When the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم offered his shawl

Jarīr bin ꜤAbdullah Bajalī رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ embraced Islam in the tenth year after Hijra, in the month of Ramaḍān. He was a Companion of Allah’s Messenger صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, and exceptionally handsome. The second Caliph of Islam, ꜤUmar b. al-Khaṭṭāb رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ described him by saying,   جَرِیْرُ یُوسُفُ ہٰذِہِ الْاُمَّۃِ - “Jarīr is the Yūsuf of this ummah.”^[1]

The Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was once in his sanctified living chambers, when his Companions عَـلَيْهِمُ الرِّضْوَانْ then came, seeking to be in his blessed presence. They entered and filled the room until no space remained. Jarīr bin ꜤAbdullah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ then arrived. As there was no further space, he sat in the doorway. When the final Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم saw this, he folded his blessed shawl and threw it towards Jarīr bin ꜤAbdullah. “O Jarīr!”, he declared, “Spread this shawl and sit upon it!”

اللہُ اَکْبَر - Such a profound display of affection from the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is no small matter. Now observe the love and veneration shown by this Companion. He did not allow the shawl to touch the ground. Taking it in his hands, he kissed it, placed it on his eyes and spontaneously broke into tears. “O Messenger of Allah!”, he exclaimed, “You have granted me honour. May Allah elevate your honour even further! Who am I to sit upon your blessed shawl?” Saying this, he presented it back to the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.

The final Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم then explained, اِذَا اَتَاکُمْ کَرِیْمُ قَوْمٍ فَاَکْرِمُوْہُ - “When a respected person from a community comes to you, honour him.”^[2]

O those who love Allah’s Messenger! May we all attain the blessings of these beautiful actions of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! Despite being granted the immense rank of being Allah’s beloved, leader of both