The Excellent Exemplar - Muhammad — Page 80
THE EXCELLENT EXEMPLAR — MUHAMMAD 80 confessed to him publicly that he had been guilty of a certain offense. The Prophet imposed a mild penalty by way of a fine, which would be distributed in charity, but the man said he was unable to pay. In the meantime somebody brought a basket of dates to the Prophet to be distributed in charity. The Prophet bade the guilty man to take the dates and distribute them among the poor. Said the man: “Sir, I know of no one more deserving of charity than myself” The Prophet laughed and replied: “Well then, take t hem yourself and that will suffice as your penalty. ” His treatment of Hindah, Habbar, and Ikramah after the fall of Mecca has been mentioned. An incident of a more personal nature is also worthy of recall. During the course of a journey his party rested among a grove of trees to avoid the noonday heat. The P rophet hung up his sword by the branch of a tree and lay down to rest under its shade. An enemy who had been on the lookout for an opportunity to kill him stole into the camp, and finding the Prophet sleeping unguarded, approached him secured his sword, an d sat down on his chest. The Prophet woke up in surprise as the man, brandishing the sword, said: “Who can save thee now?” The Prophet gently uttered the single word, “Allah,” moved away from under the man, raised himself and took hold of his assailant, wr esting the sword from him. The position was now reversed. “Who can save thee now?” inquired the Prophet. “No one!” exclaimed the man in terror. “Why do you not say ‘Allah’ ?”asked the Prophet as he released the man. When the man returned to his tribe he told them that he had encountered a man whose mercy and forgiveness were beyond belief. He then related what had