Rising above love and hate

Rising above love and hate

1994 7 July 12 Rising above love and hate (227) When the Prophet emigrated from Mecca to Medina, the keys of the House of God in Mecca were in the custody of one Uthman ibn abu Talhah, they having remained in the keeping of his family for several generations. One day, the Prophet asked Uthman for the keys, but the latter refused to hand them over, and spoke rudely to him. They Prophet heard him out but all he said finally was: “Uthman, perhaps you will live to see the day when I shall have these keys in my hands. I shall then be in a position to give them unto whom I will.” “It will be a day of disgrace and woe for the Quraysh when the keys of the Kabah are in the hands of one such as you” replied Uthman.

After the conquest of Mecca, God’s Messenger reigned supreme there, and asked for the keys of the Kabah to be handed over to him. When the keys were actually in his hands, his own cousin and son-in-law, Ali ibn Abu Talib, arose and asked for them to be given to him. The Prophet however, did not respond. Instead, he summoned Uthman ibn Talhah, when he stood before him, the Prophet handed him the keys, saying, “Here are your keys, Uthman. This is a day of righteousness and fulfillment of promises.”

(Ibn Qayyim, Zad ai-Ma’ad)