An Islamic Treasury of Virtues
9. Manners In Society
~ 219 ~
IN DEALINGS WITH OTHERS, GOOD
INTENTIONS BY THEMSELVES ARE NOT
ENOUGH
The battle of Jamal (36 AH) was raging with full
force and, on both sides, Muslims were being slain.
The Prophet’s widow, Aishah, who was present on
the scene, but at some distance from the battle, was
distressed at the amount of Muslim blood that was
being spilled. It was then that Kaab ibn Thaur came
before her and suggested that it might have a
beneficial effect if the Mother of the Faithful were to
ride on her camel on to the field of battle. Perhaps,
on seeing her mount, the combatants would lay
down their arms and peace would become a
possibility. Aishah, in her distress at the slaughter,
which was taking place, agreed to this proposal.
Coats of armour were placed around her,
howdah
6
to protect her, and she was led to a place where she
could be seen by both armies. This gesture,
however, had the reverse effect. Instead of stopping
the battle, it redoubled its fury. The combatants
thought that the Mother of the Faithful had herself
been encouraged to take part in the fighting and
that that was why she had been brought into the
