Bang! Boom! Crash! It sounded like thunder rolling. “What’s going on?” Grandpa came down the stairs, only to find Ali, Omar and Hassan parking their cycles in fury – or you could say crashing them against the wall. Before Grandpa could say anything, all three boys started to point each other out, complaining:
“Oh Grandpa! Ali broke the cycle pump!” This was Omar.
“No Grandpa! Omar was the one who punctured my cycle,” complained Hassan.
Grandpa kept his cool and asked all three angry young men to calm down: “Who wants a cold glass of smoothie?”
The three kids still looked grumpy, but the thought of a smoothie made them trudge into the dining room and settle down. After they had relaxed and enjoyed their drink, Grandpa started a new conversation.
“What would you do to someone who had taken the life of your family members, tortured your friends, or made your life tremendously intolerable, if such a person was at your mercy?”
“We will take revenge, of course!” replied all three boys in unison.
Grandpa smiled and continued: “Yes. Most of us are not merciful when we are tested with power, but if we look back at our beloved Prophet Muhammad (sa) and his conquest of Makkah, we notice the surprising extent of his mercy and forgiveness. He was exiled from his homeland, his family members were killed, and his friends were tortured. When his enemies came before him in a completely vulnerable state and at his disposal, he had every right to avenge for what they had done to him for fourteen years – yet he forgave them!
“When did this inspiring event take place?” asked Ali, curious to know more.
“Prophet Muhammad (sa) and his companions conquered Makkah on the 21st of Ramadan in the eighth year of Hijrah (630 CE),” Dad also joined in the conversation from behind them
“Our beloved Prophet (sa) must have entered Makkah like a King after such a great victory,” Hassan suggested, wide-eyed.
Dad continued: “It is recorded by the Prophet’s biographers that when entering Makkah, Prophet Muhammad’s (sa) head was so low that his beard was touching the back of his mount in complete humility. He was reciting the following verse from the Qur’an:
“Indeed, we have given you, (O Muhammad), a clear conquest that Allah may forgive for you what preceded of your sin and what will follow and complete His favor upon you and guide you to a straight path, and (that) Allah may aid you with a mighty victory.” (Surah Al-Fath 1-3)
Indeed, this victory was a turning point in history for the Muslims, yet he showed no pride or joy for his triumph. Rather he praised the Creator and thanked Him for this peaceful victory.”
Omar started jumping up and down in excitement: “I remember my teacher telling us in class about how our Prophet (sa) also forgave Wahshi ibn Harb who was responsible for killing Hamzah ibn Abdul-Muttalib (rtam), the beloved uncle of our Prophet (sa), during the Battle of Uhud.”
“Why did he kill the Prophet’s uncle?” wondered Hassan.
“Wahshi killed him on the order of Hind bint Utbah, wife of Abu Sufyan, who wanted to take revenge of her father’s death in the Battle of Badr. Wahshi was promised his freedom if he killed the Prophet’s (sa) beloved uncle and later the companions saw that Hamzah’s body had been mutilated,” Dad explained. “Prophet Muhammad (sa) forgave them both when they were brought to him at the conquest of Makkah and it was this power of forgiveness that both later became Muslims.”
“Wahshi later killed Musaylimah Kazab (false prophet) as repentance for martyring Hamzah (rtam),” Dad continued as he wanted the children to understand that it is indeed mercy and forgiveness that makes ordinary people heroes and winners.
“Do you think wearing a cape or having the power to spring webs out of your hands transforms you into heroes? Or is forgiving your worst enemy when you have the power to take revenge is a greater achievement?” Grandpa asked the mesmerized kids.
“Forgiveness is the super power I want!” Ali said, raising his fists in the air, and everyone started to laugh.
“Let’s start by helping each other fix our bikes,” Ali sprang up from the sofa, followed by Omar and Hassan.
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