Muhammad bin Yaqoob Kulaini narrates that Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) told to a person about the manner in which Salman and Abu Dharr accepted Islam. He further said that one day Abu Dharr was grazing his sheep in his hamlet, Marka, which is situated near Mecca. While the sheep were grazing a wolf attacked them and Abu Dharr scared it away with his staff. The wolf repeated its attempt to attack the sheep when Abu Dharr ran after it shouting, “you cruel creature! Why are you not running away!”The wolf miraculously uttered, “Am I cruel or the people of Mecca who are perpetrating cruelty after cruelty on the Prophet (S)!”
Abu Dharr, when he heard this from the dumb animal, started to walk towards Mecca. When he reached Mecca it was very hot there and he was uneasy with acute thirst. He drew some water from the spring of Zam Zam. To his surprise Abu Dharr found that the container was having milk instead of water. He drank it, quenched his thirst, and understood that this was the first miracle of the truth of Allah’s Prophet (S) that he was experiencing. When he proceeded towards the compound of the Ka’ba he found some people talking irreverently about the Prophet (S) of Allah.
At this juncture arrived a person and noticing him the group got scared and became quiet. When the person started to leave the place, Abu Dharr too followed him. Catching up with the person Abu Dharr asked, “Who are you?”He replied, “I am Abu Talib, the chief of Mecca. Have you any work with me?”Abu Dharr said, “I wish to meet the Prophet of Allah (S) to accept Islam.” Abu Talib (r.a.) said, “Tomorrow you can come with me to meet him at the same time as now.”The next day Abu Dharr reached the place at the appointed time, Abu Talib (r.a.) joined him and they both proceeded to meet the Prophet (S).
Abu Dharr (r.a.) says that Abu Talib (r.a.) took him to a house where Hamza (r.a.) was present. He greeted him and Hamza (r.a.) returned his greeting and inquired about the purpose of his visit. When Abu Dharr informed to him the purpose of his visit, Hamza (r.a.) said that there is one God, Allah, and Muhammad (S) is his Prophet. Abu Dharr rejoined bearing witness that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad (S) is His Messenger (la ilaha ill Allah Mohammad ur rasool Allah). Then Hamza (r.a.) took him to another house where Ja’far (r.a.) was there. He too asked Abu Dharr the same questions and was given similar replies. Then Ja’far Tayyar (r.a.) took Abu Dharr (r.a.) to the house of Amir’ul-Mu’mineen ‘Ali bin Abi Talib (as). There too Abu Dharr (r.a.) bore witness about Allah and his Prophet (S) thrice.
Now Amir’ul-Mu’mineen ‘Ali (as) took Abu Dharr (r.a.) to the presence of the Prophet (S). He greeted the Prophet (S) who kindly asked him to sit and bear witness to the unity of Allah and that Muhammad (S) is Allah’s Prophet. Now the Prophet (S) said, “O Abu Dharr! You must immediately return to your place that your paternal cousin has expired and you are the soul inheritor of his estate. Go home and take charge of the affairs of your estate. You must join us when we summon you.”Therefore after the migration (Hijra) Abu Dharr had the honor of meeting the Prophet (S) in Medina.