Zayed replied, ‘This is exactly what I mean.’
Abul Aas said, ‘It would’ve been far better if you had killed me.’
Abu Bakr said, ‘We won’t kill the Prophet’s son-in-law even if he is a non-Muslim. We’ll extend to you all the courtesies we can.’
Abul Aas was faced with a terrible dilemma. It was an insult for him to accept the hospitality of the victors; he was also suffering intensely from Zainab’s separation. He decided to undergo the suffering, but not to submit to the insult. I shall sacrifice my love and my soul for my pride.
He said, ‘I accept your decision. Zainab will be my ransom.’7
At Madina, the Prophet’s daughter was given as much respect as was due to her. There was prosperity, happiness and great enthusiasm for the new religion, but there was no love. She pined away for Abul Aas.
Three years passed as though they were three centuries. She couldn’t set her eyes on Abul Aas.
The society put pressure on Abul Aas to marry again, but the sweet memories associated with Zainab were enough to provide him solace. He plunged himself into his trade with renewed vigour and didn’t return to his home for months. Earning wealth had now become the chief objective of his life. People were surprised to see him risking his life for wealth. People drowned their despair and worry in wine just as they become crazy when they are in love. Abul Aas had now become crazy about wealth. Behind this lust for wealth was his despair in love. Chasing money was a disguise for his renunciation of love.
Once he was taking a caravan laden with goods from Mecca to Iraq. There were many other traders in the caravan. There was a security cordon as well. Several Muslim caravans had already been raided by non-Muslims. When they got to know of this caravan, Zayed got together a couple of men and raided the caravan. The security guards fought them and died. The people travelling in the caravan fled away. Immense wealth came into the hands of Muslims. Abul Aas was taken prisoner again.
On the following day, he was presented before the Prophet. The Prophet gave him a piteous look. The Prophet’s companions asked, ‘Hazrat, what have you decided about Abul Aas?’
The Prophet replied, ‘I leave it to you to decide about him. He is my son-in-law. It is quite possible that I may not be able to act impartially.’
He went inside the house. Zainab fell at his feet and said, ‘Abba jaan, you’ve released the others. Is Abul Aas a worse offender than them?’
The Prophet replied, ‘No, Zainab, anyone who sits on the seat of justice must be free of partiality and prejudice. Even though I am the one who put this procedure in place, I’m not its master but its slave. I love Abul Aas. However, I can’t have my sense of justice tainted by my love.’
All the companions of the Prophet were deeply moved by his sense of justice. Abul Aas was released with all his goods.
The way the Prophet dealt with the case and his sense of justice left a great impact on Abul Aas. On his return to Mecca, he settled his accounts, paid his creditors and returned people’s goods. Then he left everything and went to the Prophet seeking his refuge. Zainab’s long-cherished desire was fulfilled.
Translated from the Hindi by M. Asaduddin
Sudden Downfall1
The streets of Delhi were being drenched in the blood of its citizens. Nadir Shah’s army was wreaking havoc in the city. Whoever they found was executed by the sword. Nadir Shah’s fiery anger wasn’t being extinguished at all. The rain of blood couldn’t quench the fire of his wrath.
Nadir Shah was seated on the throne in the open court. Flames were flying from his eyes. How dare the people of Delhi insult his soldiers! The cowards have some nerve! These barbarians were routed at his army’s first battle cry. Hearing the crying and wailing of the residents of the city even the heart of the army was on the verge of trembling. But Nadir Shah’s wrath was not diminished and even his commander-in-chief couldn’t muster the courage to come before him. Truly courageous people are merciful. They don’t vent their anger on the helpless, on women, or the weak. They consider it beneath their dignity to wreak vengeance on them. But Nadir Shah’s anger knew no mercy.
The emperor of Delhi was seated next to Nadir Shah with his head bowed low. The king, who was used to a life of luxury and leisure with his harem, was listening to Nadir Shah’s insulting speech. But he didn’t have the courage to open his mouth. If he feared so much for his own life, who was there to worry about his people? He was thinking, Best not to say anything . . . what if he turns on me?
Finally, when the army’s obsessive cruelty reached its peak, Mohammed Shah’s vizier couldn’t bear it any longer. He was very eloquent. He was a poet, careless about his own life. He came before Nadir Shah and recited this couplet in Persian:
Your glance’s sword has severed every head
For more, you’ll have to resurrect the dead.
The couplet struck Nadir Shah’s heart. There are holes even in rocks, greenery on mountains, softness in the stone-hearted. This couplet melted stone. Nadir Shah called his commander-in-chief and ordered him to stop the massacre. Suddenly, the swords were sheathed. The raised hands of the killers were frozen. Every soldier became a statue wherever he was. Evening fell. Nadir Shah was found strolling in the garden, chanting the couplet again and again, as if in a trance.
Your glance’s sword has severed every head
For more, you’ll have to resurrect the dead.2
The treasury of Delhi was being ransacked. There was a guard at the royal palace. No one could enter or exit the palace. Even the royal ladies were afraid to step out of their palaces into the gardens. Nadir Shah’s
