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The manifestation of forbearance in the life of the Prophet
There were several manifestations of forbearance in the life of the prophet. They include: The manifestations of forbearance in the life of the Prophet, were very numerous, the followings are examples

1 After the Prophet defeated the Banu’l-Mustaliq, some of the Ansar and Muhajirun quarreled and ‘Abdullah ibn Ubayayy al-Khazraji said “The Muhajirum have constricted us and crowded us in our own land. By Allah, when we return to Madina, the stronger will expel the baser from it!”

The Prophet heard those words. ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab was with him and said: “Command ‘Ubbad ibn Bishr to kill him!” The Prophet said “Umar, how will it be when people say that Muhammad kills his companion? No, announce that we are leaving.”

That was at a time when the Prophet did not normally travel. The people set out and while they were travelling, Usayd ibn Hudayr asked him, “Prophet of Allah, by Allah, you are returning at an early hour when you do not normally travel.” The Messenger said to him, “ Have you heard what your companion said?” He said, ‘ Which companion?” He said, ‘”Abdullah ibn Ubayy.” He asked, “And what did he say?” He replied “He stated that when he returns to Madina the stronger will expel the baser from it.” Usayd said,” So you, Messenger of Allah, be kind to him. By Allah, when Allah brought you to us his people were preparing to crown him. He thinks that you have wrested a kingdom from him.”

Then the Prophet traveled with the people until evening, then through the night until morning, and then through the beginning of the day until the sun was too hot for them. Then he camped with them and as soon as they touched the ground, they fell asleep. He did that to distract them from what had happened the previous day.

Then the son of ‘ Abdullah ibn Ubayy presented himself to the Prophet and said that if his father must be killed, then his son should be the one to kill him. The Prophet said, “ No, we will be kind to him and be a good companion to him as long as he remains with us.”

Here the Messenger was in a situation where a person would normally be very angry; he was also in a position to punish ‘Abdullah ibn Ubayy for the sedition which he was inciting. But he showed forbearance to him and refused to allow him to be killed, refused to threaten him with expulsion from Madina, refused to allow his son to kill him and, on top of all this, promised to be kind to him and be a good companion to him. This is a great example of forbearance.

2 Wahshi, the client of Jubayr ibn Mut’im killed Hamza ibn ‘Abdu’l-Muttalib in the Battle of Uhud. When the Prophet conquered Makka, Wahshi fled to Ta’if. When the delegation of Ta’if went to the Prophet to submit, all avenues were closed to him.

Wahshi said, “ I said, ‘ I will go to Syria , Yemen or some other land.’ By Allah, I was in that state of anxiety when a man said to me, ‘ Woe to you! By Allah, he does not kill anyone who enters his religion and bears witness.’ When he told me that, I went out to the Messenger of Allah without fear of him until I was standing face to face with him and then gave the testimony of truth. When he saw me, he said, ‘ Is it Wahshi?’ I said, ‘ Yes, Messenger of Allah.’ He said, ‘ Sit down and tell me how you killed Hamza.’ When I finished telling him, he said,’ Bother you! Remove your face from me. I do not want to see you.’ So I used to avoid the Messenger of Allah wherever he was so that he would not see me, until Allah Almighty took him.”

What unique restraint of rage! What immense forbearance the Messenger of Allah showed. He met the killer of his noble uncle, his friend comrade in jihad, and his brother by suckling! He was angry with his killer and able to take revenge on him, even if he had been strong and free, let alone a slave who had been freed by his master after killing Hamza and so without helper or protector.

3 A Bedouin came to the Messenger to ask him for something. He gave him something and then asked him, “ Have I been generous to you?” The Bedouin said, “ No, and you have not behaved well.” The Muslims became angry and made for him, but he, indicated to them to hold back.

Then he went inside his house, sent for the Bedouin, and gave him more. Then he asked the man, “ Have I been good to you?” “Yes, may Allah repay you well from your family and tribe,” he replied. Then the Prophet said to him, “ you said what you said and that had an effect on my Companions. If you like, you can say what you have just said in front of them so that it will remove what they feel in their hearts against you.” The Bedouin agreed.

Next morning or evening he came and the Prophet said, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “ This is the Bedouin who said what he said. We gave him more and now he states that he is pleased. Is that the case?” The Bedouin said, “ Yes, may Allah repay you well from your family and tribe.”

The Messenger “ I and this Bedouin are like a man who has a she-camel which bolts from him. People pursue it, but they only make it in shy away more. Then the owner of the camel cries out to them, ‘Leave me with my camel! I am kinder to it and know it better.’ So he goes to it from in front and takes some sweepings from the earth and slowly drives it back, until it comes and kneels and he puts his saddle on it and gets up on it.”

4 A young man came to the Prophet, and said, “ Prophet of Allah, will you give me permission to commit fornication?” The people shouted at him and the Prophet said, “ Bring him near. Approach.” He came up and sat in front of him. The Prophet said to him, “ Would like your mother to do it?” The young man said,” No, may Allah make me your ransom!” The Prophet said, “ So people do not like it for their mothers. Would you like it for your daughter?” The young man said,” No, may Allah make me your ransom!” The Prophet said,” So people do not like it for their daughters. Would you like it for your sister?” and he went on to mention his aunts. Every time the man said,” No, may Allah make me you ransom!” and the Prophet would say, “ So people do not like it.”

Then the Prophet put his hand on the breast of the young man and said, “ O Allah, purify his heart and forgive his sin and protect his private parts. Make nothing more hateful to him than fornication. Here the wisdom of the great teacher is very clear. He did not rebuke the young man or confront him with his foolishness but was kind to him and began to provide make examples for him so that he would see the ugliness and atrocity of what he proposed. Then he added to that the kindness of a loving father and prayed for the young man to be healed of his disease from which he had thought there was no release or cure.

5 At the Battle of Uhud, his Companions asked him to curse the idolaters who had wounded his face and broken his tooth so that the blood flowed down his face. He said, “ I was not sent as a curser. I was sent as a summoner and a mercy. O Allah, forgive my people. They do not know.”

That day was critical: the Muslims were not victorious and many of their great men were killed and wounded. Even the Prophet himself did not go unscathed from the injury. But even so, he would not call on Allah to destroy his people, since he was steadfast and forbearing. He continued to have great hope that their senses would return to them and they would be guided to the religion of Allah.