Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 468
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 468 Holy Prophet, however, there are several instances of the exercise of the quality of forgiveness at the highest level and on the largest scale in the hour of triumph, of which there is no matching instance in human history. On the day that Mecca fell, he f orgave all, but even more, after the battle of Hunain, he bestowed generous largesse’s upon those who, only a matter of weeks earlier had been his bitterest and most implacable enemies. In Medina he was responsible for the maintenance of public order and for the security of the whole population of the city, Muslim and non - Muslim alike. He had to punish crime, but his justice was always tempered with mercy. In the course of the safeguardin g of the security of Medina he had, unfortunately, to deal sometimes with extreme cases of treason and treachery. He had to act sternly and even harshly, but that was a duty that he could not honestly evade. His critics cite his treatment of Banu Quraidha as an example of his cruelty. Attention may be drawn to Stanley Lane - Poole’s summing of the case. He has said that a fearful example was made of this clan, not by Muhammad but by an arbiter appointed by thems elves. When Quraish and their allies were besieging Medina and well nigh stormed the defences, this Jewish tribe entered into negotiations with the enemy, which was only circumvented by the diplomacy of the Holy Prophet. When the besiegers had retired Muha mmad naturally demanded an explanation of the Jews. They resisted in their dogged way and were themselves besieged and were compelled to surrender at discretion. Muhammad, however, consented to the appointing of a chief of a tribe allied to the Jews as the judge who should pronounce