An Islamic Treasury of Virtues
5. Piety
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mother for the sake of the Prophet. “Do you know
the fate of one who loves God and His Prophet?”
asked the Prophet. “Poverty, which will overtake
him even more swiftly than flood waters streaming
down a hillside.”
(AL-TABARANI)
WORLDLY ATTACHMENT HINDERS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE TRUTH
A party of Christians from the Yemen visited
Madinah ten years after the Muslim emigration to
that town. Their group was led by one Abu
Harithah ibn Alqamah, a priest. On the way back to
Yemen, he was riding on a mule, when the animal
stumbled, throwing him to the ground. His brother,
Karz ibn Alqamah, who happened to be present at
the time, exclaimed, “Damn that wayward one!”
(meaning the Prophet Muhammad.) “Damn your
mother!” retorted Abu Harithah. “Why do you say
that?” asked his brother in astonishment. “By God,
well, do we know that this is the Prophet we have
been waiting for, the one prophesied in our
Scriptures,” replied Abu Harithah. “If that is so,”
said Karz, “Why do you not proclaim your belief in
