wearing wool were an act of obedience and devotion, then wearing it visibly as an expression of humility would be preferable to concealing it beneath one’s clothes, for concealment merely torments the body to no benefit. Allah Most High has commanded His servants only to do that which makes them more obedient [to Him] (1) and is more beneficial to them. He has not commanded them to undergo torment that does not benefit them (2). Rather, [the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—] (3) said: “Indeed, Allah has no need (4) for this man to torment himself.” (5)
As for the hadith he related: “One day, the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—seated al-Husayn upon his right thigh and his son Ibrāhīm upon his left thigh. Gabriel then descended and said, ‘Allah Most High would not allow you to have both of them together (6), so choose whichever of them you wish.’ The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said, ‘If al-Husayn dies, I, Ali, and Fātimah will weep; but if Ibrāhīm dies, I alone will weep for him.’ He therefore chose the death of Ibrāhīm, who died three days later. Whenever al-Husayn came to him after that, he would kiss him and say, ‘[Welcome], a warm welcome (7) to the one whom I ransomed with my son Ibrāhīm.’”
2—
(1) “To Him” is omitted from N and M. A and B read: “for them.”
(2) A and B read: “did not benefit them.”
(3) The words in square brackets appear only in A and B and are omitted from all the other manuscripts.
(4) A and B omit the emphatic particle, reading: “is free of need.”
(5) The hadith is reported in detail from Anas ibn Mālik—may Allah be pleased with him—in Sunan Abī Dāwūd, 3/319 (Book of Oaths and Vows, chapter “One Who Holds That Expiation Is Required When a Vow Involves Disobedience”). It begins: “The Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—saw a man being supported between his two sons and asked about him. They replied, ‘He vowed to walk.’ He said, ‘Indeed, Allah has no need for this man to torment himself,’ and ordered him to ride.” An abbreviated version appears in al-Bukhārī, 8/142 (Book of Oaths and Vows, chapter “Vows Concerning What One Does Not Own and What Constitutes Disobedience”). An extended version appears in Sunan al-Tirmidhī, 3/46 (Book of Oaths and Vows, chapter “One Who Swears to Walk but Is Unable to Do So”), and al-Musnad (al-Halabī ed.), 3/106, 114, 183, 235, 271.
(6) H, S, and R read: “to bring both of them together for you.”
(7) N and M read: “and say, ‘Welcome.’” S reads: “and say, ‘Welcome and greetings.’”