Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was an honest human being who served as a great example to mankind. Although He (SAW) lived in a time when immorality and ignorance was rampant, he was still renowned for his upright and righteous character. He (SAW) was subject to the same limitations as any man, and faced many trials and tribulations, yet still accomplished outstanding success in delivering his divine mission. He (SAW) was sent as a mercy to all mankind, not to a specific group or race. He (SAW) epitomized good moral character and behavior. He (SAW) was chosen by Allah to teach the people about morality and righteousness, and to worship Allah alone. He (SAW) use to say in his invocation: “O Allah, make my constitution and conduct good. Allah revealed the Quran on him and through it He taught him good manners. Sa’ad (RA) reported: Once I went to Ayesha (RA) and her father and asked them about the character and conduct of the Holy Prophet (SAW) to which Ayesha (RA) replied: Don’t you read the Quran? I said: Yes. She said: The character of the Messenger of Allah is the Quran. In the battle of Uhud, when the cover of the head of the Prophet (SAW) fell down and he became separated from his companions, blood was oozing out from his face and he said wiping his blood: How will the people get salvation who dyed the face of the Holy Prophet (SAW) with blood while he calls them towards their Lord? Then Allah revealed this verse: “‘you have got no hand in the matter. This was only for teaching him good manners. The verse concerning the teaching of good manners to the Holy Prophet (SAW) are many in the holy Quran. Allah says, You are surely on sublime character. The Holy Prophet (SAW) explained it to the people: Allah loves good character, hates bad character. When the prisoners of the tribe of Hatem Tai were brought to him, a girl came to him out of them and said: O Muhammad, if you wish, release me, but don’t dishonour me before the tribe of the Arabs. I am the daughter of the leader of my people and my father was the caretaker of my people. He used to set free the captives, feed the hungry, spread peace and did never return any beggar at the time of his need. I am the daughter of Hatem Tai. The Holy Prophet (SAW) said: O girl, what you have mentioned about his qualities is the attributes of a believer. The Holy Prophet (SAW) said to his companions. Let her be free as her father possessed good character and conduct. Abu Burdah-b-Niyar stood up and said: O Messenger of Allah, does Allah love good conduct? The Holy Prophet (SAW) replied: By One in whose hand there is my life, None shall enter paradise except one who has got good conduct. Good company, good manners, modest talk, doing good to others, feeding, spreading peace, visiting the ill pious or sinner, following the bier of a Muslim, treating good with a neighbour believer or non-believer, showing honour to a Muslim having honour to accept invitation, to forgive, to set disputes among the people, to give charity, to greet first, to pardon the faults of the people and jests which Islam prohibited not to backbite, to speak truth, to give up miserliness, greed, deceit, to give up bad treatment with enemy, not to cut off blood tie, to give up bad conduct, pride, glory, haughtiness, indecencies, hatred rebellion, enmity, oppression, etc., all these are the attributes of a believer. The Holy Prophet (SAW) was the most patient among men, the bravest, the best judge, and one who pardoned most. His hand did not touch any strange woman. He was the greatest charitable man. He used to repair his shoes, join his wives in their labours. He was the most shy among men and could not stare at anyone for long. He accepted invitation of slaves and free men and presentation of even a cup of milk. He did not use the properties of Zakat and used to accept the invitation of the widows and the poor. He used to speak the truth even though it was sometimes a cause of trouble to himself and his companions. He was the most modest without pride and his tongue was most eloquent without prolongation of his speech. His constitution was the most beautiful. No worldly duties could keep him busy. He used to put on whatever he got. His ring was made of silver and he used to put it on in the little finger of his right or left hand. He used to take his servant behind his back on any conveyance. He used to go even to a distant place to see sick, love scents and hate stench, sit with the poor and the destitute, eat with them, honour those possessing honour, advise them to do good deeds and show kindness to the relatives. He did not treat harshly with anybody and accepted excuse offered to him. He used at times to cut jokes without falsehood and not burst into laughter. He held innocent sports and plays as lawful, played with his wives and held races with them. He passed no time uselessly except for Allah. He did not hate the poor for their poverty, not fear the kings for their mighty power. He used to call the people, high or low, towards Allah. Allah adorned him with all the qualities, and good administration although he was illiterate. His boyhood was spent along with the shepherds and he used to graze sheep and goats. He was an orphan and his parents died in his infancy. He did never curse any one. Once when he was in the battle field, he was asked: O Messenger of Allah, it would have been better if you had cursed them. He said: Allah sent me as a mercy and not as a great curser. He never beat anybody with his own hand except in the way of Allah. He did not take any revenge for personal wrongs but he used to take it for preservation of the honour of Allah. He used to select the easier of two things and kept away if there was any sin there in or anything to cut off relationship. He used to salute first one whom he met with. He used to wait at a place where he was to meet a man. When he met with any of his companions, he used to handshake with him. He was not found sitting among his companions spreading out his legs. He used to sit mostly facing the Ka’ba and honour one who came to him. He used to call his companions by their surnames with honour and he used to give one surname to one who had no surname. He used to get angry last of all and was very affectionate and kind in dealing with the people. The Holy Prophet (SAW) was the greatest of the Arabs in oratory and sweet speech. The Holy Prophet (SAW) eat whatever he got. He used to eat bread, curry, dates and salt. Of all the fresh fruits, the dearest to him was grapes, cucumber and water melon. Green dress used to please him but most of his dresses were white. He said: Give your living men to dress with white garments and dress your dead therewith. He used to put on gown for Jihad. His shirt was long up to his thigh. He had only one shirt dyed with saffron with which he led prayers. Whenever he put on a garment, he began from his right side and said: All praise is due to Allah who has given this garment to cover my private parts and to express adornment. He had the habit of naming animals, arms and properties. The name of his standard was Iqab, he had his swords named Zulfiqer, Makhzam, Rejab, and Kazib. The middle portion of his swords was moulded with silver. He used to wear belt of leather which had three rings of silver. The name of his arrow was Katum, of his shield Kafur, of his camel Qaswah, of his donkey Duldul, another donkey Ekab and of his goat Aynah whose milk he used to drink. He had an earthen pot, which he used as an ablution pot and drink water. If anybody presented to him any necklace of gold or silver, he used to give it to some of his companions. Once the Holy Prophet (SAW) was in a certain jihad.
