Life of Muhammad — Page 209
sa 209 He had perfect trust in God which no combination of adverse circumstances could shake. On one occasion an enemy of his, finding him asleep and unguarded, stood over his head with drawn sword and threatened to despatch him at once. Before doing so he asked: "Who can rescue you from this predicament?" The Holy Prophet sa calmly replied: "Allah. " He uttered this word with such perfect assurance that even the heart of his disbelieving enemy was forced to acknowledge the loftiness of his faith and trust in God. The sword fell from his hand, and he, who a moment before was bent upon his destruction, stood before him like a convicted criminal awaiting sentence ( Muslim, Kit a bul Fa da ’ il and Bukh a r i , Kit a bul Jih a d ). At the other end of the scale was his sense of perfect humility vis-a-vis the Divine. Ab u Hurair a ra relates: "One day I heard the Holy Prophet sa say that no man would attain salvation through his own good deeds. Thereupon I said: ‘ O Messenger of Allah sa ! 'Surely you will enter Paradise through your own good actions,' to which he replied: ‘ No, I too cannot enter Paradise through my own actions save only that God's Grace and Mercy should envelop me' " ( Bukh a r i , Kit a bur Riq a q ). He always exhorted people to choose and follow the right path and to be diligent in their search for means whereby they could attain nearness to God. He taught that no man should desire death for himself, for if he is good he will, by living longer, be able to achieve greater good; and if he is evil, he may, if given time, be able to repent of his evil ways and start on a good way. His love for, and devotion to, God found expression in many ways. For instance, whenever after a dry season the first rain-drops began to descend, he would put out his tongue to catch a rain-drop and would exclaim: "Here is the latest favour from my Lord. " He was constantly occupied in praying for God's forgiveness and beneficence, more particularly when he was sitting among people so that those who were in his company or were connected with him and Muslims generally should