Life of The Holy Prophet Muhammad^sa

FORGIVENESS OF ENEMIES

All rites and duties over, the Prophet^sa addressed the Makkans and said: “You have seen how true the promises of God have proved. Now tell me what punishment you should have for the cruelties and enormities you committed against those whose only fault was that they invited you to the worship of the One and Only God.” To this the Makkans replied, “We expect you to treat us as Joseph^as treated his erring brothers.” By significant coincidence, the Makkans used in their plea for forgiveness the very words which God had used in Surah Yusuf, revealed ten years before the conquest of Makkah. In this the Prophet^sa was told that he would treat his Makkan persecutors as Joseph^as had treated his brothers. By asking for the treatment which Joseph^as had meted out to his brothers, the Makkans admitted that the Prophet^sa of Islam was the like of Joseph^as and as Joseph^as was granted victory over his brothers, the Prophet^sa had been granted victory over the Makkans. Hearing the Makkans’ plea, the Prophet^sa declared at once: “By God, you will have no punishment today and no reproof” (Hisham). While the Prophet^sa was engaged in expressing his gratitude to God and in carrying out other devotions at the Ka‘bah, and while he was addressing the Makkans announcing his decision to forgive and forget, misgivings arose in the minds of the Ansar, the Madinite Muslims. Some of them were upset over the scenes of homecoming and of reconciliation which they witnessed on the return of Makkan Muslims to Makkah. Was the Prophet^sa parting company with them, his friends in adversity who provided the first home to Islam? Was the Prophet^sa going to settle down at Makkah, the town from which he had to flee for his life? Such fears did not seem too remote now that Makkah had been conquered and his own tribe had joined Islam. The Prophet^sa might want to settle down in it. God informed the Prophet^sa of these misgivings of the Ansar. He raised his head, looked at the Ansar and said “You seem to think Muhammad^sa is perturbed by the love of his town, and by the ties which bind him to his tribe.” “It is true,” said the Ansar, “we did think of this.” “Do you know,” said the Prophet^sa, “who I am? I am a Servant of God and His Messenger. How can I give you up? You stood by me, and sacrificed your lives when the Faith of God had no earthly help. How can I give you up and settle elsewhere? No, Ansar, this is impossible. I left Makkah for the sake of God and I cannot return to it. I will live and die with you.” The Ansar were moved by this singular expression of love and loyalty. They regretted their distrust of God and His Prophet^sa, wept and asked to be forgiven. They explained that they would not have any peace if the Prophet^sa left their town and went elsewhere. The Prophet^sa replied that their fear was understandable and that, after their explanation, God and His Prophet^sa were satisfied about their innocence and acknowledge their sincerity and loyalty. How must the Makkans have felt at this time? True they did not shed the tears of devotion but their hearts must have been full of regret and remorse. For, had they not cast away with their own hands the gem which had been found in their own town? They had all the more reason to regret this because the Prophet^sa, having come back to Makkah, had decided to leave it again for Madinah.¹