Al-Ash'ari said, "Part of respect for Allah is to show respect
to an old Muslim and to someone who knows the Qur'an, as long as he does
not go to excess in it nor turn away from it, and to respect a just ruler."
Rafi' ibn Khudayj and Sahl ibn Abi Hathama reported that 'Abdullah
ibn Sahl and Muhayyisa ibn Mas'ud came to Khaybar and parted when they
were among the palm trees. 'Abdullah ibn Sahl was murdered. 'Abdu'r-Rahman
ibn Sahl and Huwayyisa and Muhayyisa, the sons of Mas'ud came to the Prophet,
may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and spoke to him about their (murdered)
companion. 'Abdu'r-Rahman, the youngest of those present, began to speak,
but the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Let the
oldest speak first." (or "Exalt the eldest.") They spoke about their companion
and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, asked, "Will
fifty of you take an oath that you are entitled to the blood-money of your
murdered man?" They replied, "Messenger of Allah, this is something which
we did not see." He said, "Then will the Jews exonerate themselves by the
oaths of fifty of them?" They protested, "Messenger of Allah, they are
unbelievers!" So the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant
him peace, himself paid his blood money."
