The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 152
Seal of the Prophets - Volume I 152 so that you are not scraped by stones”. The Holy Prophet sa did comply with his uncle’s order but since a portion of his parts of concealment became exposed, he fell to the ground in shame, his eyes were petrified and he hurriedly cried out, “My garment! My garment!” until the Prophet sa was able to arrange his clothes. 1 This incident is such as can be attributed only to the early years of Muḥammad sa. Moreover, past historians have also written that this occurrence is from the young age of Muḥammad sa. 2 However, there is no doubt that the instance of Muḥammad sa assuming the role of an ‘arbitrator’ in regard to the placement of the sacred black stone happened in a latter period of his life. This is because it has been narrated that when the people witnessed Muḥammad sa enter the Ka‘bah they cried out the words, “Amīn! Amīn!” It is evident that Muḥammad sa gained this honourable designation only after his honesty and trustworthiness in daily affairs had become manifest and was accepted, as is the light of day. Service of Zaid bin Ḥārithah Ḥakīm bin Ḥizām, the nephew of Ḥaḍrat Khadījah ra , was a merchant who constantly moved about with various trade caravans. Once he purchased a few slaves during a trade expedition and gifted one of them to Ḥaḍrat Khadījah ra. The name of the slave gifted to Ḥaḍrat Khadījah ra was Zaid bin Ḥārithah. In actuality, Zaid belonged to a free family, but during a plunder he was taken captive and was made a slave forcefully. Khadījah ra found Zaid to be wise and intelligent, so she entrusted him to Muḥammad sa. It was always the practice of the Holy Prophet sa that he would treat his servants and slaves with extreme love like his own kith and kin. Hence, Muḥammad sa was affectionate to Zaid. Since Zaid possessed a sincere heart, he also developed love for Muḥammad sa. Meanwhile, Zaid’s father Ḥārithah and paternal uncle Ka‘b came to Makkah while looking for him. Both of them presented themselves before the Holy Prophet sa and with great humility 1 Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, Kitābu Faḍā’iliṣ-Ṣaḥābah, Bābu Bunyānil-Ka‘bah, Ḥadīth No. 3829 2 * As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Malik bin Hishām, p. 146, Bābu Qiṣṣati Baḥīrā, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) * Sharḥu ‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, Bābu Bunyānil-Quraishil-Ka‘bah, Volume 1, pp. 383, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) * Ar-Rauḍul-Anf, By Imām Abul-Qāsim ‘Abdur-Raḥmān Suhailī , Volume 1, p. 318, Bābu Qiṣṣati Baḥīrā, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut