Moral Pattern Par-Excellence (Part 4)
Al-Amin: The Embodiment of Uprightness
By M.Y.K.
Another incident highlighting the high standard of integrity which was the dominant trait of the Prophet´s ﷺ personality came about when Providential wisdom placed him in one of the most crucial moments of his life. It was 13th. year of the Call. The Makkans` persecutions of the small band of Muslims had touched the peak point. Life had been made intolerable for them. The Prophet ﷺ had permitted them to seek shelter where they could find it. Some time ago, batches of Muslim refugees had migrated to Abyssinia where they received asylum from the Christian King of that country. Now when the things once more became too hot for them the Prophet ﷺ advised his comrades to go to Medina and settle down there. While everybody was gone, the Prophet ﷺ, like a dutiful leader who cares more for the safety of his people than his own, stayed behind. He was awaiting Divine revelation, to show him the green light to go ahead with his emigration plan. Along with him were left just two men, Abu Bakr and Ali, his closest associates. They pressed him again and again to quit Makkah which had become unsafe for his very life. But no! The Prophet ﷺ would not take one step without making sure that it was God´s will to do so.
On the other side, activities in the enemy´s camp had reached the boiling point. Alarmed at the rapid growth of the Muslims´ camp at Medina, the Makkans held a general council to consider how to meet the danger. Leading men from among each clan participated in the deliberations. Various ways and means were suggested as to how to extirpate Islam. One suggestion was to imprison the Prophet ﷺ. Another thought banishment would be the best way to deal with him. Abu Jahl, the ringleader, did not find these to his satisfaction. So long as the Prophet ﷺ was alive, even though in captivity or exile, he was bound to be a force. Abu Jahl would not advise taking risks. He did not believe in half-measures. He thought the Prophet ﷺ must be done away with. That was to him the only way to get rid of the threat of Islam once for all. To kill the Prophet ﷺ however, was no easy job. It meant starting a whole blood feud with his clan, the Banu Hasham, who though equally opposed to his mission, were honour-bound by the code of Arab chivalry to avenge the blood of their kinsman. It was therefore, beyond the power of one individual to touch the Prophet ﷺ. The entire clan of Banu Hasham would be up in arms against him. To tide over this difficulty Abu Jahl hit upon a plan. Let each clan contribute one man towards the foul deed, he suggested. The gang thus formed should in a body fall upon the Prophet ﷺ and finish him. This would obviate the risk of individual action. Banu Hasham would not be a match for all the clans combined. The horrible plan being agreed upon, a body of armed men was forthwith got up, which laid siege to the Prophet’s house to attack him in a body as soon as he came out. The Prophet ﷺ also came to know about this. When things reached this pitch, Divine revelation also came to advise the Prophet ﷺ that it was time for him to migrate too. While, however, he was making secret preparations, how best to slip out of the murderous trap that was laid for him, the one thought that was uppermost in his mind at this moment when his very life was hanging in the balance, was what to do with the deposits which various men, had entrusted him with for safe custody.
Be it noted that while every Makkan was out for his blood and considered the Prophet ﷺ his enemy number one who wanted to destroy their ancestral faith, he was yet the one man, out of all the people whom they considered trustworthy to keep their deposits with. At that very moment when he had to flee for life, he had a number of deposits in his custody. What to do with those deposits? This was the question that meant more to him than his life. He could not possibly leave without returning all these to the owners.
And at last, he thought of a solution. He sent for Ali and apprised him of the whole situation. Divine permission-to-quit had come, he explained, and he wanted to go. But there were two obstacles in the way. First, there was the enemy gang on the look-out for him and second there were the safe-deposits of the people with him which had to be returned. To get over both these obstacles he sought Ali’s help. Ali was to lie down in his bed. This would put the besiegers off their guard, thinking their prey was secure in their hands. This would also take the other load off his mind. First thing in the morning when Ali rose, he was to call on every depositor, and return his deposit io him intact.
How sublime! What a high code of honour! The Prophet ﷺ is in the very jaws of death. His blood-thirsty enemies are at his doorsteps. With their swords drawn they are impatiently awaiting the moment when he should emerge out of his house to strike at him. It is but human, should in this supreme moment he should forget everything else, except his own safety. The Prophet ﷺ was, however, made of different stuff. With him honour was more than life. His one headache at this most crucial moment was lest his honour should be sullied by quietly going away while he owed something to others. The confidence reposed by the people in his good faith and honour must not be betrayed, whatever the cost. What did it matter, if death stared him in the face? It was easier to face death than run the risk of what might be construed as bad faith. What weighs on his mind is the question of the people’s deposits. He cannot think of leaving without making sure that these would be duly returned. The A1-Amin proved Al-Amin even in this fateful hour when the enemy’s sword was hanging over his head!
(The light – November 16, 1958)
