The Illustrious Sahaabah The Illustrious Sahaabah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was divinely protected by Allah Ta‘ala from committing shirk, kufr or any type of sin, even prior to receiving nubuwwah. Even acts that were not considered as shameful acts and deeds among the people, but were not in keeping with respect, shame and dignity, Allah Ta‘ala also protected Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) from such acts and deeds.
This was on account of the fact that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was to be blessed with the highest rank and position in the world, not just being the Rasul and Nabi of this ummah, but also the Imaam of all the Rasuls and Ambiyaa who came in the world.
Hence, Allah Ta‘ala chose the best for his Nabi and granted him the highest degree of sublime conduct, nobility, respect and hayaa.
It is recorded in Saheeh Bukhaari and Saheeh Muslim (rahimahullah) that Hazrat Jaabir (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) said that during the reconstruction of the Holy Ka’bah, which occurred five years prior to Rasulullah [sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam] being bestowed with nubuwwah, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) also assisted in the construction by carrying boulders to the site.
While Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was carrying the boulders, his uncle, Hazrat Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), advised him saying, “Son! Undo your lower garment and place it on your shoulder so that your shoulder will be protected from being abraded by the boulders.”
On the advice of his uncle, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then began to open his lower garment, and as soon as he opened it, he immediately fell on the ground unconscious. (Saheeh Bukhaari #3829 & Saheeh Muslim #340)
It is narrated from Abu Tufail that at the time when Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) fell unconscious, he heard a voice from the unseen saying, “O Muhammed (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! Cover your satr!” This was the first voice from the unseen that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) heard before nubuwwah. (Dalaa’ilun Nubuwwah lil-Bayhaqi 2/54, Majma’uz Zawaa’id #5730, Khasaa’is Kubra 1/149)
According to the narration of Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma), after this incident transpired, Abu Taalib asked Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) what had happened to him. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “A person dressed in white clothing appeared and said to me, ‘O Muhammed (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! Conceal your satr!’” (Mustadrak Haakim #7356, Khasaa’is Kubra 1/149)
Prior to the advent of Islam, the Arabs would not consider it immoral to remove one’s clothes before people. It is for this reason that they used to perform tawaaf naked, as they regarded it improper to perform tawaaf with the clothes in which they had sinned. However, the Quraish were always considered to be people of honour and dignity, and at the time of tawaaf, they never removed their clothes. Rather, they made tawaaf with their clothes on. If a non-Quraishi wanted to make tawaaf with clothes, he would borrow clothes from the Quraish and then perform tawaaf.
Hazrat Urwah (rahimahullah) reports, “During the days of Jaahiliyyah (the pre-Islamic era), people would perform tawaaf of the Ka’bah naked – except for the Hums. The Hums referred to the Quraish and those born to the Quraish clan. The Quraish would give their clothes to people (who wanted to perform tawaaf with clothes), as a good deed, seeking reward from Allah Ta‘ala. The men of the Quraish would give clothing to other men to perform tawaaf, and the women of the Quraish would give clothing to other women to perform tawaaf. The person who did not get clothing from the Quraish to wear would perform tawaaf naked. (Saheeh Bukhaari #1665, Mirqaat 5/1788)
In regard to this incident, the narration quoted by Imaam Bayhaqi in Dalaa’il-un-Nubuwwah mentions that Hazrat Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) would remove his clothes to carry the boulders, but before coming to the place where people were present, he would again wear his clothes and then appear before them, carrying the boulders. Hazrat Abaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) asked Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to also remove his lower garment as he was doing, and before reaching the place where people were present, he should once again wear his lower garment. When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) complied with the instruction of his uncle, he had fallen to the ground unconscious, while his sight was raised to the sky. (Fat-hul Baari 3/499)
From this narration, we understand that apart from Hazrat Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), other people were not present at the time when Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) removed his lower garment, and hence they did not see the satar of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) being exposed.
However, Allah Ta‘ala did not want this for His beloved Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), as this was not in keeping to the standard of shame, modesty and dignity. Hence, Allah Ta‘ala caused Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to fall unconscious at that time.