At one time, the unbelievers found the Muslim heedless. So one of them raised a sword upon the head of the Holy Prophet (SAW) and asked him: Who will prevent me to kill you? He at once replied: Allah, immediately the sword fell down from his hand and the Holy Prophet (SAW) took it up. Then the Holy Prophet (SAW) set him free. The man went to his tribe and said: I have come to you today from the best man. Anas (Radhiallahho Anho) reported that a Jewess mixed poison in the food of the Holy Prophet (SAW) at Khaiber. When he began to eat it, he got smell of the poison and stopped eating. The woman was brought to the Holy Prophet (SAW) who asked her about the poisoned food. The woman said: I intended to kill you. He said: Allah will not give you that power. The companions exclaimed: Should we not kill her? The Holy Prophet (SAW) said: Don’t kill her. Ali (RA) said: The Holy Prophet (SAW) sent Jubair, Meqdad and myself to a certain place and said: Go on till you reach Raojakhak where you will find a woman with a letter which you must take from her. We then reached the place and told the woman to deliver the letter so us. The woman denied knowledge of any letter. She was then compelled to deliver the letter to us. We then came therewith to the Prophet. It was written therein, from Hateb-b-Ali Bala’a to the polytheists of Mecca, etc. This letter was written to inform them secretly the affairs of the Holy Prophet (SAW). The Holy Prophet (SAW) said: O Hatib, what is the matter? He said: O Messenger of Allah, don’t hasten inflicting punishment on me. I have mixed with my people, the Refugees who are with you have got at Mecca their relatives who look after their families there. It was my object that though I have got no relationship with the Quraish, I would find such a man among them who will take care of my relatives there if I show kindness to them. I have not done it in a state of infidelity. The Holy Prophet (SAW) said: This man has spoken the truth. Omar (Radhiallahho Anho) said: Give us order to kill this hypocrite. The Holy Prophet (SAW) said: He joined the battle of Badr with us. Who will inform you that the Almighty Allah addressed the warriors of Badr saying: Do whatever you like. Allah has forgiven you. His pleasure and wrath were exposed in his face. When he got very angry, he used to touch his head repeatedly. He used not to disclose to anybody what appeared to him bad. Once a desert Arab passed water in presence of the Holy Prophet (SAW) within the mosque. The companions were about to assault him when the Holy Prophet (SAW) said to him: These mosque are not for passing urine and for uncleanness. The Holy Prophet was the greatest charitable man. His charity during Ramadan was greatest. The Holy Prophet (SAW) was the greatest hero and brave man. Ali (Radhiallahho Anho) said: In the battle of Badr, we all stood surrounding the Holy Prophet (SAW). He braved the enemies and we found him bravest on that day. He said: When fight began and friends and foes met with one another, we feared for the Holy Prophet (SAW) as he was closest to the enemies. Nobody went so near the enemies than him. When he passed order for fighting, he got pleased and prepared himself. He was seen at that time most superior in strength. Inspite of the lofty position of the Holy Prophet (SAW), he was the most humble and modest. One day a man was brought to the Holy Prophet (SAW) and he was afraid to see him. The Holy Prophet (SAW) said: Be quiet, I am not a king. I am a son of an humble Quraish woman who used to eat gourd. He used to sit with his companions like an ordinary man. Whenever any stranger came to see him, he could not at first recognize him till he was introduced to him. The Holy Prophet (SAW) was neither long stature nor short. When he walked alone, he appeared like a middle stature man. If a man of long stature walked with him, his figure looked longer. He (SAW) was pretty, neither too white, nor too brown. The Holy Prophet (SAW) walked firmly and steadily. He said: concerning constitution I am similar to Adam but in character and conduct I am similar to Abraham. He said: I have got ten names near my Lord, (1) Muhammad (praised), (2) Ahmad (most praised), (3) Maui (remover of infidelity), (4) Aqeb (coming last), (5) Hasher (all appearing after me), (6) messenger of mercy, (7) messenger of repentance, (8) messenger of fights, (9) Muqfi (last of all prophets) and (1) Qasem (embodiment of all virtues). The character and conduct of the Holy Prophet (SAW), his actions, his habits, management of affairs, his treatment with the different classes of people, him showing the straight path to them, his wonderful answers to different difficult and subtle questions, his untiring efforts for the good of people, his good guidance regarding the open laws of Shariat all these matters lead one to the conclusion that these were beyond the power of a man without help of an unseen hand. The people testified by seeing his constitution and qualifications that he was a great truthful man sent by Allah. The greatest living miracle of the Holy Prophet (SAW) is the Quran which stands even today.
(The authors write regularly on Islamic topics exclusively for the opinion pages of “Kashmir Horizon”. Views are his own)
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