of Anas Ibn Malek is the following. He said: The Messenger of Allah
peace be upon him used to give the Friday sermon while standing near a
piece of wood against which he would lean his back. When the number of
people increased in the mosque he said: Make a pulpit of two steps for
me, which they did. Whenthe Prophet stood up to give the sermon on
Fridaythe said piece of wood moaned as if it expressed its sad feeling
of missing the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him. Anas comments: I
was in the mosque and heard the piece moan. It continued to moan until
the Prophetdescended to it and embraced it. Then it was silent. As a
matter of fact, whenever Al Hasan narrated this tradition he would cry
and say: O slaves of Allah! A piece of wood misses the Messenger of
Allah! It is you who should do so.
--
- - - - - - -