Story No. 197 – Prophet Mohammed (saw): Kindness and forgiveness [Story of convert to Islam]
Prophet Mohammed (saw): Kindness and forgiveness More than 1400 years ago in Arabia the people were living very much in fear. They feared their neighbors. They feared other tribes. They even feared their idols. For this was the time before Islam. The Arabs were worshipping idols. In their ignorance they would bury their newly born daughters alive. As Islam began to spread among Arabs such cruel practices stopped. Islam taught love and peace. It taught respect, kindness and forgiveness.
Prophet Mohammed (saw) himself was a very kind and loving person. Prophet Mohammed (saw) treated every one, young and old, with respect and kindness, because Prophet Mohammed (saw) was spreading the word of Allah (SWT). And he was changing, for better, the lives of many Arabs and because some Arabs felt that by the teaching of Prophet Mohammed (saw) their old idols were losing power they disliked Prophet Mohammed (saw) and planned to kill him. Every time they tried to kill him, they failed. This angered the enemies of Islam even more. So they began to harass him in every way they knew.
One old woman made a habit of throwing rubbish on Prophet Mohammed (saw) whenever he passed from her house. Prophet Mohammed (saw) had to pass that house daily on the way to the mosque. Even when the old woman threw rubbish on him, he would pass silently without showing any anger or annoyance. This was a regular, daily event.
One day when Prophet Mohammed (saw) was passing by the woman was not there to throw the rubbish. Prophet Mohammed (saw) stopped and asked the neighbor about her well-being. The neighbor informed Prophet Mohammed (saw) that the woman was sick and laying on the bed. Prophet Mohammed (saw) politely asked permission to visit the old woman. When allowed he entered the house, the old woman thought that he had come there to take his revenge when she was unable to defend herself because of her sickness. But Prophet Mohammed (saw) assured her that he had come to her, not to take any revenge, but to see her and to look after her needs, as it was the command of Allah (SWT) that if any one is sick, a Muslim should visit him and should help him if his help is needed.
The old woman was greatly moved by this love and kindness of Prophet Mohammed (saw). By the example of greatness of Prophet Mohammed (saw), she understood that he was truly the Messenger of Allah (SWT) and Islam was the true religion. She accepted Islam at once by reading the Shahadah (La Ilaha Ill Allah Muhammadur Rasool Allah, There is no god only Allah, Muhammad is the Rasool (Messenger) of Allah).