:salam2:
The Prophet is closer to the believers than their own selves, and his wives are their mothers. (Qur’an 33:6)
The rumor was spreading rapidly through the city, and the crowd
swelling in the courtyard was growing more restive by the minute. Even
though there had been plenty of signs during the past few days, they were
now in shock and on the edge of panic. Maybe this would be their greatest
trial, greater than the suffering, the immigrations, the fighting, and the
dying; for he had always been there—with his sure and steady leadership,
his tremendous spirituality and compassion, his reassuring smile, and his
kindly sense of humor. “Awake, O Father of the Dust!” he had joked, as he brushed off the dirt from his startled cousin. And out of the deepest humility and respect, he had spread his mantle and made a place for the poor old woman to sit.
How could they forget that rugged, determined gait of his, as if he was
striding uphill, or his granddaughter riding on his shoulders when he led
them in the prayer? And God was always with him: in the cave and on the
field of Uhud and on the pulpit. It cannot be true! they thought. What are
we going to do now?
‘Umar bolted from his quarters into the courtyard. “They are lying!”
he cried to the crowd, promising to cut down with his sword the pernicious
fabricators. Towering over his audience, he was more fierce than ever, and
his enraged eyes guaranteed his threat. He used to say that at the sight of ‘Umar, Satan himself would reverse direction and flee!
At first they were relieved, for ‘Umar had seen him only minutes earlier
in the apartment. But they could still hear the crying of his wives inside
their rooms, and there was something eerie and unreal in ‘Umar’s
protest—like that of a boy that refuses to accept his father’s demise. O
God, it’s true, they gasped. Our Lord, help us. Muhammad is gone!
Abu Bakr, his horse sweating and panting hard as he guided it toward
the mosque, dismounted hastily and made his way toward his daughter’s
apartment. Parting the curtain, he asked permission to enter. “No need to
ask today,” was the reply.
He walked over to the mat where his son-in-law lay, his face covered
with a cloak. Their friendship went back so many years—to long before he
was a prophet, even before his marriage to Khadijah, back to when they
were both bright young prospects in Makkan society. He bent down and
kissed the face of his beloved: “Sweet you were in life, and sweet you are
in death.” He lifted his head gently between his hands while his tears fell
onto the Prophet’s face. “O my friend, my chosen one, dearer to me than
my father and my mother, the death that God has decreed for you, you
have now tasted. After this no death shall ever come to you.” With great
care, he lowered the Prophet’s head onto his pillow, bent again to kiss his
face, drew the cover over him, and left the room.
Abu Bakr, who was short, slight of frame, and best known for his tender
heart and clemency, did not appear to be a natural leader. In fact, his
own daughter had once disqualified him from leading the prayer because
of his emotional nature. However, the Prophet had seen deeper into him.
Reentering the courtyard, Abu Bakr went to the front of the crowd. He
called for the people’s attention, but ‘Umar, who was still haranguing
them, would not allow himself to be interrupted.
The crowd shifted its attention, for the people wanted to hear what
Abu Bakr had to say. “For those who worshiped Muhammad. . .” he
began loudly. ‘Umar now turned toward him, and both he and the crowd
fell silent. “Know that Muhammad is dead.” He continued firmly: “But for
those who worship God, know that God lives and never dies!” His voice
rose in intensity as he recited
Muhammad is but a messenger. Messengers passed away before him; if he dies or is killed, will you turn back on your heels? And
whoever turns back on his heels will do no harm to God, and God
will reward those who are grateful. (3:144)
'Umar, stunned by the realization that the Prophet was really dead, fell
to his knees, releasing the bereavement that he had refused to accept.
[taken from the Struggling to Surrender by Jeffery Lang p.68-69]
I get motivation from this very event that everyone has to die and God lives and never dies.
