When infidels of Quraish learnt about the agreement of the
Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) with Ansaars (of Madina) and their unsuccessful
attempts to sabotage and contain the rise of Islam, they assembled at “Darul
Nadwa” to consider new strategy. According to the narrations, Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (a.s.) said that
the Quraish summoned a man from each tribe and when every one arrived, they
found an old man in waiting. He was Shaitaan, who had personified as a human being
four times. After consideration of different plans, Shaitaan proposed that each
and every representative of every tribe should attack and assassinate the
Prophet of Allah. Consequently, Banu Hashim will not be able to retaliate
against all tribes. If need be, they should tender compensation or ransom to
them.
Allah fore-warned the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) in following
Ayah: “And when those who disbelieved
devised plans against you that they might confine you or slay you or drive you
away; and they devised plans and Allah too had arranged a plan; and Allah is
the best of planners.” (8:30 )
They all had gathered around the dwelling of the Holy
Prophet (s.a.w.s.). It was unanimously agreed that the attack will take place
in the morning. Jibraeel descended and revealed to him the Divine plan for the
Prophet to flee to Madina. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) called Imam Ali (a.s.)
and shared the information and the plan. The plan was that Imam Ali (a.s.) will
sleep in the Prophet’s bed so that his absence will not be known till he
reaches the cave of Thawr
In those days, the houses of Makkah were without doors and
the walls were low. The Quraish infidels therefore saw Imam Ali (a.s.) and
mistaking him for the Prophet, threw stones at him. According to the continuous
Shi’ah and Sunni reports, the following Ayah
207 of Surah al-Baqara was revealed:
“Wa Minannaase Main Yashri Nafsahubtegha
Marazaat Allah, Wallahu Raufoon Bil’Ibaad.” Meaning “And among men is He who sells himself to seek the Pleasure of Allah,
Allah is Affectionate to His (faithful) servants.”
The most profitable bargain is the one that a person sells
his soul to Allah, his Creator, neither for Paradise nor
for being safe from the Fire of Hell but it is merely performed for the
Pleasure of Allah. Sleeping in that bed wearing mantle-cloth which the Prophet used
was nothing but courting death. A person who would agree to offer himself
instead of the Holy Prophet, who was wanted by the enemy, must essentially have
the following:
- The safety of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) preferred to his own safety.
- Implicit faith in the duty of man to earn pleasure of Allah and His Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) at any cost even at the cost of his own life.
- The courage of surrendering himself willingly with the utmost peace of mind, to sleep under the surveillance of swords ready to fall upon him.
- The confidence and faith in Allah’s protection.
- The external as well as internal resemblance to resemble the Holy Prophet to the watching eyes, when under the mantle.
It is said that radiance from the face of the Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.s.) was visible even under the sheet when he slept. Hence, the mantle
(sheet) continued to glow even when Imam Ali (a.s.) was under the sheet.
No doubt, the personality of the Commander of the Faithful
was an embodiment of faith, devotion, obedience, strength, patience and wisdom.
It is also reported that the sound of “Allah-o-Akbar” would be heard 1,000
times by Imam Ali’s neighbors every night. When Allah and His Prophet ordered
Imam Ali to sleep, he joyfully responded! This is Islam-complete surrender!
According to Thalabi,
Ahmad ibn Hambal, Ghazali and others declared that: “On that night, when Imam
Ali slept in the bed of the Messenger of Allah, the Almighty Allah revealed to
Jibraeel and Mikaeel that He has made them brothers of each other. And your
ages are greater than each other. Which one of you will dedicate his life to
the other? None of them agreed to it. The Almighty Allah revealed to them: “Why
can’t you be like Ali ibne Abi Talib? I made him the brother of Muhammad and he
is sleeping in his bed after dedicating his life to him. So go to the earth and
protect Ali from his enemies. So they came down and Jibraeel sat at Ali’s head
and Mikaeel at his feet and said: “Good cheers for you O son of Abu Talib, who
can be like you? That Almighty Allah boasts about you to the angels.”
Akhtab Khwarazimi, a
Sunni tradition scholar narrates that the Messenger of Allah said:
“The next morning
after I was in the cave, Jibraeel came to me overjoyed, and I asked him about
his happiness, he replied; “Why I should not be happy when Almighty Allah
honored your brother, successor and the imam of the Umma last night, and he was
proud of him and He said: “O angels, look at My Proof, how he is risking his
life for the Prophet.”
It is narrated that next morning, the Quraish's infidels drew
their swords and ran upon the Commander of the Faithful, Khalid bin Walid being
in advance of the rest. The Lion of Allah, leaped up, and seizing Khalid by the
arm, wrung it so that he bellowed like a camel. He then caught Khalid’s sword
and they all fled away. Later, when the infidels knew that it was Ali, they
said to him: “We have nothing to do with you, where is Muhammad?” He replied:
“Did you entrust him to me?” It should be noted here that the Most Truthful of the
Umma did not tell a lie even at this critical situation!
In accordance with the instructions of the Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.s.), the Commander of the Faithful returned the trusts to the owners and
along with the Lady of the Paradise , Bibi Fatima Zahra,
Bibi Fatima binte Asad and other respectful ladies, started towards Madina.
References:
The Noble Qur’an Translation by
Ayatullah Sayyid Kamal Fagih Imani
Hayat al-Qulub by Allama Muhammad Baqir Majlisi (r.a.)
Tarikh-e-Tabri and Tarikh-e-Yaqubi
Takhirat-ul-Khawas by
Sibt ibn Jauzi Hanafi
As-Siratun Nabawiyya by
Ibne Husham
As- Sirat al Fusul ul Muhimma by Ibne Sabbaq Maliki
As- Sirat ul Halabiya by
Halabi
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