Muhammad a Prophet For all Humanity
4. Sublime Character
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had been held in high esteem. From ancient times
the task had been allotted to one particular family.
In the time of the Prophet Muhammad a member of
that family, ‘Uthman ibn Talhah retained it in his
custody.
Al-Bukhari, the greatest compiler of traditions of
the Prophet, has related how the Prophet, before his
emigration to Madinah, once desired to go inside
the Ka’bah for worship. He asked ‘Uthman for the
keys, so that he could open the gate. ‘Uthman
refused and insulted the Prophet. ‘Uthman,’ the
Prophet said, ‘perhaps you will see that one day I
will have these keys in my hands. I will have the
power to dispose of them as I will.’ “It will be a day
of disgrace and woe for the Quraysh when the keys
of the Ka’bah are handed over to one like you,’
‘Uthman retorted.
Then the time came when the Prophet conquered
Makkah and reigned supreme there. The first thing
he did on entering the holy city was to go to the
House of God. Seven times he circumambulated the
Ka’bah. Then he summoned ‘Uthman ibn Talhah.
According to one account, ‘Uthman had become a
