Forgiveness and Forbearance (Part 1)

Hazrat Zaid bin Sa'nah (R.A), who was previously a scholar of the Jews, once bought some dates from Rasoolullah (S.A.W). There had still been one or two days left for it to be given, when he came to Rasoolullah (S.A.W) and demanded him to give them to him in a very angry and bitter tone.

Staring at the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) with contempt in his eyes and clutching his blessed clothes, Zaid bin Sa'nah said, “It's become the trait of the family of Abdul-Muttalib to delay in fulfilling the rights of people!”

Hazrat Umar (R.A) was witnessing this and became furious. He glared at Zaid and said, “O enemy of Allah (S.W.T)! How dare you disrespect Rasoolullah (S.A.W) in this manner?! Oath on Allah (S.W.T)! Had the Prophet's (S.A.W) respect not stopped me I would have definitely cut off your head with my sword.”

Rasoolullah (S.A.W) replied, “O Umar (R.A)! What are you saying? You should have encouraged me to fulfil his right and advised him of how to ask for his right with respect, instead of saying what you did. By this you should have helped us both.”

He (S.A.W) then ordered Hazrat Umar (R.A) to give Zaid his measurement of dates as his right, as well as a little extra. Zaid bin Sa'nah asked, “Umar (R.A), why did you give me more than my right of dates?”, and the Sahaabi (R.A) replied, “Rasoolullah (S.A.W) ordered me to give you more than your rightful share for the consolation of your heart, due to the glare I had given you.”

He then asked Hazrat Umar (R.A) if he'd recognised that he was Zaid bin Sa'nah, the noted scholar of the Jews, to which he replied, “Yes.” Hazrat Umar (R.A) also asked him why he had disrespected the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) in such a manner.

He replied, “O Umar (R.A)! The truth is that I had found all the qualities of the final Prophet in Muhammad (S.A.W) mentioned in the Torah, except for two which I still had to test. The first is that his forbearance shall overcome ignorance, and the second is that his forbearance shall increase if treated with additional ignorance. Through this plan of asking for the dates before time, I have now seen all the signs of the final Prophet in him and declare that indeed, He is a true Prophet.

O Umar (R.A)! I am a very rich man and be witness, I've given half of my wealth as charity for the Muslim Ummah.” Zaid bin Sa'nah thereafter came to Rasoolullah (S.A.W), read the kalimah and entered Islam. (Dalaailun-Nubuwwah, Vol.1, Pg. 23 & Zarqaani, Vol. 4. Pg. 253)