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Characteristics of Prophet Muhammad
peace and blessing be upon him
The Muhammadan Forgiveness
To forgive means that the person no longer has the wish to punish somebody even when he has the ability to take revenge of the offensive. Allah Most High said to His Prophet, {Hold to forgiveness; command what is right; but turn away from the ignorant} (The Heights V., 199). When the Prophet, God’s blessing and peace be upon him, asked Gabriel, may peace be upon him, about the meaning of this holy verse, he said, «I shall ask the Omniscient, the Knowing». Then he came to the Prophet and said, «O Muhammad! God orders you to maintain close relation to the one who breaks off the relation with you, to give the one who takes from you and to forgive the one who oppresses you». The Prophet, God’s blessing and peace be upon him, patterned after his Lord’s order and he became proverbial of the three previous characteristics.
The following incidents are clear examples of the Prophet’s forgiveness:
1. A’isha, may God be pleased with her, said, «When the Prophet was asked to choose between two matters, he chose the easiest one if it was not a sin; but when it was a sin, he was so far from it. He never took revenge for himself but he only took revenge when God’s sacred rites were violated».
2. Ghawrath Ibn al- Harith confronted him (the Prophet) once and he wanted to murder him. The Prophet, God’s blessing and peace be upon him, slept under a big tree and so did his companions. Suddenly, the Prophet got up and saw the sword of Ghawrath above his head. Ghawrath said, «Who holds you back from me?» The Prophet said, ‘God’. Soon, the sword fell from Ghawrath’s hand and the Prophet took it and said, ‘Who holds you back from me?’ The Prophet, however, left and forgave him. After that, Ghawrath went back to his people and told them, «I have met the best man in this world». Like this, the Muhammadan forgiveness was.
3. The morning which followed the conquest of Mecca, the Prophet entered the Sacred Mosque and found the men of Quraysh sitting with their heads bowing and waiting for the decision of the Prophet, God’s blessing and peace be upon him. He said, ‘O people of Quraysh. What do you think I am going to do with you?’. They said, «A gracious brother and a gracious nephew». He said, ‘Go. You are free’. He forgave them in spite of the various crimes they committed against him and against his companions. He did not beat them and also did not kill any one of them. May God be pleased with him and all his companions.
4. Lubaid Ibn al- A’sam bewitched him but the Prophet forgave him. He did not punish him. He also did not even blame or admonish him. Thus, this attitude was an indication of the Muhammadan forgiveness.
5. On his way back from Tabuk to Medina, the unbelievers plotted to kill him. He knew their plan but he forgave them and said, ‘It is never said that Muhammad kills his companions’.
6. A man came to kill him, he discovered the man’s plan and his intention appeared. The Prophet’s companions said, «This man has come to kill you». The man became confused because of the great horror and fear. The Prophet said, ‘Do not be afraid. Do not be afraid. If you wanted that, I mean, killing me, you would have never dominated me’. This means that the Prophet will not be murdered because God always protected him from the people (he was told about this by God Himself). So, the Prophet, God’s blessing and peace be upon him, forgave him despite the fact that he wanted to kill him.
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