[Note: This is an excerpt taken by Brother Korai_28..he is unable to post this thread due to some technical issues..hence I am posting it on his behalf..and he baraka Allaho feeh wanted to remind you all of the immense moral message within the story...make dua'a that he receives ajer in the dunya and the akhirah for doing so baraka Allaho feekom]
The Prophet is closer to the believers than their own selves, and his wives are their mothers. (Qur’an 33:6)
The rumor was spreading rapidly through the city, and the crowd
swelling in the courtyard was growing more restive by the minute. Even
though there had been plenty of signs during the past few days, they were
now in shock and on the edge of panic. Maybe this would be their greatest
trial, greater than the suffering, the immigrations, the fighting, and the
dying; for he had always been there—with his sure and steady leadership,
his tremendous spirituality and compassion, his reassuring smile, and his
kindly sense of humor. “Awake, O Father of the Dust!” he had joked, as he brushed off the dirt from his startled cousin. And out of the deepest humility and respect, he had spread his mantle and made a place for the poor old woman to sit.
How could they forget that rugged, determined gait of his, as if he was
striding uphill, or his granddaughter riding on his shoulders when he led
them in the prayer? And God was always with him: in the cave and on the
field of Uhud and on the pulpit. It cannot be true! they thought. What are
we going to do now?
‘Umar bolted from his quarters into the courtyard. “They are lying!”
he cried to the crowd, promising to cut down with his sword the pernicious
fabricators. Towering over his audience, he was more fierce than ever, and
his enraged eyes guaranteed his threat. He used to say that at the sight of ‘Umar, Satan himself would reverse direction and flee!
At first they were relieved, for ‘Umar had seen him only minutes earlier
in the apartment. But they could still hear the crying of his wives inside
their rooms, and there was something eerie and unreal in ‘Umar’s
protest—like that of a boy that refuses to accept his father’s demise. O
God, it’s true, they gasped. Our Lord, help us. Muhammad is gone!
Abu Bakr, his horse sweating and panting hard as he guided it toward
the mosque, dismounted hastily and made his way toward his daughter’s
apartment. Parting the curtain, he asked permission to enter. “No need to
ask today,” was the reply.
He walked over to the mat where his son-in-law lay, his face covered
with a cloak. Their friendship went back so many years—to long before he
was a prophet, even before his marriage to Khadijah, back to when they
were both bright young prospects in Makkan society. He bent down and
kissed the face of his beloved: “Sweet you were in life, and sweet you are
in death.” He lifted his head gently between his hands while his tears fell
onto the Prophet’s face. “O my friend, my chosen one, dearer to me than
my father and my mother, the death that God has decreed for you, you
have now tasted. After this no death shall ever come to you.” With great
care, he lowered the Prophet’s head onto his pillow, bent again to kiss his
face, drew the cover over him, and left the room.
Abu Bakr, who was short, slight of frame, and best known for his tender
heart and clemency, did not appear to be a natural leader. In fact, his
own daughter had once disqualified him from leading the prayer because
of his emotional nature. However, the Prophet had seen deeper into him.
Reentering the courtyard, Abu Bakr went to the front of the crowd. He
called for the people’s attention, but ‘Umar, who was still haranguing
them, would not allow himself to be interrupted.
The crowd shifted its attention, for the people wanted to hear what
Abu Bakr had to say. “For those who worshiped Muhammad. . .” he
began loudly. ‘Umar now turned toward him, and both he and the crowd
fell silent. “Know that Muhammad is dead.” He continued firmly: “But for
those who worship God, know that God lives and never dies!” His voice
rose in intensity as he recited
Muhammad is but a messenger. Messengers passed away before him; if he dies or is killed, will you turn back on your heels? And
whoever turns back on his heels will do no harm to God, and God
will reward those who are grateful. (3:144)
'Umar, stunned by the realization that the Prophet was really dead, fell
to his knees, releasing the bereavement that he had refused to accept.
[taken from the Struggling to Surrender by Jeffery Lang p.68-69]
I get motivation from this very event that everyone has to die and God lives and never dies.
[Note: This is an excerpt taken by Brother Korai_28..he is unable to post this thread due to some technical issues..hence I am posting it on his behalf..and he baraka Allaho feeh wanted to remind you all of the immense moral message within the story...make dua'a that he receives ajer in the dunya and the akhirah for doing so baraka Allaho feekom]
