The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 4) — Page 648
CH. 33 AL-AḤZĀB and the Last Day and who remembers Allah much. 3090 3090. Commentary: The Battle of the Ditch perhaps constituted the hardest ordeal in the Holy Prophet's whole career and from that supreme test he emerged with enhanced moral stature and prestige. In fact, it is in time of danger, when all around is dark, or in the hour of success and victory when a person's enemy lies prostrate at his feet, that his real mettle is tested, and history bears an eloquent testimony to the fact that the Holy Prophet was as great and noble in time of distress, as he was in the hour of success. The Battles of the Ditch, Uhud and Ḥunain shed a flood of light on one beautiful facet of his character, and the Fall of Mecca on the other. Peril and danger did not discourage or dismay him nor could victory and success spoil him. When left almost alone on the day of Hunain, with the fate of Islam hanging in the balance, he fearlessly and single-handed advanced into the enemy's ranks with the memorable words on his lips, viz. i. e. "I am the Prophet of God and I am telling no lie. I am the son of 'Abdul-Muttalib. " And when Mecca fell and the whole of Arabia lay prostrate at his feet, absolute and undisputed power failed to corrupt him. Says Rev. Bosworth Smith: Now would have been the moment to gratify his ambition, to satiate his lust, to glut his revenge. Read the account of the entry of Mohammed into Mecca side by side with that of Marius PT. 21 وَذَكَرَ اللهَ كَثِيرًات or Sulla into Rome. Compare all the attendant circumstances, the outrages that preceded, and the use made by each of his recovered power and we shall then be in a position better to appreciate the magnanimity and moderation of the Prophet of Arabia. There were proscription lists, no plunder, no wanton revenge. From a helpless orphan to the ruler of a big country was a great transition; yet the Holy Prophet retained the nobility of his character under all circumstances ("Mohammed and Mohammedanism"). no What greater testimony could there possibly be to the Holy Prophet's nobility of character than the fact that those who were nearest to him and knew him most, loved him most and were the first to believe in his mission-his dear wife Khadijah, his life-long friend Abu Bakr, his cousin and son-in-law 'Alī, his freed slave Zaid. The Prophet was humanity's noblest specimen and a perfect model in beauty and beneficence. In all the various facets of his variegated life and character he stands unrivalled and an excellent exemplar for men to copy and follow. His whole life lies before the floodlight of history. He started life as an orphaned child and ended with being the arbiter of the destinies of a whole nation. As a boy he was sedate and dignified and at the threshold of youth he was a perfect example of moral virtue, righteousness and sobriety. In middle 2562