Rabee'ah Al-Aslami (ra) said:
I used to serve the Messenger of Allah (saw), so he gave me some land. Then we began arguing about a cluster of palm trees.
Abu Bakr said, "The palm trees are within the boundary of my property" and I said, "they are within my boundary". Some harsh words were exchanged between Abu Bakr and myself, and Abu Bakr said something to me that I did not like.
Afterwards Abu Bakr felt sorry for what he had said and he said to me, "O Rabee'ah, say the same back to me so that you can retaliate against me."
I said, "I will not."
Abu Bakr then said, "You either say the same to me or I will go and get the Messenger of Allah (saw) involved against you."
I replied, "I will not do it."
Therefore, Abu Bakr (ra) went to the Prophet (saw) and I went behind him.
Then a group of people came and said to me, "May Allah have mercy on Abu Bakr. Why is he going to the Messenger of Allah (saw) for when he was the one who said to you what he said?"
Rabee'ah said, "I then asked them, 'Do you all know who this is?! This is Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq and he is the second of the two [who were mentioned in the Q'uran (9:40) i.e. Prophet Muhammad (Saw) and Abu Bakr (ra)].
He is the respected elder of the Muslims. Beware of him coming and seeing you all helping me against him, or he may become angry. Then the Messenger of Allah (saw) will come and get angry because of Abu Bakr's anger. Then Allah will become angry because of the anger of both of them. Then Rabee'ah would be destroyed."
The people said, "What do you command us to do?"
Rabee'ah said, "Go back to your homes." Therefore Abu Bakr (ra) went to Messenger of Allah (saw) and I followed him by myself until he came to the Prophet (Saw).
Then he informed the Prophet (Saw) of what happened, just as it happened.
The Messenger of Allah (saw) raised his head towards me and said, "O Rabee'ah, what is the matter with you and As-Siddeeq (Abu Bakr)?"
I said, "O Messenger of Allah, such and such happened, then he (Abu Bakr) said something to me that I disliked. Then he said, 'Say back to me what I said so that it may be a retataliation (for you)."
Then, the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "Yes, by all means (retaliate), but do no respond to him with the same.
Rather, you should say, 'May Allah forgive you, O Abu Bakr, may Allah forgive you O Abu Bakr.'
Therefore, I said, 'May Allah forgive you, O Abu Bakr.'
Then Abu Bakr turned away and began crying.
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When we reflect upon this story, we find the character of Abu Bakr (ra) to be good. He said a word out of anger, that Rabee'ah hated. Then what happened after that? He felt bad for what he said. Someone who has good character feels sorrow about his wrongdoing. He confessed and accepted his mistake.
People make mistakes and say things in anger, we must learn to forgive them and if we hurt others, we must learn to apologise and to resolve our issues rather than to extend them.
I used to serve the Messenger of Allah (saw), so he gave me some land. Then we began arguing about a cluster of palm trees.
Abu Bakr said, "The palm trees are within the boundary of my property" and I said, "they are within my boundary". Some harsh words were exchanged between Abu Bakr and myself, and Abu Bakr said something to me that I did not like.
Afterwards Abu Bakr felt sorry for what he had said and he said to me, "O Rabee'ah, say the same back to me so that you can retaliate against me."
I said, "I will not."
Abu Bakr then said, "You either say the same to me or I will go and get the Messenger of Allah (saw) involved against you."
I replied, "I will not do it."
Therefore, Abu Bakr (ra) went to the Prophet (saw) and I went behind him.
Then a group of people came and said to me, "May Allah have mercy on Abu Bakr. Why is he going to the Messenger of Allah (saw) for when he was the one who said to you what he said?"
Rabee'ah said, "I then asked them, 'Do you all know who this is?! This is Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq and he is the second of the two [who were mentioned in the Q'uran (9:40) i.e. Prophet Muhammad (Saw) and Abu Bakr (ra)].
He is the respected elder of the Muslims. Beware of him coming and seeing you all helping me against him, or he may become angry. Then the Messenger of Allah (saw) will come and get angry because of Abu Bakr's anger. Then Allah will become angry because of the anger of both of them. Then Rabee'ah would be destroyed."
The people said, "What do you command us to do?"
Rabee'ah said, "Go back to your homes." Therefore Abu Bakr (ra) went to Messenger of Allah (saw) and I followed him by myself until he came to the Prophet (Saw).
Then he informed the Prophet (Saw) of what happened, just as it happened.
The Messenger of Allah (saw) raised his head towards me and said, "O Rabee'ah, what is the matter with you and As-Siddeeq (Abu Bakr)?"
I said, "O Messenger of Allah, such and such happened, then he (Abu Bakr) said something to me that I disliked. Then he said, 'Say back to me what I said so that it may be a retataliation (for you)."
Then, the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "Yes, by all means (retaliate), but do no respond to him with the same.
Rather, you should say, 'May Allah forgive you, O Abu Bakr, may Allah forgive you O Abu Bakr.'
Therefore, I said, 'May Allah forgive you, O Abu Bakr.'
Then Abu Bakr turned away and began crying.
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When we reflect upon this story, we find the character of Abu Bakr (ra) to be good. He said a word out of anger, that Rabee'ah hated. Then what happened after that? He felt bad for what he said. Someone who has good character feels sorrow about his wrongdoing. He confessed and accepted his mistake.
People make mistakes and say things in anger, we must learn to forgive them and if we hurt others, we must learn to apologise and to resolve our issues rather than to extend them.
