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Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him) relates in this Hadīth that he joined the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) in a battle, known among biographers as Dhāt Ar-Riqā‘. On their way back, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stopped at a place abounding with thorny trees, as the people dispersed, looking for shady places to protect them from the heat. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stayed under a shady tree called Samrah. He hung his sword upon it and slept, and everybody did sleep as well. A Bedouin belonging the people the Prophet fought in this battle sneaked into their place, unnoticed. He took the Prophet's sword stealthily, causing him to wake up. Wielding the sword, the Bedouin felt strong against the Prophet and so he began to challenge him, saying: "Who can protect you if I want to kill you?" To this, the Prophet replied: 'Allah', saying it thrice. He said it with certitude and trust in Allah and firm belief in His promise. The sword fell from the disbeliever's hand, whereupon the Prophet took it and said: "And who can protect you if I want to kill you?" The man replied: "Return evil with good." The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Would you bear witness that there is no god but Allah and I am the Messenger of Allah?" He replied in the negative, but pledged not to fight the Prophet again or join people who fight him. So, the Prophet released him, and he came back to his companions and said: "I have just been with the most excellent among people." What this disbeliever said is true. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) is the noblest in manners among all people, and sufficient as praise of him is the verse that reads: (And indeed, you are of a great moral character.) [Sūrat al-Qalam: 4)
