The story of the Companion Salit exemplifies a profound devotion to Love and Companionship of the Prophet. This narrative demonstrates how a Companion valued his bond with the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) above all else.
Salit (RA) Returns the Granted Land
The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) had granted a piece of land to Salit, one of the virtuous Ansar. After staying on this land for a few days, Salit returned and received the good news that verses (āyāt) and chapters (suwar) of the Qur'an were being revealed, and new rulings were being clarified by the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him). He immediately went to the presence of the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) and said:
"O Messenger of Allah! Being occupied with this land you granted me has kept me away from you. Please take it back from me. I have no need for anything that keeps me distant from you!"
The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) accepted the return of the land.
Valuable Lesson
The Qur'an states in Sūrat al-Mujādila:
"The Prophet is closer to the believers than their own selves..." (al-Mujādila, 37)
This situation demonstrates that the love of the Companions (ṣaḥāba) for Allah and His Messenger surpassed all other feelings. Whether it was wealth, family, or even their own lives, nothing could surpass their devotion.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is our greatest treasure. We should reflect on this:
If we did not know our Prophet, how much value would all the blessings of this world have? Our worldly lives and possessions are temporary, but the peace and happiness that come from knowing and following the Prophet are eternal.
A Moment for Reflection
Understanding and appreciating the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) is the most important step in serving Allah. Without understanding, knowing, taking him as an example, and capturing a piece from his heart, our iman (faith) will not be complete; we will neither fully understand the Qur'an nor fulfill our role in this world.