The Love of My Life
In the name of Allah, the Infinitely Compassionate, the most merciful.
لَقَدْ جَاءكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُم بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَؤُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
INDEED, there has come unto you all, a Messenger from among yourselves: heavily weighs -upon him [the thought] that you might suffer [in the life to come]; full of concern for you [is he, and] full of compassion and mercy towards the believers. Surah at-Tauba (The Repentance) - 9:128
This magnificent verse encompasses the inner beauty of RasulAllah, ‘alayhi salawaatullahi wa salaam, and emphasizes the loving mercy he shows to humanity at large and the love, concern and compassion he has for the believers. His life is a testimony to this Rahmah – this loving mercy to all – young and old, friend and foe, human and animal, strong and weak and good and bad. There were so many miraculous facets to him, but two that always bring tears to my eyes are – He never said no to any that asked him, in his life span and He never repaid harm with harm, but instead always responded with good.
A story that highlights the compassion he, ‘alayhi salawaatullahi wa salaam, had for the weak and sinning of the youth, is as follows:
After the Fath (opening) of Mecca, most of those who had rebelled against God and His Messenger, ‘alayhi salawaatullahi wa salaam, had embraced Islam. There were a few that secretly harbored hatred against RasulAllah, ‘alayhi salawaatullahi wa salaam, and fed their spirit for vengeance. One such was a young man in Mecca, named Fudala. Fudala decided to end the life of the Messenger of Allah, ‘alayhi salawaatullahi wa salaam. He dipped his sharp dagger in poison and hid it under his sleeve. He went out that day looking for the Messenger of Allah, ‘alayhi salawaatullahi wa salaam, and found him in Tawaaf (circumambulating the Ka’bah). He began to do the same. As he approached RasulAllah, ‘alayhi salawaatullahi wa salaam, he debated within himself, if it was the apt time to strike. Even though he looked innocent, absorbed in an act of worship and did not make eye contact with RasulAllah, ‘alayhi salawaatullahi wa salaam, or utter a word – the Beloved of Allah, ‘alayhi salawaatullahi wa salaam, gleaned his intent. He turned to Fudala and asked with a gentle and knowing smile: “O Fudala! What is your nafs (self) urging you about?” SubhaanAllah! The stunned Fudala muttered: “Nothing, O Messenger of Allah”. Nodding at this, RasulAllah, ‘alayhi salawaatullahi wa salaam, continued with the Tawaaf. With each completed circumambulation, he would turn to Fudala, who was following closely behind him, and ask with a smile: “O Fudala! What is your nafs urging you about?” And each time, an increasingly bewildered Fudala would reply in hushed tones: “Nothing, O Messenger of Allah”. With the Tawaaf completed, RasulAllah, ‘alayhi salawaatullahi wa salaam, turned to face Fudala. I want us all to pause for a moment, close the eyes of our head and open the eyes of our heart and visualize this scene. The noble and gentle Messenger, ‘alayhi salawaatullahi wa salaam, then turned to the misguided young man, whose heart was filled with love of the ephemeral and rage at the Divine, His Messenger and His message. He, ‘alayhi salawaatullahi wa salaam, then placed his beautiful palm on the chest of Fudala, over his heart. In a heartbeat’s moment, Fudala transformed. All of the denial, disbelief, hatred and treachery was replaced by faith, conviction, love and reverence for Allah and His Rasul, ‘alayhi salawaatullahi wa salaam. He uttered the testimony of faith and joined the august rank of the Sahaabah. He was to later narrate; “I started that day with a heart that hated none more than RasulAllah, and I ended the day with a heart that loved none more than him, ‘alayhi salawaatullahi wa salaam.”
The gentle and powerful hand of RasulAllah, ‘alayhi salawaatullahi wa salaam. Have you allowed him to touch your heart yet? Who is the love of your life?
