The infidels of Makkah had become arch enemy of Islam and
the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). They were restrained from openly harming the
Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). After the sad demise of Sayyida Khadija, his wife,
the richest woman in Arabia and his uncle, “The Protector” Hazrat Abu Talib
(a.s.), the Bani Umayyad clan of the Quraish became bold and wanted to kill the
Prophet. They planned to make a joint effort by including one man from every
tribe to prevent the rise of Bani Hashim in vengeance for his bloodshed. Allah informed
him of the impending plot and ordered the Messenger to let Imam Ali (a.s.)
sleep in his bed. Imam Ali (a.s.) inquired if the Prophet will be saved by his
sleeping and the Messenger replied in affirmative. Imam Ali (a.s.) performed
“Sajda-e-Shukr” which was the first sajda of thanks to Allah. Imam Ali (a.s.) slept
in his bed peacefully. The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) safely went beyond the
city of Makkah. This is called Hijrat or Migration and the night is also called
‘Laylat -ul-Mabit
’
As soon as Imam Ali (a.s.) slept in that bed in place of the
Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), Allah (s.w.t.) questioned His angels Gabriel and Michael,
which of them was ready to be devoted to the other, but neither of them was
ready to do that. So, the Lord told them to watch then how Ali ibn Abi Talib
(a.s.) was ready to devote his soul for the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and
ordered them both to go and protect Imam Ali (a.s.)
The Sunni scholar Ibn-i-abil Hadeed Mu’tazili, who lived
in Seventh Century A.H., indicated in his famous book Sharah Nahjul Balagha,
that the commentators totally agreed that the Ayah 207 of Surah al-Baqarah,
“And among men there is who sells his self to seek the pleasure of Allah; and
Allah is affectionate unto His (faithful) servants.” was revealed in praise of
Imam Ali (a.s.).
In Surah at-Tawbah Ayah111, Allah says, “Verily, Allah
has bought from the believers their souls and their properties for Paradise to
be theirs…” Imam Ali (a.s.) said in Nahjul Balaghah, “Some people worshiped
Allah desiring reward-Paradise, some people worshiped Allah fearing His
punishment-Hell Fire, and a group worshiped Allah in Gratitude.”
Obedience to the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) as directed by
Allah (s.w.t.) was the foundation of Islam. It is reported that Imam Ali (a.s.)
used to pray salat every night and the neighbors would hear the “Takbir”-Allah-o-Akbar”
one thousand times. On the Night of Migration, when the very life of the
Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.s.) was in danger, Imam Ali obeyed the Prophet (and
Allah) as his protection was the top priority. Imam Ali (a.s.) sacrificed his
life to protect Allah’s Messenger like his illustrious father Hazrat Abu Talib
(a.s.) who raised the young orphaned Muhammad (s.a.w.a.s.). He desired nothing
for himself but only Allah’s
pleasure.
This was such an important event that Muawiyah offered four
thousand Dirham to Sumra bin Jundab to fabricate and fraudulently report that this
Ayah was revealed upon the virtue of the most cursed person in history; Abdul
Rahman bin Muljim, the murderer of Imam Ali (a.s.) while he was prostrating in
the Masjid of Kufa. (Ibn-i-Abil Hadeed’s Sharah Nahjul Balagha volume 4 page
73).
Some of the books (Shia and Sunni) which have vividly
considered the revelation of this Ayah on the virtue of Imam Ali are: ‘Ihya-u-‘Ulum-id-Din
(v.3 p. 238) by Ghazali, Al-Ghadeer (v.2 p.44), Tazkirat-ul-Khawas by Sibt- ibn-
Jauzi Hanafi, As-Sirat-un-Nabawiyyah by Ibn Husham (v.2 p.291), As Sirat-ul-Halabiyyah
printed in Maktabat-ut-Tijariyat -ul-Kubra, Egypt (v.2 p.29), Fusul-ul-Muhimma
by Ibn Sabbagh Maliki, Nuzhat-ul-Majalis by Sufuri, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal in
Musnad (v.1 p.348), Tarikh-i-Tabari (v.2 p.99), Tarik-i-Yaqubi (v.2 p.29)
The most important point is that the Progeny of the Noble
Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) even at an extremely sensitive moment never made a
statement against the fact. When in the morning the polytheists entered the
house to kill the Prophet and saw Imam Ali sleeping in his bed inquired, “Where
is Muhammad?” Imam Ali (a.s.) replied, “Had you appointed me to watch the
movements of Muhammad that you are asking about his whereabouts?”
Sources:
The Glorious Qur’an (Urdu Translation) – Tafsir-e-Namounah by Ayatullah Nasir Makarem Shirazi
Tafsir al-Mizan by Allamah as-Sayyid
Muhammad Husayn at-Tabatabaei
The Holy Qur’an by S.V. Mir Ahmed Ali & Ayatullah
Agha H.M.M. Pooya Yazdi
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