It was his directive that nobody should talk to Abu Dharr...
It was his directive that nobody should talk to Abu Dharr, or go near him or sit with him. Public meetings were held again and again to proclaim this order. According to the version of Allamah Majlisi and Allamah Subaiti, Ahnaf bin Qays often used to come to the masjid and sit there. One day he prayed to Allah "O Lord! Replace my unsociability with love and my loneliness with company and grant me such a worthy companion as has no peer".
After finishing this prayer he saw a man sitting and worshipping in a corner of the masjid. He rose from his seat, approached him and sat down by his side. Then he said to him, "Who are you gentleman and what is your name?" He answered, "Jundab bin Junadah". On hearing this he said, "Allah is great, Allah is great". Abu Dharr said, why did you recite Takbir. He answered, "When I entered the masjid today I prayed to Allah to grant me the best companion.
He fulfilled my wish very soon and granted me the honour of meeting with you". Abu Dharr said, "I awe it to Allah, more than you, to glorify Him because I was adjudged to be a suitable companion. O Man! Listen to me. The Holy Prophet has told me that you and I will be on a very high place and will remain there till all are free from reckoning". Abu Dharr further added: "O slave of Allah! Get away from me or you will face some trouble".
He asked, "How is that, friend?” Abu Dharr replied, “Uthman bin Affan has forbidden people to sit with me and has ordered that whosoever meets me, talks to me and sits with me, will be punished". (Hayat ul-Qulub, by Allamah Majlisi vol. 2. and Abu Dharr al-Ghifari, by Allamah Subaiti). In short, Uthman became disgusted with Abu Dharr's truthfulness. He carried on his work despite the restrictions and Uthman got regular information about it.