THE
TRADITION OF KINDNESS
Written by:
Scientific Council of Na'ba Organization
Translated and Edited by:
K. Najafi
In The Name Of Allah The Beneficent
The Merciful
My name is "Jaber bin
Abdollah Ansari". I am one of the followers of Prophet Mohammad ibn Abdullah (SAW).
I've had a very long life, leven saw Imam Baqer (A.S.). By the wishes of the Prophet
himself, I gave his regards to the Imam.
I became acquainted with this
great family from the early days of Islam, and have both sweet and bitter memories of them
and happenings concerning them.
....This time I would like to
recall one of the sweetest memories, one of the greatest events, something that I can
never forget.
Every once and a while I would
visit the Holy Prophet's (SAW) daughter. During these visits I would learn something new,
and be told about some of the secrets of this great family. This time when I made a visit
to Hazrat-e- Zahra's (A.S.) house, she seemed to be very happy. Some special event had
happened, I asked her why she was so happy, and this great lady narrated the following
story.
That day my father (the Prophet)
visited me. I saw him every day but still could not see him enough. I loved him dearly. He
was more loved than my own soul. His kind and open face inspirited me with new life. It is
quite obvious what he meant for me, for this was the same man who brought grace and
blessing to the world. He would call me the fruit of his life-he was epitome of affection
and kindness.
Every time he embraced me, he
would shower me with kisses and say:
"My daughter! from you comes
the odour of heaven."
He would even place my hands
between his own and start kissing them, filling me with shame.
He would tell me: "Dear
Zahra, you are like a mother to me! Whoever torments you, torments me. You are of the
enlightened ones, and a piece of my own flesh. Zahra! you are dear and deeply loved by
your father. Your anger is the cause of God's anger, and your happiness is the cause of
God's happiness."
That day as was his custom he
came to visit me, but he seemed tired and low spirited. He wasn't happy and energetic as
he always was. My father spoke to me: "My dear daughter, I feel tired and weak, and
would like to rest a little."
I became depressed and worried,
and said; "Dear father, don't say you are tired. God forbid that I should see you
tormented and tired."
My father replied; "Dear
Zahra bring me that woolen Yemeni cloak and throw it over me."
I immediately brought the
"woolen cloak" and covered him with it.
Sad and worried, I observed his
angelic and beautiful face, shining like the full moon. I rejoiced seeing him, his very
being warming me and giving me hope, I must remind you, that it was during these very hard
and eventful years that his Prophethood was tested most, as he tried to lead the people. I
remembered well most events that occured during his life and I kept recalling them,
memorizing each one.
I remembered well when my son,
"Hassan's" sweet voice would call out; "Hello, mother". He was the
Prophet's eldest grandson.
"Hassan" looked very
much like the Holy Prophet (SAW), and my father loved him very much. He loved him more
than a grandfather could love his grandson.
He would place him on his
shoulders, saying; " Anyone who loves me, should love Hassan as well."
My father would quite firmly give
orders that his followers and friends should be Hassan's followers and friends as well.
One time the Prophet's followers
were witness to the fact that during prayers, the Prophet made an exceptionally long
"sujdeh". After prayers they asked him; "Dear Prophet of God, why did you
make such a long "sujdeh"? Did an angel appear?" The Prophet replied: No,
as I was making my "sujdeh" my son Hassan got on my back, I waited until he got
off before I arose.
One day when Hassan had come
home, he told me; "Mother I smell a nice odour. Now, this odour was the odour of my
grandfather, the Prophet of God."
I told him; "yes, my dear
son, this nice odour is the odour of the Prophet himself."
Hassan then inquiringly asked;
"Mother, where is he?!" I replied; "My father is resting under that woolen
cloak."
Hassan quickly went towards the
cloak. He gave his greetings to the Holy Prophet (SAW) and said; "Grandfather will
you allow me to come near you?"
My father who heard his voice
said: "Greetings to you my son! You yourself are the owner of all permission. Come,
come closer to me, for I am anxious to see you."
The Prophet warmly embraced
Hassan and held him close to himself till he fell asleep.
It wasn't soon until Hossein
entered the house. "Mother, greetings!"
"Greetings to you my son,
the light of my eyes and fruit of my heart, welcome."
I honestly don't know which one
my father preferred most, for he showed the same love and devotion to both. Maybe he loved
them both the same.
