Life-of-Muhammad

168Life of Muhammad saHearing this entreaty, the Prophet sa prayed to God atonce and said: "My God, forgive the enmity which‘Ikrima ra has born against me. Forgive him the abusewhich has issued from his lips."The Prophet sa then stood up and put his mantle over‘Ikrima ra and said, "Whoever comes to me, believing inGod, is one with me. My house is as much his as mine."The conversion of ‘Ikrima ra fulfilled a prophecy whichthe Holy Prophet sa had made many years before. TheProphet sa , addressing his Companions, once had said: "Ihave had a vision in which I saw that I was in Paradise.I saw there a bunch of grapes. When I asked for whomthe bunch was meant, someone replied saying, 'For AbuJahl'." Referring to this vision on this occasion of theconversion of ‘Ikrima ra , the Prophet sa said he did notunderstand the vision at first. How could Abu Jahl, anenemy of believers, enter Paradise and how could hehave a bunch of grapes provided for him. "But now,"said the Prophet sa , "I understand my vision; the bunchof grapes was meant for ‘Ikrima ra . Only, instead of theson I was shown the father, a substitution common invisions and dreams" (Halbiyya, Vol. 3, p. 104).Of the persons who had been ordered to be executedas exceptions to the general amnesty was one who hadbeen responsible for the cruel murder of Zainab ra , adaughter of the Prophet sa . This man was Habbar ra . Hehad cut the girths of Zainab's ra camel, on which Zainab rafell to the ground and, being with child, sufferedabortion. A little later she died. This was one of theinhumanities which he had committed and for which hedeserved the penalty of death. This man now came tothe Prophet sa and said, "Prophet sa of God, I ran awayfrom you and went to Iran, but the thought came to methat God had rid us of our pagan beliefs and saved usfrom spiritual death. Instead of going to others andseeking shelter with them why not go to the Prophet sahimself, acknowledge my faults and my sins and ask forhis forgiveness?"