It was narrated that Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: "We went out on a campaign with the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, in the direction of Najd. The Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, caught up with us in a valley where there were a lot of trees. The Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, dismounted beneath a tree and hung up his sword of one of its branches, and the people scattered in the valley seeking the shade of the trees. The Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, said: “A man came to me whilst I was sleeping and took the sword. I woke up to see him standing over my head and he took me surprise when I saw that the sword was unsheathed in his hand. He said to me: Who will protect you from me? I said: Allaah. Then he said a second time: Who will protect you from me? I said: Allaah. Then he put the sword back in its sheath, and there he is, still sitting here.” Then the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, did not take the matter any further. (1).

There is another narration reported in Al-Musnad by Imam Ahmad:

The man said to the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him: "Who will protect you from me?'' He, peace and blessing be upon him, replied, "Allaah The Almighty.'' As soon as he said this, the sword fell down from his hand and the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, catching the sword, asked him, "Who will protect you from me.'' He said, "Please forgive me.'' Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him,  said, "On condition you testify that there is none worthy of worship but Allaah and that I am His Messenger.'' He said, "No, but I promise you that I shall not fight against you, nor shall I be with those who fight with you". The Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, let him go. He then went back to his companions and said: "I have come to you from one of the best of mankind." (2).

Amongst the lessons drawn from the above-mentioned Hadeeth (3):

1- The bravery, fearless and calmness of the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, to the extent that the bedouin feared him while the sword was in his hand and the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, has nothing to defend himself.

2- Perfection of the morals of the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him. He, peace and blessing be upon him, pardoned the man and did not punish him while he deserved punishment.

3- The virtue of the Companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, and their perfect love and respect to the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him. It was reported in some other narrations of that Hadeeth: "Whenever we came across a shady tree and we left it for the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, to take rest under its shade."

4- The virtues and benefits of pardoning in reconciling people in Islam and removing enmity and changing it to love. Some historians such as Ibn Ishaaq and Al-Qaaqidi, may Allaah have mercy upon them, have mentioned that the man convert to Islam and return to his people and many people converted to Islam because of him. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {The good deed and the evil deed cannot be equal. Repel (the evil) with one which is better (i.e. Allaah ordered the faithful believers to be patient at the time of anger, and to excuse those who treat them badly), then verily! he, between whom and you there was enmity, (will become) as though he was a close friend. But none is granted it (the above quality) except those who are patient, and none is granted it except the owner of the great portion (of the happiness in the Hereafter i.e. Paradise and in this world of a high moral character).} [Quran 41: 34-35]

5- Muslim individual should follow the footsteps of the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, and pardon those who did something bad for him, and show patience about the harm that may be caused by his fellow Muslims for it is more appropriate to pardon and forgive them from the non-Muslim.

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(1)         Reported in Saheeh Al-Bukhaari No. (2910) and Saheeh Muslim No. (6090) and the wording for the latter.

(2)         Reported in Al-Musnad by Imam Ahmad (31/348) No. (15314). 

(3)         Refer to Fat-h Al-Baari by Ibn Hajr (7/427).

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