An Islamic Treasury of Virtues
5. Piety
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private; speaking the truth whether calm or angry;
and moderation whether one is rich or poor.” The
three destructive traits he mentioned as being the
satisfaction of one’s own desires, miserliness and
conceit. “And the last one, that is the worst of all,”
he said.
(AL-BAIHAQI,
AL-SUNAN AL-KUBRA)
FEARING GOD IN MATTERS THAT CONCERN
THE WEAK
After the Battle of Badr (624 AD) seventy idolaters
were taken prisoners and brought to Madinah, one
of them being Suhayl ibn Amr. The Prophet was
told that Suhayl indulged in fiery oratory in which
he used to give vent to his antagonism for the
Prophet, and it was suggested that his teeth be
broken. “My own teeth would be broken by God if I
were to do such a thing, even though I am His
Prophet,” was the rejoinder of God’s Messenger.
The captives were looked after in the homes of the
Companions and the Prophet issued instructions to
care for them well.” One of them, Abu Aziz by
name, said that the Ansar in whose house he stayed
used to serve him bread morning and evening,
