ARTICLE TITLE:
Character and Conduct of Holy Prophet (SAW)
AUTHOR:
Imam Ghazalli (R.A.)
LANGUAGES :
In English.
DISCOURSE:
All praise is due to Allah who created the universe and taught. His
greatest Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) (peace be upon
Him) the best good manners, purified his character and conduct and
adopted him as His friend. He gives grace to follow the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) to one who wishes to make his character
and conduct beautiful. He deprives one to follow whom he wishes to
destroy. Open good conduct is the fountain of secret good conduct. The
movements of the bodily limbs are the results of thoughts of mind and
the external actions are the result of character and conduct. To make
efforts in recognizing Allah and the acquisition of wonderful secret
powers are the fountains of actions.
The light of this secret power is expressed outwardly and makes the
body beautiful and gives rise to good attributes after removing evils.
The man who has got, not fear in mind, has got not fear expressed in
his bodily limbs. The beauty of the conduct of prophethood is not
expressed in a man whose mind is not illumined with the light of Allah.
I intended to gather together in this chapter the ways of the life of
his ways in the first and second parts of this book. I do not wish to
repeat them here.
Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)’s Learning Through the Quran
The Holy
Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) used to invoke and pray to the
Almighty Allah to grant him good manners and good treatment with the
people and to adorn him with good character and conduct. He use to say
in his invocation: “O Allah, make my constitution and conduct good. He
used to pray: O Allah, save me from bad character and conduct.
Acceptance of his prayer is seen in the following verse. Invoke me, I
will respond to you 2:186. Allah revealed the Quran on him and through
it He taught him good manners. His character is the Quran. Sa’ad
(Radihiallaho Anho) reported: Once I went to Ayesha (Radihiallaho Anha)
and her father and asked them about the character and conduct of the
Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) to which Ayesha (Radihiallaho
Anho) replied: Don’t you read the Quran? I said: Yes. She said: The
character of the Messenger of Allah is the Quran. His conduct is
expressed in the following verse:
Take to pardon, enjoin good and turn away from the illiterate.
Allah
says: Allah enjoins justice, kindness, giving charity to the relatives
and prohibits indecencies, evils and rebellion -16:90.
Have patience at the disasters that befall on you. It is a difficult task. It is difficult to have patience and to forgive.
Allah says: Pardon and forgive them. Allah loves the doers of good. Allah says: Don’t you like that Allah should forgive you?
Allah
says: Remove evil with what is good, as a result the enmity that exists
between you and him will be removed and he will become your friend.
Allah says: Those who appease their wrath, those who pardon people, Allah loves the doers of good.
Allah says: Give up conjectures in most cases, as some conjecture is sin. Don’t spy and don’t back-bite one another.
In the
battle of Uhud, when the cover of the head of the Prophet 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 (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) 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
(Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) are many in the Quran. It was the first
object of Allah to teach the Prophet good manners and good character
and conduct. For this reason, the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe
wasallam) said: I have been sent to completed good conduct. Allah
praised the character of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)
by saying! You are surely on sublime character. The Holy Prophet
(Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) explained it to the people: Allah loves
good character, hates bad character.
Ali
(Radhiallahho Anho) said: I wonder for a Muslim who does not do benefit
to his brother Muslim who stands in need of it. If he hopes for rewards
and fears punishment, he should hasten towards good conduct as it shows
the path of salvation.
A man
asked Ali (Radhiallahho Anho): Have you heard it from the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)? He said: Yes, I have heard better advice
from him. 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 (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)
said: O girl, what you have mentioned about his qualities are the
attributes of a believer. The Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)
said to his companions. Let her be free as her father lewd good
character and conduct.
Abu
Burdah-b-Niyar stood up and said: O Messenger of Allah, does Allah love
good conduct? The Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) replied: By
One in whose hand there is my life, None shall enter paradise except
one who has got good conduct.
