The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) – Volume III — Page 11
I - Commencement of the Second Era of Life in Madīnah 11 glows in the night sky. ” Upon this, ‘Ukāshah ra said, “O Messenger of Allāh, pray that God the Exalted makes me from among them as well. ” The Holy Prophet sa immediately prayed that, “O Allāh, make ‘Ukāshah among those people by your divine grace. ” After this an Anṣārī 1 individual requested, “O Messenger of Allāh! Pray for me as well,” upon which the Holy Prophet sa said: ُ سَبَقَك َ بِھَا عُكَاشَة “In this matter, ‘Ukāshah has outstripped you. ” 2 An apparently insignificant incident from a gathering of the Holy Prophet sa , contains a treasure of much wisdom. Firstly, it is ascertained that the grace and mercy of Allāh the Exalted upon the Ummah of Muḥammad sa is of such magnitude and the spiritual munificence of the Holy Prophet sa was of such excellence, that 70,000 people 3 from his Ummah due to their prominent spiritual status and special divine mercy and grace, would be beyond the agony of reckoning and account on the Day of Resurrection. Secondly, it is also found from this (incident) that the Holy Prophet sa possessed such nearness in the court of Allāh the Exalted, that by his spiritual attention God the Exalted immediately endowed the Holy Prophet sa the knowledge that ‘Ukāshah ra was also included in this pure group of 70,000, by way of a vision or inspiration. It is also a probability that ‘Ukāshah ra was not previously a part of this group but as a result of the prayer of the Holy Prophet sa , God granted him this honour. Thirdly, from this instance it is also ascertained that the Holy Prophet sa had such regard for discipline and desired to grant his Ummah such an increase in their efforts and works, that when another individual presented a similar request for prayer after ‘Ukāshah ra , considering the extremely elite spiritual status endowed to the people of this holy group, the Holy Prophet sa refused from making any further individual prayers, so that the Muslims remain motivated to progress in their goodness, faith and good deeds. Fourthly, this also sheds light on the lofty character of the Holy Prophet sa , because he did not 1 The singular for Anṣār. The term Anṣār refers to Muslims of Madīnah who gave protection to the Muslim emmigrants of Makkah (Publishers) 2 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābur-Riqāq, Bābu Yadkhulul-Jannata Sab‘ūna Alfan Bi-Ghairi Ḥisāb, Ḥadīth No. 6542 3 It is also possible that by 70,000, the actual numerical figure is not the intent here, but that an unusually large multitude is implied. In the Arabic language the number 70 is also used to express a large abundance or absolute number.