Most of the worship of Abu Zar was in contemplation of praise of the Almighty Allah

Hayat Al-Qulub Vol. 1,
By: Allamah Muhammad Baqir Al-Majlisi
In the book of Hasan bin Saeed it is narrated from Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) that one day a person came to Abu Zar and gave him glad tidings that his sheep have multiplied much. Abu Zar said: “I am neither pleased at their increase and nor am I fond of them. On the contrary I prefer only that which is less and sufficient. Because I heard from the Messenger of Allah (S) that he said: “Kindness to relatives and trustworthiness will be present on both the edges of Sirat, when such a person passes on it who has been very kind to his relatives and who has not betrayed anyone’s trust, the Sirat will not put him into Hell.”
According to correct chains of narrators, it is narrated from the same Imam that during the period of the Messenger of Allah (S) one day Abu Zar condemned a person for having a mother who was black. The Messenger of Allah (S) said: “O Abu Zar, do you ridicule him about his mother?” Abu Zar threw himself on the ground and wept and smeared his face and head with dust. At last the Prophet was pacified.
Shaykh Tusi has narrated through reliable chains of narrators that people told Abu Zar: O companions of Messenger of Allah (S), how did you begin your day?” He replied: “I began the day in two bounties. One that the Almighty Allah has concealed my sin and another that people praise me. And one who becomes proud of his praise is under a misunderstanding.
Shaykh Kishi has narrated through authentic chains from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) that one say Abu Zar went in search of the Messenger of Allah (S) and found him sleeping in an orchard. He wanted to know if the Prophet was really sleeping, so he broke a dried piece of wood; the Prophet raised up his head and said: O Abu Zar are you trying to joke with me? Do you not know that I also see your deeds in sleep as I see them when I am awake? My eyes sleep, but my heart does not.”
Ibn Babawayh has narrated through authentic chains from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) that most of the worship of Abu Zar was in contemplation of praise of the Almighty Allah and to seek lessons from nature.
Qutub Rawandi has narrated from Abu Zar that he said: “One day, I and Uthman came together to the Prophet. The Messenger of Allah (S) was seated in the mosque and we sat down near him. After sometime Uthman went away and continued to sit there. So the Messenger of Allah (S) asked me what confidential conversation was I having with Uthman?
I said: I was reciting a chapter of Qur’an. His Eminence said: Very soon he will become inimical to you and between you two the most unjust will go to Hell. So I said: Indeed we belong to Allah and to Him we shall return. So I asked the Prophet which of us would be more oppressive? The Holy Prophet (S) said: O Abu Zar, speak the truth even though it is bitter. So much so that you meet me on Judgment Day with the oath that I have taken from you.”
Through authentic chains of narrators it is narrated from Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) that Abu Zar cried so much due to the fear of Allah, that his eyes were hurt. People asked him to pray that the Almighty Allah cures his eyes. Abu Zar said: “I don’t care.” So they asked him which calamity has made him oblivious of his eyes.
He said that he was confronted with two great questions and they concerned Paradise and Hell. Ibn Babawayh has narrated from Abdullah bin Abbas that one day the Messenger of Allah (S) was seated in Quba Masjid and companions were sitting around him. He said: “The first to enter from this door will a man of Paradise.”
When companions heard this a group of companions arose to try to enter first. The Holy Prophet (S) said: The group that enters now and competes with each other and informs me about the Roman month of Azar will be the one to enter Paradise. So Abu Zar entered with that group. The Messenger of Allah (S) asked which Roman month was it? Abu Zar said: Azar was over.
The Messenger of Allah (S) said: “I know that, but I wanted the companions to know that you are from the folks of Paradise. And why you shouldn’t be when you will be removed from my sanctuary due to your love for my Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) and you will live in solitude and die in loneliness, and a group of Iraqians will complete your last rites. And that group will be in my company in Paradise which the Almighty Allah has promised to the righteous.”