5. Would you like to meet him outside the institution? (cont.)

He had said to him, “I will keep him busy while you strike him with a sword from behind.” Thus, Arbad placed his hand on his sword in preparation. As the Prophet  stood and spoke with ‘Amir alone, next to a wall, Arbad grabbed his sword. But each time he wanted to unsheath the sword, his hand would become stiff, and thus he wasn’t able to do it. ‘Amir was keeping the Prophet  busy and looking at Arbad at the same time, whilst Arbad remained stiff, unable to move. The Prophet  turned to Arbad to see what he was doing, and Who kicked the cat? then turned to ‘Amir and said, “O ‘Amir bin al-Tufayl, accept Islam.” ‘Amir replied, “O Muhammad, what would you give me in return for becoming a Muslim?” The Prophet  replied, “You will have what all the Muslims have and you would be expected to do what all the Muslims are expected to do.” ‘Amir said, “Do you agree to give me authority after you, if I was to embrace Islam?” The Prophet  did not want to promise ‘Amir that which might not be fulfilled. Hence, he was boldly straightforward with him and said, “Authority is neither for you nor for your people.” ‘Amir attempted to make his demands more plausible, so he said, “I will accept Islam if you give me authority over the Bedouins and you keep authority over the cities.” But the Prophet  did not want to oblige himself with a promise would not fulfil.Thus, he said,“No.” Thereupon, ‘Amir became angry, his complexion changed and shouted at the top of his voice, “I shall fill your spaces with men and cavalry and tie a horse to every tree. I will attack you with two thousand horses!” He then left, foaming at the mouth and screaming. The Prophet  looked at him and then raised his gaze to the sky and said, “O Allah, suffice me of Amir’s evil and guide his people.” ‘Amir set off with his companions until he left Madinah head63 Who kicked the cat? ing towards the dwellings of his people, intending to go back and prepare an army to attack Madinah. During the way, he became tired and the signs of exhaustion became apparent on him. He needed a place to rest, and by chance, he was passing by a woman from his people, known as Saluliyyah who used to live in a tent. She was known as a debauched woman. She was condemned by the people and whoever entered her house was accused of debauchery and evil. Since, ‘Amir could not find a place to stay, he had no choice but to descend from his horse and sleep in her house. Overnight, he caught a disease in the thyroid gland near his throat which usually afflicts camels and due to which they die. He became terrified and confused. He began to feel his tumour and say, “It is the sort of tumour that camels get, and it is death in the house of Saluliyyah!” Meaning, it was neither an honourable death, nor was the place honourable. He wished that he could be killed in a battle, struck by the swords of brave men. Yet, there he was, dying of a disease that usually afflicts animals, and in the house of a debauched woman! Woe to this humiliation and disgrace! He screamed to his companions, “Bring me my horse!” When they brought him his horse, he mounted it and took hold of his spear. He began to roam around on his horse, while screaming in pain. He kept feeling his throat with his hands and saying, “It is the sort of tumour that camels get, and it is death in the house of Saluliyyah!” He continued moving about on his horse in this manner until he eventually fell from his horse, dead. Who kicked the cat? His companions left him and went back to their people. When they entered their dwellings, the people came to Arbad and asked him what happened. He said, “Nothing much. Muhammad called us to worship something… I wish I was with him now, so I could shoot him with an arrow and kill him!” SubhanAllah! How audacious! A couple of days after he had said this, he left to sell his camel. Allah struck him and his camel with lightning, which annihilated both of them. Allah revealed with respect to ‘Amir and Arbad, “Allah knows that which every female bears and that which the wombs absorb and that which they grow. And everything with Him is measured. He is the Knower of the Invisible and the Visible, the Great, the High Exalted. Alike of you is he who hides the saying and he who noises it abroad, he who lurks in the night and he who goes freely in the daytime. For him are angels ranged before him and behind him, who guard him by Allah’s command.