Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 456
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 456 Muslim forces fell into confusion and the Holy Prophet was left only with a dozen or so followers, he asked his uncle, Abbas, to call out the Muslims to rally to the standard and, himself spurring his mule, despite Abu Bakr’s efforts to restrain him, went forward towards the enemy calling out, ‘I am God’s true Prophet, no impostor; I am the grandson of Abdul Muttalib. ’ ‘The Holy Prophet had been sent as a manifestation of God’s mercy to mankind’ (21:108). His mercy was all embracing, without limit, and without discrimination, from which even the animals and birds were not excluded. He was not niggardly about it, as lesse r men might have been (17:101). He had to be stern in dealing with grave offences, treason and treachery, but that too was a manifestation of mercy, as a wolf has to be destroyed out of mercy to the sheep. That which inspired him first and last was his dut y to God. His beneficence towards all human beings was only one aspect of the performance of the duty, which he owed to his Maker. No consideration could stand in the way of the performance of that duty. When the Meccans gave his uncle, Abu Talib, the choi ce between adhering to Muhammad or retaining the chieftainship of the tribe, Abu Talib put the matter to the Holy Prophet. The Holy Prophet told him that he could withdraw his protection, but that as for himself, he must continue till the end to do what Go d commanded him. He would not desist even if the Meccans placed the sun on his right and the moon on his left. That stand he maintained without the least swerving till the last. With him God always came first. So much was this so that even his enemies in M ecca were wont to say of him ‘Muhammad is intoxicated with the love of his Lord. ’ God