Malik bin Marthad narrates from his father, who narrates from Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him), that he said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The dusty earth has not carried, nor has the green sky shaded, anyone more truthful of tongue or more faithful to his word than Abu Dharr; he resembles Isa bin Maryam." On hearing this Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) stood up and said: O Messenger of Allah! Shall we acknowledge this rank for him? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Yes, recognise this rank for him." This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of Imam Muslim, but the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim) did not record it. It is also narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr and Abu al-Darda (may Allah be pleased with them). The hadith of Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with them both) is as follows:

It is narrated from Abu Harb al-Dili that he said: I heard Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with them both) say: I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "The sky has not shaded, nor has the earth carried, any man more truthful of tongue than Abu Dharr." And the hadith of Abu al-Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) is as follows:

Bilal bin Abi al-Darda narrates from his father Sayyiduna Abu al-Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The sky has not shaded, nor has the earth carried, anyone more truthful of tongue than Abu Dharr." Chapter on the trial of Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him): Mus'ab bin Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas narrates from his father, who narrates from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) through several authentic chains, that he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The people most severely tried are the prophets, then the scholars, then those nearest to them in rank, then those next nearest."