One thing for sure was that he
loved them both tremendously, maybe even too much. The reason for this great love was
quite obvious. My father himself used to say; "God has ordered me to love and cherish
these two, for God supports those friends who are friends of theirs."
Most or probably all of the
Prophets companions and followers heard him repeat over and over again that: "Hassan
and Hossein are leaders, leading both the people in this world, as well as those (youths)
in the next world (heaven)". He emphasized the fact that both of them were innocent,
and that their enemies would be despized and cursed by God.
Most of the time the Holy Prophet
(SAW) would speak about both of them equally. But on some occasions he would speak either
of Hassan (AS) or Hossein (AS).
For example one time he spoke of
Hassan as such: "The blood of the Muslims will be saved by him, through the grace of
God." About Hossein he would say; "Hossein is of me as I am of him." My
father would say that the protectors of God's religion belonged to him, and often stated
that the Imams and his successors would descend from Hossein.
Of course he said other things
about Hossein that was kept a secret from me. And only at times would hint to me what
great tragedy would happen in Hossein's life.
Anyway, when Hossein entered the
door he knew that his grandfather was there. He said: "Mother I smell something very
nice and sweet, it seems like the smell of my grandfather, the Prophet of God." And I
answered; yes, your grandfather and brother are both here, resting under the woolen
cloak."
Hossein approached them and said;
"Grandfather, greetings, O' messenger of God, greetings! Do I have your permission to
come to you?"
My father replied:
"Greetings, greetings to you my son, greetings to the light of my descendants. Come,
come to me. Hossein then too went to his grandfather."
It was at this moment that my
husband arrived. As he entered the door he cried out: "Greetings! Oh, daughter of
God's messenger." His voice filled me with strength. What can I say of him? No matter
how much I try to explain, I can never explain well enough of the special bond between my
father and Ali. Everyone knows the Prophet loved no one more than he loved Ali, even me.
Is it surprising? Yes, he did not even love me as much as he loved Ali. Even though my
fathers caring and kindness for me had no boundaries, in another way hard to explain he
loved Ali more.
It is obvious to his devotion
towards Ali, for since he was a child he embraced and cared for Ali as his own son. During
all the years he made pilgrimage to the Hara Cave, and before being appointed the
messenger of God, Ali was his witness and sole confident as to my father's mission. The
first person to have faith in him was Ali. He was only a boy of thirteen when my father
showed and announced him as his successor to the tribe of Quraish. His strength in his own
faith was through him. He knew him as his own, and trusted Ali to protect and spread his
faith. Over and over again my father declared that, after him was Ali.
No one was more aware of the
secrets and science held in the Holy Quran but Ali. He knew the Quran verse by verse. My
father knew Ali as the knowledge of the book.
Ali loved the Prophet very much,
he cherished him more than his own life. That is why when the Holy Prophet (SAW) wanted to
escape from the trap of the non-believers. Ali placed himself in the Prophet's place,
knowing that the sword-bearers meant to kill the Prophet. Over and over again Ali risked
his life for the Prophet. Of course, he would say that in the heat of the battle when
things looked bleak the Prophet had saved them from the claws of the enemies.
Anyway this was the Ali who now
entered our house. I returned his warm greetings. He too knew that the Prophet was in our
house, Ali knew his perfumed smell better than anyone else. He turned to me and asked;
"Is this my brother and cousin that I smell?" And I replied;" Yes, my dear
husband, he along with our two children are lying over there under the woolen cloak. Ali
approached them and said; "Oh, Prophet of God! Greetings! Will you give me permission
to approach you so that I too may join you?" The Holy Prophet (SAW) replied;
"Greetings to you my dear brother and successor, yes come closer." Ali then
approached the Prophet.
Seeing them, my father, my
husband and my children all together, put a certain yearning in my heart so as to also be
a part of that special group. Everyone was waiting for me, the Prophet, Ali, my children,
the angels, Gabriel and God. I too approached my father and asked; "Oh, Prophet of
God, will you too give me permission to sit with you?"
The Prophet said; "Greetings
my daughter, my soul, yes, come. I went and sat among my loved ones, here, was the very
centre of kindness. Kindness and love radiated from those around me."
An event was about to take place,
something in which my father knew before anyone else. He took both sides of the cloak in
his hands, surrounding us five. Then lifting his right hand towards the sky he started
whispering,
"Dear God, these are my
family."
Their flesh and blood are of mine.
Anyone who hurts or bothers them, hurts and bothers me.
