The Prophet Mercy towards an Idolater

📖Sahih al-Bukhari 2910
Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah: He accompanied the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on a military expedition to Najd. During their return, they stopped to rest in a valley filled with thorny trees. Everyone spread out under the shade to rest, and the Prophet ﷺ also lay down beneath a tree, hanging his sword on one of its branches. While they were asleep, a Bedouin silently approached, took the Prophet’s sword, and stood over him. When the Prophet ﷺ awoke, the Bedouin threatened him, saying: “Who will save you from me?” The Prophet ﷺ calmly replied three times, “Allah.” Miraculously, the Bedouin did not harm him. The Prophet ﷺ did not retaliate but simply sat down and let him go.

What We Learn from It Today:

1. Tawakkul (Complete Trust in Allah):
   Even when facing a direct threat to his life, the Prophet ﷺ placed full trust in Allah’s protection. He didn’t panic or react violently, his calm response, “Allah,” reflects the peak of spiritual strength.
2. Mercy Even in Power:
   The Prophet ﷺ had every right to punish the man, but he let him go, showing unparalleled mercy even to someone who tried to kill him. This level of restraint teaches Muslims that justice should be guided by mercy and not revenge.
3. Confidence Through Faith, Not Force:
   Despite being unarmed and vulnerable, the Prophet ﷺ’s strength came from his connection with Allah, not from weapons or numbers.
4. A Lesson in Leadership:
   A true leader leads by example. The Prophet ﷺ didn’t just speak of mercy and trust—he embodied it.

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Quranic Context:

📖Quran 3:173
Those to whom hypocrites said, “Indeed, the people have gathered against you, so fear them.” But it [only] increased them in faith, and they said, “Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs.”
Tawakkul is not weakness. It’s a powerful stance that brings divine support.

📖Quran 41:34
Good and evil cannot be equal. Repel evil with what is better, and your enemy will become as close as an intimate friend.
The Prophet ﷺ’s refusal to retaliate could have softened the heart of his enemy, teaching us to lead with goodness, even in hostility.

📖Quran 21:107
And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.
The Prophet’s mercy was not limited to believers—he extended it even to someone who held a sword to his throat.