The Meeting at Dar al-Nadwa and the Conspiracy Plan
In this meeting, the leaders of Quraysh, including Abu Jahl, Abu Sufyan, and other tribal chiefs, were present. Initially, it was proposed that the Prophet be imprisoned so that he would die a natural death, like the poets before him. But this proposal was rejected, as it was feared that his followers would free him. Then it was proposed that the Messenger of God be exiled from Mecca, but this plan was also rejected due to concerns about his influence among other tribes.
Finally, Abu Jahl proposed that a brave young man be chosen from each tribe, and that all of them attack the Prophet of God simultaneously, so that his blood would be divided among the tribes, and the Banu Hashim would not be able to take revenge on all of Quraysh. This plan was approved, and Quraysh prepared to carry it out. (1)
The Prophet’s Knowledge of the Conspiracy
God informed the Messenger of God through Gabriel of this conspiracy, and the Seal of the Prophets commanded Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) to sleep in his place in the bed, while he himself secretly left the house.
Ibn Abbas narrated:
“The polytheists gathered in Dar al-Nadwa to consult on the killing of the great Prophet. Meanwhile, Gabriel came to the Prophet and informed him of their plot and commanded him not to sleep in his bed that night. So when the Prophet decided to leave the city at night, he commanded Amir al-Muminin Ali (peace be upon him) to sleep in his bed. Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) did so, wrapping himself in the Prophet’s green Yemeni cloak and placing his sword beside him.
When the Qurayshites were lying in ambush and intending to kill the Prophet, he came out of the house while they were sitting by the door, numbering twenty-five men.
The Prophet took a handful of dust from the ground and scattered it over their heads, reciting verses 1 to 9 of Surah Yasin: “Ya Sin. By the wise Qur’an… So We have covered them, so they do not see.”
Then a man said to them: ‘What are you waiting for? By God, you have been deceived; he passed by you and threw dust on each of you!’
They said: ‘By God, we did not see him.’
Then God revealed verse 30 of Surah al-Anfal: “And when those who disbelieved plotted against you to restrain you or kill you or evict you; but God plans, and God is the best of planners.” (2)
The Sacrifice of the Master of the Pious
When the disbelievers of Quraysh decided to kill the Prophet of Islam, Gabriel came to the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his family) and said: “Do not sleep in your usual bed tonight.”
When night fell and darkness covered everything, the opponents gathered by the house of the Seal of the Prophets and waited for him to sleep so they could suddenly attack him.
When the Messenger of God saw their position, he said to Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him): “Sleep in my bed, cover yourself with this green Hadrami cloak, and then sleep; none of them will harm you.” The Messenger of God always slept with this same green cloak. (3)
God’s Pride
Abu Sa’id al-Khudri narrated a tradition that God took pride in the sacrifice of the Master of the Pious to save the life of the Seal of the Prophets, and sent Gabriel and Michael to the earth to protect him.
Abu Sa’id al-Khudri, one of the companions of the Messenger of God, narrated: “When the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) intended to leave Medina and Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) was sleeping in the Prophet’s bed, God Almighty revealed to Gabriel and Michael: ‘I have decreed the death of one of you two; which of you is willing to sacrifice himself for the other?’ Both preferred life.
Then God revealed to them:
‘Why were you not like Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him)? I established a bond of brotherhood between him and Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family), and I made the lifespan of one longer than the other.
Ali (peace be upon him) chose death and preferred the survival of Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family), and slept in his bed; now go and protect him from his enemies.’
Gabriel and Michael descended; one sat at his head and the other at his feet, protecting him from his enemies and warding off the stones that were thrown at him.
At that moment, Gabriel said: ‘Bravo to you, O son of Abu Talib! Who is like you? God takes pride in you before the angels of the seven heavens.’
Then God revealed verse 207 of Surah al-Baqarah: “And among the people is he who sells his soul seeking the pleasure of God, and God is kind to [His] servants.” (4)
The First to Sacrifice for the Prophet
Imam al-Sajjad (peace be upon him), referring to the night of Laylat al-Mabit and the self-sacrifice of Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him), said: “The first person who sold his soul in the path of God’s pleasure and gave up his life was Amir al-Muminin Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him). When the polytheists did not find the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) in his bed, they went in pursuit of killing the Messenger of God, and then Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) rose from the Prophet’s bed.” (5)
References:
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Al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 480
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Amali al-Tusi, Vol. 1, p. 445
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Tarikh al-Tabari, Vol. 2, p. 372
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Shawahid al-Tanzil, Vol. 1, p. 123
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Al-Manaqib, Vol. 2, p. 64 / Shawahid al-Tanzil, Vol. 1, p. 130
