Forty Gems of Beauty — Page 134
134 “One who showed not compassion to others would not deserve it of God. ” 28 He was personally endowed with such excellence of social conduct that he never turned down the request of anyone for help, never first let go the hand of anybody once he grasped it; he took compassionate care of orphans and supported widows, won over his neighbours through kindly treatment, attended to the poorest of his companions in their sickness and gave them new heart by the charm of his comforting speech, so full of compassion and love. A poor old woman, who lived in Medina, used to sweep the “ Masjid-i-Nabaw i ” (the Prophet’s mosque). When the Holy Prophet (May peace and blessings of Allah be on him) did not see her for a few days, he enquired of his companions whether she was in good health. The companions submitted that she had passed away after a short illness and considering that it would distress him, they did not inform him when her funeral was taken out. This grieved the Holy Prophet (saw) to no small extent, and he complained that they had not informed him of her death, he then left to visit her grave and prayed for her departed soul. On one occasion, probably before the command for women to observe seclusion was revealed, he was with his honoured wife, Hadrat Aisha, when a person called on him. On receiving the intimation, the Holy Prophet (May peace and blessings of Allah be on him) remarked to Hadrat Aisha that the visitor was not a good man. But when he came to him, he [the Holy Prophet] talked to him in an affectionate and conciliatory tone. As he went away, Hadrat Aisha submitted: “ O Prophet of Allah, you do not hold a good opinion of him and yet you have 28 Sunan Abū Dāwūd, Book of Manners, Chapter: Mercy. See Page 70