The Blessed Model of the Holy Prophet Muhammad and the Caricatures — Page 130
sa ± _________________________________________________________________ forgiven? Confirmation of this by the Prophet moved ‘Ikramah sa immensely and he cried out, 'O Muhammad! Certainly, you are ± extremely forbearing, compassionate and benevolent to your kindred. ' Seeing the miracle of the supreme civility and act of kindness of the Holy Prophet ‘Ikramah embraced Islam. sa (As-S ratul-Halbiyyah,Volume 3, p 109, Babu Dhikri Maghaziyati ™¿ ± − − − Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam , Fathi Makkata Sharrafahallahu Ta‘ala, ± − ± − − − Printed in Beirut) This is the manner in which Islam was spread; with excellent manners and with freedom of conscience and religion. The act of supreme civility and freedom of religion had a person like ‘Ikramah smitten in a moment. The Holy Prophet had even afforded prisoners and slaves the freedom sa of religion, while maintaining that the propagation of Islam was in accordance with the Divine commandment to spread the teachings of Islam to those who did not know about it. The purpose behind it was to grant nearness of God to others, and it was done out of sympathy for others. An incident about one of the prisoners is related as follows: Sa‘ d bin Ab Sa‘ d narrates that he heard Hadrat Abu Huraira ™ ™ ™ ra ¿ ¿ ¿ ± ± − say that when the Holy Prophet sent an expedition to , a sa Najad person from the tribe of , named Thumamah bin Banu Han fa ™ − ± ¿ − Athal, was brought in as a prisoner. The Companions tied him ra − to a pillar of the Prophet's Mosque. The Holy Prophet came to sa sa him and inquired, 'O Thumamah, what is your excuse or what do − 130