The Seal of Prophets - His Personality and Character — Page 35
The Seal of Prophets 35 person of the Holy Prophet sa was far too much for them to tolerate. But the Holy Prophet sa did not allow any retribution. It is reported that after this, Abdullah’s own son also approached the Holy Prophet sa and said: “Oh Messenger of God, perhaps you thought that if you had permitted someone else to kill my father, I being his son, may harbour a private sense of revenge. However my father deserves this punishment for the insult he has hurled against you, so please permit me to slay him. ” The Holy Prophet sa smiled and said: “No, there is nothing to be done. Your father will not be punished by any one. ” They all returned to Medina and for many years this man lived in peace under the full protection of the Holy Founder sa of Islam, against whom he had blasphemed. When he died, the Holy Prophet sa decided to lead his funeral prayers. This was a bit too much for some of his companions. Umar ra reports that he blocked his passage and said: “Is he not the leader of the hypocrites? Is he not the one about whom God has said that even if you ask forgiveness for him seventy times, he would not be forgiven? Then why 0 Prophet of God, who is the recipient of all these revelations, have you decided to lead his funeral prayer?” The answer was: “Umar, get aside; if God has informed me that he would not forgive the hypocrites even if I prayed for them seventy times, I would pray much more than that in the hope that Allah will ultimately forgive them”. Such was the character of the Holy Founder sa of Islam. He was a man of extreme compassion, a man of principles, a man who lived a life of truth and nothing but the truth. When he found that the days of return to his Holy Master, Allah were nigh, the Holy Prophet sa addressed a large gathering. It was the largest gathering that he had ever spoken to. The occasion was of the last pilgrimage, also called Hajja-tul-Widaa.