Pardon for Robbery (Hadith No. 2675)

Bismillah.

Hadith no. 2674 (below) is a repeat. Read it here.

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 277 :
Narrated by Anas (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) was the (most handsome), most generous and the bravest of all the people. Once the people of Medina got frightened having heard an uproar at night. So, the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) met the people while he was riding an unsaddled horse belonging to Abu Talha and carrying his sword (slung over his shoulder). He said (to them), “Don’t get scared, don’t get scared.” Then he added, “I found it (i.e the horse) very fast.”

Today’s Hadith:

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 278 :
Narrated by Salama (radiallaahu `anhu)
I went out of Medina towards Al-Ghaba. When I reached the mountain path of Al-Ghaba, a slave of ‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Auf (radiallaahu `anhu), met me. I said to him, “Woe to you! What brought you here?” He replied, “The she-camels of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) have been taken away.” I said, “Who took them?” He said, “Ghatafan and Fazara.” So, I sent three cries, “O Sabaha-h ! O Sabahah !” so loudly that made the people in between its (i.e. Medina’s) two mountains hear me. Then I rushed till I met them after they had taken the camels away. I started throwing arrows at them saying, “I am the son of Al-Akwa’; and today perish the mean people!” So, I saved the she-camels from them before they (i.e. the robbers) could drink water. When I returned driving the camels, the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) met me, I said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Those people are thirsty and I have prevented them from drinking water, so send some people to chase them.” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “O son of Al-Akwa’, you have gained power (over your enemy), so forgive (them). (Besides) those people are now being entertained by their folk.”

Forgiving someone when you have power over them is one of the hardest things to do, I suppose. If a ‘big guy’ took your lunch money in school, you probably had to let it go because standing up to him would mean more bullying. But if the same crime were committed by a weak little person, would you have done the same thing considering you could smash his entire being into the wall? I don’t know why there’s so much violence in my example today. :/ :P

The robber will get the punishment he deserves, in this life or the next, but your reward for forgiving him after overpowering him will be much greater than the satisfaction of seeing him get punished for his crime. Allah knows. :)

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