Story No. 214 – Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) and Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) loved each other
Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) and Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as)Allama Tabarani and Imam Hakim (in his Saheeh) say: Whenever Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) was in anger nobody dare addressed him but Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as).
Bin Abil Hadeed quotes the uncle of Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw), Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib saying:
Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) was so fond of Imam Ali that once when Imam Ali was a young boy he sent him out on some errand and the child took long time to return, he started getting worried and anxious and in the end he prayed to Allah (SWT), “Please Lord do not let me die unless I behold Ali once again.”
Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib’s (as) holy personality began its wonderful manifestation even during the period of his mother’s pregnancy. At that time, Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) had not yet announced his prophethood, and yet when he passed before Fatima bint Asad, who being his aunt was senior to him, she used to stand up in reverence and respect for him, and somehow something within her never allowed her to turn her face away from Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) as long as he was around.
When people asked her about this peculiar behaviour of hers, she would say that she could not help it, that some irresistible urge from within made her do so.
This statement was disbelieved by those who wished to test her. So one day they made her sit and they asked two strong men to hold her down when Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) passed by. Then they asked Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) if he would walk in front of her, to which he gladly agreed. As he came in front of her, Fatima bint Asad began to rise and she stood erect throwing both men aside. Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) who alone was aware of this mystery, used to smile. Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) was keenly awaiting the birth of his cousin Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as).
Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) started acting as the bodyguard of Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) even when he was just a boy of 13 or 14 years. The young men of Quraish under instigation of their parents used to stone Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw). Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) took up the work of acting as his defender, he fell upon those young men, broke the nose of one, teeth of the other, pulled the ears of the third and threw down the fourth. Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) often fought against those who were older than him, was often himself hurt, but he never forsook the self imposed duty. After some days he got the nick name of Qaazim (the breaker of thrower) and nobody dared throw anything at Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) when Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) was with him and he would not allow Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) to go out of the house alone.
Offering himself as a sacrifice at the night of Hijra (migration) and his subsequent behaviour in all the battles are enough proofs of the intensity of Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib’s (as) love to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw).
Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) informed Imam Ali (as) about the dangerous situation and his plan to migrate to Yathrib (Medina). Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) asked Imam Ali (as) if he would sleep in his bed covering himself with Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (saw) blanket. It was a dangerous situation; the walls of Holy Prophet’s (saw) house were hardly seven feet high. Anybody could peep in and see whether Holy Prophet (saw) was in the house or not? But when Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) asked Imam Ali (as) if he would accept this danger to his life? Imam Ali (as) replied with a counter question, “If I sleep in your place, in your bed, will your life be saved?” “Yes,” replied Holy Prophet (saw), “Allah (SWT) has promised me save passage.” Imam Ali (as) thanked Allah (SWT) and slept in the bed of Holy Prophet (saw) covering himself with Holy Prophet’s (saw) blanket without any hesitation. Holy Prophet (saw) left his house unobserved by the waiting assailants.
Commenting on the sacrifice of Imam Ali (as), Imam Ghazali in his Tarikhe Khamees writes that it was for this occasion that revelation from Allah (SWT) came, “And among men there is who sells himself (soul ) seeking the pleasure of God; and verily, God is affectionate unto His (faithful) servants.” Noble Qur’an (2:207)