He said to him...

He said to him: “O Abu Tharr, you showed anger for Allah; therefore, have hope in Him for Whom you became angry. The people were afraid of you for their world, while you feared them for your religion. Then leave to them that for which they were afraid of you and get away from them taking away what you fear them about. How needy are they for what you dissuade them from! And how needless you are toward that from which they have prevented you!

You will shortly know who the gainer is tomorrow (on the Day of Resurrection) and who is more enviable. Even if these skies and earth were closed on some individual and he feared Allah, then Allah would open them for him. Only rightfulness will attract you while wrongfulness will detract you.

If you had accepted their worldly attractions, they would have loved you; and if you had shared in it, they would have given you asylum.” In these wonderful words, Imam Ali has specified the great attitude Abu Tharr took toward Uthman. He has indicated that his attitude was not for material, nor was it for the rest of the other considerations whose affair returns to earth.

Rather it was for the original doctrines and the ideals Islam has brought, and that requires rulers and the responsible not to possess alone the Muslims’ properties. However Uthman turned away from that and followed a special policy based on preference and favoritism. For this reason Abu Tharr revolted and battled against him. Uthman feared him for government and authority, while Abu Tharr feared him for his religion and faith.

Imam Ali had commanded Abu Tharr to leave that which was in their hands and to escape along with his religion, that he might be safe from the people’s wickedness and sins. In his words the Imam has also indicated Abu Tharr’s direction and tendencies. He has mentioned that nothing attracted him except rightfulness, and nothing detracted him except abominable acts and wrongfulness.

If Abu Tharr had changed his direction, made peace with the people, and had been friendly to them, they would have loved him, been loyal to him, spent lavishly on him, and given him enormous wealth. Imam al-Hasan hurried to Abu Tharr to shake hand with him and see him off. He said to him some words resulted from his heart showing sorrow at this separation. He said to him: “O uncle, the one who sees off should keep silent and say short words though sorrow is long!

The people have brought you what you see.