(Second chain) She says: The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had a cloak with designs on it. He (peace and blessings be upon him) gave it to Abu Jaham and took from him a plain cloak. People said: O Messenger of Allah! Surely the cloak with designs was better than the plain one, (why did you return it?) He replied: Surely, I used to look at its designs during prayer.
Hadith Referenceالفتح الربانی / أبواب الأذ كار الواردة عقب الصلاة / 1931
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:صحیح
Hadith Takhrij«انظر الحديث بالطريق الاول ، (انظر مسند أحمد ترقيم الرسالة: 24190 ترقیم بيت الأفكار الدولية: 24694»
Brief Explanation
Benefits: … In light of the wording of a narration in Sahih Bukhari, "fa akhafu an taftinani"1 and the wording of the narration in Muwatta Imam Malik, "fa kaada yaftinuni"2, this translation has been made: Its patterns and designs had begun to distract me. Abu Juhm had given this cloth to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam as a gift, then the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam requested from him the plain one from the Anbijan region so that he would not be upset due to the return of the gift. As soon as the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam became aware, he immediately rejected the cloth with patterns and designs. Since we have not been able to understand the true concept of prayer, we are not affected by the decorated walls of the mosque, the attractive curtains in homes, the various designs of prayer mats and carpets, and our colorful clothes. This is merely our own assumption; otherwise, if the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam could fear being affected and then also take means to avoid it, then we should realize our own capability. Nowadays, countless charts and stickers are displayed on the front walls of mosques, from which no worshipper can remain unaffected. If there is something good among them, then one should choose the side walls.
! I felt afraid that it (the cloth) would put me to trial (fitnah). @ It was close to putting me to trial (fitnah).