Say: Peace be upon the inhabitants of this place among the believers and Muslims. May Allah have mercy upon those who have gone on ahead of us and those who come later on, and we will join you, if Allah wills

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‘Ā'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "Should I not tell you about me and the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)?" We said: 'Yes.' She said that when it was my turn and the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was to spend the night with me, he turned, took off his mantle and his shoes and placed them near his feet. Then, he spread the end of his lower garment on his bed and lay down until he thought that I had gone to sleep. He took hold of his mantle slowly and put on his shoes slowly, and opened the door and went out and then closed it gently. I put on my head cover and my veil and tightened my lower garment, and then went out following his steps until he reached Al-Baqī‘. He stood there for a long time. He then lifted his hands three times, and then returned and I also returned. He hastened his steps and I also hastened my steps. He ran and I ran too. He came (to the house) and I also came (to the house). I, however, preceded him and I entered (the house), and as I lay down in bed, he entered and said: "Why is it, O ‘Ā'ish, that you are out of breath?" I said: 'Nothing.' He said: "Tell me or the Subtle and the Aware will inform me." I said: "O Messenger of Allah, may my father and mother be sacrificed for you." Then I told him everything. He said: "So, you were the darkness that I saw in front of me?" I said: 'Yes.' He struck me on the chest and it was painful, and then said: "Did you think that Allah and His Messenger would be unfair to you?" I said: "Whatever people conceal, Allah knows it. Yes." He said: "Jibrīl came to me when you saw me. He called me and he concealed it from you. I responded to his call, but I too concealed it from you, as he would never enter upon you while you are undressed. I thought that you had gone to sleep, and I did not like to awaken you, fearing that you might be afraid of being left alone. Jibrīl said to me: 'Your Lord commands you to go to the inhabitants of Al-Baqī‘ and seek forgiveness for them."' I said: "O Messenger of Allah, what should I say to them?" He said: "Say: Peace be upon the inhabitants of this place among the believers and Muslims. May Allah have mercy upon those who have gone on ahead of us and those who come later on, and we will join you, if Allah wills."

Authentic hadith - Narrated by Muslim

Explanation

The Mother of the Believers ‘Ā'ishah tells a story that happened with her and the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) when he was with her on her night. He went to bed, took off his garment and shoes, and placed them near his feet. He then lay down until he thought she had slept, then he gently took his garment so that he would not awaken her, and then gently put on his shoes; then he opened the door, went out, and gently shut the door. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did all of this secretly so that he would not awake her or let her know that he left her. Perhaps she would become afraid of being alone in the darkness of the night. ‘Ā'ishah put on her garment and covered herself, and set out after him. When he came to Al-Baqī‘ – a graveyard in Madīnah – he stood for a long time, then raised his hands thrice in supplication. Then he turned around to go back to his home. ‘Ā'ishah then turned around quickly. He began to walk fast and she began to walk fast as well. He began to run and she began to run too. She arrived before him and entered her home and laid down. He entered and said: "Why are you out of breath, O ‘Ā'ish?" which means that her chest was rising and her breathing was labored, like one who has been walking fast and cannot catch his breath while speaking. She told him there was nothing. So he said to her: "You either tell me or Allah, the Subtle and the Aware, will tell me." She then told him what had happened, and he asked her: "Are you the person I saw in front of me?" When she answered in the affirmative, he pushed her on her chest and it hurt her. Then he said: "Do you think Allah and His Messenger would do you injustice?" meaning that I would go to one of my other wives on your night? She said: "Whatever people conceal, Allah knows it. Yes." It was like a self-affirmation that this was the case and Allah knows it. Then he informed her that Jibrīl came to him, and he did not enter his home because ‘Ā'ishah had already taken off her clothes and got ready to sleep. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) thought that she had slept and did not like to wake her up lest she would feel afraid of being alone in the darkness of the night. Jibrīl said to him: "Your Lord commands you to go to the inhabitants of Al-Baqī‘ graveyard and seek forgiveness for them." So he obeyed the command and came to the inhabitants of Al-Baqī‘ graveyard and sought forgiveness for them and supplicated for them. ‘Ā'ishah said: "What do I say to them, O Messenger of Allah?" He said: "Say: Peace be upon the inhabitants of this place among the believers and Muslims. May Allah have mercy upon those who have gone on ahead of us and those who come later on, and we will join you, if Allah wills."