Sacrifice During the Hijra [Migration] (Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s (ra) Narration)
Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) has written about this sacrifice by Hazrat Ali (ra) in the following manner:
“When the Holy Prophet (sa) was leaving, he instructed Hazrat Ali (ra) to lay down on his charpoy. In those days there was no custom of using charpoy [traditional woven bedstead used in the subcontinent]; in fact even today, it is not commonly used in Mecca. In some narrations, it has been incorrectly mentioned that the Holy Prophet (sa) asked him to lie down on his charpoy. This referred to the place where they would usually sleep as there were no proper beds as such.
“At night, when the Holy Prophet (sa) passed by those people, some of them even saw him but thought that it was someone else who had come to meet Muhammad (sa) and was returning home. The reason for this was that the Holy Prophet (sa) left his home in the most courageous manner whereby he was not fearful in the slightest. The enemies thought Muhammad (sa) would never dare to leave his home in such a brave and bold manner. Indeed, it could only be someone else who came to visit him. Then to reassure themselves that he was still there, they peaked through the gap of the door and upon seeing a person sleeping they thought that it was Muhammad (sa). Thus, they stood watch over the house the entire night.
“When they thought the time was right, they entered the house. Perhaps noticing the person laying down they became suspicious that it did not seem like Muhammad (sa). When they removed the cloak from his face, or perhaps the face was uncovered, they realised that the one sleeping was Ali (ra) and not Muhammad (sa). They then discovered that Muhammad (sa) had safely departed and for them there was nothing left but to live with this defeat.”
(Tafsir-e-Kabir, Vol. 8, p. 510)
In another place, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) states:
“Allah the Almighty enabled Hazrat Ali (ra) to make a great sacrifice. On the night of the migration, when the Holy Prophet (sa) was departing his home, he instructed Hazrat Ali (ra) to lay down where he would sleep, so that if the disbelievers peered inside, they would see that someone was sleeping there and to prevent them leaving to search for him. At that time, Hazrat Ali (ra) did not say, ‘O Messenger (sa) of Allah! The house is surrounded by carefully chosen youths of the Quraish with swords in hand. If in the morning they discover that you have left, they may kill me’; instead Hazrat Ali (ra) calmly laid down in the place of the Holy Prophet (sa) without any hesitation. The Holy Prophet (sa) placed his sheet over him.
“In the morning, when the Quraish realised that Hazrat Ali (ra) was the one sleeping [in the house] instead of the Holy Prophet (sa), they became enraged. They even hit and beat Hazrat Ali (ra), but what more could they have achieved by doing this? Divine decree had come to pass and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) had safely left Mecca. At that time, little did Hazrat Ali (ra) know as to what he was going to receive in return for his level of faith. Indeed, Allah the Almighty knew that in return for this sacrifice, He was not only going to honour Hazrat Ali (ra), but in fact Hazrat Ali’s (ra) progeny would also be granted honour.
“Thus, the first grace Allah the Almighty bestowed upon Hazrat Ali (ra) was that he had the honour of becoming the son-in-law of the Holy Prophet (sa). The second blessing Allah the Almighty bestowed upon him was that He instilled so much love in the heart of the Holy Prophet (sa) for Hazrat Ali (ra) that the Holy Prophet (sa) praised him on countless occasions.”
(Tafsir-e-Kabir, Vol. 7, p. 25)