Hazrat Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) also says, “When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) arrived in Madinah Munawwarah, then everything in Madinah Munawwarah glowed with radiance, and the day he passed away – that very day, everything became dark and gloomy. We had barely dusted our hands after burying Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) when we found that our hearts had already undergone some (spiritual) change (due to Rasulullah [sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam] no longer being in our midst).”

Nevertheless, the blessed camel of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) proceeded in this manner, walking slowly, while Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was surrounded from the front, back, right and left, by those special personalities whose hearts Allah Ta‘ala had selected and chosen, from time immemorial, for His love and the love of His Rasul (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Such was their love for Allah Ta‘ala and His Rasul (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) that their love left not even an iota of space in their hearts for the love of anything or anyone else.

By Allah! What I am saying is the absolute reality and truth! It is not a mere figurative comparison or a mere metaphorical expression. Rather, the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) really were like this. While Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was riding his camel, each one of them lowered his gaze in longing, as though they ‘spread their eyes like a carpet’ before him.

Overwhelmed by their deep and ardent love for Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), some of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) would attempt to seize the reins of the camel (to take Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to their homes), but Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would gently say to them:

دعوها فإنها مأمورة

Leave her alone, as she is divinely commanded (from the side of Allah Ta‘ala)!

(Extracted from Seeratul Mustafa 1/406-407)