Exemplary Conduct

is here!” The Prophet motioned to him to be silent so the enemy would not know where he was lying. In this dire situation, the Prophet uttered a curse against certain leaders of the Quraysh, especially Safwan, Suhayl and Harith. How can a people who wound their prophet ever prosper!’ he exclaimed. Even this was not to God’s liking, and Gabriel came with this revelation: It is no concern of yours whether He will forgive or punish them. They are wrongdoers.20 This admonition was enough for the Prophet, and his anger subsided. Crippled with wounds, he started praying for the people who had wounded him. Abdullah ibn Mas’ud later recalled how the Prophet was wiping the blood from his forehead, and at the same time, praying: Lord, forgive my people, for they know not what they do.21 Biographies of the Prophet are full of incidents of this nature, which show his life to be a perfect model for humanity. They show that we are God’s servants, and servants we should remain in every condition. Being God’s humble servants, we should always remain in a state of trepidation before our Lord and the life hereafter. Everything in the universe should serve to remind us of God. In every event, we should see the hand of the Almighty; for us, every object should portray God’s signs. In all matters of a worldly nature, we should remember that everything will finally be referred to God. Fear of hell should make us live humbly among our fellows, and longing for paradise should impress