The Sage of the Ummah
Abu al-Darda — Uwaymir of the Khazraj — was among the last of his household to accept Islam. He had kept an idol wrapped in cloth; when his friend Abdullah ibn Rawaha smashed it and it could not defend itself, Abu al-Darda reflected, went to the Prophet ﷺ, and believed. 1 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 1 · pp. 251 — Kandhlawi — Abu al-Darda's idol is smashed by Ibn Rawaha; he reflects and embraces Islam. He became known as Hakim al-Umma, the sage of the Ummah. Finding he could not combine trade with the full service of Allah, he gave up commerce entirely for worship and knowledge, and Umar later sent him to Damascus, where he taught and judged until his death. 2 Stories of the Sahabah · pp. 177–178 — Zakariyya Kandhlawi — Abu al-Darda gives up trade for worship; the sage of the Ummah; sent to Damascus.
Virtues in the Hadith
To a man who travelled all the way from Madinah for a single hadith, Abu al-Darda transmitted the Prophet’s ﷺ words on knowledge:
مَنْ سَلَكَ طَرِيقًا يَطْلُبُ فِيهِ عِلْمًا سَلَكَ اللَّهُ بِهِ طَرِيقًا مِنْ طُرُقِ الْجَنَّةِ
”Whoever travels a path in search of knowledge, Allah makes easy for him a path to Paradise… and the scholars are the heirs of the prophets.”
Sunan Abi Dawud 3641 · Book 26 (Knowledge), Hadith 1 · narrated through Abu al-Darda · graded Sahih (al-Albani)
Life Timeline
Born in Madinah
Of the Khazraj; his name Uwaymir.
Embraces Islam — and gives up trade for worship
Sent to teach in Damascus; becomes its judge
Dies in Damascus
References
- Stories of the Sahabah — Zakariyya Kandhlawi — Abu al-Darda the sage of the Ummah; he gives up trade for worship; the hadith on seeking knowledge pp. 177–178
- Hayatus Sahaba — Kandhlawi — Abu al-Darda's conversion after Ibn Rawaha smashes his idol Vol 1 · pp. 251
- Sunan Abi Dawud — 'Whoever travels a path seeking knowledge…' — narrated through Abu al-Darda; Sahih (al-Albani) pp. 3641 (Book 26, Hadith 1)