Story No. 167 – Plot to murder Mohammad, the Prophet of Islam (saw)
Dawn had hardly broken when the infidel Quraish were informed of the allegiance of the Yathribi Muslims. They hurriedly attempted to frustrate it and hinder the advance of Islam. For this purpose, they held a council in the place where the Quraish gathered to pass judgment and to consult each other. After a great deal of talk and consultation, it was resolved that they select one man from each tribe to rush into the house of Mohammad, the Prophet of Islam (saw) at night and murder him so that the basis of the propagation of Islam would be destroyed. This plan was approved and 40 young men were selected to carry out the cowardly deed.
But Almighty Allah (SWT) made Mohammad, the Prophet of Islam (saw) aware of the intrigue of his enemies and commanded him to leave Makkah by night. Mohammad, the Prophet of Islam (saw), upon receiving this revelation, decided to leave his homeland and migrate to Yathrib.
In Noble Qur’an, Allah (SWT) says: “And when those who disbelieved devised plans against you that they might confine you or slay you or drive you away; and they devised plans and Allah too had arranged a plan; and Allah is the best of planners.” (8:30)
Imam Ali’s (as) sincere and significant self-sacrifice
When Mohammad, the Prophet of Islam (saw) was divinely commanded to migrate to Yathrib, he called Imam Ali (as), disclosed his secret to him, gave him the people’s trusts to be returned to their owners and then said, ‘I have to migrate, but you must lie in my bed’.
Even though Imam Ali (as) knew that the enemies of Islam wanted to murder Mohammad, the Prophet of Islam (saw) and that if he slept in Prophet Muhammad’s (saw) bed his life would be at stake, he did not hesitate to risk his life to protect Mohammad, the Prophet of Islam (saw) and Islam. Imam Ali (as) was very happy to do this for Mohammad, the Prophet of Islam (saw). In fact Imam Ali (as) said that the best sleep that he had ever had was on that night (Shab-E-Hijrat).
Imam Ali’s (as) self-sacrifice was so sincere and significant that Allah (SWT) praised it in Noble Qur’an as: “And among men is he who sells his Nafs (self) in exchange for the pleasure of Allah.” (2:207)