Abu Dharr al-Ghifari
(d. 652 )
Companion of the Prophet and subject of modern ideological debate. Shiis emphasize his criticism of the Umayyads and his early liaison with Ali and posit him as an Alid supporter; Sunnis stress his asceticism, piety, and advocacy for the poor. The Egyptian scholar Muhammad Sharqawi called al-Ghifari an ideal Muslim socialist.