Who was Abu Zar Ghifaari? We were told that he was ordered to go and live in the jungle because of his sakht mizaaj (harsh temperament), and because e

Answer

Hadhrat Abu Zar Ghifaari (radhiyallahu anhu) was a very senior Sahaabi of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). People should restrain their tongues when they desire to make deprecating comments on the Sahaabah. Criticism for a Sahaabi is criticism for Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). Those who speak ill of a Sahaabi are deficient in their Imaan. Criticising a Sahaabi implies criticism for Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). What we know about Hadhrat Abu Zar Ghifaari (radhiyallahu anhu) is that Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said that Allah Ta'ala had instructed him (i.e. for the Nabi) to specifically love four Sahaabah. One of the four is Hadhrat Abu Zar Ghifaari (radhiyallahu anhu). Also mentioned in the same Hadith is that Allah Ta'ala loves these four, i.e. with a special love.

With regard to sakht mizaaj, there are two dimensions in this attitude. One is a 'sakht mizaaj' for upholding the Haqq, and one is a sakht mizaaj for the propagation and condonation of baatil such as halaalization of carrion, practising bid'ah, operating radios of the devil, etc.