hummingwolf | (no subject)

The laws formulated in the Qu'ran sound ruthless to us today, but the Prophet himself was known to be lenient. One tradition recalls an occasion when Muhammad had passed sentence on a poor man who had committed a minor crime: for his penance he was told to give alms. The man replied that he had neither food nor goods to give away. Just at that moment a large basket of dates was carried into the mosque as a gift to the Prophet. 'Here you are,' Muhammad said, and told the man to distribute the dates among the poor. The criminal replied that he honestly did not know of anyone in the settlement who was worse off than himself. Muhammad laughed and told him that to eat the dates would be his penance.

The cultivation of kindness and compassion had been central to the Islamic message from the beginning. The law may have seemed a blunt instrument at this period, but the process of refinement (tazaqqa) of the Muslim outlook had begun. Again, Muhammad set an example. There is a tradition that one day he saw a freedman engaged in a particularly backbreaking task. He went up to him stealthily from behind and put his hands over his eyes, as children do. The freedman replied that it could only be the Prophet who would think of lightening his day with such an affectionate action.

--Karen Armstrong, Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet

So far this year, I've finished only 72 books. I feel like such a slacker.

(Wait, wait--a book about Muhammad was really the 72nd book I read this year? That was so not planned.)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Personally, I think that should count for at least 6 books.

Oh, that really wouldn't be fair. I've been counting slim children's books in my total, so I need a few more substantial (not necessarily long) books to even things out!

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Sent!

I really enjoyed that book (though I haven't actually finished it).

I had to finish it eventually--it's a library book!