Chapter XI: Living and Character of the Prophet (cont.)
Once 10,000 dirhams were brought to the Prophet which he distributed among his companions. After that a man came to him and begged him something. He said : I have got now nothing, but still I am giving you something after purchasing it. It was done accordingly. Hazrat Omar said : O Messenger of God, God has not imposed burden on you over which you have got no control.
His words did not appear pleasing to the Prophet. That man said :
Spend and do not fear poverty from God. The Prophet then smiled and pleasure was visible in his face. Once when he returned from the battlefield of Hunain, the desert, Arabs came to him and begged from him so much that he was compelled to take shelter to a corner of a tree. They caught his sheet and he said : Give back my sheet to me. Had I had sheep to the number of these thorny plants, I would have distributed them all to you and you would not have found me a miser or a coward.
(10) PROPHET'S BRAVERY AND HEROISM
The Holy Prophet was the greatest hero and brave man.
Hazrat Ali said : In the battle of Badr, we all stood surrounding the Prophet . He braved the enemies and we found him bravest on that day. He said : When fight began and friends and foes met with one another. We feared for the Prophet as he was closest to the enemies. Nobody went so near the enemies than him. When he passed order for fighting, he got pleased and prepared himself. He was seen at that time most superior in strength .
Hazrat Imran said : The Prophet attacked the enemy who came to him first. The companions said that the Prophet had then a firm hold on the enemy . In the battle of Hunain, when the Prophet was surrounded by the enemies, he alighted from his mule and said : I am surely the Messenger of God . There is no untruth in it. I am the descendant of Abdul Muttableb . He was on that day the bravest of all.
(11) PROPHET'S MODESTY AND HUMILITY
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Inspite of the lofty position of the Prophet, he was the most humble and modest. HazraJ Ibn Amer reported : I saw the Prophet throwing stones at Jamrah riding on a camel. There was no assault in it, no driving out and no saying : Go aside, go aside.
He sat on a sheet of cloth on the back of a mule and took some one
220 The Book of Wordly Usages Vol-II