The Patched Robe

There was a Jew of Damascus who was reading a holy book oneday when he
came across the name of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
written in it. Not liking this, he removed the name. But the next day
he found it there again. Again he took out the name; but on the third
day it had appeared again. He thought:"Perhaps this is a sign that a
true Emissary has come. I will journey southwards to Madinah."
And he forthwith startedout, not tarrying until hereached the city of
the Prophet. When he arrived there, knowing nobody, he was near
theMosque of the Prophet when the Sahabi Anas (ra) arrived. He said to
Anas: "Friend, take me tothe Prophet."
Anas (ra) led him into the mosque, which was full of people in
anguish.Abu Bakr (ra) the successor was sitting there at the head of
the assembly. The old man went up to him, thinkinghe must be Muhammad,
and said: "O Chosen Envoy of God, a strayed old man has come to offer
you peace." Hearing the title of the Prophet used, everyone present
burst into a flood of tears. The stranger was uncertain as to what to
do. He said:"I am a foreigner and a Jew, and I am unaware of the rites
of the Faith of Submission to the Willof Allah. Have I said something
untoward? Should I have remained silent? Or is this a ritual
observance? Why do youcry? If it is a ceremony, I have never heard of
it."
Omar (ra) said to him:"We do not weep because of anything which you
have done. But you must hear, unfortunate one, that it is a but a week
since the Prophet left the earth. When we heard his name, grief took
possession of our hearts anew."
As soon as he heard this, the ancient tore his clothes in anguish.
Whenhe had recovered a little,he said: "Do me one favour. Let me have
at least a robe of the Prophet. If I cannot see him, at least let me
have this."
Omar (ra) answered:"Only Fatima (ra) could give us one of his robes."
Ali (ra) said: "But she will not allow anyone to go near her." But
they went to her door and knocked, and explained what they wanted.
Fatima (ra) answered:"Verily, the Prophet spoke truly when he said,
shortly before he died: 'A wayfarer, who has love towards me andwho is
a good man, will come to the house. He will not see me. Give him,
therefore, this patchwork robe as if from me, and for me treat him
gently, offering salutations.'"
The Jew put the robe on himself and, professing Islam, asked to be
taken to the Prophet's grave. Itwas at this place that he breathed his
last.