Sublime Character

SUBLIME CHARACTER to give all his wealth to the Prophet, saying, “Spend it as you please.” ‘Abdullah ibn Abi al-Hasma’ was once engaged in a transaction with the Prophet. It had not yet been completed when he had to go home on some urgent business. “Wait here,” he said to the Prophet. “We’ll settle this affair when I come back.” When he reached home, he became so engrossed in certain tasks that he forgot his promise. He remembered it three days later and returned to where he found the Prophet still waiting. He said to ‘Abdullah ibn Abi al-Hasma’: “You have given me much trouble; I have been waiting here for three days.” Such conduct has a powerful magnetism, which even the most obdurate person cannot resist. Once, a group of Rabbis came to the Prophet. When they entered, instead of giving the normal ‘Assalamu ‘Alaykum’ greeting, they said ‘Assamu ‘Alaykum’, meaning “death to you.” ‘Aisha heard this and could not contain herself. “Death to you instead,” she said. “May God damn you.” The Prophet told ‘Aisha not to answer back in this manner. “God is gentle,” he said, “and He likes gentleness in every matter.” In truth, there is no more effective method of winning a person’s heart than by returning soft words for harsh ones. It is possible to withstand an armed onslaught, but noble conduct is a force that no one can resist. It is sure to prevail in all situations. What a terrible thing it must have been for a man such as the Prophet when, as night was falling, he found the