There was once a Mogul leader who converted to Christianity. To celebrate his conversion, a group of prominent Christian and Mogul leaders came to visit him. During the visit, one of the group began to attack the honor and speak ill of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). He continued reviling Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), until a hunting dog which was tied nearby suddenly leaped on him and began to scratch and claw at him. The dog was so furious that it took several men to restrain it and free the man. On seeing this, one of the group said to him, “The dog attacked you because you were speaking ill of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).” “Never!” he exclaimed, “The dog is very noble. When I was gesturing with my hand, it thought I wanted to hit it. That is why it attacked me.” Saying this, he foolishly went on speaking ill of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). After some time the dog again leaped up and attacked him, this time tearing out his throat and killing him instantly.
The devotion of this dog to the honor of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had such an effect on their hearts that approximately forty thousand Moguls accepted Islam! (Ad-Durarul Kaaminah vol. 3, pg. 128)
Lessons:
1. When Allah Ta‘ala loves a person, he instills the love of that person into the hearts of the entire creation. Similarly when Allah Ta‘ala dislikes a person, he instills the dislike and hatred of that person into the hearts of the entire creation. Speaking against Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), or even the pious who follow in his footsteps, is an action that greatly angers Allah Ta‘ala. Thus even the dog was unable to suppress its rage and hence attacked the person reviling Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
2. If a dog could stand up for the honor of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), can we not do the same? One of the most important ways in which we can honor him is to revive every one of his beloved sunnats and blessed conduct.
3. True devotion to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is such that it draws people towards Islam even if the devotion is displayed by a dog. Imagine the change we can make if we become devoted to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).