The
Patched Robe
There was a Jew of Damascus who was reading a holy book one
day when he came across the name of the Prophet Muhammad (peace
be upon him) written in it. Not liking this, he removed the
name. But the next day he found it there again. Again he took
out the name; but on the third day it had appeared again.
He thought: "Perhaps this is a sign that a true Emissary has
come. I will journey southwards to Madinah."
And he forthwith started out, not tarrying until he reached
the city of the Prophet. When he arrived there, knowing nobody,
he was near the Mosque of the Prophet when the Sahabi Anas
(ra) arrived. He said to Anas: "Friend, take me to the Prophet."
Anas (ra) led him into the mosque, which was full of people
in anguish. Abu Bakr (ra) the successor was sitting there
at the head of the assembly. The old man went up to him, thinking
he must be Muhammad, and said: "O Chosen Envoy of God, a strayed
old man has come to offer you peace." Hearing the title of
the Prophet used, everyone present burst into a flood of tears.
The stranger was uncertain as to what to do. He said: "I am
a foreigner and a Jew, and I am unaware of the rites of the
Faith of Submission to the Will of Allah. Have I said something
untoward? Should I have remained silent? Or is this a ritual
observance? Why do you cry? If it is a ceremony, I have never
heard of it."
Omar (ra) said to him: "We do not weep because of anything
which you have done. But you must hear, unfortunate one, that
it is a but a week since the Prophet left the earth. When
we heard his name, grief took possession of our hearts anew."
As soon as he heard this, the ancient tore his clothes in
anguish. When he had recovered a little, he said: "Do me one
favour. Let me have at least a robe of the Prophet. If I cannot
see him, at least let me have this."
Omar (ra) answered: "Only Fatima (ra) could give us one of
his robes." Ali (ra) said: "But she will not allow anyone
to go near her." But they went to her door and knocked, and
explained what they wanted.
Fatima (ra) answered: "Verily, the Prophet spoke truly when
he said, shortly before he died: 'A wayfarer, who has love
towards me and who is a good man, will come to the house.
He will not see me. Give him, therefore, this patchwork robe
as if from me, and for me treat him gently, offering salutations.'"
The Jew put the robe on himself and, professing Islam, asked
to be taken to the Prophet's grave. It was at this place that
he breathed his last.
Source: From the book "Ilahi-Nama" by Shaikh Farid Al-Din
Attar.
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