Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

Xli ibn Abi Tcilib 79
2.8. His offering himself as a sacrifice
for the Prophet (g)
When the tribe of Quraysh met in Dar an-Nadwah, they agreed
to kill the Prophet (gg) and to be rid of him, but Allah (&) told His
Prophet (g) about that. The Prophet (gg) was the wisest of Allah's
creation. He wanted those who sought to kill him to keep looking at
his bed, waiting for him to come out to them, so he told 'Ali ibn Abi
Tilib (&) to sleep in his bed that night. Who could dare to stay in
the bed-of the Messenger of Allah (B) when his enemies were
surrounding the house, lying in wait in order to kill him? Who would
be able to stay in that house, knowing that the enemies would not see
the difference between him and the Messenger of Allah (g) in his
bed? No one except the most heroic of men, and the most
courageous, by the grace of ~llah.~~
The Prophet (@) told him to stay in Makkah for a few days in
order to return the trusts, and items that had been deposited with him
for safekeeping, to their owners among his enemies, without
subtracting anything. This is the greatest justice and fulfilment of
tn1sts.9~ According to one report, the Messenger of Allah (@) said to
'Ali (&): .. "Sleep in my bed, wrap yourself in this green cloak of
mine and sleep in it, and no hann will befall you from them."98 Ibn
Hajar said: Moosa ibn 'Uqbah narrated that Ibn Shihsb said: So 'Ali
lay down on the bed of the Messenger of Allah (g) in order to
distract the enemies from him. All night, Quraysh were coming and
going and discussing which of them would attack the occupant of the
bed and tie him up. In the morning, when they saw 'Ali, they asked
him where the Prophet was, and he said: I don't know. Then they
realised that the Prophet (g) had fled?9 It was narrated from Ibn
'AbbL that 'Ali sold himself that night, when he put on the gannent
of the Prophet and then slept in his place.'00 Concerning 'Mi and his
fellow Companions who strove to attain the pleasure of Allah (s)