One day on the expedition, the Prophet (sa) left his companions for a while. In his absence they found a red bird with two fledglings and caught them whilst their mother stood nearby flapping her wings in distress upon the sand. When the Messenger of Allah (sa) return he noticed the distraught mother bird and exclaimed, "Who has distressed this bird on account of its young -- return them to her."

His mercy and respect for life was not restricted to humans for he was sent by Allah to be a mercy for all the worlds, and that included the animal kingdom. Then he noticed an ant-hill that had been set on fire and asked, "Who has set this on fire?" Meekly his companions replied that it was they that had done so whereupon the Prophet (sa) guided them telling them, "It is not right to torment with fire -- it is for Allah alone to punish with Fire."

The Camel of Jabir

On the return journey to Medina, the majority of the Prophet's companions rode on ahead whilst he and some of his close companions rode a distance behind to care for and ensure the safety of those who were unable to keep up. Jabir, whose father had been martyred at Uhud, had a camel that was old and so frail that it could not keep up with the others.

It wasn't long until the Prophet (sa) caught Jabir up whereupon he inquired why he was not with the rest of his companions so Jabir mentioned the camel's condition. The Prophet (sa) asked Jabir to make his camel kneel and then dismount and he did the same.

Then he asked Jabir to hand him his riding stick whereupon the Prophet (sa) gently prodded the old camel with it and told Jabir to remount. By the blessing of Allah, a miracle occurred and the camel's strength was revived to such a degree that it ran even faster than the Prophet's camel and they continued to ride together.

The Threat the Heart of Freedom

The sun had reached its height and so when the Prophet (sa) and his close companions reached a valley in which thorn trees grew, he decided they would rest and each sought the shade of a different tree. As the Prophet (sa) dismounted, he took off his sword and hung it upon a branch then lay down to rest and fell asleep.

Shortly after, a Bedouin named Ghawrath, Al Harith’s son, came upon him, drew his sword and said in a voice that awoke him, "Do you fear me!" whereupon the Prophet (sa) answered calmly, "No". Ghawrath was surprised and demanded, "Who then will save you from me?" and the Prophet (sa) replied, "Allah," whereupon the Ghawrath’s sword fell from his hand to the ground.

The Prophet (sa) picked it up and asked, "Now, who will save you from me?" Ghawrath was shaken by the turn of events and pleaded, "Be a good captor," whereupon the Prophet (sa) asked, "Will you bear witness that there is no god except Allah and that I am His Messenger?"

Ghawrath answered, "No, but I promise that I will neither fight against you, nor will I join those who do so." The Prophet (sa) took Ghawrath at his word, for he was never oppressive, and let him go. Ghawrath was so struck by the leniency of the Prophet (sa) that upon his return to his tribe Ghawrath announced, "I have returned to you from someone who is the best of all mankind!"

The Compassion and Generosity of the Prophet (sa)

It was time to continue once more on their journey and as they rode the Prophet (sa) asked Jabir if he would sell him his camel. Jabir replied that he preferred to give it to him. The Prophet (sa) declined Jabir's offer telling him that he wished to buy it from him, so Jabir asked him to name his price.

In jest, the Prophet (sa) told Jabir that he would buy it for a dirham. Jabir realized the jest and in the same tone replied, appreciating that the camel was no ordinary camel as it had been blessed, said that a dirham was insufficient. And so they continued until a price of forty dirhams was reached -- which was at that time equal to an ounce of gold -- and Jabir accepted.

As they continued their journey, the Prophet (sa) asked Jabir if he was married. Jabir replied that he was and that his wife had been married before. Jabir was a young man and the Prophet (sa) inquired why he had chosen a mature lady rather than a girl of similar age. Jabir told the Prophet (sa) that the reason for his choice was that his mother had passed away and after the martyrdom of his father at Uhud he had become responsible for his seven young sisters, so he had chosen a motherly kind of lady for a wife who would help him to care for them.

The Prophet (sa) was touched by Jabir’s noble decision and commended him for his choice. Medina lay but three miles away so the Prophet (sa) stopped at a place called Sirar and told Jabir of his intent to sacrifice some camels before entering the City.

During the course of their conversation, the Prophet (sa) commented to Jabir that by now his wife would have learned that he was almost home and be preparing the house for him, beating the sand from the cushions. Jabir told him that they had no cushions to which the Prophet (sa) replied. "Allah willing, you will have some soon." The morning after their return, Jabir took his camel and made it kneel outside the door of the Prophet's house.

The Prophet (sa) came out to greet him and asked him to leave the camel and go to the Mosque, and offer two units of prayer, which he did. After Jabir had offered his prayer, the Prophet (sa) instructed Bilal to weigh an ounce of gold, to which the Prophet (sa) -- as was his generous custom -- added some extra. Jabir was pleased and gratefully took the gold, but as he turned to go the Prophet (sa) called him back and told him to take the camel as a gift and keep the gold as well.

There are many other such accounts that relate to the Prophet's generous and caring nature. In turn, his companions tried hard to emulate his fine example and it was through such fine examples that many a heart was reached and guided.