Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 433
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 433 I not yet be a faithful servant unto Him?’ An attendant, while the Holy Prophet lay covered up, put his hand below the sheet and, feeling the excessive heat, made a remark like that of Umar. On which the Holy Prophet said, ‘Just as this affliction prevaile d now against me, even so shall my reward hereafter be. ’ ‘Who are they,’ asked another, ‘that suffer the severest trials?’ ‘The Prophets and the righteous,’ answered the Holy Prophet, ‘yet each of them rejoiced exceedingly in his affliction. ’ All Sunday the Holy Prophet lay in a helpless and, at times, delirious state. Usama, who had delayed his march waiting to see what the issue might be, came in from Jurf to visit him. Removing the covering he stooped down and kissed the beloved face. The Ho ly Prophet raised his hands in the attitude of blessing and then placed them on the young commander’s head, who then returned to the camp. At one time, Um Salama and Um Habeebah, who had both been exiles in Abyssinia, spoke of the beauty of the Cathedral of Mary there, and of the wonderful pictures on its walls. Overhearing them, the Holy Prophet said, ‘These are the people who, when a saint among them dieth, build over his tomb a place of worship, and adorn it with their pictures. Let the anger of the Lord be kindled against those that turn the tombs of their Prophets into objects of worship. Lord, let not my tomb be ever an object of worship. ’ In the course of the day he recalled that there was some gold in the house, and directed that it should be divided amongst certain indigent families and observed, ‘Now I am at peace. It would not have become me to meet my Lord, and this gold still in my hands. ’