<p>With the commencement of Prophet Muhammad's call to submission before the One True God, his own people - the Arabs - became his bitterest enemies so much so that no effort was spared to even kill him. The acts of hatred perpetrated against him - and his own responses to them - makes for interesting reading. <br /><br />There was once, in Makkah, an old woman who made it a habit to throw garbage on Prophet Muhammad whenever he passed by her house - and he did have to pass her house on a daily basis when he made his way to the place of worship. <br /><br />But even in the face of this vile act, the Prophet would pass silently, exhibiting neither anger nor annoyance. <br /><br />One day, however, when the Prophet was passing by the woman's house, he noticed that she was nowhere to be found. <br /><br />Prophet Muhammad was pleased not to have garbage thrown over him at least for that day. <br /><br />But when he could not find her the next day as well, he stopped and enquired with her neighbour about her well-being. He was informed that the woman was, in fact, sick in bed. <br /><br />Politely seeking permission, Prophet Muhammad entered her house when allowed to do so. The woman could only assume that he had come to take revenge at a time when she was unable to defend herself. <br /><br />But the Prophet assured her that he had come to her not for revenge, but to visit her and to look after her needs. <br /><br />Deeply moved by this act of love and kindness on the part of the Prophet, the old woman then understood the reality of his lofty station as a Prophet of God and soon accepted Islam.<br /><br />The Prophet's compassion for humanity was of such a degree that even acts of enmity from his bitterest foes could not decrease the measure in which this quality resided in him. <br /><br />God had blessed him with an exalted standard of character and made him a model for all humanity. <br /><br />The Qur’an says: "Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah (ie, Muhammad) you have an excellent example, for anyone who hopes for (the meeting with) Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much." (Qur'an 33: 21)<br /><br />The act of visiting the sick - one of great merit in Islam - is to be carried out by the Muslim amongst friend and foe alike. <br /><br />Prophet Muhammad himself was only living out the commandment of the Qur'an which said: "Keep to forgiveness (O Muhammad), and enjoin kindness, and turn away from the ignorant." (Qur'an 7: 199)</p>
<p>With the commencement of Prophet Muhammad's call to submission before the One True God, his own people - the Arabs - became his bitterest enemies so much so that no effort was spared to even kill him. The acts of hatred perpetrated against him - and his own responses to them - makes for interesting reading. <br /><br />There was once, in Makkah, an old woman who made it a habit to throw garbage on Prophet Muhammad whenever he passed by her house - and he did have to pass her house on a daily basis when he made his way to the place of worship. <br /><br />But even in the face of this vile act, the Prophet would pass silently, exhibiting neither anger nor annoyance. <br /><br />One day, however, when the Prophet was passing by the woman's house, he noticed that she was nowhere to be found. <br /><br />Prophet Muhammad was pleased not to have garbage thrown over him at least for that day. <br /><br />But when he could not find her the next day as well, he stopped and enquired with her neighbour about her well-being. He was informed that the woman was, in fact, sick in bed. <br /><br />Politely seeking permission, Prophet Muhammad entered her house when allowed to do so. The woman could only assume that he had come to take revenge at a time when she was unable to defend herself. <br /><br />But the Prophet assured her that he had come to her not for revenge, but to visit her and to look after her needs. <br /><br />Deeply moved by this act of love and kindness on the part of the Prophet, the old woman then understood the reality of his lofty station as a Prophet of God and soon accepted Islam.<br /><br />The Prophet's compassion for humanity was of such a degree that even acts of enmity from his bitterest foes could not decrease the measure in which this quality resided in him. <br /><br />God had blessed him with an exalted standard of character and made him a model for all humanity. <br /><br />The Qur’an says: "Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah (ie, Muhammad) you have an excellent example, for anyone who hopes for (the meeting with) Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much." (Qur'an 33: 21)<br /><br />The act of visiting the sick - one of great merit in Islam - is to be carried out by the Muslim amongst friend and foe alike. <br /><br />Prophet Muhammad himself was only living out the commandment of the Qur'an which said: "Keep to forgiveness (O Muhammad), and enjoin kindness, and turn away from the ignorant." (Qur'an 7: 199)</p>
