A right owed to each

The Prophet ﷺ had paired Salman al-Farisi and Abu ad-Darda' as brothers. Some time later, Salman came to visit him in Madinah.

He found Abu ad-Darda's wife in a neglected state, and asked her about it. She told him that her husband had no interest in this world any longer — that he fasted through the days and stood in prayer through the nights, and gave the rest of his attention to nothing else.

When Abu ad-Darda' came in, he offered Salman food, but Salman told him he would not eat until Abu ad-Darda' ate with him. Abu ad-Darda' ate.

That night, when Abu ad-Darda' rose to pray, Salman told him to sleep. He rose again later, and again Salman told him to sleep. Only towards the end of the night did Salman tell him it was time to pray, and he did.

Then Salman told him plainly: his body had a right over him, his family had a right over him, and his Lord had a right over him — so each should be given its right.

Abu ad-Darda' later went to the Prophet ﷺ and told him what had happened. The Prophet ﷺ said that Salman had spoken the truth.