Punishment for Embezzlement of the Public Treasury
The event goes back to the year seven hegira. The holy Prophet of Islam (PBUH) was mobilizing the Muslims in Medina in order to free the Khaibar castle from the control of Jewish obstructionists who were complicated opportunists as well as dangerous and real enemies of Islamic rule and government. The Muslim army, comprised of 16,00 Muslims, left Medina along with the holy Prophet and after traversing 128 miles they moved to the north of Medina and surrounded the Khaibar castles. After conquering the Khaibar, Muslims took a lot of booties and spoils and decided to return to Medina. One of the slaves who was in charge of fastening the camel’s palanquins secretly took a cloak of the spoils which was Muslims’ public treasury. Later, when Muslims headed for Medina, the slave was fastening one of the camel’s palanquins. Suddenly, an arrow hit him and he just died on the spot. The concerned officers started their investigations, but finally did not understand where that arrow had come from, or whether it was intentional or by mistake. Thus, they said: ‘Heaven be upon him’; however, the holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “I don’t agree with you in what you say.” The Muslims asked: “why?” the holy Prophet answered: “the cloak which he is wearing was among the spoils and he lifted that by treason; on the Judgment Day, that cloak will surround him like flames of fire. At this time, one of the soldiers said: “I have taken two shoelaces of the spoils without permission!”
The holy Prophet said: “give those shoelaces back; otherwise, they will surround your feet like flames of fire on the Judgment Day.”
Source: Muhammad Reza Tabatabi Nasab, the Holy Prophet Muhammad’s Behavioral Patterns.
Translated by: Sadroddin Musawi
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