Islam and Peace
The Importance of Studying the Life of the Prophet Muhammad and its
Application to Our Lives
~ 91 ~
The surest way to uncover this favourable aspect of
an ill-disposed person is to return good behaviour
for bad behaviour. Our own continuing good
behaviour will rub off the veneer of hostility so that
the friendly inner core may stand revealed. It is a
matter of historical record that in the first phase of
Islam, tens of thousands of people entered its fold
because they were encouraged to do so by dai’s
acting on this principle. For example, there was an
idolater who, on finding the Prophet alone, drew
his sword to kill him, but he was so overawed by
the Prophet’s unflinching courage in the face of his
threat, that the sword dropped from his hand. Then
it was the Prophet’s turn to retaliate. But instead of
retaliating, the Prophet forgave him. His would-be
assailant was so highly impressed by his
extraordinary character, that he immediately
accepted Islam.
MAKING THE BEST OF ONE’S ENEMIES
After the Battle of Badr, about 70 of the enemy were
taken prisoner. All of them belonged to Mecca and
all of them were educated. The Prophet announced
that any of these war criminals who were willing to
