Islam - Its Meaning for Modern Man — Page 24
24 the slightest provocation. Long-pursued vendettas, often originating in trivial incidents, exacted a heavy toll. From his earliest youth Muhammad kept aloof from all this. He possessed a sensitive mind and a grave and serene disposition. He felt keenly the distress of his fellow beings and reacted very sharply to it, affording such relief and assistance as were within his power. On one occasion he observed an old slave labouring hard to fulfil his task of drawing water in a heavy bucket for tending his master’s garden. Muhammad went to his assistance and drew up a quantity of water, which gave relief to the old man for a short while, so that he could rest and husband his failing strength. Muhammad spoke cheering and comforting words to him, and on leaving him said: “Whenever you feel you are in need of help you can call on Muhammad. ” Many such incidents are on record. That which affected his mind most deeply and painfully, however, was the moral and spiritual decline into which his people had fallen, and from which he could see no way of rescuing them, save through Divine guidance and help. He himself had never bowed to an idol or indulged in any idolatrous practices. On the physical side, he had preserved complete purity; he had never gambled or taken liquor, and had led an absolutely chaste life. He