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His tears roll down abundantly while he stands in front of this virtuous body saying, "The
Messenger of Allah was truthful You will walk alone, die alone, and resurrect alone."
lbn Mas'uud (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated the interpretation of the statement "You will
walk alone, die alone, and resurrect alone," to his companions:
That was in the ninth year after Hijrah, during the Battle of Tabuuk, when the Prophet, (PBUH) had
ordered full preparation to meet the Romans, who had begun to carry out their conspiracies and cunning
tricks against Islam.
The days in which people were asked to go out for jihaad were very hot, distressful, and hard. The
destination was far away and the enemy terrifying.
A group of Muslims refrained from going forth, justifying their position with different apologies.
The Prophet (PBUH) and his Companions went forth. The farther they went, the more exhausted and
tired they became. Whenever a man stayed behind people said, "O Prophet! So-and-so stayed behind."
He then said, "Let him! If he's any good, he will reach you. If he's something else, then Allah will save
you his trouble."
One day the people turned around. They could not find Abu Dhar. They told the Prophet (PBUH)
that Abu Dhar had stayed behind and his camel had slowed down. It is here that the Prophet (PBUH)
repeated his first statement. Abu Dhar's camel became weaker under the severe pressure of hunger, thirst,
and hot weather. It stumbled due to weakness and fatigue. Abu Dhar tried by all means to force it to
move forward, but the burden of the camel's exhaustion was too heavy.
Finally, Abu Dhar felt that he would be left behind, losing the caravan's traces. Therefore, he
dismounted from his camel, took his belongings, carried them on his back, and continued his route on
foot over the burning desert sand, hurrying in order to rejoin the Prophet (PBUH) and his Companions.
In the early morning, while the Muslims were stopped for a while to rest, one of them saw a cloud
of dust and sand behind which the shadow of a man could be seen. The one who saw that said to the
Prophet (PBUH), "O Messenger of Allah, there is someone walking alone." The Prophet (PBUH) said,
"It is Abu Dhar."
The Muslims continued their talk until the man crossed the remaining distance between them. Only
then were they able to know who he was.
The respectful traveler approached little by little. Although he could only with great effort pull his
feet out of the burning sand and with a lot of pain carry the heavy burden on his back, he was very
delighted to have finally reached the blessed caravan without staying behind and abandoning the Prophet
(PBUH) and his Companions.
When he at last reached the caravan, someone shouted, "O Prophet, it's Abu Dhar." Abu Dhar
beaded towards the Prophet (PBUH). The Prophet (PBUH) had hardly seen him, when he tenderly,
kindly, and sadly smiled and said, "Allah will have mercy upon Abu Dhar. He walks alone, dies alone,
and resurrects alone."
Twenty years or more had passed since then. Abu Dhar died alone in the desert of Ar-Rabadhah,
having walked on a path no one else had passed over so gloriously .
He is also remembered alone by history for his brave resistance and his great asceticism. Allah will
also resurrect him alone, because the multitude of his various merits will not enable anyone else to find a
place near him.