Question

As salam walaykum, Please explain how we can understand the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) falling unconcious when he removed his lower garment to ease the burden of moving stones on his head. "Narrated Jabir bin Abdullah: While Allah's Apostle (s) was carrying stones (along) with people of Mecca for (the building of) the Kaaba wearing an Izar (waist-sheet cover), his uncle Al-'Abbas said to him, "O my nephew! (it would be better) if you take off your Izar and put it over your shoulders underneath the stones". So he took off his Izar and put it over his shoulders, but he fell unconscious and since then he had never been seen naked". "Sahih al Bukhari" Volume. (I). Book (8): "The book of Salat (Prayers)" Chapter (8):"It is disliked to be naked during the prayers". Also, would you please be able to tell the STORY of how and WHY Musa (peace be upon him) chose the hot coal over the date; and the reason for his lisp. Jazak Allahu Khair for your time, may Allah guide all the Muslims to the true path. As salam walaykum

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
This story, which occurred during the construction of the Ka’bah, took place during the pre-Islamic period of ignorance and before the advent of Islam, and it was reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim . What can be deduced from this story is that this is evidence that Prophet Muhammad was a true Prophet, and that Allah The Almighty wanted to protect him from vile matters even before He sent him as a Prophet.
In some other narrations, it is reported that he heard a voice from the sky ordering him to put on his Izaar (lower covering). Al-‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, asked him (the Prophet ), “What is wrong?” Then, the Prophet said: "I was forbidden from doing so.” Al-‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "I concealed this matter until Allah showed his prophecy [sent him as a Prophet]."
As regards the Prophet Moosa (Moses), may Allah exalt his mention, taking the hot coal [instead of the jewel], then this was from Allah The Almighty in order to save Moosa, may Allah exalt his mention, from the tyranny of Pharaoh as the latter wanted to kill him.
The interpreters of the Quran reported that Sa’eed ibn Jubayr and Mujaahid said that the disability of the tongue of Moosa, may Allah exalt his mention, was a result of a hot coal which he had put in his mouth (during his childhood). This happened when the wife of Pharaoh ordered him to do so to save him from being punished or killed, when he pulled the beard of Pharaoh and Pharaoh said, "He is an enemy to me". Then his wife (told him to let Moosa choose between a jewel and a hot coal put on a tray and Moosa chose the hot coal. Then she) said, "He does not perceive or understand anything" trying to prevent him from punishing and killing Moosa, may Allah exalt his mention.

Allah Knows best.

Fatwa answered by: The Fatwa Center at Islamweb