Abū al-Dardāʾ (RA)- A teacher and a Judge
Abū al-Dardāʾ (RA), whose name was ʿUwaymir ibn Mālik ibn Zayd al-Anṣārī al-Khazrajī, was among the notable companions of the Prophet ﷺ from the tribe of Khazraj in Madinah. Before Islam, he was a merchant known for his sharp intellect. He embraced Islam after the Battle of Badr, becoming one of the Prophet’s close companions.
Initially, he delayed accepting Islam despite many of his friends and family having already become Muslims, including. His close companion, ʿAbdullāh ibn Rawāḥah, once went to his house while he was absent and destroyed his idol, saying, “Will you worship something that cannot benefit or harm you?” When Abū al-Dardāʾ returned and saw the shattered idol, he reflected deeply. Realizing the futility of idol worship, he said,
“By Allah, had there been any good in you, you would have defended yourself.”
He immediately went to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and embraced Islam with full conviction.He is reported to have said: “I accepted Islam last among my household, while others had preceded me.” Despite entering Islam later than many companions, his faith became firm, and he devoted himself to knowledge and worship.
His Faith and Knowledge
After accepting Islam, Abū al-Dardāʾ devoted himself entirely to learning and worship. He transformed from a prosperous trader into a devout seeker of knowledge, dedicating his time to Qur’an, reflection, and teaching.
He famously said:
I embraced Islam at the hands of the Prophet (PBUH) and I was a trader. I wanted to combine trade and
worship, but they would never go together. I abandoned trade and retained worship. Today, it doesn’t
please me to sell and buy to earn 300 dinars a day, although my shop is at the door of the mosque. I can’t
say that Allah forbids selling, but I’d like to be of those whom neither traffic nor merchandise can divert
from remembrance of Allah.
He was among the companions who memorized and taught the Qur’an. The Prophet ﷺ recognized his piety and wisdom, he became known for his deep understanding of faith and his eloquent moral counsel.
The Prophet ﷺ praised his wisdom and devotion. It is narrated: “The Prophet ﷺ made a bond of brotherhood between Salmān and Abū al-Dardāʾ.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3783). This bond reflects his closeness to the Prophet ﷺ and the trust placed in him.
A famous incident shows his balance between worship, family, and worldly needs. Salmān al-Fārsī (RA) visited Abū al-Dardāʾ’s home and saw that his wife appeared neglected. She explained: “Your brother Abū al-Dardāʾ has no interest in the world.” Salmān advised him to balance his duties: “Your Lord has a right over you, your soul has a right over you, and your family has a right over you. So give each its due right.” The Prophet ﷺ confirmed Salmān’s advice, saying: “Salmān has spoken the truth.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim).
Devotion to Knowledge and the Qur’an
Abū al-Dardāʾ (RA) was deeply devoted to the Qur’an and teaching. He established a circle of Qur’an study in the mosque of Damascus after settling there. Large groups of students gathered to learn from him, and he divided them into smaller groups with reciters supervising, while he personally oversaw and corrected them (Ibn Kathīr).
Kathir ibn Qays narrated in a hadith graded Sahih from Sunan Abi Dawud (3641): I was sitting with Abu Darda’ in the mosque of Damascus.
A man came to him and said: Abu Darda RA, I have come to you from the town of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) for a tradition that I have heard you relate from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). I have come for no other purpose.
He said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: If anyone travels on a road in search of knowledge, Allah will cause him to travel on one of the roads of Paradise. The angels will lower their wings in their great pleasure with one who seeks knowledge, the inhabitants of the heavens and the Earth and the fish in the deep waters will ask forgiveness for the learned man. The superiority of the learned man over the devout is like that of the moon, on the night when it is full, over the rest of the stars. The learned are the heirs of the Prophets, and the Prophets leave neither dinar nor dirham, leaving only knowledge, and he who takes it takes an abundant portion.
His Wisdom and Sayings
During the caliphate of `Uthmaan (May Allah be pleased with him), Abu Ad-Dardaa’ agreed to occupy the position of the judge according to the caliph’s desire. Syria was an urban land, full of means of worldy pleasure of life for its people. As a man of asceticism and wisdom, Abu Darda RA was worried to see this. once he gathered them and stood among them preaching,
“O people of Syria, you are brothers in religion,neighbors at home, and supporters against your enemies. But, why aren’t you ashamed? You earn what you don’t eat, and build what you don’t dwell in, and hope for what you can’t achieve. The peoples before you collected cautiously, and hoped confidently, and built firmly, but their gatherings became perdition,their hope became delusion, and their homes became graves.
ʿUmar (RA) himself valued Abū al-Dardāʾ’s counsel and knowledge. It is reported that he once said: “Each person among us is more knowledgeable in some matters than others, but the most knowledgeable of us all is Abū al-Dardāʾ.” (Ibn Saʿd, Ṭabaqāt 2/348).
Character and Humility
Despite his position, Abū al-Dardāʾ lived simply. He is reported to have said: “My greatest fear is that it will be said to me on the Day of Judgment: ‘You learned, but what did you do with what you knew?’” . His life reflected humility, self-accountability, and sincerity.
Death
Abū al-Dardāʾ (RA) remained in Damascus, teaching and guiding the people until his death in 32 AH (652 CE) during the caliphate of ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān (RA) . His passing was a great loss, and he was remembered as one of the most devout companions in knowledge, worship, and wisdom.
