Seeking blessings from the Prophetic relics is a practical expression of love and reverence for the Noble Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. The Companions رضوان اللہ علیہم اجمعین obtained blessings from the relics of the Noble Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم both during his lifetime and after his passing. Following the Companions, the Followers (Tabi‘in) and the Followers of the Followers (Taba‘ Tabi‘in) also continued to derive blessings from the Prophetic relics.
The matter of blessings should be understood in the same way as it was understood in the best of generations. Following the pious predecessors is essentially following the truth, which guarantees success in the Hereafter. Opposing the pious predecessors is, in fact, opposing the truth. They have been given the status of the best nation under the command of the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم “خیر القرون قرنی”. Their understanding is called the path of the believers and the path of truth, which is obligatory to follow and forbidden to oppose. Their unanimous understanding is called consensus, which is protected by Allah Almighty. The Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah are connected to following their method and creed.
The stance of the pious predecessors, the Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah, is more secure, scholarly, and strong because they were foremost in piety, abstinence, and knowledge. There was no hesitation in their deduction and ijtihad, which is why their opinion is given precedence. They were foremost in honoring, loving, and following the Sunnah of the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. These elders are our forefathers, from whom the continuity of goodness, blessings, and knowledge in the Ummah continues.
Let us look at some examples of how the Companions, the Followers, and the Followers of the Followers sought blessings from the Prophetic relics:
Blessing from the Holy Body
Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik رضی اللہ عنہ narrates that a rural Companion Sayyiduna Zahir رضی اللہ عنہ used to bring gifts to the Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. The Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم also used to give him gifts and loved him. One day, the Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم embraced him from behind while he could not see him. When he realized that it was the Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, he lovingly started pressing his back against the chest of the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم.
Blessing from Ablution Water
Sayyiduna Abu Juhaifah رضی اللہ عنہ narrates that one day the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم came in the afternoon. Water for ablution was presented to you, and you performed ablution. People began to apply the leftover water of your ablution on their bodies. You صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم performed two units each of Dhuhr and Asr prayers, and there was a stick in front of you.
Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash’ari رضی اللہ عنہ narrates that a villager demanded the fulfillment of a promise from the Noble Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. The Noble Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم gave glad tidings, but he objected. You صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said in anger that this glad tidings has been rejected, you both accept it. Then you صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم asked for a bowl of water and washed your hands and blessed face, and said to drink this water and apply it on your faces.
Sayyiduna Abu Juhaifah رضی اللہ عنہ narrates that he saw people trying to obtain the water used by the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم for ablution, and those who could not get it would take the moisture from others’ hands.
Blessing from the Blessed Hand
➊ Incident of Sayyiduna Abu Juhaifah رضی اللہ عنہ: Sayyiduna Abu Juhaifah رضی اللہ عنہ narrates that the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم reached a place called Batha at noon, where he صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم performed ablution and offered two units each of Dhuhr and Asr prayers. In front of him صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, a small spear was placed as a screen. During this time, the Companions held the blessed hand of the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and touched their faces with it. Sayyiduna Abu Juhaifah رضی اللہ عنہ also placed the blessed hand of the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم on his face and said that this hand was colder than ice and more fragrant than musk.
➋ Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik رضی اللہ عنہ narration: Sayyiduna Anas رضی اللہ عنہ narrates that when the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم performed the Fajr prayer, the servants of Medina would come to him with their water vessels, and he صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم would dip his blessed hand into those vessels. Even on cold winter mornings, people would come and he صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم would dip his hand into their vessels.
➌ Incident of Sayyiduna Hanzalah رضی اللہ عنہ: Dhiyal bin Ubaid narrates that Sayyiduna Hanzalah رضی اللہ عنہ’s father requested the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم to pray for his son. The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم placed his blessed hand on his head and prayed: “May Allah bless you.” Later, if anyone had swelling on their face or an animal’s udder, Sayyiduna Hanzalah رضی اللہ عنہ would place his hand where the hand of the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم had been and pray, which would cause the swelling to disappear.
4. Mention of Sayyiduna Abu Zaid Ansari رضی اللہ عنہ: Sayyiduna Abu Zaid رضی اللہ عنہ narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم brought him close, placed his blessed hand on his head and beard, and prayed: “اللّٰہُمَّ جَمِّلْہُ، وَأَدِمْ جَمَالَہٗ”. The narrator says that Sayyiduna Abu Zaid رضی اللہ عنہ lived for more than a hundred years, and only a few hairs on his head and beard turned white, while his face remained clear and bright.
