Story No. 179 – Prophet Muhammad’s (saw) Tolerance and Forgiveness
Hadhrat Muhammad Mustafa (saw) never attempted to retaliate against the insults and disrespect of anybody, and forgave people’s mistakes or their misconduct. His reaction to the torment and disregard of the ignorant people was forgiveness and tolerance.
In spite of all the tortures and torments that the Quraish had inflicted upon Hadhrat Muhammad Mustafa (saw), on conquering Makkah, he forgave them and set them free.
In the battle of Uhud, a man named Wahshi killed Hamza ibn Abd Al-Muttalib, the beloved uncle of Hadhrat Muhammad Mustafa (saw). However, he forgave his sin. Also, he forgave the many torments and troubles that Abu Sufyan ibn Harb and his wife, Hind bint Utbah, had caused for him and he did not take revenge. However, for all his tolerance and mercifulness, he did not take pity on those who violated Allah’s (SWT) threshold and sacred precepts and would punish the violator in accordance with divine rules. In affecting Allah’s (SWT) orders, he would take no notice of anybody’s intercession.
When Hadhrat Muhammad Mustafa (saw) was informed that Fatima Mukhzumiyah had committed theft, he punished her according to the laws of Islam concerning theft and did not regard the intercession of Asamata ibn Zayd in this respect, saying, ‘The ruin and downfall of the preceding peoples was due to the fact that they did not enforce the laws of punishment in the case of the aristocrats and the people of status. I swear by the One in Whose hands is my life that even if Fatima al-Zahra (his daughter) had committed such a sin, I would cut off her hand.’
Prophet Muhammad’s (saw) cleanliness and orderliness
Hadhrat Muhammad Mustafa (saw) was fond of scent and spent more on buying perfumes than on food. His pleasant smell filled the air of any place he passed, so that whosoever passed there knew that Hadhrat Muhammad Mustafa (saw) had passed that way.
His dress was always clean, though simple. Hadhrat Muhammad Mustafa (saw) was very mindful of cleanliness. He used to brush his teeth frequently and washed his blessed hands both before and after meals. Whenever Hadhrat Muhammad Mustafa (saw) was about to leave his house, he would look into a mirror or into water; he always left home with a clean, pleasant appearance.