Sublime Character

SUBLIME CHARACTER to Madinah, once desired to go inside the Ka’bah for worship. He asked ‘Uthman for the keys to open the gate. ‘Uthman refused and insulted the Prophet. ‘Uthman,’ the Prophet said, “perhaps you will see that I will have these keys in my hands one day. Then, I will have the power to dispose of them as I will.” “It will be a day of disgrace and woe for the Quraysh when the keys of the Ka’bah are handed over to one like you,” ‘Uthman retorted. Then the time came when the Prophet conquered Makkah and reigned supreme there. The first thing he did on entering the holy city was to go to the House of God. Seven times he circumambulated the Ka’bah. Then he summoned ‘Uthman ibn Talhah. According to one account, ‘Uthman had become a Muslim during the period in between the peace of Hudaybiyyah and the Conquest of Makkah. So the Prophet took the keys from him, opened the gate of the Ka’bah, and went inside. He remained there for a while, removing the idols within its walls. Then he came outside, holding the keys in his hands. On his lips was this verse from the Quran: God commands you to hand back your trust to their rightful owners.27 Then, ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, the Prophet’s cousin and son-inlaw, stood up: “God bless you,” he said to the Prophet, “but we Banu Hashim have always been entrusted with the task of bearing water for pilgrims. Now is the time to take over the gatekeeper office as well.” The Prophet did not reply to ‘Ali and asked where ‘Uthman ibn Talhah was. When he