Prophets of Allah were messengers as well as leaders. Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) is the last link of the chain of prophets. He proved to be an outstanding leader, and history does not show any other leader as successful, as compassionate, and as kind as Muhammad (P.B.U.H). He set forth such outstanding examples of mercy, forgiveness, and good governance, the likes of which haven’t been witnessed ever again.
Allah (S.W.T)’s words for him are:
“We have sent you as a mercy for all the worlds.” [Quran 21:107]
There are innumerable incidents in the life of Allah’s Last Messenger which manifest his forgiving nature. We are discussing two incidents here:
An Attempt To Assassinate:
A Non-Muslim woman sent a piece of poisoned meat to the Prophet of Allah (P.B.U.H) with the intention to kill him. The incident has been narrated in hadith:
Anas reported that a Jewess came to Allah’s Messenger with poisoned mutton and he took of that what had been brought to him. (When the effect of this poison were felt by him) he called for her and asked her about that, whereupon she said:
‘I had determined to kill you’. Thereupon he said:
‘Allah will never give you the power to do it.’
He (the narrator) said that they (the companion’s of the Prophet) said:
‘Should we not kill her?’ Thereupon he said:
‘No.’
He (Anas) said: ‘I felt (the effects of this poison) on the uvula of Allah’s Messenger’.” [Sahih Muslim]
Even after the woman admitting to her criminal intention, Allah’s kind Apostle (P.B.U.H) forgave her and did not allow his companions to punish her.
The Incident of Taif:
Another incident we would like to discuss is that of Taif.
When Muhammad (P.B.U.H) started preaching monotheism, he faced all kinds of obstacles. People of his own tribe ridiculed him and became his staunch enemies. But what he had to face in Taif was the worst.
On his mission to preach monotheism, Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) went to Taif. The leaders of the city were not only rude but humiliated him in the worst possible manner. They asked some groups of riff-raffs to harass the Prophet. The rowdy gangs jeered at him and threw stones. With bleeding wounds and a distressed heart, Prophet of Allah (P.B.U.H) called out to the Lord of the worlds:
“O God, to You I complain of my weakness, lack of resources and humiliation before these people. You are the Most Merciful, the Lord of the weak and my Master. To whom will You consign me? To one estranged, bearing ill will, or an enemy given power over me? If You do not assign me any worth, I care not, for Your favor is abundant upon me. I seek refuge in the light of Your countenance by which all darkness is dispelled and every affair of this world and the next is set right, lest Thy anger should descend upon me or Your displeasure light upon me. I need only Your pleasure and satisfaction for only You enable me to do good and evade the evil. There is no power and no might but You.”
The angel of mountains came down to Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) upon Allah (S.W.T)’s orders and asked for his permission to crush the people of Taif between the two hills surrounding it. Prophet of Allah (P.B.U.H), though sad and distressed, did not allow it and said:
“No! For, I hope that God will bring forth from their loins people who will worship God alone, associating nothing with Him.” (Saheeh Muslim)
Both the above incidents showed extremely vile intentions of enemies meant to hurt the Messenger (P.B.U.H) but he never avenged any of them. These are only two examples; his life is full of incidents of forgiveness, kindness and mercy.
May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad.
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