THE TABLECLOTH OR THE SUPERIORITY OF THE SUNNAH

Once, some guests visited Hadhrat Anas Bin Malik (Radiyallahuanhu). He welcomed them with a meal. The tablecloth became dirty and tarnished due to the curry that had been spilled on it. Hadhrat Anas (Radiyallahuanhu) ordered his maid to throw it into the burning stove. She did so without hesitation. The guests were astonished at such an order. When the tablecloth was thrown into the burning stove, they waited for the smoke to appear, indicating that it was burning. However, to their astonishment, when the tablecloth was removed from the fire, it was intact and free from any stain.

They asked him:

"O companion of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam), why did this cloth not get burned in the fire? And instead of burning, it became perfectly clean?"

Hadhrat Anas (Radiyallahuanhu) replied:

"The reason is simple. It is because on several occasions Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) wiped his Mubarak hands and lips with this cloth."

On this narration, Sheikh Rumi (Rahimahullah) commented:
"O you who are afraid of the fire of Hell and its punishment, I kindly advise you to draw near to such blessed hands and lips by following the Sunnah. When a material (inanimate) object has been honoured by the lips of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam), you can imagine what honour is reserved for his true devotees and beloved ones."

Morals

When a tablecloth has been granted such honour because it has received the blessed hands of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam), one can imagine the great honour and divine proximity that Allah Ta'ala will grant in this world and in the Hereafter to those who follow the Sunnah with perseverance.

Let us add that in the Qur'an, Allah Ta'ala says:

"Say: 'If you love Allah then follow me, Allah will then love you and forgive your sins. Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful." (3:31)

This verse commands us to follow the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) because, by doing so, we will receive two blessings, namely:

1. We will become the beloved of Allah, and
2. Our sins will be forgiven.

Furthermore, in a Hadith of Tirmizi, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) gave us the glad tidings:

"He who loves my Sunnah loves me, and he who loves me will be with me in Jannah."

May Allah empower us all to follow the Sunnah so that we may benefit from the immeasurable goodness that emanates from Him. Ameen.

[English version of "La nappe ou la supériorité du sounnah" – Al Haadi – Vol. 3 No. 3]