The Holy
Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) said: Allah adorned Islam with
good character and beautiful actions. 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, to give up songs, instrument of songs 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.
Anas
(Radhiallahho Anho) reported that the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe
wasallam) did not give up good advice and enjoined us to stick to it.
He used to warn us from backbiting and prohibited it. The following
verse is sufficient to prove it: Allah loves justice and doing good to
others. Muaz (Radihiallaho Anho) said: The Holy Prophet (Sallallaho
alaihe wasallam) advised me thus: O Muaz, I advise you: fear Allah,
speak the truth, fulfil promise, pay up trust, give up breach of trust,
save your neighbour, show kindness to orphans, be modest in talk,
spread peace, do good deeds, hope less, stick to fifth earn knowledge
about the Quran, love the next world, fear rendering of accounts and
lower your aim. O Muaz, I forbid you: Don’t tell a truthful man lair,
don’t follow any sin, don’t disobey any judge, don’t be a leader, don’t
disobey a just judge, and don’t create disorder in land. I give you
instruction: Fear Allah while passing by each stone, tree, and heaps of
earth. Make repentance anew after committing any sin. Repent secretly
for secret sin and openly for open sin.
Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)’s Character and Conduct
The Holy
Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) 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 did
not pass a single night hoarding any dirham or dinar. Whenever any
excess money came to him and if he did not then get anyone to accept it
as charity, he did not return home till he gave it to the poor and the
needy. He did not store up for more than a year the provision of his
family members which Allah was pleased to give him. He used to take one
fifth of what easily came to him out of dates and wheat. What remained
in excess, he used to give in charity. He used to give away in charity
to one who begged anything of him, even out of his stored up provision.
He used
to repair his shoes, join his wives in their labours and cut meat with
them. 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 used to say: I Don’t accept any invitation of any
infidel. He used to bind stones in his bell for appeasing his hunger
and eat whatever he got. He did not return any present and did not take
precaution in any lawful food. If he got dried grapes in lieu of bread,
he ate them. If he got baked meat, he ate it. He used to eat whatever
he got of bread, wheat, sweets, and honey. He considered milk as
sufficient if he did not get any other food. He used not to take food
leaning against a pillow or upon a high table. Soles of his two feet
served as his towel. He used not to eat bread consecutively for three
days till he met Allah. it was a voluntary act on his part. He used to
accept invitations of marriage, attend the sick and the diseased and
attend the funerals. 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,
whether it was horse, camel or ass. Sometimes he walked bare footed,
sometimes he had no turban or cap on his head.
He used
to go even to a distant place to see sick, love scents and hate stench
or bad smell, 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 used to drink milk of camels and goats along with
his family members and give them equal shares in foods and dresses. He
passed no time uselessly except for Allah. He used to walk in the
gardens of his companions for recreation. 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.
Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)’s Good Manners
If the
Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) abused anybody, he used to
give him compensation and show him kindness. He did never curse any
woman or slave. 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. When he
was asked once to curse a particular person or an unbeliever, he did
not curse him but on the contrary prayed for his welfare. 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 fulfill the
needs of anyone who required his help, whether a slave or a freeman.
Anas (Radhiallahho Anho) said: By One who sent him as a Holy Prophet
(Sallallaho alaihe wasallam), he never said to me. Why have you done
this or why have you not done this? His wives also did not rebuke me.
If there was any bed of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam),
he used to sleep on it or else he used to sleep on the ground. Allah
described the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) in the Torah
Muhammad the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) of Allah, His
chosen servant, without harshness, not roaming in the streets, not
returning evil for evil. He is prone to pardon. He is forgiven. His
birth is at Mecca, his migration to Ta’ba and his reign in Syria. He
and his companions put on Ijar around their waists and call towards the
Quran and wisdom. He makes ablution of his bodily limbs. Similar is his
description in Injil (New Testament).
