A life marked by modesty in all situations

A life marked by modesty in all situations

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was a model of modesty. Most certainly, he was the best person to have ever walked on earth, but he did not press his position in any way other than to emphasize that his task was merely to deliver God's message to mankind. He did not seek for himself any privilege or special treatment. On the contrary, he was keen to always appear among his companions as one of them who had no special privilege. A stranger who found him sitting with them would not know which of them was God's Messenger until he had been informed by them. In manners, appearance and behavior, the Prophet was not distinguishable from his companions, except in always choosing the better, easier and more beneficial option.

Qudamah ibn Abdullah reports: "I saw the Prophet as he performed the duty of stoning the Jamrah (during his pilgrimage) on the day of sacrifice. He was riding a camel of normal color, which was neither too pretty nor bad looking." (Related by Ahmad, Al-Tirmidhi, Al-Nassaie and Ibn Majah.) This took place during the Prophet's pilgrimage, which was in the last year of his mission, when his authority as head of state was universally acknowledged throughout Arabia. At that time, rulers gave themselves magnificent appearance wherever they went. This has been a tradition everywhere. Today, when a ruler moves from one area to another in his own capital, he rides in a huge procession. In some countries, the streets along the route a ruler moves are blocked to all traffic until he has reached his destination. The Prophet chose a very ordinary camel and went among his people as one of them.

This was his habit, because we read several descriptions of how he went about. Needless to say, in each description the Prophet's companion concerned speaks about what he saw. Thus, Usamah ibn Zayd says: "I saw the Prophet (SAW) riding a donkey with a saddle placed over an article of clothing made in Fadak. He got Usamah to ride behind him when he went to visit Saad ibn Ubadah who was ill in his home in Al-Harith ibn Al-Khazraj's quarters." (Related by Al-Bukhari, Muslim and Ahmad.) Usamah, who was riding behind the Prophet on this occasion, describes how the Prophet went far to visit one of his companions because he was ill. There is nothing remarkable about the Prophet's riding and appearance, other than its being very modest. It is the type of mount that was available to all at the time. Not only so, but he also took Usamah behind him.

The Prophet was indeed most caring. If on this instance he visited one of the chiefs of the Ansar, he would visit anyone who was ill, as we can easily deduce from the following Hadith narrated by Anas: "A Jewish lad used to serve the Prophet. He fell ill and the Prophet went to visit him. He sat by the patient, near to his head. He then said to him: "Embrace Islam." The lad looked up to his father, who said to him: "Do as Abu Al-Qasim is telling you." The lad declared himself a Muslim. When the Prophet left him, he said: "All praise be to God who has saved this lad from the fire." (Related by Al-Bukhari, Ahmad and Abu Dawood.)

We note how the Prophet went to visit a servant of his, a young chap who did not believe in his message. Nothing stopped him from showing his care for the lad. The boy and his family were highly appreciative of the fact, as they well knew that he was the master and ruler in Madinah. When the Prophet told him to embrace Islam, he only did so because he cared for the boy. He did not wish the lad to meet his Lord as a non-Muslim, having known about Islam. No doubt when the Prophet asked him to embrace Islam, he was only concerned for the lad and his position in the life to come. He wanted for him what is best and this could only be achieved through his embrace of the Islamic faith.

The boy's father was also fully aware of the Prophet's feelings. Hence, he told his son to obey him. The boy had known the Prophet and his honesty, and he must have reported to his family on the Prophet's exemplary conduct at home and with his community. Hence, the father did not hesitate to order his son to follow the Prophet's guidance. When the boy declared himself a Muslim, the Prophet was delighted for his salvation.

It is when things are difficult that a leader's character appears at its clearest. When the Prophet and his companions marched to intercept the trade caravan belonging to the Quraysh, hoping to take it in compensation for their property the Quraysh had confiscated when they immigrated to Madinah, they were very badly equipped. They were over 300 people, but they had only seventy odd camels and two horses. They realized that they might have to confront a much bigger force, as they eventually did when the Quraysh raised an army and the two sides fought the Battle of Badr. How did they manage to march with such little amount of equipment? Abdullah ibn Massoud reports: "When marching for the Battle of Badr, every three of us were assigned one camel.

Abu Lubabah and Ali ibn Abi Talib shared one camel with the Prophet. When it was the Prophet's turn to walk, both of them said to him: "We will walk instead of you." The Prophet said to them: "Neither of you is stronger than me, nor am I less in need of God?s reward than you." (Related by Ahmad and others.)