The Fifth Man

“Even three years before revelation came to the Noble Prophet ﷺ, I used to offer prayer for Allah Almighty. I would go in whichever direction Allah Almighty directed me.

During that period, we came to know that a man had appeared in Makkah al-Mukarramah who claimed to be a prophet.

Hearing this, I said to my brother Anis:

‘Go to this man, speak with him, and come back and tell me about your conversation with him.’

Accordingly, Anis met the Noble Prophet ﷺ.

When he returned, I asked him about the Prophet ﷺ.

He told me:

‘By Allah! I have just come from a man who commands people to do good and forbids them from evil.’

According to another narration, he said:

‘I found you upon the religion of this very man. He claims that Allah has sent him as a Messenger. I saw that this man teaches goodness and noble character.’

I asked:

‘What do people say about him?’

Anis replied:

‘People say that he is a soothsayer and a magician. But by Allah, he is truthful and those people are liars.’

After hearing all this, I said:

‘That is enough. I will go and meet him myself.’

Anis immediately said:

‘Certainly, go and meet him, but beware of the people of Makkah.’

So I put on my shoes, took my walking stick in my hand, and set out.

When I reached Makkah, I pretended before the people as though I did not know this man at all and did not even wish to ask about him.

I stayed in the Masjid al-Haram for one month.

I had nothing to eat except Zamzam water.

Despite this, through the blessing of Zamzam, I became well nourished. The folds of my stomach disappeared, and I did not feel hungry at all.

One night, when there was no one performing Tawaf in the Haram, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came there with a companion, Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه, and they began performing Tawaf around the House of Allah.

Afterward, the Prophet ﷺ and his companion offered prayer.

When the Prophet ﷺ finished his prayer, I approached him and said:

“Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah. I bear witness that there is no one worthy of worship except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad ﷺ is the Messenger of Allah.”

I noticed signs of happiness appearing on the face of the Noble Prophet ﷺ.

Then he ﷺ asked me:

“Who are you?”

I replied:

“I am from the tribe of Ghifar.”

He ﷺ asked:

“When did you arrive here?”

I said:

“I have been here for thirty days and thirty nights.”

He ﷺ asked:

“Who gives you food?”

I replied:

“I have no food except Zamzam water. I have become well nourished by drinking it, to the extent that even the folds of my stomach have disappeared, and I do not feel hungry at all.”

He ﷺ said:

“Congratulations! Zamzam is the best food and a cure for every illness.”

Regarding Zamzam, it is mentioned in the Hadith that if you drink Zamzam water with the intention that Allah Almighty will cure you of illnesses through it, Allah Almighty grants you healing.

If it is drunk with the intention of satisfying hunger and filling the stomach, a person becomes satisfied.

And if it is drunk with the intention that the effect of thirst should disappear, the thirst goes away.

Through it, Allah Almighty provided water to Isma‘il عليه السلام.

One Hadith mentions that drinking Zamzam water to one’s fill is a means of distancing oneself from hypocrisy.

And another Hadith states that the difference between us and the hypocrites is that they do not drink their fill from Zamzam.

Now, returning to Hazrat Abu Dharr al-Ghifari رضي الله عنه, it is said that Abu Dharr رضي الله عنه was the first person in Islam to greet the Prophet ﷺ using the words of the Islamic greeting.

Before him, no one had greeted the Prophet ﷺ with these words.

Abu Dharr رضي الله عنه then pledged allegiance to the Prophet ﷺ upon the condition that, in the matter of Allah Almighty, he would not fear the criticism of any critic, and that he would always speak the truth and say what was right, no matter how bitter the truth might be for the person hearing it.

This Hazrat Abu Dharr رضي الله عنه migrated to the region of Syria after the death of Hazrat Abu Bakr al-Siddiq رضي الله عنه.

Then, during the caliphate of Hazrat ‘Uthman رضي الله عنه, he was called back from Syria.

After that, he went and settled at a place called Rabadhah.

It was at Rabadhah that he passed away.

There is another narration concerning his acceptance of Islam.

According to it, when he came to Makkah al-Mukarramah, he met Hazrat ‘Ali رضي الله عنه, who introduced him to the Prophet ﷺ.

Abu Dharr رضي الله عنه says:

“After I pledged allegiance, the Noble Prophet ﷺ took me along with him.

At one place, Hazrat Abu Bakr al-Siddiq رضي الله عنه opened a door, and we entered.

Abu Bakr al-Siddiq رضي الله عنه offered us grapes.

Thus, this was the first food I ate after arriving in Makkah.”

After this, the Prophet ﷺ said to him:

“O Abu Dharr! Keep this matter secret for the time being.

Now return to your people and inform them, so that they may come to me.

Then, when you learn that we have openly announced our own matter, come to us at that time.”

Hearing the Prophet’s ﷺ words, Hazrat Abu Dharr al-Ghifari رضي الله عنه said:

“By the One who sent you with the truth, I will stand among these people and loudly proclaim it.”

Hazrat Abu Dharr رضي الله عنه says:

“I was the fifth among the Bedouin people who accepted Islam.”

In short, when the people of Quraysh gathered in the Haram, he loudly proclaimed:

“I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad ﷺ is the Messenger of Allah.”

Hearing this declaration in a loud voice, the Quraysh said:

“Seize this apostate!”

They seized Hazrat Abu Dharr رضي الله عنه and severely beat him.

According to one narration, they rushed upon him and beat him with great force until he fell unconscious.

At that time, Hazrat ‘Abbas رضي الله عنه intervened.

He bent over him and said to the Quraysh:

“Woe to you! Do you not know that this man belongs to the tribe of Ghifar? Their territory lies along your trade route.”

What he meant was that the people of Ghifar could block their trade route.

Upon hearing this, they released him.

Abu Dharr رضي الله عنه says:

“After that, I came to the well of Zamzam and washed the blood from my body.

The next day, I again made the declaration:

‘I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah, and Muhammad ﷺ is the Messenger of Allah.’”

They beat me again.

On that day as well, Hazrat ‘Abbas رضي الله عنه was the one who rescued me from them.

Then I returned from there and went to my brother Anis.”