Another
trait of his characters is that he used to salute first one whom he met
with. He used to wait at a place where he was to meet a man. He used
not to withdraw his hand from anybody till he first withdrew his hand.
When he met with any of his companions, he used to handshake with him,
hold his hand, enter his fingers unto his fingers and hold them firmly.
He did not stand up or sit without remembering Allah. When anybody sat
by him at the time of his prayer, he used to make it short and say to
him: Have you got any need? When he fulfilled his need, he returned to
his prayer.
His
assembly was not different from that of his companions, as he sat where
he went. 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. Even he used to spread his own sheet of cloth for one with
whom he had no relationship. He used to give his pillow to one who came
to him and everyone thought that the Prophet honoured him more .
Whoever came to him could see his face.
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 call the women
by the names of their issues and call others by their surnames. He used
to call the boys by their surnames for which their hearts were inclined
to him. He used to get angry last of all and was very affectionate and
kind in dealing with the people. Nobody could speak loudly in his
assembly. He used to recite: O Allah, Thou are pure, all praise is for
Thee. I bear witness that there is no deity but Thee. I seek
forgiveness from Thee and turn to Thee.
Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)’s Words and Laughter
The Holy
Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) was the greatest of the Arabs in
oratory and sweet speech. He said: I am the greatest orator among the
Arabs. He used to speak little. When he talked, he did not talk much.
His talks fell gradually from his lips like pearls. Ayesha
(Radhiallahho Anha) said: the Messenger of Allah used to talk like you.
They said: The Messenger of Allah used to talk little and everything
was expressed in this short talk. In his speech, there was no defect of
excess or shortness. The words come one after another like pearls.
Whoever heard them remembered them. He was sweetest in talk among his
companions. He said to keep silent for long and have no talk without
necessity. He used not to talk evil words and what he talked was just.
He did not use ornamental words. His companions did never dispute
before him. He used to say: Don’t beat one verse of the Quran by
another as it has been revealed for many purposes. He used to smile
much before his companions and teeth then were exposed to view.
It was
reported: Once a desert Arab came to the Prophet whose face became
changed at seeing him. Seeing anger in his face, the Arab said: By One
who sent him as a true Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam), I
will not ask him till he smiles. Then he said: O Messenger of Allah, we
heard that Dajial (Anti-Christ) will come with Sarid for the people.
Then the people will remain hungry. My parents be sacrificed to you. Do
you forbid me to eat it till I am destroyed? Do you order me to eat it
with satisfaction? Shall I talk infidelity after faith in Allah? The
Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) laughed at this, so much so
that his teeth were exposed to view. Then he said: It is not that,
rather Allah will make you free from the food from which he made the
believers free.
At the
time when the Quran was being revealed to him, he used to smile most
when something happened, he entrusted it to Allah, kept himself free
from his own strength and ability and said in invocation: O Allah, show
me truth in a true manner or give me grace to give it up, save me from
doubt so that I may not follow my passion without Thy guidance. Make my
desire to obey Thee. Take pleasure from the peace of my mind. Show me
the different shades of truth. Thou guidest to the straight path
whomsoever Thou willeth.
Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)’s Manners in Eating
The Holy
Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) eat whatever he got. To him, the
best food was what all partook of. When the dining cloth was spread, he
used to say: In the name of Allah, O Allah, make it a sift to express
gratefulness that there might be gifts in paradise. Whenever the Holy
Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) sat to eat, he used to sit as
praying man sits, not placing one leg upon another and say: I am a mere
servant, I eat as a servant eats. He used not to take any hot food and
said: There is no grace in it and Allah will not feed us with fire, so
make this food cold. He used to eat whatever was presented to him with
three fingers with the help of the fourth finger at times. Once a
tiffin made of clarified butter, honey and wheat presented to him. He
eat it and said: How good it is. He used to eat bread, curry, dates and
salt. Of all the fresh fruits, the dearest to him was grapes, cucumber
and water melon.
