Muhammad a Prophet For all Humanity
4. Sublime Character
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But this does not hold true for the Prophet
Muhammad. History shows that the closer one
came to him, the more one was impressed by his
fine qualities.
Once some members of the tribe of Banu Qayn ibn
Jasr attacked the camp of the Banu Ma’an, a branch
of the Tay’ tribe. In the midst of plundering they
captured an eight-year-old boy called Zayd, whom
they subsequently sold as a slave at the fair of
‘Ukaz. It so happened that the latter came into the
service of the Prophet, having been presented by his
buyers to Khadijah shortly before her marriage to
the Prophet. The boy’s father and uncle soon learnt
of his whereabouts, and came to Makkah to recover
him and take him home with them. They met the
Prophet, and said that they would give any
compensation that he required, so long as he
returned the child to them. The Prophet said that he
did not want any compensation; if Zayd wanted to
go with them, they could take him. He called Zayd,
and asked him if he knew these people. Zayd said
that he did: they were his father and uncle. “They
want to take you with them.’ “I won’t leave you to
go anywhere: Zayd replied. His father and uncle
