forbearance? What is its definition and importance? Let us first listen to a faith-refreshing account about the forbearance of the beloved Prophet  صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم .

Incident of a Bedouin

Umm-ul-Mu`mineen, Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا narrated: The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم bought a camel in exchange for a wasq (around 540 pounds of dates). When he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم arrived at his blessed home for the dates, they were not found. He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم returned to that Bedouin and said, ‘Abdullah! We bought a camel in exchange for a wasq, but despite searching extensively, the wasq of dates could not be found.’ Having heard this, the Bedouin started crying loudly, ‘Alas! I have been deceived! Alas, I have been deceived!’

When the blessed companions عَـلَيْهِمُ الرِّضْوَانْ heard this, they rushed to reprimand the Bedouin and said to him, ‘You say such things about the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم !’ The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘Leave him, because the person who has a rightful claim has the right to speak.’ The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said this twice or thrice, but despite being advised, the Bedouin still did not listen. Then, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم ordered a companion to go to Khaulah Bint Hakeem رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا and say, ‘If you have a wasq of dates, then give them. اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه We will return them to you.’

The companion went to Khaulah Bint Hakeem رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا and told her, ‘The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said: “If you have a wasq of dates, give them to us; اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه they will be returned to you.”’ She رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا said that she did have some and asked him to send someone to collect them. The beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘Take this Bedouin and give him the dates which are his due.’

When the Bedouin returned with his dates, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was present among the companions عَـلَيْهِمُ الرِّضْوَانْ . He (Bedouin) humbly said,