Sublime Character

On hearing this, the Prophet immediately got up and left. “Why have you left your place, Prophet of God?” Abu Bakr enquired. “As long as you remained silent, Abu Bakr,” the Prophet replied, “God’s angel was answering for you. But as soon as you burst out, the angel left.” Thus the Prophet illustrated that God requites any wrong done to one, as long as one does not oneself retaliate. To one who seeks revenge, God turns a deaf ear. Therefore, retribution will be more complete if it is left to God. The Prophet once borrowed some money from a Jewish scholar. After a few days, the Jew demanded payment of his debt. “At the moment, I have nothing to pay you with,” the Prophet told him. “I won’t let you go until you have paid me back,” the Jew retorted. And so he stayed there, from morning until night, holding the Prophet captive. At this time, the Prophet was the established ruler of Madinah: he had the power to take measures against the Jew. His companions wanted to rebuke the man and chase him away. But the Prophet forbade them to take any action. “A Jew is holding you captive,” protested one of them. “True,” the Prophet replied, “but the Lord has forbidden us to wrong anyone.” The night turned to morning. With the light of dawn, the Jew’s eyes opened. He was profoundly moved on seeing the Prophet’s tolerance, notwithstanding the latter’s power to take action, and he thereupon embraced Islam. This Jew, a rich man, had detained the Prophet the day before on account of a few pence; but the Prophet’s noble conduct had such an impact on him that now he was willing