Stories from Early Islam — Page 139
139 The Holy Prophet saw thanked the woman and asked one of his Companions to take the meat from her. Later that evening, when he and his Companions sat down to have their meals together, the roasted meat, which the woman had presented to the Holy Prophet saw, was also laid before them. As soon as the Prophet saw tasted the meat, he sus- pected that it was poisoned. He stopped others from taking it, but a Companion named Bishr, had already swallowed some. Soon after this, Bishr became ill and died of the poison. The Holy Prophet saw sent for the woman and asked her if she had poisoned the meat. ‘How can you say that?’ said the woman. The Holy Prophet saw held a piece in his hand and said, ‘My hands told me this’, i. e. , he knew as soon as he tasted it. The woman confessed her guilt and begged for mercy. ‘Why have you done this?’, asked the Prophet saw. She replied, ‘My people were at war with you and my rela- tions were killed in the battle. I decided to poison you, believ- ing that if you were an imposter, you would die and we should be safe, but if you were a true Prophet, God would save you’. Hearing this reply the Prophet saw forgave her, although she had earned the penalty of death.