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He (PBUH) was gentle and kind to those who sinned.
The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was gentle and kind with them, and he would clarify to them the ugliness of sins. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would sometimes use logical proofs to explain this, as
in the narration of Abu Umaamah (a Companion) when he reported thata young man came to the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and said
“O Messenger of Allah, give me permission to commit fornication.” The people turned to him to rebuke him, saying: “Stop, stop!” The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Come close.” So he came close to him and sat down. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Would you like that for your mother?” He said: “No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you.” He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Nor do people like it for their mothers.” He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Would you like it for your daughter?” He said: “No, by Allah, O Messenger of Allah, may I be sacrificed for you.” He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Nor do people like it for their daughters. Would you like it for your sister?” He said: “No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you.” He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Nor do people like it for their sisters.” Then he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Would you like it for your paternal aunt?” He said: “No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you.” He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Nor do people like it for their paternal aunts.” Again he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, asked: “Would you like it for your maternal aunt?” He said: “No, by Allah, may I be sacrificed for you.” He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Nor do people like it for their maternal aunts.” Then he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, placed his hand on him and said: “O Allah, forgive his sin, purify his heart, and guard his chastity.” After that, the young man would not turn to anything (impermissible).”1
So it was as if he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said, just as you have female relatives, then the woman you are fornicating with is also someone’s sister, mother, or aunt, If you accept this for your female relatives then this is blameworthy but if you do not accept it for yourself then you should not accept it for others. This is how the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, showed the evil of adultery through the mindset of the people, for they do not accept it for their own relatives.
Thus, convincing him using logical proofs, along with the fear of the
punishment of Allah, acted as a strong barrier between him and sinning. If every young man implemented this narration on his desires, then no one would commit fornication (or adultery), for no one would accept it for his female relatives.”2
The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, dealt with them with complete mercy and kindness,
as Allah Says (what means)
«And by the Mercy of Allah, you dealt with them gently. And had you been severe and harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about you; so pass over [their faults], and ask Allah’s Forgiveness for them.»
[Quran: 3:159]
This is a testimony from Allah for His Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, that he is merciful to all people, male or female, children or adults, righteous or a sinner.
Ibn Katheer (a scholar) said: “The verse (which means): «Had you been severe and harsh-hearted.» means; had you been harsh in your speech to them with a hard heart, they would have all left you. But Allah gathered them around the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and made him kind to them, as ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr (a Companion) narrated regarding the description of the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, in the books before Islam: ‘He is
not severe or harsh, nor is he loud in the marketplace. He does not respond to the evil with another evil, but rather he pardons and forgives.’3”4
المراجع
- 1 Reported by Ahmad (21708).
- Sharh Al-Arba’een An-Nawawiyyah (11/36) by ‘Atiyyah Saalim.
- Reported by Al-Bukhaari (4838).
- Tafseer Ibn Katheer (148/2).
