The Detroit Address — Page 25
25 and blessings from God, so much so that the richest among the Muslims, be he a monarch, take their names with great reverence and affection seeking God’s blessing from them. These are the people that Hadrat N uh as talked about briefly. In short, to love the poor sincerely is an exemplary precept of the Holy Prophet Muhammad sas. As far as race and color are concerned, you know well the dignity bestowed on Hadrat Bilal ra. He was a black man and a slave [soon freed after accepting Islam] too. But Hadrat Umar ra, at the time when he was the Khalifah, would address him saying, “Our leader, Bilal,” and showed great respect by standing up in his presence. What a magnificent religion it was for which the Holy Prophet Muhammad sas was chosen to be its mirror and who, in return, eliminated his own self and presented the Holy Quran all in all. The love and compassion of the Holy Prophet sas for mankind, and particularly the poor, is reflected through the following incident. There was a black person who was a very poor laborer, and his features were considered to be so grotesque that he was counted amongst the ugliest. Because of his repelling features, some people would not even look at him. Once he was standing alone and thinking with heavy heart about his depressing life. The Holy Prophet Muhammad sas happened to pass by and, approaching this man from behind, like a mother would do to her own child, he covered his eyes with his own hands to see whether or not he would recognize him. The man realized that no one except the Holy Prophet sas