Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
It was on account of Hazrat Abu Zarr Ghifaari (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) looking at Rasulullah’s (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) life of austerity and worldly abstinence, and hearing the severe warnings for those who possess wealth but do not discharge the rights of the wealth and the rights they owe to others in the wealth, that Hazrat Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) developed such resentment and hatred towards the dunya that he did not keep wealth and did not like to see people keeping excess wealth.
This extreme aversion for wealth caused Hazrat Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to continuously advise the people of Madinah Munawwarah not to keep any extra wealth.
When the people of Madinah Munawwarah began to find it difficult through Hazrat Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu anhu) continuously cautioning them not to keep any extra wealth, then Hazrat Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) asked him to move to Shaam. Through him remaining with the people in Shaam, it was difficult for him to see people with extra wealth and he began to caution and reprimand them for keeping extra wealth, until people began to find it difficult to remain with him.
Therefore, he was called back to Madinah Munawwarah by Hazrat Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), but seeing that it was also difficult for him to live with the people here due to the same reason, Hazrat Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) finally asked him to move to Rabadhah – a place which is located at a distance from Madinah Munawwarah.
Whatever transpired to Hazrat Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) throughout his live, moving from place to place, was in actual fact what Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had prophesized.
Hazrat Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports:
On one occasion, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) came to me while I was asleep in the Musjid of Madinah Munawwarah. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) touched me with his blessed foot to wake me up and he said to me, “Do I not see you sleeping in the musjid?” I replied, “O Nabi of Allah! I was overcome by sleepiness!”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then said, “What will you do when you will be taken out from it (i.e. from the blessed city of Madinah Munawwarah)?” I replied, “I will go to the holy, blessed land of Shaam.”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then said, “What will you do when you will be taken out from Shaam?” I replied, “I will return to it (i.e. to the blessed city of Madinah Munawwarah).”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then said, “What will you do when you will be taken out from it (i.e. when you will be taken out from Madinah Munawwarah for a second time)?” Hazrat Abu Zar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) responded, “What should I do, O Nabi of Allah? Should I strike with my sword (and fight those who wish to take me out)?”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “Shall I not show you that which is better for you than that and is more correct? You should listen and obey, and allow them to take you to whichever place they wish to take you.” (Musnad Ahmad # 21382)