5. Incident of Sayyiduna Saib bin Yazid رضی اللہ عنہ: Sayyiduna Saib bin Yazid رضی اللہ عنہ narrates that his maternal aunt took him to the Noble Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and said: “Messenger of Allah, my nephew is ill.” The Noble Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم placed his hand on his head and prayed for blessing. Then he صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم performed ablution, and they drank the water used for ablution. Afterwards, they also saw the seal of prophethood of the Noble Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم.
➏ Umm al-Mu’minin Sayyida Aisha رضی اللہ عنہا narrates: Umm al-Mu’minin Sayyida Aisha رضی اللہ عنہا says that when the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم was ill, he would recite the Mu’awwidhat and blow over himself. But during the illness of death, when his sickness intensified, I would recite the Mu’awwidhat and blow over his صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم body and, for blessing, would pass his blessed hand over his pure body.
The Store of Dates in the Provision Bag and Blessing
The incident of Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضی اللہ عنہ: Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضی اللہ عنہ narrates that he came to the presence of the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم with some dates and said: “O Messenger of Allah! Please pray for blessings in them.” The Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم gathered those dates and prayed for their blessing. Then he said: “Keep them in your provision pouch, and whenever you want to take some, put your hand in and take them out, but do not pour them out completely.” Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضی اللہ عنہ said that those dates became a part of my life. We used to eat and feed others with them until the day of the martyrdom of Sayyiduna Uthman رضی اللہ عنہ, when this provision pouch broke and was finished.
Warning: Another narration mentions that during a battle, hundreds of the Companions رضی اللہ عنہم were present who had nothing to eat. At that time, Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضی اللہ عنہ had a few dates in a provision box. The Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم placed his hand on those dates, prayed, and ordered to call ten Companions at a time. Everyone ate the dates and left satisfied. This continued until the entire army was full, and some dates remained.
However, the chain of narration of this hadith is “weak” because some narrators are not authenticated.
Blessing from the Blessed Feet of the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم
➊ Sayyiduna Abu Huraira رضی اللہ عنہ narrates: Sayyiduna Abu Huraira رضی اللہ عنہ reports that a companion complained to the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم about the slow pace of his she-camel. The Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم kicked that she-camel with his blessed foot. Sayyiduna Abu Huraira رضی اللہ عنہ says: “By the One in Whose hand is my soul, I saw that after that the she-camel became so fast that it did not let anyone pass ahead of it.”
➋ Sayyiduna Jabir رضی اللہ عنہ’s camel: Sayyiduna Jabir رضی اللہ عنہ narrates that the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم kicked his camel with his blessed foot and prayed for it, after which it became so fast that it had never been like that before.
Blessings from the Blessed Hair of the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم
➊ Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik رضی اللہ عنہ narrates: Sayyiduna Anas رضی اللہ عنہ reports that when the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم had his blessed head shaved, Sayyiduna Abu Talha رضی اللہ عنہ was the first to receive some of his blessed hair.
صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم
➋ Giving the blessed hair of the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم in Mina: After throwing pebbles at Jamarat al-Aqaba in Mina, the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم had his head shaved and distributed the blessed hair among the Companions. He specially gave hair to Sayyidina Abu Talha رضی اللہ عنہ and said: “Distribute this among the people.”
➌ Expression of devotion by the Companions: Sayyidina Anas bin Malik رضی اللہ عنہ narrates that when the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم had his hair cut, a crowd of Companions would gather so that every hair of the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم would come into the hands of some Companion.
Blessings from the blessed nails of the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم
Incident of Sayyidina Abdullah bin Zaid bin Abdirabbah رضی اللہ عنہ: Sayyidina Abdullah bin Zaid رضی اللہ عنہ narrates that the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم had his hair shaved and preserved it in a cloth and gifted it to a Qurayshi person. Then the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم also trimmed his blessed nails and gifted them to the same person.
This hadith has been declared “Sahih” by Imam Ibn Khuzaymah رحمه الله
and Imam Abu Awana رحمه الله
, while Imam Hakim رحمه الله declared it “Sahih” according to the conditions of Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim, and Hafiz Dhahabi رحمه الله agreed with them. Hafiz Haithami رحمه الله states: “It was narrated by Imam Ahmad and its narrators are authentic according to Bukhari.”
