Hayatus Sahabah - The Lives of the Sahabah - Part 1 of 3

THE LIVES OF THE SAHABAH m,@$$> (Vol-I) 129
I was the youngest of them all. Rasulullaah @& told me to be seated and
repeated himself thrice. I stood up each time and each time he told me to be
seated. Eventually, when this happened the third time, Rasulullaah @% struck
his hand on mine (accepted my pledge of allegiance)."
Hadhrat Ali %%@I22 has also nafrated that Rasulullaah k%&$ instructed him to
prepare a meal using the leg sf an animal and a 'kaa"(2) of wheat flour (for
bread) when the following verse:of the Qur'aan was revealed:
(nt :SI+ s J ~ )
..,.
y .:.a .
. *dY
(@q9~~ . I
y 34.
(0 RasuJufIaah @@I First) Warn your closest relatives (about the
punishment due to those who reject Imaan). {Surah Shu'araa, verse 2 14)
Thereafter, Rasulullaah @%% told Hadhrat Ali %Uw to invite the Banu Haashim.
During that time, the Banu Haashim numbered approximately 40 to 42 persons.
Hadhrat Ali WUW continues the narration by saying, "(After their guests had
arrived) Rasulullaah sent for the food. When he placed the food before
them, they all ate to their fill even though there were people amongst them who
could eat a young animal together with gravy all by themselves. Thereafter,
Rasulullaah '&?% sent for a small cup of milk. When he passed the cup around
for them to drink, they all managed to drink to their fill. One of them
commented, "Until today, I had never seen such magic." It is widely believed that
it was Abu Lahab who said this.
The following day, Rasulullaah '&?% said to Hadhrat Ali SWj, "0 Ali! Prepare
the leg of a goat together with a "saa" of wheat flour and a large cup of milk."
Hadhrat Ali SUw says, "I did as I was told. The guests ate as they had eaten the
first day and drank as they had drunk on the first day. Just as it occurred on the
first day, as much food was left over as we had begun with." To this, someone
commented, "Never before have we seen such magic as we have witnessed
today."
(On the third day) Rasulullaah @% said, "0 Ali! Prepare the leg of a goat
together with a "saa" of wheat flour and a large cup of milk." After doing as he
was told, Rasulullaah &%% asked Hadhrat Ali ~ ,Gm to invite the Banu Haashim.
Consequently, he gathered them together and they ate and drank. Rasulullaah
k%& then spoke to them saying, "Which of you are prepared to settle my debts
for me?" Hadhrat Ali W&j says, "I remained silent as did everyone body else.
Thereafter, Rasulullaah @@ repeated himself. I responded by saying, 'I am
prepared to do so 0 Rasulullaah m!' He said to me, 'You 0 Ali! You 0 Ali (You
are certainly fit for the task)!"' (3)
Ibn Abi Haatim has also reported a similar Hadith in which Rasulullaah @@ said
to the people, which of you is prepared to settle my debts and to succeed me as
head of my family after my demise? Hadhrat Ali B%&j says, "Everybody
remained silent including Hadhrat Abbaas %%W who feared that all his wealth
(1) Ahmad as quoted in the Takeerof Ibn Katheer (Vo1.3 Pg.350).
(2) A unit of measure equal to approximately 3.2 kg.
(3) Bazzaar. Haythami has commented on the Hadith in Vo1.8 Pg.302.