Fatwa ID: 03857

Answered by: Maulana Muqtaur Rahman

Question

The story of Abu Dharr Ghifary and Salman, where Abu Dharr was going for Hajj and requested Salman for dua because Abu Dharr was going to the holy lands. Then Salman said, “Oh Abu Dharr, the land does not make you holy but your actions make you holy.” Where I can find the story?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

The story mentioned above can be found in the Muatta of Imam Malik. However, the wordings and names of the companions do vary.

Imam Malik related to me from Yahya ibn Said that Abu-Darda wrote to Salman al-Farsi, "Come immediately to the holy land." Salman wrote back to him, "A land does not make anyone holy. A person's deeds make him holy.”

[Muatta Malik 1464]

Therefore, we understand that the narration indicates the importance of sincerity and quality in our actions and deeds.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Muqtaur Rahman

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham