An Example of Noble Character

inclined towards Islam the opportunity to become true devotees of God. The background to this situation is that the Arabs (the descendants of Ishmael) were generally simple-minded people who remained close to their natural disposition. Their deviation was superficial; it had not deeply taken root within them. This is why, in the early period of Islam, we find many cases where a person would come to the Prophet of Islam, ask simple questions, and then either acknowledge his truthfulness or recite the declaration of faith and embrace Islam on the spot. For instance, Amr ibn Abasah once visited the Prophet and asked, “Teach me something of what God has taught you.” The Prophet shared teachings about monotheism, kindness, and good character. Amr immediately responded, “How excellent are the things with which God has sent you.” (AlTabqat al-Kubra by Ibn Sa’d, Vol. 4, p. 204) Such examples are found throughout the Prophet’s life. They show that while the Arabs’ behaviour had deteriorated, their inner nature remained intact. With just a small push, they were ready to embrace the truth. It was due to the simplicity of the early Arabs that—apart from a few tribal leaders—their denial of the Prophet of Islam was, for the most part, the result of misunderstanding rather than deliberate rebellion. Because of this same disposition, they had the confidence to make a prayer before the Battle of Badr as mentioned below, for which they received an answer as mentioned in chapter 8, verse 19.