It is narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon
him) came to a Bedouin and treated him with great hospitality.
The Prophet said to him, "Come to us." So he came,
and the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him,
"Ask for what you need."
He said, "A camel for us to ride, and goats for my
family to milk".
The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said,
"Are you incapable of being like the old woman of the Children of
Israel?!" (Narrated by Abu Musa).
They said, "O Messenger of God, who is the old woman of
the Children of Israel?"
He said, “When Moses, peace be upon him, led the Children of
Israel out of Egypt, they lost their way. He asked, ‘What is this?’ Their
scholars replied, ‘When Joseph, peace be upon him, was on his deathbed, he made
us swear an oath to God that we would not leave Egypt until we carried his
bones with us.” This refers to his body, and it is an example of using a part
to represent the whole, as the earth does not consume the bodies of prophets,
as is confirmed in the hadith about the best of mankind.
He asked, “Who knows the location of his grave?”
He replied, “An old woman from the Children of Israel.” So
he sent for her and said, “Show me the grave of Joseph.”
She said, “Only if you grant me my wish.” He asked, “What is
your wish?”
She said, “I will be with you in Paradise”.
He was reluctant to grant her that, so God revealed to him
to grant her wish.
She led them to a lake in place of a swamp and said, “Drain
this water.” So they drained it.
Then she said, “Dig.” So they dug and unearthed the bones of
Joseph. When they lowered them to the ground, they found… The path is like
daylight” (Al-Albani’s Sahih Series and Sahih Mawarid al-Zaman).
The body of our master Joseph was taken to Jerusalem and
buried there with his forefathers. The dome that still stands over his grave,
known as the Citadel, was built.
This old woman seized the opportunity presented to her,
driven by high ambition and a strong will. She stipulated to the Prophet of God
that he guarantee her Paradise. This is how a believer should be: aspiring to
the highest matters and striving to reach the loftiest places and the highest
ranks. Noble souls and those with high aspirations look only to the places of
precedence and progress. The ambition of men is behind every achievement,
development, innovation, civilization, and invention.
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, instructed his
companions that when they ask God for Paradise, they should ask for the highest
Paradise, for it is the highest level of Paradise, and its roof is the Throne
of the Most Merciful. God Almighty loves noble and honorable matters and
dislikes trivialities.
تعليقات