The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 163
V - A Glance at the Early Life 163 that is to say “We do not consider Muḥammad sa to be a liar, but consider the religion he has brought to be a lie. ” When the Holy Prophet sa began the propagation of Islām and gathered the Quraish upon a hillock and said to them, “If I tell you that a large army is gathered behind this hillock ready to launch an assault against you, will you believe me?” Even though this apparently seemed impossible, everyone responded: نَعَم ْ مَا جَرَّبْنَا عَلَیْك َ اِلَّا صِدْقًا “Yes, we shall believe you, for we have always found you truthful. ” 1 The Holy Prophet sa responded: “Then I tell you this - the chastisement of God approaches, from which you should save yourselves. ” All of these testimonies are of the most vehement of enemies. No testimony is required from the believers because their acceptance is in itself a powerful testimony. However, at this instance, I cannot rest without including the testimony of the wife of the Holy Prophet sa , Ḥadrat Khadījah ra. When the angel of God first came to the Prophet sa with revelation and the Holy Prophet sa apprehensively said to Khadījah ra , “I fear for myself” , Khadījah ra , who was intimately aware of his life, naturally said the following words: َّ كَلَّا وَاللّٰه ِ مَا یُخْزِیْك َ اللّٰه ُ اَبَدًا اِنَّك َ لَتَصِل ُ الرِّحْم َ وَتَصْدِق ُ الْحَدِیْث َ وَتَحْمِل ُ الْكَل وَتَكْسِب ُ الْمَعْدُوْم َ و َ تَقْرِی الضَّیْف َ وَتُعِیْن ُ عَلٰی نَوَائِب ِ الْحَقَّ. “Nay! Nay! By God, Allāh shall never dishonour you. You treat your kith and kin with love, and are truthful, and mitigate the burdens of others. You have brought together lost virtues within yourself, and you are hospitable, and you assist others in the way of truth. ” 2 1 * Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, Kitābut-Tafsīr, Bābu Wa minash-Shu‘arā’i, Ḥadīth No. 4770 * Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitābul-Īmān, Bābun Wandhir ‘Ashīratakal-Aqrabīn, Ḥadīth No. 508 2 Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, Kitābu Bad’il-Waḥī, Bāb No. 3, Ḥadīth No. 3