Muhammad (saw) – The Perfect Man — Page 948
CHAPTER 42 The Greatest and the most Successful Prophet 948 enjoyed for testing the grounds of their conviction were both close and long- continued. It is enough that I allude to this consideration, as strengthening generally the view of Mo h ammad's character which throughout I have sought to support. . . A remarkable feature was the urbanity and consideration with which Mo h ammad treated even the most insignificant of his followers. Modesty and kindliness, patience, self-denial, and generosity pervaded his conduct and riveted the affections of all around him. . . In the exercise of a power absolutely dictatorial, Mo h ammad was just and temperate. Nor was he wanting in moderation towards his enemies, when once they had cheerfully submitted to his claims. The long and obstinate struggle against his pretensions maintained by the inhabitants of Mecca might have induced its conqueror to mark his indignation in indelible traces of fire and blood. But Mo h ammad, excepting a few criminals, granted a universal pardon; and, nobly casting into oblivion the memory of the past, with all its mockery, its affronts and persecution, he treated even the foremost of his opponents with a gracious and even friendly consideration. " 18