In order to understand the message of Islam, it is first
necessary to acquaint ourselves with the prophet of Islam. You cannot, as the
popular saying goes, separate the message from the messenger. It is therefore
only natural to wish to study the life of Muhammad (pbuh), his manners and his
morals, and to see how Islam manifested itself in his person as a living example
for all Muslims till the end of time.
Abu Hurairah described him as follows:
"He was of medium build, closer to being tall. His skin was
extremely white, his beard was black, his mouth was pleasant, his eyebrows were
long, and his shoulders were wide"
Ibne Malik said:
"I never touched silk or any soft fabric equal to the
softness of his palm, and I never smelled a scent more pleasing than his."
Hind ibn Abi Hala (the son of Muhammad's wife Kadijah)
described Muhammad (pbuh) as follows:
"The Messenger of Allah was of consecutive sorrows,
continuous thought, never finding rest, long in silence. He did not speak
without cause. He spoke with his full mouth (was not arrogant), and spoke
concisely. His speech was just, with neither excess nor deficiency. He was not
pompous, nor denigrating. He exalted all blessings no matter how small and never
belittled a single one. He would never praise his food nor criticize it. He was
never angered by matters of this life nor that which was associated with it.
However, if justice was transgressed nothing could stand up to his anger until
justice was established. He never became angry for his own self nor sought
retribution for himself. If he gestured, he did so with his whole palm. If he
was amazed, he overturned it. If he spoke, he struck with his right palm the
inside of his left thumb. If he became angry he turned away, and when he was
happy he lowered his gaze. The majority of his laughter was [restricted to]
smiling."
Ali ibn abi Talib described Muhammad (pbuh) as follows:
"He was not vulgar nor did he condone vulgarity, and he was
not one to shout in the market place. He did not reward evil with evil, rather,
he would forgive and overlook. He never in his life struck anything with his
hand except when he was fighting in the name of Allah. He never struck a servant
nor a woman, and I never saw him taking revenge for an injustice dealt him,
except if the prohibitions of Allah were transgressed. For if the prohibitions
of Allah were transgressed he was among the strongest of them in anger. He was
never given a choice between two matters but he chose the simplest of the two.
If he entered into his home he was a man like any other; cleaning his own
garment, milking his own goat, and serving himself.
He would guard his tongue from that which did not concern
him. He would attract them (the people) and not repel them. He would ennoble the
noble of the people and charge them with their affairs. He was wary of the
people and guarded himself against them but without depriving them a warm smile
or fitting conduct. He would inquire after his companions and would ask the
people about their affairs. He would encourage that which was good and
strengthen it, and he would discourage that which was evil and undermine it. He
was balanced and consistent. He would never be neglectful that they would not
learn neglect and grow indifferent. He had a provision for every occasion and he
never fell short of justice nor exceeded it. The closest people to him were the
best among them, and the best among them in his eyes were the most comprehensive
in advice. The highest of them in stature with him was the best among them in
looking after the people and assisting them. He would not rise nor sit down
without praise [to God]. If he visited a gathering he would sit wherever the
group ended (and not at their head) and he encouraged the same. He would give
all those sitting with him their just due [to the extent that] they would each
feel that none was more important to him than them. If someone were to sit with
him or come in search of a favor he would be patient with them until they (the
guest) would be the one to leave. Whoever came to him with a request was never
turned away except with that which they had asked for or with a kind word. His
cheerfulness and good manners encompassed them all such that he became a father
to them and they all became equal in rights. His gatherings were those of
knowledge, humbleness, patience, and integrity. In them there would be no
raising of voices nor transgressions of prohibitions. They would not expose
one-another's errors, but would be equal, encouraging each-other in the fear of
God. In them, they would respect their elders, be merciful to their children,
give preference to those in need, and protect the stranger."
He continues: "He was continually smiling, gentle in
manners, soft in nature. He was not severe, harsh-hearted, loud, abusive, or
miserly. He would disregard that which he disliked, and no one ever despaired of
him. He never responded to disparagement or evil words. He forbade upon himself
three things: Argument, arrogance, and that which did not concern him. And he
relieved the people of three: He would not degrade any among them or abuse them,
he would not search after their honor or private matters, and he would not speak
except in matters which he hoped to be rewarded for. When he spoke his attendees
would lower their heads as if birds had alighted upon them. Once he finished
they would speak. They would not vie with one-another in his presence to speak,
but when one would talk in his presence the rest would listen until he finished.
Speech in his presence was that of the first among them. He would laugh with
them, and wonder with them. He had patience with the strangers when they were
gruff in speech and requests, to a degree that his companions would fetch them
to him. He would say: 'If you see someone in need, fetch him to me.' He would
not accept praise except from those who were balanced and not excessive. He
would not interject into someone's speech unless they transgressed, in which
case he would either rebuke them or else leave.
He was the most generous of heart, truthful of tongue,
softest in disposition, and noble in relationship. He who first set eyes upon
him feared him, but he who associated with him loved him. Those who described
him would say: 'I have never seen before or after
him anyone similar to him, peace be upon him' "
Reference URL: http://wings.buffalo.edu/sa/muslim/library/jesus-say/ch9.html
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