Life of Muhammad — Page 224
sa 224 more unattractive by a heavy coating of perspiration and dust. He bore a melancholy look. The Holy Prophet sa approached him stealthily from the back and, as children sometimes do in fun, he put forward his hands and covered the labourer's eyes with them, expecting him to guess who he was. The man put back his own hands and feeling over the body of the Prophet sa realized that it was the Holy Prophet sa himself. He probably guessed also that nobody else would show such intimate affection for a man in his condition. Being pleased and encouraged, he pressed against the Holy Prophet's sa body and clasped him to himself from the back rubbing his dust and sweat-covered body against the clothes of the Prophet sa , desiring perhaps to ascertain how far the Prophet sa would be willing to indulge him. The Prophet sa went on smiling and did not ask him to desist. When the man had been put in a thoroughly happy mood the Prophet sa said to him: "I possess a slave; do you think anybody will be willing to buy him?" The man realized that probably there was nobody in the whole world, save the Holy Prophet sa himself who would be ready to see any worth in him, and with a melancholy sigh he replied: "O Messenger of Allah sa ! there is nobody in this world who would be prepared to purchase me. " The Prophet sa said: "No! No! You must not say that. You are of great worth in the eyes of God" ( Shar h ussunna ). Not only was he himself watchful of the welfare of the poor but he constantly exhorted others to be the same. Ab u M u s a Ash ‘ ar i ra relates that if a needy person approached the Holy Prophet sa and made a request, he would say to those around him, "You should also support his request so that you may acquire merit by becoming sharers in promoting a good deed" ( Bukh a r i and Muslim ), his object being to create on the one side in the minds of his Companions a feeling of eagerness to help the poor and on the other in the minds of the needy a realization of the affection and sympathy felt for them by their better-off brethren.