THE DONKEY AMONG DONKEYS

"Beast of burden" as they are nicknamed are one of the most lowly mammals in the world. Ko a Hausance ma, idan aka ce da mutum "jaaki", gaskiya an zage shi.

However, in history there has been a donkey, not quite like other donkeys.

A short thread.

In those days, Arabians found it quite dererogatory that someone rode a donkey. They glorified assorted horses & camels instead

Even those who were entrusted with the Torah & did not abide by it were likened to donkeys (Q62v5)

So it was quite lowly, but Rasulullah SAWS had one.

This is the reason why when you see ahadith that describes the Prophet's humility, you usually find them saying "he used to ride a donkey".

Many eulogizers of the Prophet SAWS often show his humbleness by saying that he rode on a donkey.

So, what was his (SAWS) donkey like?

• The donkey was a gift from Muqauqis.

• The day the donkey met Rasulullah SAWS, he spoke to him. The donkey's name was Yazid bn Shihab, but the Prophet SAWS named it Ya'fur.

(Ya'fur is believed to be the name of the donkey Prophet Isa (AS) rode).

• Ya'fur was brought forth (selected) from an ancestry of 60 donkeys, all of which were not ridden by anyone but PROPHETS.

• Ya'fur was the last of its kind, so it requested that the Prophet SAWS (who was the last Messenger) rode on it.

• (Even) Ya'fur was (otherwise) chaste as it didn't desire any female donkey.

• The Prophet SAWS rode on Ya'fur without a saddle and he used to ride Ya'fur to complete his daily activities.

• The Prophet used to send Ya'fur to call any companion from their houses.

Qadhi Iyadh in Kitabush Shifa (4/18) and Ibn Kathir in Bidayah wan Nihaya (6/166-167) narrates that the donkey used to knock on doors with its head and gives a signal to the companion, indicating that Prophet SAWS had summoned them.

One day, this donkey farted and some of the companions laughed (because it produced a funny sound), Sayyiduna Umar bn Khattab RTA drew his sword and said "by Allah, I declare war against whomever laughs at the donkey of Rasulullah".

Anas bn Malik narrates that the Prophet SAWS rode on Ya'fur towards Abdullahi bn Ubayy. He (bn Ubayy) then said: "do not come towards me, for by Allah, the obnoxious smell of your donkey has offended me".

As a rejoinder, a man from the Ansar replied "By Allah, the smell of the Prophet's donkey is better than your smell".

At this, a man from the tribe of Abdullah got furious and a fight broke out. (Muslim 32/143)

Over the donkey of Rasulullah!

After the demise of Rasulullah SAWS, Ya'fur was devastated and couldn't bear the loss, so it threw itself into a well and died.

Nana Aisha RA had it buried.

However lowly an entity is, da ka jingina shi da Manzon Allah, ya zama abin karramawa.

Madalla da wannan Annabin, Bahashimin Dangi, all greats are little before him; all little are great by him.

Na fanshe ka da raina ya Annabin Allah, Annabin Rahama SAWS.

لك العهد مني يا رسول فإنني
أحبّك حتى حين في القبر أُدفن

يؤرقني حبيك ليلِى و كيف لا؟
ولا حسن إلا لحسنك يذعن

عليه صلاة الله ثم سلامه
صلاة ترقينا إلى الذكر والحب