Islam - Its Meaning for Modern Man — Page 112
112 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 prophet 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, and 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, wresting 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. The Prophet had been sent as a manifestation of God’s mercy to mankind (21:108). His mercy was all- embracing, without limit, and without discrimination.