Year: 2021

ALI (A.S.) UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF
THE PROPHET (S.A.)

Soon after his birth the Prophet (S.A.W) took Ali (A.S.) under his care and his wife Khadija adopted him
as her own son. Ali (A.S.) lived with them. He was fed, washed, dressed by the Prophet (S.A.W) himself.
The Prophet (S.A.W) made him sleep in his own bed, and took him wherever he went. Ali (A.S.)
describing his upbringing by the Prophet (S.A.W) says, “I was still a new born baby when the Prophet
took me from my parents. I used to cling to him and was attached to him like a baby camel attached to
its mother. To me he was like a guiding star. I used to carefully follow his actions and deeds. He used
to put before me the high values of morality and advised me to follow them. Every year the Prophet
used to spend some days at Mount Hera (a desert hill near Mecca) and I used to be with him. I was his
only companion and none else could meet him there”. The constant company of the Prophet (S.A.W)
gave Ali (A.S.) the opportunity to absorb all the attributes of the Prophet (S.A.W)’s character in the
matter of knowledge, self sacrifice, forbearance, bravery, kindness, generosity, oratory and eloquence.
What others heard from the Prophet (S.A.W) he too heard but what he heard from the Prophet (S.A.W)
when was alone with him, the others did not hear. It is a well known fact that every tradition Ali (A.S.)
narrated was that he heard from the Prophet (S.A.W) himself. When somebody questioned him as to
why he is being preferred on others in the matter of knowledge and traditions, Ali (A.S.) replied, “The
Prophet replied to what I asked and he told me what I did not ask”. Speaking about the Prophet (S.A.W),
Ali (A.S.) said, “He is the leader of all who exercise fear (of Allah) and light for them who seek guidance.
He is a lamp, whose flame is burning, a meteor whose light is shining and flint whose spark is bright.
His conduct is upright, his behaviour is guiding, his speech is decisive and his decision is just.”

It shall be known from the following narrations mentioned by the author on what type of bed did Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam rest upon. We who are from among his ummah know the state of our carpets and other furnishings, which is before our eyes. The author mentioned two hadith in this chapter.

(311) Hadith Number 1.
‘Aayeshah Radiyallahu ‘Anha reports that the bed on which Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam slept was made of leather, in which was filled coir of the palm tree.

Commentary
The bed Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu’Alayhi Wasallam used, was at times the one made of leather as stated in the above hadith, or at times was one that was made of canvas, as will be mentioned in the following hadith. At times it was only a mat made of palm leaves. This subject has been narrated in many ahaadith that when the Sahaabah Radiyallahu ‘Anhum asked the permission to make a soft bed, Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam used to reply: ‘What do I have in common with worldly comforts. My example is that of a traveller who after walking, stops under the shadow of a tree for a while to rest, and after sitting a while continues on his way’. Sayyiditina ‘Aayeshah Radiyallahu ‘Anha says: ‘Once a woman from the Ansaar came and saw that an ‘abaa (cloak) was spread on the bed of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam. She returned home and made a bed in which she filled wool, and sent it to me for Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam. When Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam returned and saw the bed, he inquired,’What is this?’ I replied: ‘A certain woman from the Ansaar came and after seeing the bed of Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam she made and sent this bed’. Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam said; ‘Return it’. It looked good to me, and I did not feel like sending it back. Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam insisted that I send it back, and said: ‘I swear an oath if I wish Allah Ta’aala will line up mountains of gold and silver for me’. On this saying of Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam I returned the bed. Sayyidina ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud Radiyallahu ‘Anhu says: ‘I once came to Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam. He was resting on a mat made of palm leaves, the marks of which could be seen on the mubaarak body of Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam. After seeing this state I began to cry. Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam asked: ‘What is the matter, why are you crying?’ I replied: ‘O Messenger of Allah, these Qaysars and Kisras sleep on beds of silk and velvet, and you on this palm mat’. Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam said.’ ‘It is not a thing to cry about. For them is the world and for us the hereafter’. A similar incident once took place with Sayyidina ‘Umar Radiyallahu ‘Anhu when he came to Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam and this same type of question and answer took place. The detailed incident is mentioned in the Sahih Bukhaari.
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(312) Hadith Number 2.
Imaam Muhammad AI-Baaqir Radiyallahu ‘Anhu says that someone asked Ummul Mu’mineen ‘Aayeshah Radiyallahu ‘Anha: ‘How was the bed of Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam in your house?’ She replied: ‘It was made of leather, in which was filled the coir of the date palm’. Hafsah Radiyallahu ‘Anha was asked how was the bed of Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam in your house? She replied: ‘It was a canvas folded into two, which was spread for Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam to sleep on. On one night I thought if I folded it into four and spread it, it would become softer. I folded it and spread it that way. In the morning Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam asked: ‘What did you spread for me last night? I replied: ‘It was the same bed, I only folded it into four so that it may become softer’. Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam said: ‘Leave it in its original form. Its softness deprived me of my prayers (tahajjud) at night’.

Commentary
It means that he could not wake up for tahajjud, or he may have awakened later than usual. One sleeps more soundly on a soft bed, and also for a longer period. If it is a rough and uneven bed, firstly, one will not sleep with ease; secondly, one will awaken quickly.