Leave the world by remembering its going tobe finished...

Leave the world by remembering its going tobe finished, and its calamities through hoping for that which is after it. Be patient until you meet your Prophet and he is pleased with you.” Imam al-Hasan (a.s) ordered Abu Tharr to be patient toward the misfortunes the people had poured upon him, that he might meet Allah’s Apostle (a.s) while he was pleased with him. Abu Tharr looked at the Prophet’s Household with a look full of pain, sorrow, and regret.

He said to them some words showing that his heart was melted by that bitter separation: “May Allah have mercy on you, O household of mercy! When I see you, I remember through you Allah’s Apostle (a.s). I have none in Medina other than you. I have overburdened Uthman in al-Hijaz just as I had overburdened Mu’awiya in Sham. Uthman hated to let me neighbor his brother and his cousin in the two districts.[^1] He is afraid that I might move the [^1] The two cities were Basrah and Egypt.

Abdullah bin ‘Amir, Uthman’s cousin, was the governor over Basrah. Abdullah bin Sa‘d bin Abi Sarh, Uthman’s uncle, was the governor over Egypt. people against them. Accordingly, he wants to banish me to an area where I have neither supporter nor protector except Allah. By Allah, I do not want anyone to be as a friend except Allah, and I fear no loneliness along with Allah.” Abu Tharr went away as an outlawed in the deserts. He was exiled from the sanctum of Allah and of His Apostle.

The blind policy sent him far and separated him from the Prophet’s Household for whom he showed sincere love for the sake of his beloved One and his Companion, Allah’s Apostle (a.s). Abu Tharr went to al-Rabatha to die there out of hunger, while Uthman had the gold of the earth. He spent it on the Umayyads and Abu Ma’eet’s family and deprived the like of Jesus the son of Mary in guidance. Imam Ali (a.s) and his sons saw off Abu Tharr and returned home. They were sad.

Some people Imam Ali (a.s) and told him that Uthman was angry with him, for he had disobeyed his commands and went out to see Abu Tharr off. However the Imam said: “(Like) the anger of horses with the bridles!”[^1] Uthman said to the Imam: What made you oppose my messenger! -As for Marwan, he opposed me and I opposed him. As for your command, I did not disobey it. -Did you not know that I prevented the people from escorting Abu Tharr?

-Is the obedience to Allah in all that which you command us (to follow), while the truth is in opposing it? We have followed your command in respect of it.