Abu Dharr Al-Ghifaari, may Allaah be pleased with him
7-3-2012 | IslamWeb
Question:
Would you please give me some information about Abu Dharr Al-Ghifaari, may Allaah be pleased with him?
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
Here is a summary of the biography of the honorable companion, Abu Dharr 
authored by the Shaafi‘i scholar Ibn Hajar Al-‘Asqalaani 
in his Al-’Isaabah Fi Tamyeez As-Sahaabah (The Accurate Identification of the Companions).
His full name was Abu Dharr Jundub ibn Junaadah Al-Ghifaari; and Ghifaar was one of the families of the Kinaanah tribe. He travelled to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, in Makkah and was the fourth person to embrace Islam.
After he became a Muslim, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, commanded him to return to his people and tell them about the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. However, he went to the mosque in Makkah and shouted: "I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger!" Therefore, a group of polytheists from Quraysh attacked and tortured him until he was knocked down. Then Al-‘Abbaas ibn ‘Abd Al-Muttalib came and rescued him. The next day he repeated his action and again Al-‘Abbaas rescued him. Subsequently, he went back home and stayed there until the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, migrated to Madeenah. He did not witness the battles of 'Uhud and Badr because he migrated afterwards.
The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to cherish and respect him. He used to honor him when he was present and miss him when he was absent. One of his noble characteristics was that he led an ascetic life and renounced the pleasures and adornment of this worldly life. Referring to this, it was reported on his authority that he heard the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, say that the closest to him in Paradise would be those who remained as ascetic and abstinent, even after the death of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. [Ibn Abi Shaybah and Ahmad]
Furthermore, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, praised him and said that he was the most truthful person on earth. [Abu Daawood] It was also reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, supplicated Allaah the Exalted to have mercy upon him and said that he would live alone, die alone and be resurrected alone. [Al-Haakim]
He died in 31 A.H. and was buried in Ar-Rabthah, a place many miles away from Madeenah. ‘Abd Allaah ibn Mas‘ood performed his funeral prayer.
Allaah Knows best.