There was once a Moghul leader who converted to Christianity due to which a group of prominent Christian and Moghul leaders came to visit him.

During the visit, one of the group began attacking the honour and speaking 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 until several men were eventually able 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).

As he did so, the dog immediately leaped up and attacked him once again, this time tearing out his throat and killing him instantly.

The devotion of this dog to the honour of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had such an effect on their hearts that on witnessing the scene, 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 honour of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), can we not do the same? One of the most important ways in which we can honour him is to revive every one of his beloved sunnahs. 

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 that we can make if we become devoted to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and his sunnah!