The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) – Volume III — Page 81
II - Brief Note on Islāmic Equality 81 easy exit was possible if needed. At the time, Abū Rāfi‘ was in a room of his, and many people were seated around him in a night assembly talking to each other. When these people dispersed and it became silent I climbed the stairs to the home of Abū Rāfi‘. I was careful that whenever I came to a door, I would enter it and close it from behind. When I reached the room of Abū Rāfi‘, he had put out the lantern and was preparing to fall asleep. The room was pitch dark. I called out the name of Abū Rāfi‘ to which he responded, ‘Who is there?’ So I sprung towards the source of the voice and made a single and powerful strike of the sword. However, it was very dark, and due to my perplexity, I missed him. Abū Rāfi‘ cried out, upon which I left the room. After some time, I entered the room again, and changing my voice inquired, ‘O Abū Rāfi‘ what is this noise?’ He could not recognisze my changed voice and said, ‘May your mother forsake you, someone has just now attacked me with a sword. ’ Upon hearing this voice, I sprung towards him again and struck him with the sword. This time, my strike was on point but he was still not dead, upon which I attacked him a third time and killed him. After this, I quickly opened the doors one by one till I reached outside of the home. However, when I was descending the stairs, there were still a few steps left, and I thought I had reached the ground due to which I fell down and broke my leg (and in another narration it is mentioned that the leg was dislocated). However, I tied it with my turban and dragged myself out, but I said to myself that until I am fully satisfied that Abū Rāfi‘ is dead, I shall not leave. Therefore, I hid in a place near the castle. The next morning, I heard the voice of someone from inside the castle saying, ‘Abū Rāfi‘, the merchant of Ḥijāz, has died. Thereupon, I got up, and slowly but gradually met with my companions. Upon arriving in Madīnah, we informed the Holy Prophet sa of the death of Abū Rāfi‘. Upon listening to the entire account, the Holy Prophet sa said, ‘Stretch out your broken leg. ’ I stretched out my leg and the Holy Prophet sa rubbed his blessed hand upon it while praying, and I felt as if I had never had any ailment whatsoever. ’” 1 In another narration it is mentioned that when ‘Abdullāh bin ‘Atīk ra attacked Abū Rāfi‘, his wife began to scream loudly, upon which he became worried that others might be alerted by her noise and clamour. Upon this, he raised his sword to kill her, but then he remembered that the Holy Prophet sa 1 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-Maghāzī, Bābu Qatli Abī Rāfi‘in ‘Abdillāh-ibni Abil-Ḥuqaiq , Ḥadīth No. 4039