The Prophetic Method

when he emigrated to their town—found this hard to bear. It seemed to them that, now that the Prophet was reestablished in his hometown, he had adopted a chauvinistic attitude and was showering his people with riches to please them. There is no doubt that the Prophet was above such base motivations, but the resentment that the Ansar felt at being left out was natural enough and posed severe problems for Muslim unity. The Prophet’s sincerity of purpose, however, showed in the emphatic manner in which he removed their doubts. The Prophet called all the Ansar together in a courtyard and addressed them in the following manner: “What is this that I hear about you? Is it not a fact you were lost, and God guided you, through me, to the right path? Whatever you needed, He granted you in abundance--again through me. You were at war with one another, and God brought you together as one people around me?” Everyone shouted out their agreement. Then the Prophet continued: You have every right to say that we Muhajirs came to you as refugees, expelled from our land, and sheltered us; we were in need, and you looked after us; we were terrorized and made us secure, friendless, and you gave us company. Tell me, helpers, are you resentful just because I have given some new converts a trivial gift to raise their spirits and make them secure in the Faith while entrusting you with the great gift God has bestowed upon you—that is Islam? Company of Helpers, are you not happy to see people take