Why Did They Become Muslims

touched the ground. Stupefied, Rughâna said, “It was a mistake.
Let us wrestle again.” So the match was repeated three times, and
at each time Rughâna was flat on his back. The same event is
related in the initial pages of the third chapter of Shawâhid-unnubuwwa.
According to this narration, Rughâna said after the
third match, “I did not intend to convert to Islam. Yet I never
expected to lose. I see with surprise and admiration that you are
stronger than I am.” So he gave half of his flock as a present to
the Messenger of Allah, and left. The Messenger of Allah was
herding the flock towards Mekka, when he came back, running.
He said:
– O Muhammad! What will you answer if the Meccans ask you
where you have found the flock?
– I will say, “Rughâna gave them to me as a present.”
– And what will you say if they ask why.
– I will say, “We made a wrestling-match. I beat him and made
his back touch the ground. So he liked my strength and gave the
flock to me.”
– Please do not tell them so! I will fall into disesteem. Tell them
that I gave them because I liked the way you spoke.
– I have promised to my Rabb (Allah) never to lie.
– Then I will take the flock back.
– Well, take them back if you like! I would sacrifice a thousand
flocks to please my Rabb.
Falling in love with this strong belief and integrity of the
Messenger of Allah, Rughâna uttered the (expression of
confirmation called) Kalima-i-shahâdat, (which has been
explained earlier in the text,) and became a Muslim.
There was another wrestler, named Abul-Aswadil Jumahî. He
would stand on a cattle hide, ten other strong people would tug at
the hide until the hide tore to pieces, and they would fail to move
the wrestler even a bit. One day that person promised to the
Messenger of Allah that he would become a Muslim if he lost in a
wrestling match against him. So they had a match, which ended
with the wrestler lying flat on his back. However, he would not
become a Believer.
26– Rasûlullah ‘sall-Allâhu ta’âlâ ’alaihi wa sallam’ was
extremely generous. He would donate hundreds of camels and
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