Labour of a Lifetime

Under the protective wing of such prayers, he devoted himself heart and soul to the area to which he was assigned. Spending as much time as he could in the company of the Prophet, he listened attentively to what was said, memorizing it and—when the need arose—writing it down. By recognizing where his own talents lay, and in doing all he could to develop them, he has taken his place in Islamic history as the greatest original relator of the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad. Every person has a responsibility to first recognize himself— to see where his own talents lie and do all he can to channel them in a positive direction. By doing this one is benefiting, not only oneself, but even more the cause to which one is committed. □ All power belongs to God The Prophet sent Dhamam ibn Thaalaba to preach the message of monotheism to the Banu Saad ibn Bakr tribe. He came before them and urged them to forsake idolatry. “What terrible gods—Lat and Uzza—you have chosen,” he said. “Don’t say such things,” they warned him. “Aren’t you afraid of being stricken by leucoderma, leprosy or madness?” Lat and Uzza were the idols that these people worshipped. They feared that, by condemning them, Dhamam was exposing himself to insanity, or illnesses such as leucoderma or leprosy. “Woe betide you,” Dhamam replied. “Lat and ‘Uzza can do one neither harm nor good.”