Minorities in an Islamic State — Page 4
4 triumph, when he had the power to avenge himself over his persecutors, he forgave them all. It is reported that "before his migration to Medina, the Holy Prophet sa once asked ‘ Uthm a n bin T al h ah — the keeper of the keys of Ka ‘ bah — to open the door of the House of Allah. Most arrogantly he re- fused to comply with the request. At this, the Holy Prophet sa said, 'A day will come when the- se keys would pass into my hands and I will give these keys to whomsoever I would like'. With great contempt and derision, ‘ Uthm a n exclaimed 'Will the sons of Quraish be powerless on that day!' On the day of the Fall of Mecca, the Holy Prophet sa went to Ka‘bah and summoned ‘ Uth- m a n in his presence. Trembling he came and stood before the Holy Prophet sa cowering in fear and remembering how he had once treated the Prophet sa. Disregarding his unseemly behaviour the Holy Prophet sa forgave him and addressed him in tones full of love and kindness, 'You are pardoned, ‘ Uthm a n, because today is the day of forgiveness and not of revenge. You are also ap- pointed the keeper of Ka‘bah’ s keys and whosoever tries to take away these keys from you shall be treated as a usurper". 2