He visited Abu Darda in Homs and stayed with him for several nights. He then ordered his donkey to be saddled with a packsaddle.Abu Darda said, "It seems I will accompany you."So he ordered his donkey to be saddled, and the two of them set off together on their donkeys. They met a man who had attended the Friday prayer the day before with Muawiya at al-Jabiyah. The man recognized them, but they did not recognize him. He told them the news of the people, then the man said, "There is another piece of news I was reluctant to tell you, for I see that you would find it distressing."Abu Darda said, "Perhaps Abu Dharr has been banished?"He replied, "Yes, by Allah."Abu Darda and his companion said "Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajiun" nearly ten times. Then Abu Darda said, "Watch them and be patient, as was said to the people of the she-camel. O Allah, if they have called Abu Dharr a liar, I do not call him a liar. O Allah, if they have accused him, I do not accuse him. O Allah, if they have considered him untrustworthy, I do not consider him untrustworthy. For the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to entrust him with secrets when he entrusted no one else, and he would confide in him when he confided in no one else. By the One in whose hand is the soul of Abu Darda, if Abu Dharr were to cut off my right hand, I would not hate him after what I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, 'The green sky has not shaded, nor has the dusty earth borne, anyone of more truthful tongue than Abu Dharr.'"
حدثنا أبو النضر حدثنا عبد الحميد بن بهرام حدثنا شهر بن حوشب حدثنا
أنه زار أبا الدرداء بحمص فمكث عنده ليالي وأمر بحماره فأوكف فقال أبو الدرداء ما أراني إلا متبعك فأمر بحماره فأسرج فسارا جميعا على حماريهما فلقيا رجلا شهد الجمعة بالأمس عند معاوية بالجابية فعرفهما الرجل ولم يعرفاه فأخبرهما خبر الناس ثم إن الرجل قال وخبر آخر كرهت أن أخبركما أراكما تكرهانه فقال أبو الدرداء فلعل أبا ذر نفي قال نعم والله فاسترجع أبو الدرداء وصاحبه قريبا من عشر مرات ثم قال أبو الدرداء ارتقبهم واصطبر كما قيل لأصحاب الناقة اللهم إن كذبوا أبا ذر فإني لا أكذبه اللهم وإن اتهموه فإني لا أتهمه اللهم وإن استغشوه فإني لا أستغشه فإن رسول الله ﷺ كان يأتمنه حين لا يأتمن أحدا ويسر إليه حين لا يسر إلى أحد أما والذي نفس أبي الدرداء بيده لو أن أبا ذر قطع يميني ما أبغضته بعد الذي سمعت رسول الله ﷺ يقول ما أظلت الخضراء ولا أقلت الغبراء من ذي لهجة أصدق من أبي ذر