Download PDF: The Guests of Rasoolullah – May Allah send peace and blessings upon him

It is reported that once night Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Talha May Allah be pleased with him took a guest of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah May Allah send peace and blessings upon him to his house to feed him. He asked his blessed wife Sayyidah Umme Sulaim May Allah be pleased with her whether she had anything in the house and she replied that there just enough food for one single person. Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Talha May Allah be pleased with him informed her to dim the lights and somehow make the children sleep.

 

They then placed this food in front of the guest. As a matter of fact, his wife actually put the light off by pretending as if she did this accidently. They also made a plan that they would pretend as if they were also eating so that the guest would not feel embarrassed.

 

Sayyidah Umme Sulaim May Allah be pleased with her then did exactly as her husband told her until the guest had eaten to his fill. Due to it being so dark, the guest had no idea that the hosts were not eating themselves.

 

In this way, although they remained hungry for the night, yet, they made sure that the guest of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah May Allah send peace and blessings upon him had satisfied his hunger.

 

In the morning, when Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Talha May Allah be pleased with him presented himself in front of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah May Allah send peace and blessings upon him he said, “The manner in which your treated your guest last night has been something which has been well liked by Allah Almighty”. (Bukhari Shareef)

 

Note

 

Such was the remarkable behaviour of these companions that their every action was something which immediately gained the Divine Pleasure of Allah Almighty. Today, Muslims are continuously trying to perform deeds and action with the hope that it is accepted in the Divine Court of Allah Almighty, yet, no one has any idea whether it is accepted or not.

 

However, such was the status of these blessed companions that they were immediately informed of the Divine Pleasure of Allah Almighty after every self-sacrifice of theirs. This also proves that they were not like ordinary Muslims of today.

 

But, there are heretics in the present age who actually believe that all these people are just like them and even Sayyiduna Rasoolullah May Allah send peace and blessings upon him is, Ma’azallah, just like them. When they cannot be like the companions in one simple action which has been described above, how can they even be like the Holy Prophet May Allah send peace and blessings upon him himself. There is no doubt that these people have not only become heretics through their beliefs but have also lost their minds.

 

This act of self-sacrifice so amply displayed by the blessed companions is something which cannot be emulated by ordinary Muslims of today. This is such a blessed attribute which is even praised by Allah Almighty in the Qur’an. In Surah Al Hashr, verse 9 and 10, the Qur’an declares:

وَ الَّذِیۡنَ تَبَوَّؤُا الدَّارَ وَ الْاِیۡمٰنَ مِنۡ قَبْلِہِمْ یُحِبُّوۡنَ مَنْ ہَاجَرَ اِلَیۡہِمْ وَ لَا یَجِدُوۡنَ فِیۡ صُدُوۡرِہِمْ حَاجَۃً مِّمَّاۤ اُوۡتُوۡا وَ یُؤْثِرُوۡنَ عَلٰۤی اَنۡفُسِہِمْ وَلَوْ کَانَ بِہِمْ خَصَاصَۃٌ ؕ۟ وَ مَنۡ یُّوۡقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِہٖ فَاُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الْمُفْلِحُوۡنَ ﴿ۚ۹﴾

And those who had established their home in this city and in faith from before, love those who emigrated to them, and find not in their breasts, any need for what they have been given and prefer them above their souls, even though they be badly in need of, and whoso is guarded against the avarice of his own soul, those they are the successful.

وَ الَّذِیۡنَ جَآءُوۡ مِنۡۢ بَعْدِہِمْ یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَ لِاِخْوٰنِنَا الَّذِیۡنَ سَبَقُوۡنَا بِالْاِیۡمٰنِ وَ لَا تَجْعَلْ فِیۡ قُلُوۡبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا رَبَّنَاۤ اِنَّکَ رَءُوۡفٌ رَّحِیۡمٌ ﴿٪۱۰﴾

And those who came after them submit, O our Lord! forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in the faith, and put not into our hearts any rancour towards those who believe. O our Lord! Undoubtedly, you are the Beneficent the Merciful.

 

Some commentators of the Qur’an even mention that this Qur’anic verse was revealed specifically for Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Talha May Allah be pleased with him and his blessed wife. The immense support given by Sayyidah Umme Sulaim May Allah be pleased with her is also something which should be emulated by our sisters of today.

 

Some of the behaviour displayed by her were that she did not display any anger at her husband bringing a guest even though there was hardly any food at home. She allowed her children to sleep hungry merely so that a guest of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah May Allah send peace and blessings upon himcould be fed. She also joined her husband in this blessed act so that the guest would feel at ease. In fact, whenever Muslims read this verse of the Qur’an, they will always remember the great sacrifices which the early Muslims presented for Islam without the slightest hesitation.

 

In today’s time, it is sad to see that when such an incident occurs, instead of supporting the husband some Muslim sisters would turn their faces away and give the husband a nasty look. Remember that this act of self-sacrifice should not only be displayed for outsiders, but one should always look at the state of one’s immediate family as well. One never knows what the state of these people are until and unless you do not make an effort to find out. Something as simple as presenting a cup of tea which you have in your hand or a plate of food which you have in your hand are also acts of self-sacrifice. If one practises on these simple traits, there would be indeed immense reward for both Muslim sisters and brothers.