The Illustrious Sahaabah The Illustrious Sahaabah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas‘ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) narrates:
When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) departed on the expedition of Tabook, some people did not join the expedition and chose to remain behind. Most of these people were from the munaafiqeen (hypocrites).
When the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) would inform Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) regarding those people who remained behind, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would respond by saying, “Leave him! If there is any good in him, then Allah Ta’ala will soon join him with you, and if there is no good in him, then Allah Ta‘ala has relieved you of his presence.”
Eventually, someone mentioned to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) that Abu Zar (radhiyallahu anhu) had remained behind on account of his camel not being able to move. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) responded saying, “Leave him! If there is any good in him, then Allah Ta’ala will soon join him with you, and if there is no good in him, then Allah Ta‘ala has relieved you of his presence.”
In the interim, when Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) saw that he was unable to continue travelling on his camel, he placed his luggage on his back and set out on foot to join Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
After travelling for some while, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) halted at a certain place to rest. While they were stationed there, one of the Sahaabah looked back and saw someone at a far distance approaching on foot. He addressed Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and said, “O Rasul of Allah! I see a person walking on the road (approaching us from a distance)!”
On hearing this, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) eagerly exclaimed, “May it be Abu Zar!” When the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) then looked closely at the person approaching on foot and realised that it was him, they called out in happiness and excitement, “By Allah! It is Abu Zar!”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then made special dua for Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) saying, “May Allah shower His special mercy on Abu Zar! He is coming (towards us) walking alone, he will pass away alone and he will be resurrected alone.”
(Siyar A’laam min Nubalaa 3/384)