Blessing from the Blessed Saliva of the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم
➊ The incident of Sayyida Asma bint Abu Bakr رضی اللہ عنہما: Sayyida Asma رضی اللہ عنہا narrates that when Abdullah bin Zubair was in her womb in Makkah and the time of delivery was near, she reached Madinah Munawwarah. He was born in Quba. Sayyida Asma رضی اللہ عنہا presented Abdullah bin Zubair to the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. He صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ordered dates to be brought, chewed them, and put his saliva into the child’s mouth. Thus, the very first thing to enter this child’s womb was the saliva of the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم.
➋ Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik رضی اللہ عنہ narrates: Sayyiduna Anas رضی اللہ عنہ states that when Abdullah bin Abi Talha Ansari was born, I took him to the service of the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. He صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم chewed a date and placed it in the child’s mouth. The child sucked it, and the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: “The Ansar like dates,” and named the child Abdullah.
Blessing from the Blessed Sweat of the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم
➊ The incident of Sayyida Umm Salim رضی اللہ عنہا: Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik رضی اللہ عنہ narrates that the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم came to our house and took a nap. When sweat appeared on him صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, my mother Umm Salim رضی اللہ عنہا brought a bottle and began collecting that sweat. When the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم woke up, he asked: “Umm Salim! What are you doing?” She replied: “This is your sweat; we will add it to our perfume because it is the best fragrance.”
➋ Resting of the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم at the house of Umm Salim رضی اللہ عنہا: Sayyiduna Anas رضی اللہ عنہ narrates that the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم used to visit Umm Salim رضی اللہ عنہا‘s house and sleep on her bed. One day, when he صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم was sleeping there and sweat appeared, Umm Salim رضی اللہ عنہا collected that sweat. When the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم woke up, he said that she was doing this with the intention of obtaining blessings for her children. The Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: “You have done well.”
Blessings from the Clothes of the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم
➊ The incident of Sayyida Umm Atiyah رضی اللہ عنہا: Sayyida Umm Atiyah رضی اللہ عنہا narrates that when the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, Sayyida Zainab رضی اللہ عنہا, passed away, the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم instructed regarding her washing and shrouding: “Wash her three or five times or more if necessary. When the washing is complete, inform me.” When they finished washing her, the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم gave his izar (waistcloth) to them and said: “Wrap it with her رضی اللہ عنہا body.”
➋ Incident of Sayyiduna Sahl bin Sa’d رضی اللہ عنہ: Sayyiduna Sahl bin Sa’d رضی اللہ عنہ narrates that a woman presented a sheet to the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. A companion said: “O Messenger of Allah! This is such a beautiful sheet, please grant it to me.” The Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: “Alright.” When he صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم stood up, the other companions reproached this companion, saying, “Why did you ask the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم for the sheet when you knew that he never sent away a beggar empty-handed?” The companion replied: “I did not ask for this sheet to wear it, but rather with the intention of gaining blessing so that I could use it as my shroud.”
In another narration it is stated: “By Allah! I did not ask for this sheet to wear it, but (with the intention of seeking blessing) so that this sheet could be my shroud.” Sayyiduna Sahl bin Sa’d رضی اللہ عنہ says: “Thus, that sheet became the shroud of that companion.”
Warning Regarding Qasida Burda
Muhammad bin Saeed Busiri (d. 696 AH) wrote the Qasida Burda (in praise of the blessed cloak of صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) based on a dream. Busiri’s claim is unsubstantiated and unreliable. Some verses in this Qasida are based on polytheistic and blasphemous ideas. Some people recite and listen to this Qasida with great love and reverence, but it is not in accordance with Islamic beliefs.
Sheikh-ul-Islam of Deobandi scholars, Hussain Ahmad Madani (d. 1377 AH) attributed Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab and his followers to Wahhabism in his writing and said that there is some similarity between Deobandi and Wahhabi beliefs. Deobandi scholars consider the recitation of Qasida Burda and sending salutations and blessings permissible, whereas Wahhabism strongly opposes it. According to Deobandi scholars, it is permissible to seek blessings from things associated with the person of the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, such as asking for help from the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم in the verses of Qasida Burda.
Seeking blessings from the blessed staff of the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم
The incident of Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Anis رضی اللہ عنہ: Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Anis رضی اللہ عنہ narrates that the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم called him and said: “I have learned that Khalid bin Sufyan bin Nabih is gathering the Hudhali people to fight against me, and he is currently in Arnah. Go there and kill him.” Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Anis asked: “O Messenger of Allah! Please give me some sign so that I can recognize him.” The Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: “When you see him, you will feel signs of fear on his body.”
Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Anis رضی اللہ عنہ took his sword and set out for Arnah. He saw Khalid and recognized the sign, then killed him. Upon returning and presenting himself before the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, he صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: “This face has succeeded.” Sayyiduna Abdullah said: “O Messenger of Allah! I have killed him.” The Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: “You have spoken the truth.”
Then the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم took him to his house and gave him a stick and said: “Abdullah bin Anis! Keep this stick with you.” Sayyiduna Abdullah kept the stick safely. The companions asked him about the matter of this stick, and he said that the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم had bestowed it upon him. Then he went back and asked the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم why this stick was given. The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: “This will be a sign between me and you on the Day of Judgment.”
Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Anis رضی اللہ عنہ always kept this stick with him, and when he passed away, he instructed that it be included in his shroud, and thus the stick was buried with him.
Blessing from the Blessed Water Skin of the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم
Incident of Sayyida Umm Salim رضی اللہ عنہا: Sayyidina Anas bin Malik رضی اللہ عنہ narrates that the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم visited Sayyida Umm Salim رضی اللہ عنہا‘s house, where a waterskin was hanging. The Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم drank water while standing from the mouth of that waterskin. Sayyida Umm Salim رضی اللہ عنہا cut the mouth of the waterskin for blessing, which remained with her as a talisman.
Blessing from the gold gifted by the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم
Incident of Sayyidina Jabir bin Abdullah رضی اللہ عنہما: Sayyidina Jabir رضی اللہ عنہ narrates that he was traveling with the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. Because he was riding a slow camel, he fell behind the caravan. The Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم inquired about his condition, and when he learned that he had fallen behind due to the slow camel, he صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم struck his camel with a stick and prayed. By the blessing of the Prophet Muhammad’s صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم prayer, the camel became fast.
Later, the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم expressed the desire to buy this camel for four dinars, which Sayyidna Jabir accepted. Upon reaching Madinah Munawwarah, the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم instructed Sayyidna Bilal رضی اللہ عنہ: “Bilal! Pay Jabir his price and give him some extra as well.” Sayyidna Bilal رضی اللہ عنہ gave four dinars and one qirat of gold extra.
Sayyidna Jabir رضی اللہ عنہ says: “The qirat of gold given by the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم never left me. It was always in my pouch.”
Blessing from the Phlegm of the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم
Statement of Sayyidna Masur bin Mukhramah رضی اللہ عنہ: Sayyidna Masur bin Mukhramah رضی اللہ عنہ narrates: “By Allah! Whenever the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم spat phlegm, it would fall on the hand of one of the Companions, and they would rub it on their face and body.”
Conclusion: Love for the Prophetic Relics ﷺ and Attainment of Blessings
Seeking blessings from the blessed relics of the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and honoring them was prominent in the actions of the Companions, the Followers, and the Followers of the Followers. Their love and devotion for the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم is manifested in the form of seeking blessings from his relics. This practice, in their view, was not only a demonstration of reverence for the Messenger ﷺ but also a means of obtaining spiritual blessings.
The article narrates several incidents in which the Companions رضوان اللہ علیہم اجمعین sought blessings from items connected to the pure body of the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, such as his ﷺ clothing, hair, saliva, and sweat. In all these incidents, the Companions express passionate love and devotion towards the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. Their behavior is evidence that, in their view, things associated with the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم contained special blessings, and seeking blessings from these items was a means of spiritual closeness for them.
From the actions of the Companions رضوان اللہ علیہم اجمعین, it is learned that the love and reverence for the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم was not limited to mere verbal claims but was also expressed practically. For them, respecting the relics of the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and seeking blessings from them was a means to attain closeness to Allah Almighty.
These traditions are also a message for future generations that love and devotion to the person of the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم should always be given the highest status. Like the Companions رضی اللہ عنہم, we too should illuminate our lives through the remembrance of the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and his teachings. His memory and reverence are a spiritual asset for us.
Consequently, this article clarifies the fact that obtaining blessings from the Prophetic relics ﷺ was among the practices of the Companions رضوان اللہ علیہم اجمعین, reflecting their deep love and reverence for the Noble Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. This practice was a means of respect and blessing for them, and it also serves as an example for us on how we can continue the love for the Noble Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم in our lives.
