.

5. When laws are intended to serve the purpose of education and instruction, and are applied from childhood onwards, they have, to some degree, the same effect, because people then grow up in fear and docility, and consequently do not rely on their own fortitude.

[Derived from the ‘ Muqaddamah of Ibn Khaldun.]

The Holy Prophet produced the qualities of confidence and fortitude of the highest order in his Companions. He neither enslaved them nor enforced his authority on them. He lived with great kindness amongst them. And the fact is that they loved him more than any thing else in the world. Let us see:

1. The Holy Quran states:

“ This is because of the Mercy from Allah that you (Holy Prophet)

treated them (i.e. your Companions) with kindness. And had you

been harsh with a hard heart, they would have scattered away (and

would not have gathered around you)…So consult them in

(deciding) the matters….” (3:159)

2. In the battle of Uhad, when the Holy Prophet was seriously wounded, his Companions like Talha and Sa’d bib Abi Waqas behaved like a steel wall for him. The arrows of the enemy which were aimed at the Holy Prophet were received by Talha on his open palm of hand. (Bukhari: 3831 to 3837). The Holy Prophet very kindly ignored the blunder of the archers, whose disobedience converted his clear victory into a set back. It was the result of his kindness that they all of them again gathered around him and not only compelled the enemy to retreat, but also chased them to a far off distance and thus averted the situation.

3. The Holy Prophet once came down to his Companions. They all stood up (in his reverence) on seeing him. The Holy Prophet said:

“You must not stand for (showing) reverence as the non-Arabs do.”*

* This ‘Hadith’ has been reported in ‘Tafseer fi zilal-il-Quran under

Verse 2:145 on the authority of Abu Daud and Ibn Majah.

Who will not stand up in reverence to the great Prophet?

By his words and deeds, he, in fact, raised the dignity of mankind and gave them the new and noble values of living.

The Holy Quran states in 17:70:

“ And, of course. We honored the

Descendants of Adam and carried them on the land and the sea…”

4. The Holy Prophet once performed ablution. His Companions started applying the left over water on their bodies. (Bukari:185 & Mishkat: 4771). The Holy Prophet asked them why they did like that. They submitted: ‘ Because of our love with Love and His Messenger’. The Holy Prophet said: ‘ Who so ever likes that he should love Allah & His Messenger or that Allah and His Messenger may love him, he must:

i) speak the truth, when ever he speaks,

ii) pay back honestly, when ever any thing is placed in his custody (or discharge his duty honestly), and

iii) prove to be a good neighbor for his neighbors.

(Baihqi - Mishkat: 4771)

5. Before the ‘Treaty of Hudaibiya’, Urwa bin Masud Saqfi on behalf of the Quraish of Mecca met the Holy Prophet in Hudaibiya in order to know his intention of visiting Mecca . He talked to him for some time and observed the unimaginable respect that the Companions showed to the Holy Prophet. Urwa was wonder struck to see how they protected him from any foreseeable peril or mishap. He carefully watched them excelling one another for getting the water left over by the Holy Prophet after performing ablution. He astonishingly observed them picking his hair wherever it fell. After seeing such a splendid scene, Urwa came back to Quraish and addressed them, as below:

“ O’ people of Quraish! I met Qisra (the Emperor of Persia) in

his country. I met Qaisar (the Emperor of Rome), too, in his

country. And I also met Najjashi (the Emperor of Habsha) in

his country. But, by Allah! I have never seen any king, who is

so honored by his people, as Muhammad (peace be upon him)

is honored by his Companions. And I have, undoubtedly, seen

such a group of people, who cannot leave Muhammad (peace

be upon him) alone as such, under any circumstances. Now it is

up to you to form your opinion (in the matter).”

(Seerat-un-Nabiby Ibn Hashsham, Vol. II, page 373,374, Ghulam Ali & Sons.)

6. On appointing Maaz as the Governor of Yemen, the Holy Prophet came out (of Madina) (to bid him farewell and) so as to issue him (the necessary) instructions. Maaz reported that he was riding, whereas the Holy Prophet was walking by his side. After issuing him the instructions, he said: “ O’ Maaz! It is quite possible that you may not see me next year and perhaps you may pass by my mosque and by my grave.” Maaz wept with the grief of separation of the Holy Prophet.

Then the Holy Prophet turned around and on facing Madina, he said:

“ The nearest to me are ‘Muttaqeen’ (i.e. God fearing people).

Whosoever they are and where ever they are.”

(Ahmad - Mishkat:4997)

7. Abu Musa narrated that while appointing him and Maaz as the Governor of Yemen (at different periods), the Holy Prophet instructed them:

“ Be lenient and don’t show harshness. [Make the matters easy for

them and not difficult.]. Give the people happy news and don’t

make them scornful…” (Bukhari:5773)

8. The Holy Prophet after conquering his birth town (Mecca) did not enslave the people. He forgave all of them and granted them general amnesty. They were those, who tortured him and his followers for full thirteen years and compelled them to run away from Mecca. Even in Madina, they did not allow them to live in peace, but fought ferocious battles against them for many years so as to wipe them off and their religion from the surface of earth. After the conquest of Mecca, they all gathered before him expecting a horrible treatment from the Holy Prophet. But he forgave all of them with these words:

“You are not blamable to-day. Go and you are all free (to live in

peace)”*

The effect of such a kindness was that the non -believers of Mecca sincerely accepted Islam and proved to be a steel wall against the enemies of the Muslims in the years to come.

*[Seerat-un-Nabi by Ibn Hashsham, Vol. II, p. 489, Ghulam Ali & Sons.]

Note: In the above Verses (3:78-80), it has been stated that the People of the Book distorted their Book and fabricated the belief that Prophet Jesus was God or one of three Gods. Similarly, the Polytheists of Arabia, who believed in Prophet Ibrahim, evolved the concept that the angels were the Children of Allah, as indicated in 3:80, 37:149-153,158,52:39,53:27,6:101 etc. The above Verses (3:78-80) categorically reject their beliefs by stating that the Prophets never preached like that, nor they ordered them to set aside the Commandments of Allah about His Oneness and declare them as God or Children of God.

The People of the Book also distorted their Book with respect to the qualities of the Last Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). In the next Verse, therefore, they have bee reminded about the great and solemn Covenant that was taken from the Prophets and through them from their followers that they would believe in the Last Prophet and assist him in his mission on his appearance in this world.

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