Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 454
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 454 known. A poor man confessed to him publicly that he had been guilty of a certain wrong. The Holy Prophet imposed a mild penalty by way of a fine, which would be distributed in charity; but the man pleaded that he was unable to pay. Just then someone brough t a basket of dates to the Holy Prophet to be distributed in charity. He bade the wrongdoer to take the dates and distribute them among the poor. Said the man, ‘Messenger of Allah, I know of no one more deserving of charity than myself. ’ The Holy Prophet l aughed and replied, ‘Well, then, take them yourself and that will suffice as your penalty. ’ On another occasion someone confessed having committed a wrong, but the Holy Prophet paid no attention to him and, as it was Prayer time, stood up to lead the Prayer. After the Prayer, the man again confessed his wrong. The Holy Prophet inquired, ‘Did you not join us in the Prayer service?’ On the man replying in the affirmative, the Holy Prophet observed, ‘Well then, your Prayer has wiped out your offence. ’ During the course of a journey, the Holy Prophet and his party rested among a grove of trees to escape the noonday heat. The Holy Prophet hung up his sword by the branch of a tree and lay down to rest under its shade. An enemy who had been on the prowl for an opportunity to kill him stole into the camp, and, finding the Holy Prophet sleeping unguarded, approached him, secured his sword, and, drawing it, sat down on his chest. The Holy Prophet woke up in surprise as the man, brandishing the sword, said, ‘Who can save thee now?’ The Holy Prophet gently uttered the single word ‘Allah,’ moved away from under the man, raised himself and took hold of his assailant, wresting the sword