Islamic Character

Communal sentiment belongs to the days of ignorance Jabir ibn Abdullah recalls being on an expedition along with some other Muslims when one of the Makkan Emigrants struck a Madinan Helper on the back. Enraged, the Helper shouted to his own kinsmen for help, while the Emigrant did likewise. The two groups confronted one another, then started a skirmish, but were soon separated by some people who came between them. When the Prophet heard about this incident, he asked how it was that people were reverting to the call of ignorance 9. People began narrating how one of the Emigrants had struck one of the Helpers, but the Prophet told them to refrain from talking about it, because such talk was so unsavoury. (MUSUM, AHMAD AL-BAYHAQI) Note: 9. The pre-Islamic times were known as the period of igno­rance.