THE OPPOSER OF ANTI-SEMITISM

THE OPPOSER OF ANTI-SEMITISM

There used to be a Jewish boy who would serve the Prophet. The Prophet treated him with affection as he did with other children. On one occasion the boy fell ill, so the Prophet went to visit him. He sat near his head and said to him, ‘Embrace Islam.’ The boy then looked at his father who was with him, and his father said, ‘Obey Abū al-Qāsim [the Prophet].’ The boy embraced Islam (and then died). The Prophet departed, saying, ‘All praise is due to God, Who saved him from the Hellfire.’¹

On another occasion, a Jewess brought poisoned meat of a sheep to God’s Messenger and he ate a little from it. After her plot was discovered, as the poison became manifest, she was brought to God’s Messenger and he asked her why she did it. She replied, ‘I wanted to assassinate you.’ God’s Messenger said, ‘God will not empower you to do it.’ The Companions submitted, ‘Shall we not kill her?’ He replied, ‘No.’ Thus, he forgave the Jewess for the wrong she did to him

I Set forth by al-Bukhārī in al-Ṣaḥīḥ, 1:455 S1290. Abū Dawūd in al-Sunan, 3:185 $3095.

2 Set forth by al-Bukhārī in al-Ṣaḥīḥ, 2:923 S2474. Muslim in alṢaḥīḥ, 4:1721 $2190.