Assalamu'alaikum.
We continue with our mission to learn the character and manners of the endearing Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), the special person we are to love most.
As we realized earlier, it is part of our Faith as a believer to love Allah's Messenger (pbuh) and make him (pbuh) our role model. In the Chapter of the Qur'an Al-Qalam 68:4, Allah says, "And verily, you (O Muhammad) are on an exalted standard of character."
Of course there are many other verses and hadiths alluding to this revelation. Let's be more specific by giving some examples of how the Messenger (pbuh) conducted himself that people were so fascinated and enchanted by him.
According to 'Aishah (rh), " Whenever Allah's Messenger (pbuh) was given the opportunity to choose between two affairs, he would always choose the easiest and the most convenient. But if it be sinful, he would be as far as he could from it. He never took revenge for himself: but when the sanctity of Allah was violated, he would avenge it. That would be for Allah's sake not for himself."
Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (rh) said, " He was shier than a virgin. When he disliked something, we read it on his face. He did not stare at anybody's face. He would always cast his eyes down. He would look at the ground more than the sky. The most he would look at someone was by glancing. He was willingly and modestly obeyed by everybody. He would never name a person whom had heard ill-news about something he hated, instead he would say: ' Why do certain people do so...?'
"The Prophet (pbuh) was the most truthful to his pledges, and it was one of his qualities to establish good and steady relationships with his relatives. He was the most merciful, gentle and sociable of all people. His way of living was the simplest one.
He (pbuh) was the most modest person and far from being arrogant or proud. He forbade people to stand up for him as other people usually did for their kings. Ill-manners and indecency were two qualities completely alien to him. He was decent, and did not call anybody names. He was not sort of person who cursed or made noise in the streets.
'Urg' - the sound of expressing disgust was never used by him towards any of his servant; nor did ever blame his servant for something or leaving something undone. Loving the poor and the needy and entertaining them or participating in their funerals were the acts the Prophet (pbuh) always observed. He never showed disgrace to a poor man for his poverty.
Hind bin Abi Halah (rh) described him: "Allah's Messenger (pbuh) was always contemplative, thinking. He had no rest (i.e. for long). He only spoke when it was necessary. He would remain silent for a long time and whenever he spoke, he would talk with his full mouth and clear words, he never suppressed the words by speaking out of the corners of his mouth. His speech was comprehensive. He spoke inclusively and decisively. It was not excessive nor was it short of meaning. It was friendly. It was no way dishonoring. He(pbuh) glorified the bounty of Allah; even if it were little. If he had no liking for some food, he would neither praise nor criticize.
He (pbuh) was in full control of his temper and he never seemed angry unless it was necessary. He never got angry for himself nor did he avenge for himself. It was for Allah's sanctity and religion that he would be angry. If he were angry he would turn his body and face aside. When he was pleased, he cast his eyes down. His laughter was mostly smiling. It was then that his teeth were revealed like hailstones.
Allah's messenger (pbuh) was always cheerful, easy, pleasant-tempered and merciful. He was never rude or rough or indecent. He would neither blame nor praise excessively. He overlooked what he did not desire, yet no one would despair of him. He kept himself away from three habits : hypocrisy, excessiveness, and what was none of his concern. People did not fear him in three areas : he neither degraded or blamed them nor did he seek the defects or shortages of others. He only said things whose reward was Divinely desirable.
Remembrance of Allah was important to him and did so whenever he sat down or stood up. He entertained participants in his social gatherings alike. Nobody was better than another except on the basis of piety. A favored one, to him, was the one who feared Allah most.
The Prophet (pbuh) said, " When you see a person seeking an object earnestly, assist him to get his need. And never ask for a reward except from the Giver of the rewards, ie. Allah."
The above are just a few descriptions from the Prophet's (pbuh) Companions (rhm) or from his Hadiths. The character and manners of our Prophet (pbuh) is so comforting and motivating to know and emulate.
Undoubtedly, being very imperfect mortals that we are, it is not easy for us to emulate him (pbuh) in this very challenging environment that we live in. Our culture and habits have been hijacked by unIslamic ways that we sometimes cannot distinguish between ours and 'theirs.'
What can we do? Perhaps we can:
* keep a copy of the Prophet's (pbuh) biography (we keep auto/biographies of others!) to familiarize ourselves with his background, his family, his prophethood, his life in Makkah and Madinah, his companions, his preaching, his governance, his character and manners, his farewell speech and his journey to Allah. (many books available, one of which is The Sealed Nectar)
* Refer to the Qur'an and Hadiths when we are unsure of things governing our lives (we can look for references ourselves or ask experts).
* Refer to Hadith compilations, on subjects like Manners in Islam by Imam Bukhari, Riyad-us-Saliheen (virtuous training and discipline)by An-Nawawi, the Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam by Yusuf Al-Qaradawi etc.
* Be conscious of our actions and not to be offended when family and friends who care enough about us, remind us regularly.
Our doa: our endeavor to emulate our beloved role model (pbuh) in our journey of life is hopefully achievable, by Allah's Grace. Ameen.
Ma'a Salaama
No comments:
Post a Comment