He used
to eat gourd with bread and sugar and sometimes with dates. His
ordinary meal consists of dates and water. Sometimes he mixed milk with
dates. Meat was his most favourite curry. He said: Meat increase the
power of hearing and is the king of foods in this world and the next.
Had I prayed to my lord for eating meat everyday, He would have granted
it. He used to eat cooked meat with gourd. He liked gourd and said: It
is the fruit of a plant of my brother Jonah. The prophet said to me: O
Ayesha (Radhiallahho Anha) when you cook meat, mix therewith much water
as it makes the broken hearted strong. He used to eat the meat of
hunted birds but he did not himself hunt or follow game.
He used
to eat bread with butter and like goats neck and thigh. He liked gourd
among curries, vinegar condiment, dried dates among dates. He prayed
for three things and said: These have come from paradise and they are
medicines for poison and insomnia. He liked among curries creepers of
yellow newer and carrot. He disliked the meat of reservoir of urine. He
did not eat several things of goat genital organ, female organ, blood,
urinal meat, goitre, gall bladder, etc. He did not eat onion and
garlic, nor condemned them. He used to eat what he liked and did not
eat what he did not like. He did not like to eat the meat of lizard and
cockroach, neither did he prohibit them to be eaten. He used to lick up
his dish with his hand and said: Most blessing is in the remnants of
food.
He used
to lick up his fingers after meal so much so that they assumed reddish
hue. He used not to cleanse his hands with towel till he licked up his
fingers well and said: Nobody knows in which food there is blessing.
When he finished his meal, he used to say: O Allah, for Thee is all
praise. You have given me food and drink and given me satisfaction. So
praise to Thee without expiation and farewell and being not free there
from. He was accustomed to wipe his hand well and then wash his hands
and mouth with excess water and take the name of Allah each time. He
used to drink water in slow degrees and not hastily in one breath. He
used not to blow breath in the cup of water at the time of drinking and
supply food to one by his side.
Once he
was given milk and honey mixed together but he refused to drink it
saying: Two drinks at the same time and two curries at the same time!
He said: I don’t make them unlawful but I consider them bad for
rendering accounts on the resurrection day as they are additional
things in this world. I like modesty and Allah raises up one who
humbles himself for Allah. He lived in his house more bashful than an
unmarried girl. He used not to order for preparation of any food and
eat whatever was given to him and remain silent if not given.
Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)’s Manners in Dress
The Holy
Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) use to put on sheet, gown, shirt
and whatever he got. 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. Sometimes he put on only one
shirt up to his thigh and say: I am only a slave. I put on garment as a
slave puts on. He had two special garments for Jumma prayer which he
did not put on at other times. Sometimes he had only one garment with
which he cohabited with his wives. He had a black garment which he
gifted away.
Omme
Salma said: What fault has this black garment committed? He replied: I
had put it on. She said: You look more beautiful if the black garment
mixes with your beautiful constitution. Sometimes, he used to go out
putting on a seal tied with thread in his hand. He used to impress his
letters with seal and say: It is better to put seal in letter than
back-biting. He used to put on cap under his turban. If he had no
turban, he used to put on cap. Sometimes, he took off his cap from his
head and fixed it in front as a prayer-stake. When he had no turban and
cap, he covered his head with a sheet of cloth. He had a turban named
Sahhab which he presented to Ali. (Radhiallahho Anho)
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. When he wished to put off his garment, he
began from his left side. When he put on a new garment, he gave his old
cloth in charity to a poor man and said: If a Muslim gives his wearing
garment to another Muslim, nobody except Allah will dress him. He
remains in the custody of Allah till that cloth remains with him, be he
alive or dead. His bed was made of grape-covers and refuges. It was two
yards long and one yard and one cubit board.
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 ass Duldul, another ass 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 therefrom.
Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)’s Pardon
The Holy
Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) was the most patient among men and
the most forgiving inspite of having power to take retaliation. If
anybody presented to him any necklace of gold or silver, he used to
give it to some of his companions. One day, a desert Arab stood up and
said: O Muhammad , if Allah ordered you to do justice, I don’t see you
doing it. He said: Woe to you! Who will do better justice to you after
me? When he was about to go, the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe
wasallam) said: Take him to me with humility. The Holy Prophet
(Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) was taking silver coins for the people in
the cloth of Bilal in the battle of Khaiber. One man said to him: O
Messenger of Allah, do justice. The Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe
wasallam) said to him: Woe to you, if I don’t do justice, who will do
justice after me? If I do not do justice, I shall be ruined and suffer
loss. Omar (Radhiallahho Anho) then said: Should I not kill him as he
is a hypocrite? He said: May Allah save him! In that case, people will
say that I kill my companions.
Once the
Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) 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 (Sallallaho alaihe
wasallam) 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 (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) took it up and said: Who will
prevent me to kill you? He said: Hold it firmly. The Holy Prophet
(Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) said: Say, I bear witness, that there is
no deity but Allah and that I am His Messenger. He said: I have got no
envy against you, I shall not kill you. I shall not go with you and I
shall not join those who fight against you. Then the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) 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 (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) 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 (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) 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 (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)
said: Don’t kill her. One day a Jew enchanted the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaho alaihe wasallam), Jibril gave this information to the Holy
Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam). He took out the enchanted thing
and came round, but took no revenge against the Jew.
Ali
(Radhiallahho Anho) said: The Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)
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 (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam).
The Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) 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. I have not done it after accepting Islam being
satisfied with infidelity. I have not done it being a retrograde. The
Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) said: This man has spoken the
truth. Omar (Radhiallahho Anho) said: Give us order to kill this
hypocrite. The Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) 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.
Once the
Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) distributed the booties when
an Ansar stood up and said: Allah is not pleased with this
distribution. When it was mentioned to the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho
alaihe wasallam), his face turned red and he said: May Allah show you
mercy. My brother Moses was given such troubles, but he remained
patient. The Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) said: Let nobody
communicate any thing of my companions, as I wish that at the time when
I come to you, I come with a sound mind.
Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)’s Objects of Dislike
The skin
of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) was thin and his
interior and exterior were clean. 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. One day a man dyed his body with yellow colour came to the Holy
Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam). He dislike it but did not say
anything till he went. When he departed, he said to the people: If this
man is asked to give up yellow colour, it would be better. Once a
desert Arab passed water in presence of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho
alaihe wasallam) within the mosque. The companions were about to
assault him when the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) said to
him: These mosque are not for passing urine and for uncleanness.
Once a
desert Arab came to the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) and
begged something from him. He gave it to him and said: I have treated
well with you. The desert Arab said: Never, you have not treated well
with me. At this, the companions got angry but the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) prohibited them to do any harm to him.
Then he went to his room and brought something for him to eat and said:
I have done you benefit. Then he said: May Allah bless your family and
relatives. The Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) said to him:
What you said first seemed unpleasant to my companions. If you like,
say to them what you have said to me just now. What is in their mind
will then vanish. He said: I shall say it to them. At another time,
when the desert Arab came, the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe
wasallam) said: I added what the desert Arab told me. It seemed to me
that he was pleased with it. I asked him: Are you satisfied: Yes, may
Allah bless your family and relatives. The Holy Prophet (Sallallaho
alaihe wasallam) said: The smile of the desert Arab in relation to me
is like that of a man who had a camel which went out. It went faster
fearing the people who followed it. The driver of the camel hinted: You
all go away and leave the camel and myself alone. I know it better and
shall show kindness to it. The driver of the camel gave it some food
and called it towards him. When it came, he loaded it and rode upon it.
When the desert Arab used harsh words, he would have entered Hell had I
not prohibited you to take revenge upon him and assault him.
Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)’s Generosity
The Holy
Prophet was the greatest charitable man. His charity during Ramadan was
greatest. Nothing could prevent him from it. Ali (Radhiallahho Anho)
narrated the qualities of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)
and said: His hand of charity of spread to its utmost and his tongue
was the most truthful. His conduct was the most modest and he was the
most honourable in lineage. Fear struck one who saw him first. Whoever
mixed with him loved him. One who praised man begged something to the
Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) in the name of Islam and it
was given to him. He begged him something further and it was also given
to him, and that was one flock of sheep which were grazing between two
hillocks. He went to his people and said: Accept Islam because Muhammad
gives so much that he does not fear poverty for that. He did never
deprive one who begged something from him.
Once
10,000 dirhams were brought to the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe
wasallam) which he distributed among his companions. After that, a man
came to him and begged him something. He said: I have got now nothing,
but still I am giving you something after purchasing it. It was done
accordingly. Omar (Radhiallahho Anho) said: O Messenger of Allah, Allah
has not imposed burden on you over which you have got no control. His
words did not appear pleasing to the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe
wasallam). That man said: Spend and do not fear poverty from Allah. The
Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) then smiled and pleasure was
visible in his face. Once when he returned from the battlefield of
Hunain, the desert Arabs came to him and begged from him so much that
he was compelled to take shelter to a corner of a tree. They caught his
sheet and he said: Give back my sheet to me. Had I had sheep to the
number of these thorny plants, I would have distributed them all to you
and you would not have found me a miser or a coward.
Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)’s Bravery and Heroism
The Holy
Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) was the greatest hero and brave
man. Ali (Radhiallahho Anho) said: In the battle of Badr, we all stood
surrounding the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam). 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 (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) 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. Imran (Radhiallahho Anho) said: The Holy
Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) attacked the enemy who came to him
first. The companions said that the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe
wasallam) had then a firm hold on the enemy. In the battle of Hunain,
when the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) was surrounded by
the enemies, he alighted from his mule and said: I am surely the
Messenger of Allah. There is no untruth in it. I am the descendant of
Abdul Muttableb. He was on that day the bravest of all.
Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)’s Modesty and Humility
Inspite
of the lofty position of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam),
he was the most humble and modest. Ibn Amer (Radhiallahho Anho)
reported: I saw the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) throwing
stones at Jamrah riding on a camel. There was no assault in it, no
driving out and no saying: Go aside, go aside. He sat on a sheet of
cloth on the back of a mule and took someone behind him. He used to
visit the sick, follow the biers, accept invitations of servants and
slaves, repair shoes and sew garments. He used to help his family
members in their household duties. His companions used not to stand up
in his honour as they know his dislike for it. He used to salute the
children when passing by them.
One day
a man was brought to the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) and
he was afraid to see him. The Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)
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. Ayesha (Radhiallahho
Anha) said: May Allah sacrifice me to you, eat learning as it easier
for you. The Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) leaned towards
the ground so much that it seemed that his head would touch the ground.
He used to say: I shall take meal like the eating of a slave and sit
like the sitting of a slave. He used not to eat in plates while he
lived.
Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)’s Figure and Constitution
The Holy
Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) 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. When
two men of long stature walked by his two sides, he appeared longest,
but when they became separate from him, the people called them long
men. The Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) was of middle
stature. He was pretty, neither too white, nor too brown. He was of
pure reddish hue.
Some one
praised him saying. His limbs which confronted the sun, such as face
and neck, appeared more whitish than reddish colour. The sweats of his
face were like pearls and more perfumed than musk. His hair was very
pretty, neither straight nor curly. When he combed them, they appeared
like lines in sands. It is said that his hair was kept flowing up to
his shoulders, sometimes he parted his hair into four parts and each
two parts were let off through his two ears. Sometimes he kept his hair
above his ears and his neck then appeared shining like pearls. Grey
hairs were found in his head and beard. Their number was not more than
seventeen.
