The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 345
VIII - Blow of a Misfortune, Law of Inheritance, Prohibition of Alcohol, Treachery of the Disbelievers and Two Tragic Incidents 345 his paternal uncle and foster brother, Hamzah bin ‘Abdil-Muṭṭalib ra , he was stunned because Hind, the barbaric wife of Abū Sufyān had severely spoiled his dead body. For some time, the Holy Prophet sa stood there silently, and signs of grief and anger were evident upon his countenance. For a moment’s time, the Holy Prophet sa even thought to himself that until these bloodthirsty beasts of Makkah were not given a taste of their own medicine, perhaps they would never come to their senses, but then the Holy Prophet sa refrained from this idea and exhibited patience. As a matter of fact, after this, the Holy Prophet sa prohibited the custom of Muthlah in Islām forever, and said that the enemy may do as it pleases, but the Muslims should in any case refrain from such a barbaric practice, and follow a course of virtue and benevolence. 1 Ṣafiyyah bint ‘Abdil-Muṭṭalib ra , the paternal aunt of the Holy Prophet sa , loved her brother Ḥamzah ra very dearly. Upon hearing news of the defeat of the Muslims, she had also come out of Madīnah. The Holy Prophet sa instructed her son Zubair bin Al-Awwam ra not to show his mother the body of his maternal uncle, but how could a sister’s love allow her to sit at rest? “Let me see the body of Ḥamzah ra ,” she insisted, “I promise to demonstrate patience and shall not utter a word of complaint or lament. ” Hence, she went and upon seeing the body of her brother said: 2 - After this, she did not say a word. 3 The Quraish had more or less meted out the same barbaric treatment to the bodies of other Companions as well. Hence, the body of ‘ Abdullāh bin Jaḥash ra , the paternal cousin of the Holy Prophet sa had also been severely disfigured. As the Holy Prophet sa would move from one body to the other, signs of pain and anguish would become more and more evident upon his countenance. It was perhaps at this occasion when the Holy Prophet sa said, “Someone go and inquire about the state of Sa‘d bin Ar-Rabī‘, 1 * As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām, p. 543, Sha’nu ‘Āṣimibni Thābit, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) * Tārīkhur-Rusuli Wal-Mulūk (Tārīkhuṭ-Ṭabarī), By Abū Ja‘far Muḥammad bin Jarīr Aṭ-Ṭabarī, Volume 3, pp. 76-77, Thumma Dakhalatis-Sanatuth-Thālithatu Minal-Hijrah / Ghazwatu Uḥud, Dārul-Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon, Second Edition (2002) 2 “Surely, to Allāh we belong and to Him shall we return. ” - Al-Baqarah 2:157 [Publishers] 3 As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām, p. 544, Sha’nu ‘Āṣimibni Thābit, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001)