An Ansaari razes a building to the ground

An Ansaari razes a building to the ground

Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was once passing through a street of Madinah Munawwarah when he saw a building with a dome. He inquired from the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), “What is this?” They informed him that it was a new building built by one of the Ansaar. Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) remained silent.

At another time, the Ansaari who had built that house came to Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and greeted him with salaam. However, Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) turned his face away from him. He repeated the Salaam, but Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) again did not respond. This Sahaabi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was extremely concerned on account of Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) not responding to his salaam.

When he enquired from the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), he was informed that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) passed by the new building that he had constructed and inquired about it. He immediately went and razed the new building to the ground, and did not even inform Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) about his action.

Sometime later, Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) happened to pass that way again. He inquired, “Where is that building with a dome that I remember seeing the last time we passed by this spot?” The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) informed him of the Ansaari razing it to the ground, as he felt that it was the cause of Rasulullah’s (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) displeasure. At that juncture, Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) remarked, “Every structure (which is constructed without a real need) will be a burden for one, except that structure which is absolutely essential.”

The conduct of the Sahaabi exhibited true love and devotion. The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) could not bear the displeasure of Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), and no sooner did they sense the displeasure of Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) through any action, they immediately abandoned that action at all costs.^[1]

[1] سنن أبي داود، الرقم: 5237، وإسناده جيد كما قال العراقي في المغني عن حمل الأسفار في الأسفار 2/1115