Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 400
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 400 and asked them how he should deal with them. They replied that they fully merited whatever punishment he might choose to inflict upon them, but that they knew he was a generous brother and would deal with them as such. The Holy Prophet pronounced judgment in the words addressed by Joseph to his brethren: ‘No retribution shall be exacted from you this day’ (12:93). He told them they were free. All the scorn and ridicule poured on him by the Meccans; their implacable hatred and enmity; the long years of bitter, cruel and sustained persecution; all the fighting, the hardship and suffering; the loss of dear and devoted Companions, all – all was in the moment of triumph laid aside, banished from the mind and forgiven in the name of the Lord On High, the Gracious, the Merciful, the Creator and Master of all. God’s glorious command was carried out to the utmost (41:35, 36): Good and evil are not alike. Repel evil with that which is best and lo, he between whom and thyself was enmity is as though he were a warm friend. But none attains to it save those who are steadfast, and none attains to it save those who possess abundant g ood. The gates of love and mercy were opened wide. Bitter enemies of the morning became warm friends by midday. Some hearts were still sullen; the humiliation, though softened by magnanimity, was hard to endure, but even these could not long withstand the heali ng effect of the balm so generously and beneficently applied by the Prophet of God. History furnishes no parallel instance of such complete forgiveness, such utter