The Holy
Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) had a most pretty constitution.
Some gave the smile of his beauty to that of the full moon. His
forehead was wide and the place between his eyebrows was bright like
pure silver and eye-balls were black tinged with reddish hue. The hair
of his eye lashes were profuse. His nose was thin and his teeth were
neither separated, nor united. When they were exposed at the time of
his smile or laugh, they shone like lighting. His lip was most
beautiful and the ends of his face was the most soft. His face was
smooth and nose not long. His beard was thick and he did not trim it.
He used to clip his moustache. His neck was the most beautiful, neither
long, nor short. If the rays of the sun fell on his neck, it appeared
like a cup of silver mixed with gold. His chest was board. It was even
like a mirror and white like the moon light. There was a thin line of
hair extending from his chest up to the navel and there was no other
hair over his belly. There were three lines in his belly. His apparel
covered one line. His shoulders were wide and there was hair over them.
The place between his shoulders was wide and therein there was
impression or seal of prophethood inclined a little towards the right
shoulder. There was a spot mixed with black and yellow colours.
There
was hair around it which appeared like the hair of a horse. He had
hands full of flesh and his fingers were like silver sticks and his
palms were softer than wool and were so full of scent that it seemed
that otto was applied to them. Sweet scent was attached to the hand of
a person who handshake with the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe
wasallam). If his pure hand touched the head of a boy, he could be
recognized among boys owing to the sweet scent of his hand. His thighs
were full of flesh and his constitution was proportionate and
beautiful. In his latter days, he became rather fleshy but he was
without grease like his first stage of life.
The Holy
Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) 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).
Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)’s Miracles
The
character and conduct of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam),
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. It is impossible on the part of a hypocrite or a liar. The people
testified by seeing his constitution and qualifications that he was a
great truthful man sent by Allah.
Allah
gave him these qualities though he was illiterate and had no education
and lived always with the illiterate Arabs. Being illiterate, orphan
and weak, how could he acquire such good character and conduct, such
knowledge about Allah without worldly knowledge? His true and correct
knowledge about the earlier Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)
show that he is a true messenger of Allah, because he knew these truths
by revelations. How could he know what was beyond man unless he
received revelation? His miracles prove that he is a true Holy Prophet
(Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) of Allah.
Some of his Miracles with Help of Allah
(1) When
the Quraish of Mecca told the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)
to divide the moon into two parts, the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe
wasallam) invoked Allah who split the moon into two portions and it was
clearly visible to the people present.
(2) At
the time of the siege of Medinah by the allied armies for more than one
month, the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) supplied provision
to all the people.
(3) At another time, he satisfied eighty people with food with only four muds of maize and one little goat.
(4) Once
the daughter of Basher had a few dried grapes with which the Holy
Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) fed all his soldiers to their
satisfaction and there remained also something in excess.
(5) Once
water began to gush forth from the fingers of the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaho alaihe wasallam), so much so that his soldiers drank to
their hearts content and also made ablution therewith.
(6) Once
there was no water in a well at Tabuk and it dried up. The Holy Prophet
(Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) threw a little water from his ablution to
the well and immediately it gushed forth so profuse water that
thousands of soldiers drank it to their satisfaction.
(7) At
another time, there was no water in a well at Hudaibiyah. The Holy
Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) threw the remaining ablution water
into it which immediately gushed forth abundant water. Fifteen hundred
men drank it to their satisfaction.
(8) Once
the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) threw a handful of dust
towards the faces of his enemies as a result of which they instantly
became blind. Soon after this verse was revealed: When you throw, you
did not throw, but Allah threw it.
(9) The
Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) used to deliver sermon
standing on the trunk of a palm tree in the mosque, when it was
replaced by another, the trunk began to emit mild sound which was heard
by all his companions. When he touched it with his hand, it became calm.
