Abu Darda'

An Ansari companion from the Khazraj tribe and a renowned worshipper and ascetic. He is best known for his Mu'akhah pairing with Salmān al-Fārsī, a pairing the Prophet ﷺ made later in the Madani period, after Salmān had accepted Islam.

The famous story of their brotherhood is narrated in multiple ḥadīth collections. Salmān visited Abū al-Dardāʾ's home and found his wife Umm al-Dardāʾ unkempt and poorly dressed. He said to her: "What is the matter with you?" She replied: "Your brother has no need of this world", meaning Abū al-Dardāʾ was so absorbed in worship that he had no interest in domestic life.

When Abū al-Dardāʾ came home, he prepared food for Salmān and told him to eat. Salmān said: "I will not eat until you eat with me", because Abū al-Dardāʾ was fasting voluntarily. He forced him to break his fast. Then when Abū al-Dardāʾ wanted to stand in Tahajjud prayer during the night, Salmān held him back and said: "Sleep." Then toward the end of the night, Salmān woke him and said: "Now stand."

The next morning, Salmān told him: "Your Lord has a right over you. Your body has a right over you. Your family has a right over you. Give each one its due right." Abū al-Dardāʾ mentioned this to the Prophet ﷺ, who said: "Ṣadaqa Salmān", "Salmān has spoken the truth."

This story has become one of the most famous illustrations of Islamic balance (tawāzun): that extreme voluntary worship, when done at the expense of one's family and body, is not the ideal. The Prophet ﷺ endorsed Salmān's moderate, balanced advice.