THE QUALITIES OF THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH(PBUH)
All praise is for Allah who clothed the righteous Muslims in the robes of Taqwa, and decorated them with the adornment of the faith. Alláh(swt) said:
“Indeed, Alláh conferred a great favor on the believers when He sent among them a Messenger (Muhammad(pbuh)) from among themselves, reciting unto them His Verses (the Qur’án), and purifying them (from sins by their following him), and instructing them (in) the Book (the Qur’án) and AI-Hikmah [the wisdom and the Sunnah of the Prophet(pbuh)(i.e., his legal ways, statements and acts of worship)], while before that they had been in manifest error.” (3:164)
My brothers in Islam, the Book of Alláh(swt) is the most authentic and reliable book ever. It recorded the history of the nations that came before it and told us of the people in the era preceding the message of Muhammad(pbuh) who were living in the darkness of ignorance and following terrible traditions. They buried many of their daughters alive, ate the flesh of dead animals (that didn’t die by slaughtering), worshipped idols, and severed the ties of kinship. They often fought each other in tribal disputes and often usurped each other’s property. This led them to shed each other’s blood unjustly. Prior to the message of Muhammad, when there was no Messenger receiving revelation from Allah(swt), people lived a life of darkness upon darkness. However, there were some pious men who were waiting for this situation of total misery to change to a better situation. Therefore, Alláh(swt) responded to their plight and sent to them His Messenger, a Messenger of peace, the best of men among all people, Muhammad(pbuh). This Messenger used every effort to bring guidance to his people and to save them from going astray. He led them with knowledge from darkness to light and taught them to work and earn their money rather than steal other people’s property through their usual incursions. He exhorted them to uphold virtuous morals, so as to live a noble and worthwhile life. Allah(swt) says:
And (the Prophet is) instructing them (in) the Book (the Qur’án) and Al-Hikmah [the wisdom and the Sunnah of the Prophet(pbuh)(i.e., his legal ways, statements and acts of worship)], while before that they had been in manifest error.” (3:164)
Allah(swt) also said:
Verily, there has come unto you a Messenger (Muhammad(pbuh)) from amongst yourselves (i.e., whom you know well). It grieves him that you should receive any injury or difficulty. He (Muhammad (pbuh)) is ánxious over you (to be rightly guided, to repent to Alláh, and beg Him to pardon and forgive your sins in order that you may enter Paradise and be saved from the punishment of the HeJl-fire); for the believers (he(pbuh)) full of pity, kind, and merciful.” (9: 128)
“O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Now has come to you Our Messenger (Muhammad (pbuh)) explaining to you much of that which you used to hide from the Scripture and pass over (i.e., leaving out without explaining) much. Indeed, there has come to you from Alláh a light (Prophet Muhammad(pbuh)) and a plain Book (this Qur’an). Wherewith Alláh guides all those who seek His Good Pleasure to ways of peace, and He brings them out of darkness by His Will unto light and guides them to the Straight Way (Islamic Monotheism).” (5:15,16)
“O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Now has come to you Our Messenger (Muhammad(pbuh)) making (things) clear unto you, after a break in (the series of) Messengers, lest you say: ‘There carne unto us no bringer of glad tidings and no warner.’ But now has come unto you a bringer of glad tidings and a warner. And Alláh is Able to do all things.” (5: 19)
Many verses in the Qur’án have focused on the Messenger’s elevated status. Therefore, we, as Muslims should appreciate this status rightly by doing the following:
1. Learning about his sublime qualities and great deeds and actions.
2. Obeying his teachings, following his guidance, and his commandments-particularly the ones regarding abiding by the qualities of good conduct.
We must adhere to his teachings and obey his commandments if we claim to be believers and to love him. By doing so, we prove our love to him, since there is no value for a love that isn’t reflected in action. Thereby the goal for which he was sent is achieved.
I, therefore, find myself obligated to mention some of the Messenger’s manners and qualities. He certainly is the perfect example for mankind in terms of behavior 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 that Al-Hussein had said that his my father was asked about the way Muhammad(pbuh) behaved with his Companions and those who sat with him, so he said, “The Messenger of Alláh(pbuh) 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(pbuh). He would never accept compliments except from someone who was returning a favor done by the Prophet(pbuh)[(i.e., by saying Jazak Alláhu khayran (may Alláh 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 Alláh(pbuh) was the most knowledgeable, the most pious, the most abstinent (from worldly 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 anyone 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(pbuh) 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 the 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 despised offensive odors. He honored the well doers among the people and always treated the people of honor with kindness. He always looked after his relatives and Arhaam (kinfolk), without giving them any preferential treatment over anyone who might have been considered better. He never shunned 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 Alláh(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(swt) as his example and role model. His morals are more than what one can mention in one speech. Only Allah(swt) can list this honorable Prophet’s virtuous characteristics. Allah(swt) says:
“And verily, you (O Muhammad(pbuh)) are on an exalted (standard of) character.” (68:4)
Finally I exhort you, my brothers in Islam to take the Messenger of Allah(swt) as our example and as a role model in all aspects of life. With this I conclude my speech and ask Allah(swt) to forgive all of our sins. So seek his forgiveness. for verily Alláh is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
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