His mercy was unparalleled.
And most often shown when he dealt with those who strove against him.

An example of his vast mercy can be seen during the conquest of Makkah, when the Muslims took back their home city from those who had driven them out mercilessly.

On that victorious day, as Muhammad ﷺ and his companions, ten thousand in number, entered the city of their birth and homeland, many who resided there feared the worst to happen; exile or death. So they stayed locked up in their homes, knowing that they were helpless in this situation and completely at the mercy of the Prophet ﷺ. For after 23 years of unrest in Makkah, 10 years of persecution, torture and boycotting, 13 years of war and living outside of a place they once called home, the Muslims had finally returned. So what was to be their fate?

The Prophet ﷺ addressed the chieftains of Makkah in a spirit of compassion and tolerance. ‘O people of the Quraysh! What do you think I will do with you?’ he asked. Thereupon, one of the greatest adversaries of Islam, Suhayl ibn Amr, replied: ‘We think (you will treat us) well, noble brother, son of a noble brother.’ A radiant smile lit up the Prophet’s ﷺ face as he replied: ‘Go, for you are free.’

At that moment, the face of Suhayl ibn Amr registered shock and shame at the same time. Never before had he met someone whose forbearance and kindness shone like Muhammad’s ﷺ. Filled with a humbling sense of awe and a deep respect for him, there and then he proclaimed the testimony of faith, ‘Laa ilaaha illallah, Muhammad ar-rasool Allah’ – There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.

And this was how one of the most prominent men of Makkah became Muslim and later on dedicated the rest of his life to Islam, a man whom the mercy of Muhammad ﷺ and the greatness of Islam had captivated.

Such was the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. His forbearance outweighed his anger, his mercy was unmatched, and it was simply his character that moved people to accept Islam.

#WhoIsMuhammad

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