The Poem on Utbi's Door Column

Utbi's poem and story is one of the most famous narratives explaining how to pray through the Prophet Muhammad during visits to the Prophet's Mosque since the early days of Islam. Utbi recounts: "I was sitting by the grave of the Prophet. A Bedouin came and said, 'Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah,' and recited this verse: 'If only they had come to you when they wronged themselves and sought forgiveness from Allah, and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah Forgiving and Merciful.' (An-Nisa 4:64) Then he said: 'O Muhammad! I have come seeking your intercession. Like this beggar with a tongue as sharp as a sword. His face turned dark; it brightened with you. You are the best of Allah's creation, O Prophet.' Then the Bedouin left. I dozed off; in my dream, I saw the Prophet and he said, 'Follow him, Allah has forgiven him.'" This story and poem have resonated greatly among visitors to the Prophet's Mosque; it has been cited as evidence for the permissibility of such visits and prayers at the grave by both Ottoman sultans and scholars. The column or door where the poem is inscribed is a symbolic expression of the deep impression left by the sacred site on its visitors. [Source: Bukhari, Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 783; Bayhaqi, Shu'ab Al-Iman, III, 495; TDV Islamic Encyclopedia, "Vesile" article, islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/vesile]