An Islamic Treasury of Virtues
8. Manners In Speech
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came up to the group and asked his nephew (the
Prophet) who it was he was talking to. The Prophet
told his uncle that they were from Yathrib and that
he had given them the same message that he had
given to the other tribes. “They accepted it and
believed. They are willing to take me to their own
town.” Abbas alighted from his camel and came
over to the group. He warned the men of Aus and
Khazraj that there was no one dearer to him than
this nephew of his. “You have taken his teaching to
heart and believed in him, but if you wish to take
him to your own land, I must first make a covenant
with you and only then will my mind be at ease. You
must promise not to disgrace or deceive him. There
are Jews in your neighbourhood and the Jews are his
enemies; not for a moment do I consider him
immune from their plotting.” The leader of the
Yathribian party, Asad ibn Zararah, became
offended at this, feeling that what Abbas had said
cast aspersions on the character of his people. He
asked the Prophet for permission to answer Abbas.
The Prophet said that he might do so, but “without
rebuking him.”
(ABU NU‘AYM)
