When the polytheists of Makkah witnessed the spread of
Islam, they unanimously agreed to assassinate the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) by
inviting every tribe to participate in the venture to avoid any reprisal from
the Banu Hashim tribe. They all gathered around the sacred house of the Prophet
at night. Notwithstanding their faithlessness, they had the humanity not to
scare the children in the house if they attacked at night. Hence, they waited
for the dawn but kept the surveillance of the house.
Allah (s.w.t.)
informed His Messenger through His Archangel Jib ‘rail about the idolater’s
sinister designs and advised the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) to let Imam Ali
(a.s.) sleep on his bed. The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) informed Imam Ali
(a.s.) accordingly and advised him to cover himself with sheet so that the
polytheists would imagine that Allah’s Messenger was sleeping on the bed and
will not try to trace him down. The
Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.) asked, “If I sleep on your bed you
will not get hurt and will be saved?” The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) replied,
“Yes.”
One of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.)’s wives said that when
he (s.a.w.a.s.) used to sleep, a light used to emit from his face even from
inside the cover sheet. The fact that Imam Ali (a.s.) slept on his bed the
whole night and the polytheists could not detect that the Messenger
(s.a.w.a.s.) was not under the sheet. It can be safely inferred that as usual a
light must have continued to emit from the sheet under which Imam Ali (a.s.)
was sleeping. It may not be surprising
as Imam Ali (a.s.) was the “self” of the Noble Prophet according to the Ayah of
Mubahelah Surah al-Imran Ayah 60, “If anyone disputes after knowledge has come
to you, then say, ‘Bring your sons we will bring our sons, bring your women we
will bring our women, bring your selves we will bring our selves and pray to
Allah to curse the liars.”
The Commander of the
Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.) fell and performed prostration (Saj’da). Imam Ali
(a.s.) might have thought that Allah (s.w.t.) is the Omnipotent and if He
(s.w.t.) wanted to save His Messenger, He (s.w.t.) could have used numerous
ways to save him, but He (s.w.t.) picked up Imam Ali (a.s.) to sacrifice his
life for his cousin. Imam Ali (a.s.) thanked Allah for the sacrifice. What a
unique and unusual gesture!
When Prophet Ibrahim
(a.s.) saw in a dream that he was slaughtering his son Prophet Ismail (a.s.)
and asked him as to what his opinion was. Prophet Ismail (a.s.) replied, “Father,
fulfill whatever you are commanded to do, and you will find me among the
patient one, by the will of Allah.” (37:102) Patience is exercised in the face
of trouble or difficulty. Prophet Ismail treated sacrifice as a trouble or
difficulty. Imam Ali (a.s.), the self of Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.), treated
sacrifice to be a boon (ne’mat) and thanked Allah for the honor to save the
life of His Messenger!
Allah (s.w.t.)
revealed an Ayah to approve and appreciate Imam Ali (a.s.)’s sacrifice. Surah
al-Baqa Ayah 207, “Wa Minanase Man Yashri Nafsahubtegha Marazatillahe Wallahu
Raufun Bil’Ibad.” “There are those among people who give their lives to seek
Allah’s pleasure. Allah is affectionate to His servants.”
Source: The Glorious Qur’an
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