Unity of God — Page 41
41 and the Teachings of Muhammad s as named Bishr ra took a bite, but the Holy Prophet s as immediately recognised the poisoned meat through divine revelation and did not eat it. The woman asked how he knew, and he pointed to a meat bone. She explained that she had merely wanted to test the Holy Prophet s as. If he discovered the truth, it would mean he was a true prophet of God, and if he died, it would prove he is an imposter and the world would be rid of him. Hearing this explanation, the Holy Prophet s as said to spare her, even though Bishr ra , a companion ready to sacrifice himself for his master, died. Despite her intention of harming him and his companions to root out Islam, the Holy Prophet s as showed her mercy. This was a remarkable example of the Holy Prophet’s s as magnanimity. The fifth example is that whenever the Holy Prophet s as went to war, he directed his army to neither desecrate the places of worship nor harm their religious leaders, women, elders, or children. Before the advent of Islam, it was a custom to kill priests and monks, but the Holy Prophet s as abolished this custom. If he were hostile to other religions as painted by the opponents today, would he have instructed that leaders of these religions should be spared? He would have said, ‘Kill