The Excellent Exemplar - Muhammad — Page 85
THE EXCELLENT EXEMPLAR — MUHAMMAD 85 constantly to order their lives in accordance with Divine commandments and guidance, but also exerted himself to the utmost to train them in every aspect and sphere of life, so as to prepare and equip them for the discharge of the responsibilities that lay upon them and for much heavier ones that were due to be placed upon their shoulders (3: 150). He was commanded to exhort his followers to pray for even those who persecuted them and paid no heed to the warnings of God, and to overlook and forgive their tr espasses (45:15). He was “a mercy for mankind. ” God called him so and he did indeed prove himself such in every respect (21:108) It was grievously painful for him that his people should be distressed, and he was ardently desirous of promoting their welfare - tender and compa ssionate at all times and anxious to apply balm to their oft - harassed and wounded spirits (9:128). When persecution became unbearable in Mecca, the Prophet directed those of his followers who could do so to migrate across the Red Sea to seek shelter and peace in the dominions of the Emperor of Ethiopia. Later, when life was made almost impossible for hi m and for the Muslims in Mecca, the migration to Medina was decided upon but the Prophet himself stayed on in Mecca till all those who could be the objects of the Meccans’ resentment and who were free to do so had departed from Mecca. Of the free, male adu lts only Abu Bakr, Ali, and himself were left. Abu Bakr accompanied him, and Ali, who had been entrusted with the return of money and articles which some Meccans had left with the Prophet for safe keeping, soon followed him. On one occasion when there was an alarm in Medina at night, the people began to collect in the mosque, as they had been