Allah`s Infinite Bounties
O ye who believe! Remember the Grace of Allah, (bestowed) on you, when there came down on you hosts (to overwhelm you): But We sent against them a hurricane and forces that ye saw not: but Allah sees (clearly) all that ye do. Behold! They came on you from above you and from below you, and behold, the eyes became dim and the hearts gaped up to the throats, and you imagined various (vain) thoughts about Allah. In that situation were the Believers tried: they were shaken as by a tremendous shaking.
( Quran-33:9-11)
There is much to ponder on The Battle of the Trench, also known as the Battle of the Parties. It occurred 1416 years ago, in the month of Shawwal, five years after the Muslims migrated out of Makkah to Madinah. This forum may be inadequate to explore the details of this important event. Instead, one of the many miracles that took place in this battle is sufficiently inspiring for further reflection & application of the Prophetic legacy in our daily lives.
The story started when Jabir bin Abdullah, a companion of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), saw him in an extreme state of hunger after having dug the trench in preparation to face the enemy. Jabir rushed and offered to feed the Prophet at home from the little food he had. Instead of going alone, the Prophet (pbuh) invited all of the people working on digging the trench whose number was more than a thousand. Overwhelmed with the large crowd, Jabir and his wife were thrown in a total state of panic.
When the Prophet arrived, he ordered the host to bring out the dough and the pot that the food was cooked in. He invoked for the blessings of Allah and prayed to be able to feed a large number of people from the originally prepared small quantity by the host. Miraculously, the small amount of food that was prepared by Jabir ended up not only amply feeding all the companions but some more was left.
(click here for a full description of the story)
This and numerous other Prophetic miracles did not happen in vain. While the Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as an ultimate miracle and an eternal guidance to humanity, this smaller miracle reminds us of Allah's infinite bounties in our finite world. It teaches us never to give up hope in Allah, even in the utmost times of despair. It also educates us that just leaders let the needs of their followers precede over their own.
May Allah bless our food, our income, our time, and may He help us follow His right path. May Allah help our leaders to be duly concerned toward their followers needs and may the followers be always on the look out to protect the leaders.