arbiter, as the leader of Muslims, as generalissimo of a rising power,
as a reformer andapostle, he had alwaysto deal with people and their
affairs. He had often to deal with mutually inimical and warring
tribes when showing justice to one carried the danger of antagonizing
the other, and yet he never deviated from the path of justice. In
administering justice, he made no distinction between believers and
nonbelievers, friends andfoes, high and low. From numerous instances
reported in the traditions, a few are given below.
Sakhr, a chief of a tribe, had helped the Prophet greatly in the siege
of Taaif, for which he was naturally obliged to him. Soon after, two
charges were brought against Sakhr: one by Mugheerah of illegal
confinement of his (Mugheerah's) aunt and the other by Banu Saalim of
forcible occupation of his spring by Sakhr. In both cases, he
decidedagainst Sakhr and made him undo the wrong. [Abu Daawood]
Abdullaah Ibn Sahl was deputed to collect rent from Jews of Khaybar.
His cousin Mahisah accompanied him but, on reaching Khaybar, they had
separated. Abdullaah was waylaid and done to death. Mahisah reported
this tragedy to the Prophet but as there were no eye-witnesses to
identify the guilty, he did not say anything to the Jews and paid the
blood-money out of the state revenues. [Al-Bukhaari]
A woman of the Makhzoom family with good connections was found guilty
of theft. For the prestige of the Quraysh, some prominentpeople
including Usaamah Ibn Zayd interceded to save her from punishment. The
Prophet refused to condone the crime and expressed displeasure saying:
"Many a community ruined itself in the past as they only punished the
poor and ignored the offences of the exalted. By Allaah,if Muhammad's
(My) daughter Faatimah would have committed theft, her hand would have
been severed." [Al-Bukhaari]
The Jews, in spite of theirhostility to the Prophet were so impressed
by his impartiality and senseof justice that they used to bring their
cases to him and he decided them according to Jewishlaw. [Abu Daawood]
Once, while he was distributing the spoils of war, people flocked
around him and one manalmost fell upon him. He pushed the men with a
stick causing a slight abrasion. He was so sorry about this that he
told the man that he could have his revenge, but the man said: "O
messenger of Allaah, I forgive you." (Abu Daawood)
In his fatal illness, the Prophet proclaimed in a concourse assembled
athis house that if he owed anything to anyone the person concerned
could claim it; if he had ever hurt anyone's person, honor or
property, he could have his price while he was yet in this world. A
hush fell on the crowd. One man came forward to claim a few Dirhams
which were paid at once.[Ibn Hishaam]
Equality
Muhammad asked people to shun notions ofracial, family or any
otherform of superiority basedon mundane things and said that
righteousness alone was the criterion of one's superiority over
another. It has already been shown how he mixed with everyone on equal
terms, how he ate with slaves, servants and the poorest on the same
sheet (a practice that is still followed in Arabia), how he refused
all privileges and worked like any ordinarylaborer. Two instances may,
however, be quotedhere:
Once the Prophet visited Sa'd Ibn 'Ubaadah . While returning, Sa'dsent
his son Qays with him. The Prophet asked Qays to mount his camel with
him. Qays hesitated out of respect but the Prophet insisted: " Either
mount the camel or go back." Qays decided to go back. [Abu Daawood]
On another occasion he was traveling on his camel over hilly terrain
with a companion, Uqbah Ibn 'Aamir . After going some distance, he
asked 'Uqbah to ride the camel, but Uqbah thought this would be
showing disrespect to the Prophet . But the Prophet insisted and he
had to comply. The Prophet himself walked on foot as he did not want
to put too muchload on the animal. [An-Nasaa'ee]
The prisoners of war of Badr included Al-'Abbaas,the uncle of the
Prophet . Some people were prepared to forgo their shares and remit
the Prophet's ransom but he declined saying that he could make no
distinctions. [Al-Bukhaari]
During a halt on a journey, the companions apportioned work among
themselves for preparing food. The Prophet took upon himself the task
of collecting firewood. His companions pleaded that they would do it
andthat he need not take the trouble, but he replied: "It is true, but
I do not like to attribute any distinction tomyself. Allaah does not
like the man who considers himself superior to his companions."
[Az-Zarqaani]
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