Sublime Character

required if he returned the child to them. The Prophet said he did not want compensation; if Zayd wanted to go with them, they could take him. So Prophet called Zayd and asked him if he knew these people. Zayd said that he did: they were his father and uncle. “They want to take you with them.” “I won’t leave you to go anywhere: Zayd replied. His father and uncle were incensed on hearing this. “What, do you prefer slavery to freedom?” they asked. “Do you want to forsake your folk and live amongst others?” “I cannot prefer anyone to Muhammad.” Zayd replied, “not after seeing the qualities that he has.” They had no choice then but to go back home without him. Such was the charisma of the Prophet. This incident, which occurred before the commencement of the Prophet’s mission, reveals the tenderness that was inherent in his nature. The Quran has referred to this characteristic of his in the following words: It was thanks to God’s mercy that you were lenient with them. Had you been cruel and hardhearted, they would indeed have deserted you.25 This magnanimity of the Prophet gave him the power to capture people’s hearts: the closer one came to him, the more one would be won over by his noble character. The Prophet once said: “Honouring ties of relationship does not mean honouring your ties with those who honour their ties with you; it means honouring your ties with those who sever their ties with you.” The well-known case of