And anyone who pleases them pleases me.
Dear Creator, I am an enemy to
those who are enemies of them. And I am a friend to those who are friends of theirs.
They are of me, and I am of them.
We are one. We were created from one light."
All of this was said by the
Prophet, however he had also said this before. But this time it was different, as if
something else was about to happen. Following the Prophet's words came this prayer.
"So dear God, bless us with
your blessings and keep us away from the unpure. Make them of the pure and holy
ones."
The Prophet prayed from the
deapth of his heart, and we too said "amen" from the deapth of our hearts.
The Almighty God heard the
Prophets words and decreed to all heavenly beings and angels.
"Oh, Angels!"
"Oh, heavenly beings!"
"Do you see them, these five beings who are gathered under this cloak? Be aware for
it was I who created the open skies, the wide earth, the shining moon the radiating sun,
the spining heavenly bodies, and the turmoiled seas. I did not create those but out of my
kindness and friendship towards them."
Gabriel then asked; "Oh,
Almighty God! And who are those gathered together under that cloak that you speak so
highly of?"
"They are the Holy Prophets
(SAW) Household, and the source of the Prophetic mission. These five people are Fatima
(AS), her father, her husband, and her two children."
I at once became ashamed of God's
kindness, and grace towards me and my family.
Gabriel then asked; "Dear
God will you give me permission so that I may also join them and become the sixth?"
And God answered; "Yes, I
give you permission so that you may approach them and give. the Prophet a message from
me."
Gabriel descended from the
heavens and told the Holy Prophet (SAW);
"Oh, Prophet of God! The
Almighty asks me to tell you about yourself and your family."
"I swear that I did not open
the skies,
Nor the wide earth,
Nor the shining moon,
Nor the radiating sun,
Nor the shining heavenly bodies,
Nor the turmoiled seas,
... but for you and my kindness towards you."
"Oh, Prophet of God! It is
only God who has given me permission to visit you."
"Dear God! This is Gabriel your trusted angel, who has brought my father a message
from you, the Almighty. How can we ever pay back this special attention and kindness that
you have given us?"
So, therefore Gabriel approached
us and became the sixth person. He said to my father:
Allah only desires to keep
away the uncleanness from you,
O people of the House! and to purify you a (thorough) purifying. (33-32)
All of us were happy. Ali asked
from my father. "Oh, Prophet of God. What is the reason for all of us to be gathered
together here under this cloak? What event is to follow?"
The Holy Prophet (SAW) replied;
"I swear to God who has chosen me to be truthfull, honest and to guide the lost
souls. If any among human beings, among my Followers recall and contemplate such event,
the blessings and Grace of God will surely follow and be bestowed upon them."
Ali then happily replied; "I
swear to God that we and our followers are of the true."
Fatima's speech which had reached
this point left me speechless.
Oh' God! In this small, poor
house and under this coarse woolen cloak, what magnificent event has taken place. Oh, God!
How close and dear are these people to you? Oh, God! Have you created everything because
of them?
Why shouldn't they be dear? They
have closed their eyes to all the beauties of this world for you. Even though you gave
this world to them.
This great event took place in
Zahra's (AS) house and no one except the angels and heavenly beings witnessed it.
It also happened two more times,
once at Umm-e- Salamas house (one of the Prophet's wives) and once at Aisha's.
As a result, this great event is
so famous and well known, that most people know about it. It is also well known that the
Holy Prophet (SAW) continuously went every day for eight months to Fatimas house, and
repeated this verse loudly so that people may hear:
Allah only desires to keep
away the uncleanness from you,
O people of the House! and to purify you a (thorough) purifying. (33-32)
"Greetings and salutions to
the Household of the Prophet."
So that, everyone would be aware
as to who was considered the Holy Prophet's (SAW) Household. It was only after this event
that these five people, Fatima (AS), her father, her husband and her two children (Hassan
and Hossein) were know as- "companions of the cloak".
Back To
Index of Articles
Sources:
- Mostadrek al-Haakim al'lelsahihaen
- Al Sonan al Kobra Lel'Biehaqi
- Tafsir ibn Kasir
- Tafsir al Dor al Mansoor lel'Sayooti
- Saheeh al Tarmazi
- Tafsir al Tabari
- Masnad of Imam Ahmad
- Maj'ma al Zava-ehi lel-Haisami
- As'sad ul Ghabe
|
