Understanding The Prophet's Life
From Issue: 818 [Read full issue]
Me, Me
Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) knocked on Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) door to speak with him about his father’s debt. The Prophet asked “Who is at the door?”
Jabir replied: “It is me”
Upon hearing this, the Prophet simply repeated the word “me, me”. Jabir understood that the Prophet disliked the way he had answered.” [Bukhari, Muslim]
The phrase “It is me” does not inform. It is different than saying “I am Buraydah” or “I am Umm Hani’”.
Ibn al-Jawzi mentions that the reason the answer “It is me” was disliked was because it implied a kind of arrogance. It was as if he was saying: “I am the one who does not need to mention his name.” Though we can be sure that this was not what Jabir meant, we can learn the lesson from it all the same.
Compiled From:
"Know Thyself" - Salman Al-Oadah