NOBLE ATTRIBUTES OF THE PROPHET

young Companion of the Prophet by the name of Safwan ibn Mu’attal. Indeed, the episode has become famous in Islamic history as the “case of the slander.” One of the persons responsible for its fabrication and propagation was a relative of Abu Bakr named Mistah. When Abu Bakr learnt that Mistah was one of those who had defamed his innocent daughter, he cut off the allowance that he used to grant Mistah as a needy relative. When Abu Bakr took this step, God revealed this verse of the Quran to His Prophet: “Let not the honourable and rich among you swear not to give to their kindred, the poor and those who have fled their homes for the cause of God. Rather, let them pardon and forgive. Do you not wish God to forgive you? He is Forgiving, Merciful.” (24: 22) That is, a person who is in need should not be denied financial assistance because of his misconduct. Rather one should pardon him and continue to help him. A man came up and insulted Abu Bakr one day when he was sitting with the Prophet. Abu Bakr listened and was silent. The man continued to abuse him. Again, Abu Bakr held his peace. When the man kept on repeating his foul language, Abu Bakr could contain himself no longer, and answered back. On hearing this, the Prophet immediately got up and left. “Why have you left your place, Prophet of God?” Abu Bakr enquired. “As long as you remained silent, Abu Bakr,” the Prophet replied, “God’s angel was answering for you. But as soon as you burst out, the angel left.” Thus, the Prophet illustrated that God requites one for any wrong done to one, as long as one does not take retaliatory measures of one’s own. But God leaves the matter to one who seeks revenge. Obviously, a requital will be more complete if it is left to God. The Prophet once borrowed some money from a Jewish scholar. After a few days, the Jew demanded payment of his debt. “At the moment, I have nothing to pay you with,” the Prophet told him. “I won’t let you go until you have paid me back,” the Jew retorted. And so, he stayed there, from morning until night, holding the Prophet captive. At this time, the Prophet was the established ruler of Madinah. He had the power to take measures against the Jew. His Companions, indeed, intended to rebuke the man and chase him away. It was this magnanimity of the Prophet that gave him the power to capture people’s hearts: the closer one came to him, the more one would be won over by his noble character.