Garments for Each Other — Page 88
88 CONTROLLING ANGER IN THE HOME ( Excerpt from Friday Sermon, March 2 1 , 2008 ) The following example from his domestic life shows how the Holy Prophet (saw) controlled his anger and trained others in such a way that they would realize their error, without exercising harshness. It is related that a man from the Bani Su ’at a requested Hazrat A’isha (ra) if she could tell him about the Holy Prophet’s blessed characteristics. Hazrat A’isha (ra) asked, “Have you not read in the Holy Qur’an : “ And thou dost surely possess high moral excellences. ” 1 Then Hazrat A’isha (ra) related that once the Holy Prophet (saw) was with his Companions. She had prepared food for him and, at the same time, Hazrat Hafsah (ra) had also prepared food and sent it before she (Hazrat A’i sha) could send hers. She instructed her maid to spill Hazrat Hafs ah’ s food out of its bowl. While placing the food in front of Prophet Muhammad (saw), the maid dropped the food in such a way that the bowl broke and the food fell down. Hazrat A’isha (ra) narrates that the Holy Prophet (saw) collected the broken pieces of the container, picked up the spilt food and put it on a leather placemat that was lying there, and then ate the same food. He returned Hazrat A’isha’s (ra) food bowl to Hazrat Hafsah (ra), saying she should accept it in lieu of hers and eat the food also. Hazrat A’isha (ra) says that there was no sign of anger on the Holy Prophet ’s (saw) blessed face. 2 Through his action the Holy Prophet (saw) admonished the servant and Hazrat A’isha (ra) that mutual rivalry among wives