English Translation

Abu al-Mughira narrated to us: Mu'an ibn Rifa'a narrated to us: Ali ibn Yazid narrated to me, from al-Qasim Abu Abd al-Rahman, from Abu Umama, who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was sitting in the mosque, and the people thought that revelation was coming down upon him, so they held back from him, until Abu Dharr came and pushed forward, and sat beside him. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) turned to them and said, "O Abu Dharr, have you prayed today?" He said, "No." He said, "Get up and pray." When he had prayed four rak'ahs of the mid-morning prayer, the Prophet turned to him and said, "O Abu Dharr, seek refuge from the evil of the devils of the jinn and of mankind." He said, "O Prophet of Allah, do men have devils too?" He said, "Yes, devils among men and jinn — some of them inspire others with alluring speech, as delusion." Then he said, "O Abu Dharr, shall I not teach you something from the treasure of Paradise?" He said, "Yes indeed, may Allah make me a ransom for you." He said, "Say: there is no power and no strength except by Allah." He said: So I said, "There is no power and no strength except by Allah." He said: Then he fell silent toward me, and I found his silence long, so I said, "O Prophet of Allah, we were people of pagan ignorance and worshippers of idols, and Allah sent you as a mercy to all the worlds — tell me, what is prayer?" He said, "A good thing laid down; whoever wishes may do little of it, and whoever wishes may do much." I said, "O Prophet of Allah, tell me, what is fasting?" He said, "An obligation that suffices." I said, "O Prophet of Allah, tell me, what is charity?" He said, "Manifold reward, and with Allah there is still more." I said, "O Prophet of Allah, which charity is best?" He said, "A secret gift to a poor man, and the utmost effort of one who has little." I said, "O Prophet of Allah, which of what has been revealed to you is greatest?" He said, {Allah — there is no god but He, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all} — the Verse of the Throne. I said, "O Prophet of Allah, which martyrs are best?" He said, "Those whose blood is shed and whose horse is hamstrung." I said, "O Prophet of Allah, which slave to free is best?" He said, "The most expensive in price and the most valued by his owners." I said, "O Prophet of Allah, which prophet was first?" He said, "Adam, peace be upon him." I said, "O Prophet of Allah, was Adam truly a prophet?" He said, "Yes, a prophet spoken to; Allah created him with His own hand, then breathed into him His spirit, then said to him, 'O Adam, face to face.'" I said, "O Messenger of Allah, what was the full number of the prophets?" He said, "One hundred twenty-four thousand; the messengers among them were three hundred and fifteen — a vast multitude."