Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 254
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 254 A young Muslim, Jabir, whose father had become a martyr, came to the Holy Prophet who, perceiving his distress at the death of his father, said to him, ‘Jabir, shall I tell you something that will please you?’ Jabir submitted, ‘Certainly, Messenger of Alla h,’ upon which the Holy Prophet told him, ‘When your father, having been martyred, appeared before God Almighty, He spoke to him, face to face, and inquired, “What is your greatest wish?” Your father submitted, “Allah, I have been highly favoured, and all that I wish is that I should go back to the world and should lay down my life in the cause of the faith once more. ” God told him, “I would surely fulfil your desire, were it not that I have determined that no one who dies can go back to the world. ” Your fa ther submitted, “Then let my brethren be told so that their eagerness for fighting in the cause of the faith may be further stimulated. ”’ It was on this occasion that the verse was revealed (3:170 - 1): Do not account those who are slain in the cause of Allah, as dead. Indeed, they are living in the presence of their Lord and are provided for. They are jubilant over that which Allah has bestowed upon them of His bounty. S’ad bin Muaz, chief of Aus, brought his old mother to the Holy Prophet, and he condoled with her on the martyrdom of her son, Amr bin Muaz. She submitted, ‘Messenger of Allah, so long as you are safe, we do not grieve over anything. ’ R. V. C. Bodley has observed ( The Messenger, p. 179): Muhammad did not admit defeat. Instead of letting his