(62) Chapter: Selflessness and Sympathy

Sahl bin Sa'd (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
A woman brought a woven piece of cloth to Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said to him: "I have woven this sheet with my own hands for you to wear." He accepted it as he was in need of it. He later came out wearing it as a lower garment. Someone said: "How nice it is! Kindly give it to me." Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Very well." He remained in our company for some time, then he went back, folded it and sent it to the man. The people said (to that man): "You did not do well. Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) wore it and he was in need of it, and you asked him for it when you are well aware that he (ﷺ) never refuses a request." He said: "I swear by Allah that I did not ask it for wearing. I asked him for it so that it might be my shroud after my death." Sahl (the narrator of this Hadith) said: And in fact it was used as his shroud.

[Al-Bukhari].

Commentary: First, the Hadith is suggestive of accepting a present because the exchange of presents increases mutual love. Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Offer presents to each other as these generate mutual love.'' Second, the Prophet (PBUH) would never turn down anyone asking for something. Third, it is permissible to get a thing prepared to meet a future need. Fourth, we are allowed to receive a benediction from the pious ones as the Companions did in case of those things which had touched the blessed body of Messenger of Allah (PBUH). Yet, today the benedictory sanction is being misapplied by people. For example, the washing of graves is erroneously taken to be a sacred act. Whereas, going by the Islamic Law, there is no room for the concretion of a grave, still less of washing it. Rather this act is unclean and sacrilegious. Similarly, we see some half-mad and insane people bereft of the sense of purity and cleanliness. Yet, the masses consider them to be ecstatics and even try to seek benediction from them. As a matter of fact, such lunatics are totally unconscious of the obligations of Islam, rather everything else. But the sanity of a man becomes questionable if he considers them saints. Also there are places where some relics, attributed to the Prophet (PBUH), are at display but without historical authenticity. We are supposed to shun them.