An Islamic Treasury of Virtues
2. What is Faith?
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Prophet’s death. That day, many Arabs went back
on their pledge to Islam, saying that they would
pray but would not pay the poor-due went to Abu
Bakr and advised him to be lenient with these
people. He said to me, “Umar, in the old days of
ignorance, (that is, prior to Islam) you were a brave
man. Now, in Islamic times, you have become a
coward. As for myself, I will wage war on them, by
God, so long as I am strong enough to hold a sword
in my hand, even if they withhold so much as a
piece of string!”
(KANZ AL-UMMAL)
BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO TOLERATE THE
SEVERITY OF THE RIGHTEOUS
Abu Saeed relates how an Arab desert-dweller
came to the Prophet to demand the repayment of
a debt. “I will make life difficult for you if you do
not repay what you owe,”· he said. The
Companions reprimanded him. “Shame on you,”
they said to him, “do you not realize to whom
you are speaking?” He replied that he was only
demanding what was rightfully his. Then the
Prophet spoke up. “Why do you not take the side
