
Abu-d Darda’ then went straight to Abdullah ibn Rawahah and together they went to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, where he accepted Islam.
Detachment from the World and Worldly Comforts:
After becoming a Muslim, Abu-d Darda’ reduced his involvement in his business tradings as he realised it disturbed him from his worship.
He abandoned his life of luxury and instead, he wore simple clothes.
Role in Damascus:
During the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab, he wanted to appoint Abu-d Darda’ as a governor of Syria.
Abu-d Darda’ refused but Umar continued to convince him.
Abu-d Darda’ then said: if you are content that I should go to them to teach them the Book of their Lord and the Sunnah of their Prophet and pray with them, I will go.
He left for Damascus and there, he found the residents focused on acquiring the luxuries of the Dunya over preparing themselves for the Akhirah.
Abu-d Darda’s Reminder to the Residents of Damascus:
He would remind them that people before them gained a lot of wealth and had high hopes but then all the wealth that they had was destroyed and their houses were turned into graves.
Abu-d Darda’ would remind the people of Damascus about what happened to the people of ‘Ad (Prophet Hud).
Wisdom and Advice:
A young man once came up to Abu-d Darda’ and said: Give me advice, O companion of the Messenger of Allah.
Remember Allah in Good Times and Hardship:
Abu-d Darda’ replied: My son, remember Allah in good times and He will remember you in times of misfortune.
Be Knowledgeable:
Abu-d Darda’ continued: My son, be knowledgeable, seek knowledge, be a good listener and do not be ignorant, for you will be ruined.
Let the Masjid Be Your Home:
Abu-d Darda’ said: My son, let the Masjid be your house for indeed I heard the Messenger of Allah say: The Masjid is the house of every God-conscious person and Allah Almighty has guaranteed serenity, comfort, mercy and staying on the path leading to His please, to those for whom masjids are their houses.
Marriage Decision For His Daughter:
While Abu-d Darda’ was in Damascus, Mu’awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan, the son of Abu Sufyan, asked for his daughter’s hand in marriage for his son, Yazid.
Abu-d Darda’ refused and gave his daughter in marriage to a poor young man as he was impressed with his character and attachment to Islam.
Abu-d Darda’s Reasoning for Rejecting the Proposal:
After witnessing this incident, the residents of Damascus asked Abu-d Darda’ about why he refused to let his daughter marry Yazid.
Abu-d Darda’ replied: I have only sought to do what is good for al-Darda (his daughter).
The people asked: How? Abu-d Darda’ replied: What would you think of al-Darda’ if servants were to stand in her presence serving her and if she were to find herself in palaces the glamour of which dazzled the eyes? What would become of her religion then?
Visit of Umar ibn al-Khattab to Abu-d Darda’:
When Abu-d Darda’ was still in Syria, the Khalifah Umar ibn al-Khattab came to visit him.
One night, Umar went to Abu-d Darda’s house and realised there was no light in his house. He then felt his pillow and realised it was an animal’s saddle, and he touched the place where Abu-d Darda lay and knew it was just small pebbles.
Umar then asked him: Shouldn’t I make things more comfortable for you? Shouldn’t I send something for you? Abu-d Darda’ replied: Do you remember Umar, a Hadith in which the Prophet told us?
Umar asked: What is it? Abu-d Darda’ replied: Did he not say: ‘Let what is sufficient for any of you in this world be like the provisions of a rider?’
Umar replied: Yes. Abu-d Darda’ then said: And what have we done after this, O Umar?
Both Umar ibn al-Khattab and Abu-d Darda’ started to cry, thinking about the large amount of wealth that the Muslims obtained from the expansion of Islam.
They also cried because of the Muslims’ preoccupation with wealth and worldly possessions.
Hadith Narrated by Abu-d Darda’:
Abu-d Darda’ reported that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: Whoever takes a path in search of knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise. Verily, the angels lower their wings for the seeker of knowledge, pleased with what he does. The inhabitants of the heavens and the earth, and even the fish in the depths of the water, seek forgiveness for the scholar. The superiority of the scholar over the worshiper is like the superiority of the moon over all other heavenly bodies. The scholars are the heirs of the prophets, for the prophets did not leave behind dinars or dirhams, but they left behind knowledge. Whoever takes it has taken a great share. (Abu Dawud)
Abu-d Darda’ narrated: The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ once said: Shall I not tell you of something that is better than fasting, prayer, and charity? The companions said: Yes, O Messenger of Allah. The Prophet said: Reconciliation between people, for ruined relations between people is the razor. (Tirmidhi)