Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) reached the age of twenty-five, every home began to speak of his truthfulness and trustworthiness, and there was not a single person in Makkah Mukarramah who did not recognize him and refer to him by the title ‘Al-Ameen’ (the Most Trustworthy Person) on account of his sublime character and outstanding honesty.
At that time, Hazrat Khadijah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) sent him a message offering him to become her business partner. She said to him, “If you take my wealth of trade to Syria to do business, I will give you double the amount that I am paying other business partners.”
Hazrat Khadijah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) was a wealthy woman from one of the noble clans of the Arabs. She hailed from the Quraish clan of the Arabs which connected with the clan of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) at his forefather Qusayy. Due to her noble lineage, purity and chastity, the people would call her by the title ‘Taahirah’ (the pure one) during the times of ignorance as well as the era of Islam.
When the Quraish would dispatch their trade caravans, Hazrat Khadijah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) would also entrust her wealth to some person with whom she would form a ‘mudaarabah’ (business partnership). Such was the immense wealth of Hazrat Khadijah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) that her goods alone were equal to the combined goods of all the Quraish traders who were sending their merchandise to Syria.
At the time when Hazrat Khadijah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) offered Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to become her business partner, Rasulullah’s (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) uncle was undergoing financial constraints. Hoping to assist his uncle in his time of difficulty, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) accepted the offer of Hazrat Khadijah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) and departed for Syria in the company of Maysarah who was the slave of Hazrat Khadijah (radhiyallahu ‘anha).
When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) reached Busraa during the journey, he sat in the shade of a tree. A monk by the name of Nastoora lived in that area. On seeing Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) beneath this tree, he approached Maysarah to enquire regarding the person seated beneath the tree. Nastoora knew Maysarah, as they had met previously when Maysarah had traveled to Syria. Nastoora asked him, “O Maysarah! Who is this man sitting beneath this tree? Maysarah replied, “He is a man of the Quraish clan from the people of the Haram.”
Nastoora then said, “It is reported that after Nabi Isa bin Maryam (‘alaihis salaam), no person besides a Nabi will sit beneath this tree.”
Nastoora then asked Maysarah, “Does he (Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)) have any redness in his eyes?” Maysarah replied, “He has a redness in his eyes which never leaves his eyes.”
Hearing this, Nastoora mentioned that this has been explained in the scriptures, that the final Nabi will have slight redness in his eyes. Out of excitement, Nastoora exclaimed:
هو هو وهو نبي وهو آخر الأنبياء ويا ليت أني أدركه حين يؤمر بالخروج
“Yes, surely this is the same Prophet! This is the final Messenger of Allah Ta‘ala! If only I could live until the time when he will be commissioned as the Nabi of Allah (so that I could assist him in his mission)!”
In one narration, it is also mentioned that Nastoora approached Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), kissed his blessed forehead and feet, and then said, “I bring imaan in you and I testify that you are the one whom Allah has mentioned in the Towraah.” Then, on seeing the seal of prophethood on the blessed back of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), he kissed it with love and said, “I testify that you are the final Rasul of Allah, the unlettered Nabi regarding whom Nabi Isa (‘alaihis salaam) had delivered glad tidings.”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) thereafter went to the market of Busraa and engaged in trade. During this time, while doing trade, a person began to argue with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). While arguing, the man said to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), “Swear an oath by the idols of Laat and Uzza.”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “I have never taken an oath by Laat and Uzza. In fact, even if I incidentally pass by these idols, I do so while turning away from them and staying far from them.” Hearing this, the man replied, “Undoubtedly, you are right.” In other words, you are truthful and trustworthy and I have erred. The man then took Maysarah aside and said to him, “O Maysarah! By Allah this man is a Nabi! After dealing with him, I have realized that he has the same qualities of the Nabi regarding whom our Ulama have found mention of in our scriptures.”
Thereafter, the entire caravan departed from Busraa on the return journey to Makkah Mukarramah. While traveling, when the heat would be intense at midday, Maysarah would see two angels shading Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) from the glare of the sun while he was mounted on his camel.
Hence, after having traveled with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), and having witnessed these miracles, Maysarah began to love Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to such an extent that it was as though he was his devoted slave.
Maysarah says, “During the afternoon, when the heat would be intense, I would notice two angels shading Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).”
When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) returned from Syria, it was afternoon and two angels were shading him. When Hazrat Khadijah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), who was on the upper floor, saw Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) coming in this extraordinary state, she showed the women who were present the very same sight at which they all began to marvel and express astonishment.
Thereafter, Maysarah gave her a detailed account of the incidents that had occurred during the journey and handed to her the money of the trade caravan. On this occasion, due to the barakah (blessings) of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), Hazrat Khadijah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) made more profit than she had ever made before. Hazrat Khadijah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) gave Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) much more than the initial share that she had promised him. (Tabaqaat Ibnu Sa’d 1/123-124, Uyoonul Athar 1/61-64, Sharhuz Zurqaani 1/370-372, Rowdhul Unf 1/322, Seerah Halabiyyah 1/37)
Source: The Illustrious Sahaabah
