When he wanted to get up...

When he wanted to get up, he did not want to disturb her, so he cut off the piece of his sleeve on which she was sleeping on.

He used to say that an animal has six rights over its master: when he stops he should begin by feeding it, and if he passes by water he should offer it the chance to drink, and he should not strike it except for a good reason, and he should not make it bear more than it is able, and he should not make it walk more than it is able, and he should not sit upon it for prolonged periods while it is stationary.'71 His Bravery Imam Ali, Commander of the Faithful said: 'Whenever the fighting became intense we would shield ourselves with the Apostle of God, may Allah bless him and his family, and no- one would be closer to the enemy than him.'72 Imam Ali also said: 'For the sake of the pleasure of God he went through every adversity and swallowed every bitter morsel.

Those nearest to him were fickle and those furthest 70 akhl"q al-nab: wa "d"buh; p.75. 71 bi9"r al-anw"r; vol. 61, chap. 8, p 210, 9ad:th 16. 72 nahj al-bal"ghah; al-£"li9, 9ad:th 9, p.520. 5th edition. from him conspired against him.

The Arabs prepared to make war upon him until they brought their enmity to his doorstep from the furthest outpost.' Anas said: 'The Apostle of God was the bravest of the people and the best of the people and the most generous of the people.' He said: 'One night the people of Medina were alarmed so they set out towards the noise [wanting to know what was going on].

They were met by the Apostle of God who had gone before them and was saying: 'Do not fear.' He was on the horse belonging to AbY ?al9ah with his sword round his neck, 'Do not fear, it had just startled.'73 On the day of the battle of O9ud the Prophet suffered broken ribs and his head was laid open to the bone and his lips were wounded and blood poured onto his face. He witnessed his uncle H{amzah being killed and disembowelled.

But despite all this he remained patient and concerned with Almighty God and did not panic or waver but showed great patience. It is narrated that S"lim the servant of AbY H{udhayfah was wiping the blood from the Prophet's face saying: 'How can a people prosper when this is the way they treat their Prophet who calls them to Almighty God.'74 His Prayer The was passionate in his submission to God.

It is related by H{usayn son of Imam Ali who spoke on the subject of the humility of the Apostle of God during his 73 mak"rim al-akhl"q; p.19. 74 bi9"r al-anw"r; vol.