(10)
Once the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) told the Jews to
make Mobahala (that is whoever is a liar, he will die), but the Jews
gave the news next morning that they feared to make it for fear of
their lives. This is mentioned in the Quran.
(11) The
Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) warned Osman (Radhiallahho
Anho) of a great danger as a result of which he would enter paradise.
History bears testimony that he was murdered in his very house while he
was reading the Quran. The Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)
told Ammer that a rebellious party would kill Osman. It is true that
they murdered him.
(12)
Once a man joined Jihad in the way of Allah. The Holy Prophet
(Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) said about him that he would enter Hell.
Then it was seen that he committed suicide.
(13)
When the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) was on his way
towards Medina on migration, one Suraqa-b-Malek was following him to
capture him in expectation of a reward, but the feet of his horse was
sunk in dust in the act. When he sought the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho
alaihe wasallam)’s help to escape from the danger, he prayed for him.
This continued for three times and the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe
wasallam) prayed for him each time. After being released for the third
time, the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) gave him this
prophecy in his almost helpless condition, that he would soon wear the
bangles of Persian King Khosroe. After the conquest of Persia by the
Muslims, these bangles were procured from the kind and were given to
him for wearing.
(14)
Aswad Ansari was a liar and claimed prophethood during the life time of
the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam). He was a resident of
Sana’a in Yemen. One night he was found assassinated in that town. In
that very night, the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) gave his
death news to the people and he named Feroze Daifami as his murderer.
(15)
During the night of migration to Medina, one hundred Quraish surrounded
the house of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) to kill him,
but he went out of their clutches throwing dust on their heads for
which they could not see him going out.
(16)
Once the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) gave the prophecy to
some of his companions: The last man among you will die of arson. It
after wards occurred that it came true.
(17)
Once the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) called two trees to
cover him to give him the opportunity of urinating. The two trees
shifted from their sites, covered him from public view and went away to
their old sits after he finished his call of nature.
(18) The
Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) was of middle stature, but
when he walked, two long men by his sides, he was seen the longest of
them.
(19) The
Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) said: I will kill Abu-b-Hani
in the battle of Uhud. In the battle, the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho
alaihe wasallam) inflicted a minor injury on him and as a result he
expired.
(20)
Once the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) was given food mixed
with poison to eat. He who ate it first expired, but the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) lived for four years even after taking
that food. That food told the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe
wasallam): There is poison in me.
(21) In
the battle of Badr, the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)
mentioned the fate of the leaders of the Quraish. This happened exactly
as he said.
(22) The
Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) said to his daughter Fatema:
You will meet me first after my death. She died six months after the
Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam).
(23)
Once the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) said to his wives:
She who is longer in hand will meet me first after my death. Jainab
(Radhiallahho Anha) was the most charitable among his wives and she
died first after the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam).
(24) A
certain camel had not milk in its udder. As soon as the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) touched its udder, it began to give milk.
Abdullah-b-Mausd embraced Islam on seeing this miracle of the Holy
Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam).
(25)
Once one eye of a companion went out of its socket. The Holy Prophet
(Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) restored it to its site and his eye sight
increased more.
(26) The
greatest living miracle of the Holy Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe
wasallam) is the Quran which stands even today. He threw challenge to
the people to produce a chapter like it. The Quran says: Say, if jinn
and mankind gather together to bring a book like this Quran, they won’t
be able to bring like it even though they help one another. So nobody
was successful to bring a book or even a sentence like it, up to this
time. This alone is a sufficient and living testimony that the Holy
Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) Muhammad (peace be upon Him) is a
true messenger of Allah.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Ihya-Ulum-Id-Din by Imam Ghazzali (r.a.) Revival of Religious Learnings
Publisher Darul-Ishaat Karachi Pakistan
DATE: 450-505 (A.H.) 1058 -1111 A.D.
English Translation :
Fazlul Karim
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