Anecdotes from the Life of the Prophet Muhammad
by Mumtaz Ahmad Faruqui
Love of Fellow-men
Said the Holy Prophet Muhammad:
“Whoever is kind to the creation, God is kind to him; therefore, be kind to man on the earth, whether he be good or bad; and being kind to the bad is to withhold them from wrong-doing.”
The following poem, Abou Ben Adhem, by Leigh Hunt, illustrates what the sentiments of a true Muslim should be:
Abou Ben Adhem… may his tribe increase…
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace
And saw within the moonlight of his room,
Making it rich and like a lily in bloom,
An angel, writing in a book of gold.
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,
So to the presence in the room he said:
‘What writest thou?’
The vision raised its head,
And with a look made of all sweet accord,
Answered: ‘The names of those who love the Lord.’
‘And is mine one? said Abou.
‘Nay, not so,’ replied the angel.
Abou spoke more slow, but cheerily still, and said, ‘I pray thee, then,
Write me as one who loves his fellow-men’.
The angel wrote and vanished; the next night
He came again with a great wakening light
And showed the names whom Love of God had blest,
And lo! Ben Adhem’s name led all the rest.