Page:Selections from Muhammadan Traditions - tr. William Goldsack (1923).djvu/309

 He replied, " I have not been sent as a curse, but I have only been sent as a mercy." ' Muslim.

It is related from ' Ayesha that she said, ' The Apostle of God used to mend his own shoes and sew his clothes and work in his house as anyone of you works in his house. He was a man amongst men. He used to clean his clothes of vermin and milk his goats and wait upon himself.' At Tirmidhi.

It is related from 'Amru bin Sa'id from Anas that he said, 4 1 never saw anyone more kind to his family than the Apostle of God. His son Abraham was put out to nurse in a high part of Madina, and the Prophet used to go, and we with him, and enter the house when it was full of smoke, his foster-father being a blacksmith, and the Apostle used to take the child and kiss him. After that he would return.' 'Amru said, ' And when Abraham died, the Apostle of God said, " Verily Abraham my son died whilst at the breast. He will certainly have two nurses in paradise to complete his weaning." Muslim.

It is related from ' Ayesha that she said, ' The Apostle of God said, "O 'Ayesha, if I wished I could certainly have mountains of gold. An angel came to me, whose waist certainly equals the Ka'bah, and said, * Verily thy Lord sends His salutations to thee and says, if thou wishest to be a prophet who is (at the same time) a servant (then be so); or if thou wishest to be a prophet who is a king, (then be so).' Then I looked towards Gabriel; and he beckoned to me that I should humble myself." And in another tradition from Ibn 1 Abbas it runs, * The Apostle of God turned to Gabriel as if seeking a sign from him. Then Gabriel made a sign with his hand that he should humble himself. Then I said, " I will be a prophet who is a servant." ('Ayesha) said, after that the Apostle of God would not eat reclining; but would say, "I will eat as a slave eats, and will sit as a slave sits." ' Sharhus- Sunnah.

CONCERNING THE SENDING OF THE PROPHET, AND THE BEGINNING OF INSPIRATION

It is related from Ibn 'Abbas that, ' The Apostle of God was sent at his fortieth year; and he remained in Mecca thirteen years, receiving revelations. After that he was