The necklace that made the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم weep

There are moments in the seerah that feels like time slows down.

You read them - and they stay with you.

They’re not just historical facts.

They’re heartbreak.

Beauty.

Wisdom.

And they remind us that the Prophet ﷺ didn’t just teach Islam -

he lived it with depth we often forget.

I want to tell you about one of those moments.

It started with a necklace.

The Prophet, the Necklace, and the Prisoner

When the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ migrated to Madinah

his daughter Zaynab stayed behind in Makkah.

She was married to Abul-Aas ibn Rabi’

a man known for his honesty -

but at the time

he had not yet accepted Islam.

Still, the Prophet ﷺ didn’t force a break.

He let the story unfold.

Then came the Battle of Badr.

Muslims vs Quraysh.

And among the Quraysh fighters - was Abul-Aas.

He was captured and brought to Madinah as a prisoner.

One of many.

But to the Prophet ﷺ, this wasn’t just a prisoner.

It was his daughter’s husband.

After the battle, the people of Makkah began to send ransoms to free their captured relatives.

And Zaynab - still in Makkah - sent hers.

It was a necklace.
Not just any necklace.
It was the one her mother, Khadijah رضي الله انها, had given her on her wedding day.

When the Prophet ﷺ saw it…
He wept.

He recognised it insantly.

And the pain of being separated from his from his daughter - and the memory of Khadijah - all hit at once.

He turned to his companions and said,

They agreed.
Not out of duty.
But out of love - for him, and for the mercy he taught them to live by.

And so, Abul-Aas was freed.

But this story doesn’t end there.

Touched by the Prophet’s nobility, Abul-Aas later returned to Madinah - not as a prisoner, but as a Muslim.

Faith reached him through character, not force.

The Deeper Lesson: Choosing Mercy When You Don’t Have To

This story could’ve gone another way.

Abul-Aas was technically the “enemy.”

He could’ve been held ransom, or punished.

The Prophet ﷺ had every right - by law, by emotion - to treat him with hardness.

But instead… he wept.

He softened.

He asked permission to show compassion.

And that act - small as it may seem - changed a heart.

Because that’s what rahma (mercy) does.

It opens doors that logic, debate, and even justice sometimes cannot.

How many hearts have stayed locked because we chose pride over gentleness?

How many family ties have snapped because we waited for them to change first - instead of loving them back to the truth?

The Prophet ﷺ was strong in principle.
But even stronger in mercy.

And his life teaches us:
You don’t have to lose anything by choosing kindness.
You just might help someone find their way back to Allah.

A Quiet Reminder

That necklace… it wasn’t just jewellery.

It was a memory.

A sacrifice.

A silent cry from a daughter to her father.

And the Prophet ﷺ heard it - and answered with love.

You never know what small thing you do -

a kind word

a private du’a

a forgiving message -

might be the rope someone is holding onto.

So, if you’re facing someone who hurt you…
If you’re in a position to punish, ignore or prove a point…

Ask yourself the question he ﷺ asked his companions:
“if you see it befitting…”
Maybe it’s time to free that prisoner.

This isn’t just a story from the past.

It’s a sunnah for your relationships today.

Forgive even when you’re right.
Respond with softness even when you’re strong.
And lead people not just with the truth - but with heart.

That’s the legacy of the Messenger ﷺ.

What’s one story of mercy that stayed with you?
Hit reply and share it - I’d love to read it.
Forward this to someone who needs a gentle reminder that Islam is full of heart.

P.S. I share more like this on Threads and Instagram. Come say Salaam.

Until the next letter,

— hidvyaa