God Arises
Affirmation of Prophethood
~ 274 ~
Had such an example of superior conduct survived
from pre-historic times, perhaps in the form of a
myth, it would have been regarded as fiction, being
too astonishing to be a fact. History, indeed, has no
match for the magnanimity of the Prophet. Sir
William Muir, speaking of the treatment meted out
to the prisoners of Badr by the Muslims, gives
another such shining example:
In pursuance of Muhammad’s commands, the
citizens of Madinah and such of the refugees
as possessed houses, received the prisoners
and treated them with much consideration.
‘Blessings be on the men of Madinah!’ said
these prisoners in later days. ‘They made us
ride, while they themselves walked; they gave
us wheat and bread to eat, when there was
little of it, contending themselves with dates!’
The sincerity of purpose and selflessness that he
displayed throughout his life have, indeed, no
parallels in history.
Prior to his prophethood, he had been a successful
merchant and had entered into marriage with a
wealthy widow, Khadija. But when he was
