Muhammad a Prophet For all Humanity
16. The Companions of the Prophet
~ 410 ~
refrained from debasing the Prophet’s sword by
slaying a woman with it”.
Another companion has described the incident like
this. “I saw that Abu Dujanah had raised his sword
to kill Hind bint ‘Utbah. Suddenly he removed the
sword from above her head.” One of the orders that
the Prophet used to issue in times of battle was that
women, children and old men should not be slain.
Abu Dujanah remembered the Prophet’s orders in
the heat of the battle and, even as his sword was
plunging down on its victim, he withdrew it when
he saw that it was a woman.
From this one can see how strong was the
Companions’ control over their emotions. Even in
moments of overwhelming passion, they were able
to take reasoned decisions, and were able to judge
matters dispassionately, no matter how extreme the
provocation they faced. Even when feelings of anger
and vengeance had gone beyond all bounds, they
were able to adopt the correct frame of mind.
Changing direction when travelling at full speed
may appear easy enough, but in practice it is
extremely difficult. Only one can accomplish such a
