be clarified, namely that—although the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did allow the Companions at al-Hudaybiyyah and elsewhere to seek blessing from his relics and to wipe themselves with them, and although that permission served an important purpose on that occasion: to strike fear into the Quraysh idolaters and to show how greatly the Muslims cherished, loved, served, and revered their Prophet—one must not ignore or conceal the fact that, after that expedition, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) gently and wisely encouraged the Muslims to desist from this practice. Instead, he directed them toward righteous works that are better for them in Allah’s sight and more beneficial. The following hadith makes this clear:

ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Abī Qurād (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) once performed ablution, whereupon his Companions began wiping themselves with the water that dripped from him. The Prophet asked, “What moves you to do this?” They replied, “Love of Allah and His Messenger.” He said, “Whoever wishes to love Allah and His Messenger, or to be loved by Allah and His Messenger, let him speak the truth when he speaks, fulfil the trust when he is entrusted, and be a good neighbour to whoever lives beside him.” 1