52- IKRIMAra BECOMES MUSLIM
Of those who had been excepted from the general amnesty, some were forgiven on the recommendation of the Companions. Among those who were thus forgiven was ‘Ikrimara, a son of Abu Jahl. ‘Ikrima’sra wife was a Muslim at heart. She requested the Prophetsa to forgive him. The Prophetsa forgave. At the time ‘Ikrimara was trying to escape to Abyssinia. His wife pursued him and found that he was about to embark. She reproved him. “Are you running away from a man as gentle and soft as the Prophetsa?” she said.
‘Ikrimara was astonished and asked whether she really thought the Prophetsa would forgive him. ‘Ikrima’sra wife assured him that even he would be forgiven by the Prophetsa. In fact she had had word from him already. ‘Ikrimara gave up his plan of escaping to Abyssinia and returned to see the Prophetsa. “I understand from my wife that you have forgiven even one like me,” he said.
“Your wife is right. I have really forgiven you,” said the Prophetsa.
‘Ikrimara decided that a person capable of forgiving his deadliest enemies could not be false. He, therefore, declared his faith in Islam. “I bear witness that God is One and has no equal and I bear witness that you are His Servant and His Messengersa.” So saying, ‘Ikrimara bent his head in shame. The Prophetsa consoled him. ” ‘Ikrimara,” said he, “I have not only forgiven you, but as proof of my regard for you, I have decided to invite you to ask me for anything I can give.”
‘Ikrimara replied, “There is nothing more or better I can ask you for than that you should pray for me to God and ask for His forgiveness and whatever excesses and enormities I have committed against you.”
Hearing this entreaty, the Prophetsa prayed to God at once and said: “My God, forgive the enmity which ‘Ikrimara has born against me. Forgive him the abuse which has issued from his lips.”
The Prophetsa then stood up and put his mantle over ‘Ikrimara and said, “Whoever comes to me, believing in God, is one with me. My house is as much his as mine.”
The conversion of ‘Ikrimara fulfilled a prophecy which the Holy Prophetsa had made many years before. The Prophetsa, addressing his Companions, once had said: “I have had a vision in which I saw that I was in Paradise. I saw there a bunch of grapes. When I asked for whom the bunch was meant, someone replied saying, ‘For Abu Jahl’.” Referring to this vision on this occasion of the conversion of ‘Ikrimara, the Prophetsa said he did not understand the vision at first. How could Abu Jahl, an enemy of believers, enter Paradise and how could he have a bunch of grapes provided for him. “But now,” said the Prophetsa, “I understand my vision; the bunch of grapes was meant for ‘Ikrimara. Only, instead of the son I was shown the father, a substitution common in visions and dreams” (Halbiyya, Vol. 3, p. 104).
Of the persons who had been ordered to be executed as exceptions to the general amnesty was one who had been responsible for the cruel murder of Zainabra, a daughter of the Prophetsa. This man was Habbarra. He had cut the girths of Zainab’sra camel, on which Zainabra fell to the ground and, being with child, suffered abortion. A little later she died. This was one of the inhumanities which he had committed and for which he deserved the penalty of death. This man now came to the Prophetsa and said, “Prophetsa of God, I ran away from you and went to Iran, but the thought came to me that God had rid us of our pagan beliefs and saved us from spiritual death. Instead of going to others and seeking shelter with them why not go to the Prophetsa himself, acknowledge my faults and my sins and ask for his forgiveness?”
The Prophetsa was moved and said, “Habbarra, if God has planted in your heart the love of Islam, how can I refuse to forgive you? I forgive everything you have done before this.”
One cannot describe in detail the enormities these men had committed against Islam and Muslims. Yet how easily the Prophetsa forgave them! This spirit of forgiveness converted the most stone-hearted adversaries into devotees of the Prophetsa.
(Source: LIFE OF MUHAMMAD (pbuh))
BY HADRAT MIRZA BASHIRUDDIN MAHMUD AHMAD
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