English Translation

Yazid told us: Kahmas ibn al-Hasan told us: Abu al-Salil told us, from Abu Dharr, who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, began to recite to me this verse: "And whoever fears Allah, He will make for him a way out," until he finished the verse, then he said: "O Abu Dharr, if all the people were to hold to it, it would suffice them." He said: He kept reciting it and repeating it to me until I began to doze off, then he said: "O Abu Dharr, what would you do if you were expelled from Medina?" I said: "I would go to the open spaces and comfort, until I became like a dove among the doves of Mecca." He said: "What would you do if you were expelled from Mecca?" I said: "To the open spaces and comfort, to Syria and the Holy Land." He said: "And what would you do if you were expelled from Syria?" I said: "Then, by the One who sent you with the truth, I would place my sword on my shoulder." He said: "Or something better than that?" I said: "Or something better than that?" He said: "You listen and obey, even if he were an Abyssinian slave."