English Translation

Abdul Malik ibn Amr Abu Amir told us, he said: Hisham ibn Sa'd told us, he said: Qays ibn Bishr al-Taghlibi told us, he said: My father, who was a companion of Abu al-Darda', informed me, he said: There was in Damascus a man from among the Companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, called Ibn al-Hanzaliyyah. He was a solitary man who rarely sat with people; he would only be found in prayer, and when he finished he would glorify Allah and proclaim His greatness until he returned to his family. One day he passed by us while we were with Abu al-Darda', and Abu al-Darda' said to him: A word from you that will benefit us and not harm you. He said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, sent out a raiding party, and I came back with them. A man from among them came and sat in the gathering in which the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was present, and said to a man beside him: If only you had seen us when we met the enemy - so-and-so charged and thrust his spear, saying: Take that! I am the young man of Ghifar! What do you think of what he said? He replied: I think he has only nullified his reward. Another man heard this and said: I see no harm in that. They disputed until the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, heard them, and he said: Glory be to Allah! There is no harm in being praised and rewarded. He said: I saw Abu al-Darda' delighted by that, raising his head towards him and saying: Did you hear that yourself from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him? He would say: Yes. He kept repeating this to him until I thought he would fall upon his knees.