This is our Prophet (Images of Muhammad’s, peace and blessing be upon him, mercy with non-Muslims)

By                                

Dr. Muhammad ibn ‘Adnaan As-Sammaan

General Manager of Alssunnahnet website

All perfect praise be to Allaah The Almighty Who says (what means): {And We have sent you (O Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him) not but as a mercy for the ‘Alameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists).} [Quran 21: 107].

Peace and blessings be upon whom his Lord sent with guidance and mercy; Prophet Muhammad, and upon his household and companions.

Mercy appears clearly in our Messenger Muhammad’s, peace and blessing be upon him, morals and conduct towards all people. This mercy was not only confined to his companions, may Allaah be pleased with them; but rather, it extended to include non-Muslims. This really manifested in different ways and images that many Muslims and non Muslims may be unaware of. Therefore, these images get us acquainted with our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him, and how his mercy towards non-Muslims was:

First image: The instructions of the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, in the Ghazawaat (i.e. battles):

•            It was narrated that ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar, may Allaah be pleased with them, said: “During some of the Ghazawaat of the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, a woman was found killed. The Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, disapproved the killing of women and children.” [Reported by Al-Bukhaari].

•            It was narrated that Burayd ibn Al-Haseeb, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: “When the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, appointed anyone as leader of an army or detachment he would especially exhort him to fear Allaah and to be good to the Muslims who were with him. He would say: Fight in the Name of Allaah and in the cause of Allaah. Fight against those who do not believe in Allaah. Wage a holy war: do not embezzle the spoils, do not break your pledge, do not mutilate (the dead) bodies and do not kill the children.

When you meet enemies who are polytheists, invite them to three courses of action. If they respond to any one of these, you also accept it and restrain yourself from doing them any harm. Invite them to (accept) Islam; if they respond to you, accept it from them and desist from fighting against them. Then invite them to migrate from their lands to the land of Muhaajirs (immigrants) and inform them that, if they do so, they shall have all the privileges and obligations of the Muhaajirs. If they refuse to migrate, tell them that they will have the status of Bedouin Muslims and will be subjected to the Commands of Allaah like other Muslims, but they will not receive any share from the spoils of war or Fay’ (booty gained with no fight or war and was assigned to the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him) except when they actually fight with the Muslims (against the nonbelievers). If they refuse to accept Islam, demand from them the Jizyah (tribute tax). If they agree to pay, accept it from them and hold your hand. If they refuse to pay the tax, seek Allaah's Help and fight them.

When you lay siege to a fort and the besieged appeal to you for protection in the Name of Allaah and His Prophet, do not accord to them the guarantee of Allaah and His Prophet, but accord to them your own guarantee and the guarantee of your companions. It is a lesser sin that the security given by you or your companions be disregarded than that the security granted in the Name of Allaah and His Prophet be violated. When you besiege a fort and the besieged want you to let them out in accordance with Allaah's Command, do not let them come out in accordance with His Command, but do so at your (own) command, for you do not know whether or not you will be able to carry out Allaah's behest with regard to them. [Reported by Muslim].

•            It was narrated that Sahl ibn Sa‘d, may Allaah be pleased with them, said: “On the day of (the battle of) Khaybar, Allaah's Messenger, peace and blessing be upon him, said, "Tomorrow I will give this flag to a man through whose hands Allaah will give us victory. He loves Allaah and His Messenger, and he is loved by Allaah and His Messenger." The people remained that night, wondering as to who would be given it. In the morning the people went to Allaah's Messenger, peace and blessing be upon him, and everyone of them was hopeful to receive it (i.e. the flag). The Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, said, "Where is ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib?" It was said, "He is suffering from eye trouble, O Allah's Messenger." He said, "Send for him." ‘Ali was brought and Allah's Messenger spat in his eye and invoked good upon him. So ‘Ali was cured as if he never had any trouble. Then the Prophet , peace and blessing be upon him, gave him the flag. ‘Ali said "O Allaah's Messenger! I will fight with them till they become like us." Allaah's Messenger said, "Proceed and do not hurry. When you enter their territory, call them to embrace Islam and inform them of Allaah's Rights which they should observe, for by Allaah, even if a single man is led on the right path (of Islam) by Allaah through you, then that will be better for you than the nice red camels.” [Reported by Al-Bukhaari and Muslim].

Second Image: Prophet’s, peace and blessing be upon him, stance regarding killing Mu‘aahideen (i.e. those who have a treaty with the Muslims) and their properties:

•            It was narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr, may Allaah be pleased with him, that that the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, said: “Whoever killed a Mu‘aahid (one who has a treaty with the Muslims) will not smell the fragrance of Paradise, although its fragrance may be detected from a distance of forty years’ travel.” [Reported by Al-Bukhaari].

•            It was narrated that Khaalid ibn Al-Waleed, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: “I went with the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, to fight at the battle of Khaybar, and the Jews came and complained that the people had hastened to take their protected property (as a booty), so the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, said: “The property of those who have been given a mules, every fanged beast of prey, and every bird with a talon are forbidden for you.” [Reported by Abu Daawood with a Hasan (good) Sanad (chain of narrators)].

