The Commentary of Al-Qasidah — Page 133
The commentary of al-Qa si dah 133 On the day of the victory of Mecca, the enemies were presented to the Holy Prophet sa , who for 13 years, inflicted inhumane cruelties upon him and his followers. These enemies had boycotted him for three years, seized properties of the Muslims, looted their wealth and expelled them out of their homes. Now the Muslims were in a position where they were in control and the slightest gesture from the Holy Prophet sa would have been enough for all of them to be killed. However, he did not say any harsh words to them. On the other hand, he asked them, ‘Tell me, how shall I treat you?’ With humility and shame, and with their heads lowered, they answered that they expect the same treatment from the Holy Prophet sa as that of Prophet Joseph as towards his brothers. Upon hearing this answer, and disregarding all of their previous cruelties and atrocities, he said, ‘Go ahead, there is no blame on you. May All a h forgive you, and certainly He is the Best in showing mercy. Go, you are all free to go. ’ 24 It is described in a H ad i th that when these people left the Ka‘bah , they left as if they were walking from out of their graves and all of them embraced Islam. 25 Among other conquerors there is not a single example of similar forgiveness. In the same manner, it is an excellent quality of manners when a person treats his enemy nicely, prays for him instead of cursing him, 24 Subulul-Hud a War-Rash a d, Im a m Muhammad bin Y u suf, vol. 5, p. 242, Al-B a bus-S a bi‘u Wal-‘Ishr u na F i Ghazw a til-Fat h il-A‘ z am. . . Dhikru Khu t bati Yaumil-Fat h i, D a rul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut (1993) 25 Kit a bus-Sunanil-Kubr a Lil-Baihaq i , vol. 9, p. 195, Jim a ‘u Abw a bis-Siyar, B a bu Fat h i Makkata H arrasahall a hu Ta‘ a la, H ad i th no. 4368, Maktabatur-Rushdi, Beirut (2004)