The Noble Prophet (S) sent him to Yemen as its governor and...

The Noble Prophet (S) sent him to Yemen as its governor and showered him with numerous advices, one of them being: “Do not be too strict with the people; behave with them in such a manner that they are attracted to your speech and religion.” During the Caliphate of the second Caliph, a battle ensued between the Muslims and the Romans and Mu’adh participated in it too. In the year 18 ah, in ‘Amwas*,* Syria, an epidemic of plague began to spread.

Abu ‘Ubaidah, the commander of the Muslim army, was afflicted with the disease and when he realized that his death was inevitable, he appointed Mu’adh as his successor. The soldiers requested Mu’adh to pray for an end to the calamity but he declined to do so. “This is not a calamity. Instead, it is a prayer of your Prophet (S); death of the pious and righteous ones, and martyrdom, which Allah grants to only a few from amongst you,” he said. He then supplicated: “O’ Lord!

Grant the household of Mu’adh their complete share of this Mercy (plague).” Shortly afterwards, members of his household were afflicted with the disease and succumbed to it. When he too sensed its effects in his finger, he placed the finger in his mouth and biting it, said, “O’ Lord!

This is small and trivial; make it blessed (for me).” He eventually died of this plague (in the year 18 ah) at the age of 38 and was buried near Jordan.[^7] Learn Submission from the Pigeons During the time of one of the prophets, there lived a lady who had a son who was in his youth and whom she loved dearly. As divine decree would have it, the son died leaving the mother greatly aggrieved and immensely disturbed.

She was in such a state that her relatives approached the prophet of the time and sought his help. When he came to the mother, the prophet found her in a state of sorrow and agitation and was weeping. His eyes then fell upon a pigeon-nest nearby. He turned to the lady and asked: “O’ Lady! Is this a pigeon-nest?” The lady replied that it was. “Do the pigeons give birth to their young ones?” asked the prophet.

“Yes.” “Do all the young ones grow up to be able to fly?” “No, we kill some of them for their flesh,” said the lady. The prophet continued, “And despite this, these pigeons do not abandon their nest?” “No, they do not move away to another place,” replied the lady. The prophet then advised, “O’ Lady! Be apprehensive lest you be worse off than these pigeons in the eyes of your Lord.