The Qualities of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)

[Hannah.]

Our holy Prophet is certainly the perfect example for mankind in terms of behaviour and good conduct. Al-Tirmidhi narrated in his book Al-Shma'il Al-Muhammadiyya (The Muhammadan characteristics) on the authority of Al-Hassan bin 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) that Al-Hussein (may Allah be pleased with him) had said his father was asked about the way Muhammad (peace be upon him) behaved with his Companions and those who sat with him, so he said,

"The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had always been cheerful, easy-going and docile. He was never rough, harsh, or blatant and never used obscene language. He never was a faultfinder and never argued (for the sake of arguing). He never paid attention to anything that was not his concern. He never disappointed anyone that sought his help and never dismissed anyone that wanted anything from him empty-handed. He abstained from three things: arguing, being extravagant, and anything that did not concern him. He further refrained from doing three things towards people: he never belittled anyone, never criticized anyone and never searched for anyone's faults. He never spoke except when he anticipated a benefit from speaking. When he spoke, his Companions listened attentively. They talked only when he finished talking, and they would not talk over him or argue in his presence. They listened to anyone speaking in his presence until they finished. Their talk with him is only one, and that is the talk of the first one starting (the discussion). He would laugh about what they laughed about, and wonder about what they wondered about. He was always patient with the strangers that approached with roughness. Therefore, his Companions would bring the strangers to his presence so as to benefit from his answers to their questions. He instructed his Companions that if they ever saw a needy person, they were to bring him to the Prophet (peace be upon him). He would never accept compliments except from someone who was returning a favour done by the Prophet (peace be upon him) [(i.e., by saying Jazak Allahu khayran (may Allah reward you with good)]. He would never be interrupted while talking. His companions would wait until he had finished or rose to leave."

Furthermore, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was the most knowledgable, the most pious, the most abstinent (from wordly luxuries), the most just, the most tolerant and the chestiest of all people. He never touched the hand of a woman that did not belong to his household (i.e., one of his wives or slave-girls), or who was not one of his Mahram (those who are relatives that cannot be married) women. He never addressed any one with a bad thing. Whenever he wanted to admonish or remind the Muslims regarding something wrong they did or one of them did, he would not mention anyone in specific. Instead, his address would be delivered in general terms. He had approached every one of his Companions so dearly, that every one of them would think the Prophet (peace be upon him) liked him the most.

He was the most modest of all people and never stared at anyone. He answered the invitation of the free man as well as the slave, and accepted any gift offered to him, even if it were a sip of milk or a thigh of a rabbit. Moreover, he would pray for the one who gave the gift and would eat from it. However, he never accepted charity and would not eat from charity. He always visited the sick, particularly the sick among the poor people whom nobody would look after or pay attention to. He was always polite with his Companions and always missed the ones that had been absent for a while. How many a time would he tell a person: "You may have found something with us you do not like" (so forgive us)? He always loved good fragrances and always disliked offensive odours. He honoured the well doers among the people and always treated the people of honour with kindness. He always looked after his relatives and Arhaam (kinfolk), without giving them any preferential treatment over anyone regardless of what he had done. He had slaves and maids, yet never gave himself any preferences over them in terms of food or clothes. He never passed time for other than the sake of Allah SWT, or for some important personal matters. He was the last person to get angry and the quickest to be pleasant and forgiving. He was the kindest, gentlest and most beneficial of the people for the people.

This should be sufficient for anyone who wants to take the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) as his example and role model. His morals are more that what one can mention in one speech. Only Allah SWT can list his honourable Prophet's virtuous characteristics. Allah SWT says:

"And verily, you (O Muhammad (peace be upon him)) are on an exalted (standard of) character." (68:4)

We should all take the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) as our example and as a role model in all aspects of life. I ask Allah SWT to forgive all of our sins. So seek His forgiveness, for verily Allah is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.