From the abandoned date-palm trunk came the sound of continuous weeping like that of a child; in separation from the beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), the crying of that trunk spread throughout Masjid al-Nabawi. Authentic hadith narrations state that when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) placed his blessed hand upon it, its crying ceased—how astonishing that even a tree wept in longing for the Prophet (ﷺ), and the pain of separation stirred waves of grief within it. After the passing of the Messenger (ﷺ), just like the other Companions, Bilal ibn Rabah (may Allah be pleased with him) became overwhelmed with sorrow; he was so deeply affected that he could no longer call the Adhan. In the city of Medina, where he had lived day and night in the radiant presence of the Prophet (ﷺ), beholding his blessed face—now he was no more; unable to bear this grief, he eventually left Medina. After a long time, he saw the Prophet (ﷺ) in a dream, who said, “O Bilal, has the time not yet come for you to visit my resting place?” After about six months, he returned to beloved Medina, rushed to the noble resting place of the Prophet (ﷺ), and presented salutations and peace. The people of Medina, who had long been deprived of his heartfelt Adhan, requested him to call it once more; at first he refused, having resolved that the Adhan he gave for the Prophet (ﷺ) he would not give for anyone else, but upon the request of Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), he began the Adhan. As its words echoed, memories of the Messenger (ﷺ) returned vividly, and for a moment the people of Medina felt as though the Prophet (ﷺ) had returned; they came out of their homes, and when Bilal (RA) reached the words “Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah,” he broke down in tears, and the entire city was filled with the sound of weeping—such was their love for the Messenger (ﷺ). Do we possess even a fraction of that love within our hearts? Even if we do, how much is it? It is narrated by Abdur Rahman ibn Ala Hadrami (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “In the later time of this Ummah, there will be a group whose reward for righteous deeds will be equal to those of the earliest people; they will enjoin good, forbid evil, and strive against those who spread corruption.” The love of the Messenger (ﷺ) is the path to salvation: when we hear about the life of the beloved Prophet (ﷺ), does love for him awaken in our hearts? Have we truly learned to love him? Has love for his Sunnah settled within our hearts? Do our eyes fill with tears when we remember him? Does our heart cry in his love? Have we given his love precedence over all other loves? Does remembering him bring peace to our souls? Does following his Sunnah bring tranquility into our lives? Have we made his perfect example the guide of our path? Dear friend, this is the path of salvation; this is the true way to know, recognize, and love the Lord of all worlds; this is the highway to success whose final destination is the forgiveness of Allah and Paradise: قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَاللّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ — “Say, if you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive your sins, and Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful” (Quran). May Allah سبحانه وتعالى grant us all the ability to become true followers of the beloved Prophet (ﷺ) and bless us to follow his noble example in every aspect of our lives.
The Prophet (ﷺ) loved us, thought about us, and cried when we left; shouldn’t we love him too?