Third image: Prophet’s, peace and blessing be upon him, stances towards the captives:

•            It was narrated that Abu Hurairah, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: “The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, sent some cavalry towards Najd and they brought a man from the tribe of Banu Haneefah who was called Thumaamah ibn ‘Uthaal. They fastened him to one of the pillars of the Mosque. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, went to him and said, “What have you got, O Thumaamah?” He replied, “I have got a good thought, O Muhammad! If you should kill me, you would kill a person who has already killed somebody, and if you should set me free, you would do a favor to one who is grateful, and if you want property, then ask me whatever wealth you want.” He was left till the next day when the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to him, “What have you got, Thumaamah? He said, “What I told you, i.e. if you set me free, you would do a favor to one who is grateful.” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, left him till the day after, when he said, “What have you got, O Thumaamah?” He said, “I have got what I told you.” On that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Release Thumaamah.” So he (i.e. Thumaamah) went to a garden of date-palm trees near to the Mosque, took a bath and then entered the Mosque and said, “I testify that None has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, and also testify that Muhammad is His Messenger! By Allaah, O Muhammad! There was no face on the surface of the earth most disliked by me than yours, but now your face has become the most beloved face to me. By Allaah, there was no religion most disliked by me than yours, but now it is the most beloved religion to me. By Allaah, there was no town most disliked by me than your town, but now it is the most beloved town to me. Your cavalry arrested me (at the time) when I was intending to perform the ‘Umrah. And now what do you think?” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, gave him good tidings (congratulated him) and ordered him to perform the ‘Umrah. So when he came to Makkah, someone said to him, “You have become a Saab’ (i.e. renounced your past religion)?” Thumaamah replied, “No! By Allaah, I have embraced Islam with Muhammad, Messenger of Allaah. No, by Allaah! Not a single grain of wheat will come to you from Yamaamah unless the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, gives his permission. [Reported by Al-Bukhaari].

Fourth Image: Prophet’s, peace and blessing be upon him, mercy towards non-Muslims and even supplicating Allaah The Almighty to guide them:

•            It was narrated that Abu Hurairah, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: “The Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, was asked  to invoke Allaah to punish the polytheists but he, peace and blessing be upon him, replied: “I have not been sent as one to curse but as a mercy.” [Reported by Muslim].

•            It was narrated that Abu Hurairah, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: “I used to call my mother to Islam when she was a Mushrikah (i.e. polytheist). I called her one day and she said something about the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, that I did not like to hear. So I went to the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, weeping, and said, “O Messenger of Allaah, I have been calling my mother to Islam, but she refuses. I called her today and she said something about you that I did not like to hear. Pray to Allaah to guide the mother of Abu Hurairah.” The Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, said, “O Allaah, guide the mother of Abu Hurayrah.” I went out feeling optimistic because of the Du‘aa’ (supplication) of the Prophet of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him. When I came home and reached the door, I saw that it was slightly ajar. My mother heard my footsteps and said, “Stay where you are, O Abu Hurairah!” and I could hear the trickling of water. She took a bath and got dressed, and put on her headcover, then she opened the door and said, “O Abu Hurairah, I bear witness that there is no god except Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger!” I went back to the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, and I came to him weeping with joy. I said, “O Messenger of Allaah, rejoice, for Allaah has answered your prayer and guided the mother of Abu Hurairah.” So he, peace and blessing be upon him, praised Allaah and said good words. I said, “O Messenger of Allaah, pray to Allaah to make my mother and me beloved to His believing slaves, and to make them beloved to us.” The Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, said, “O Allaah, make this slave of Yours – meaning Abu Hurairah – and his mother beloved to Your believing slaves, and make the believers beloved to them.” So there are no believing people who hear of me even though they do not see me, but they love me. [Reported by Muslim].

•            It was narrated that Abu Hurairah, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: “Tufayl ibn ‘Amr Ad-Dawsi and his companions came to the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, and said: “O Messenger of Allaah, Daws have rebelled and disobeyed, so pray to Allaah against them.” People said, “Now Daws are doomed!” He, peace and blessing be upon him, said, “O Allaah, guide Daws and bring them here.” [Reported by Al-Bukhaari].

•            It was narrated that Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: “They said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, we have suffered much from the arrows of Thaqeef (this was when they were fighting, before they became Muslim), so pray to Allaah against them.’ He said, ‘O Allaah, guide Thaqeef.’” [Reported by At-Tirmithi, who said: this is a Hasan Saheeh  ghareeb (good, authentic and strange) Hadeeth].

•            It was narrated that Anas, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: “A young Jewish boy used to serve the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, and he became sick. So the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, went to visit him. He sat near his head and asked him to embrace Islam. The boy looked at his father, who was sitting there; the latter told him to obey Abul Qaasim, peace and blessing be upon him, and the boy embraced Islam. The Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, came out saying: “Praises be to Allaah Who saved the boy from the Hell-fire.” [Reported by Al-Bukhaari].

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