It was narrated that Sahl ibn Sa‘d, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: “A woman brought a Burdah (sheet) to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Sahl asked the people, ‘Do you know what is a Burdah?’ The people replied, ‘It is a ‘Shamlah’, a sheet with a fringe.’ That woman said, ‘O Allaah's Messenger! I have brought it so that you may wear it.’ So the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, took it because he was in need of it and wore it. A man among his companions, seeing him wearing it, said, ‘O Allah's Messenger! Please give it to me to wear.’ The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Yes.” (and gave him that sheet). When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, left, the man was blamed by his companions who said, “It was not nice on your part to ask the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, for it while you know that he took it because he was in need of it, and you also know that he (the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him) never turns down anybody's request that he might be asked for.” That man said, “I just wanted to have its blessings as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, had put it on, so l hoped that I might be shrouded in it.” (1)

Amongst the lessons drawn from the above-mentioned Hadeeth(2)  are:

1) High morals and great generosity of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, because he never turns down anybody's request that he, peace and blessings be upon him, might be asked for.

2) The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, accepts the gift.

3) The companions, may Allaah be pleased with him, i.e. men and woman loves the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and were keen on making him happy though giving him gifts and the like.

4) The permissibility of condemnation at the times of clear violation of the high morals, even if the bad conduct does not reach the limits of prohibition. That is because the companions, may Allaah be pleased with him, blamed the man when he asked the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to give him Al-Burdah while they knew that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, needs it.

5)          The permissibility of expressing good words for the clothes or the like that that someone else wears, either to make him know its value or express his request implicitly where it is allowable for him.

6) The permissibility of following the example of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, in spending, generosity and good morals. 

1) Reported in Saheeh Al-Bukhaari no. (6036(.

 2) Refer to Fat-h Al-Baari by Ibn Hajar (3/144) and ‘Umdat Al-Qaari (12/260).     

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