Glimpses of the Holy Prophet s Exemplary Conduct

By: Seyyed Ali Shahbaz
“In the Prophet of Allah, certainly there is for you a good exemplar, for those who look forward to Allah and the Last Day, and remember Allah greatly.” (Holy Qur’an 33:21)
We are on the eve of one of the grandest day in the history of mankind. It is the 17th of Rabi al-Awwal the day the Almighty Creator of the universe decided to bring into the world His Last and Greatest Messenger – Prophet Muhammad (SAWA).
It would be repetitive to say that he was born in the monotheistic Bani Hashem Clan that was descended from Prophet Ishmael (AS), the firstborn of that great iconoclast, Prophet Abraham (AS)
A detailed account of the noble ancestors of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) is outside the scope of this brief article. However, I cite here a famous hadith, narrated by our Sunni brethren as well, and which quotes the Prophet himself as saying: "(The Archangel) Gabriel told me: I turned over the easts and the wests of the Earth but did not find anyone superior to Muhammad, then [again] I turned over the easts and the wests of the Earth but did not find any clan superior to the Bani Hashem).”
It is clear from the wordings of this hadith that the Messenger of Mercy was neither born among the polytheists of Arabia nor in any uncouth, ill-mannered, and unprincipled Arab household.
In other words, terrorism and violence were alien to the nature of the posthumous son of Abdullah; the orphan of the pious lady, Amena bint Wahb; the grandson of the Leader of the Quraish, Abdul-Muttaleb; and the nephew of the Shaikh al-Bat’ha (Elder of Mecca) Abu Taleb.
The reason I have cited these few names is to emphasize the pure and pristine nature of the Best of God’s creation, who himself has said: "I was always being transferred from the loins of the pure ones to the wombs of the pure ones.”
Now we understand the phrase in the Ziyarah or standard form of salutation to Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) that reads: "I bear witness that you were (descended) through pure loins and chaste wombs.”
Another point worth stressing here is that, the person prophesied by such all time greats as Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and others in different ages and various lands, was not just the greatest of them all, but was the offspring of a long line of "Awsiya” or Legatees, of Ishmael.
Entrusted by God with the universal message of Islam, his mission was to bring hearts closer by removing differences and doubts, and to help build the morally sound and peaceful society, where everybody including those that were not yet Muslim and still adhered to what they believed as the ways of the other prophets, should live in peaceful co-existence.
His invitation to the People of the Book, and his debates and accords, for instance, with the Christians of Najran, indicate this.
Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) was thus the finest example of a perfect man in every sense of the term. He was a paragon of virtue and the most Excellent Exemplar for the human race. The Almighty distinguished him from all others by instilling in his sublime personality such fine qualities as modesty, truthfulness, kindness, patience, loyalty, honesty, courage, bravery, generosity, magnanimity, wisdom and the like. By studying his lofty characteristics and the amazingly simple life that he led with his household, companions, wives and others, we are able to learn valuable lessons from his conduct and accordingly mould our own lifestyle.
Our society could never be an Islamic one unless we sincerely tread the footsteps of Allah's final Messenger to mankind, heed his sayings, and emulate his practice and behaviour (Sunnah & Seerah), as the faithful among his companions did.
This means to desist from whatever he has forbidden, and obey whatever he has bequeathed to us, especially his last and final public proclamation, by the command of God, at the memorable gathering of Ghadeer-Khom, of the prime position after him amongst the Muslims, of his dear cousin, ward, son-in-law, and vicegerent Imam Ali (AS).
To be more precise, since Prophets are infallible and immune from sins and faults, so shall be their legatees – untainted by vices and idolatry.
As the one and only Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali has said in this regard: "By Allah, neither my father ever worshipped idols, nor my grandfather Abdul-Muttalib, nor his father Hashem, nor his father Abd Munaf. They prayed facing towards the Ka’ba and followed the religion of Abraham.”
No wonder, it is highly recommended to visit the shrine of Imam Ali (AS) in Najaf or to salute him from afar, on the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA), in view of the undeniable fact that since Prophets are the emissaries of God, their vicegerents should also be divinely-appointed.
Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) was the finest example of a perfect man in every sense of the term. He was a paragon of virtue and the most Excellent Exemplar for the human race. The Almighty distinguished him from all oters by instilling in his sublime personality such fine qualities as modesty, truthfulness, kindness, patience, loyalty, honesty, courage, bravery, generosity, magnanimity, wisdom and the like. By studying his lofty characteristics and the amazingly simple life that he led with his household, companions, wives and others, we are able to learn valuable lessons from his conduct and accordingly mould our own lifestyle. Our society could never be an Islamic one unless we sincerely tread the footsteps of Allah's final Messenger to mankind, heed his sayings, observe his glorious actions and attitudes, and most important of all follow them, as the faithful among his companions did. Allah the most Glorious enjoins upon us to take the Prophet's behaviour as an example, because he guides us to virtue and righteousness, as ayah 21 of Surah Ahzaab says: "Certainly you have in the Messenger of Allah an Excellent Exemplar for him who hopes in Allah and the latter day and remembers Allah much."
Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) used to closely follow the affairs of the people. He talked only when necessary and when he did his speech was devoid of any rhetoric and unnecessary words. It was precise, to the point and full of great meanings. He was punctual, active and energetic, and led an orderly life in the strict sense of the word. His day was divided into four periods: A time for worship; a time for his household, during which he behaved like any ordinary family-man giving the finest example of social behaviour; a time for rest and contemplation; and a time for public affairs such as receiving people, looking into their needs and requirements, answering their questions, teaching them the tenets of Islam and expounding to them the glorious verses of the Holy Qur'an.
He used to say: “Blessed be my people for their early rising up.”
“Too much sleep does away with both religion and the world.”
“O People, you have certain characteristics, so get to emphasize them and you have an end, so be prepared for it..., a servant of Allah should make provisions for himself from his self: from his world (life) for his hereafter, during his youth before his old age, and in life before death. By the One in whose hand is Mohammad's soul, after death there will be no blaming and after this world there is nothing except Paradise or Hell.”
The Prophet was the finest embodiment of modesty, and deeply abhorred arrogance and haughtiness. Almost all of his companions in the early days were poor and oppressed people, as he was the champion of the downtrodden and the defender of the deprived masses. His house was simple and modest, built of clay bricks, palm leaves and trunks. His food was simple like that of the poor, consisting mostly of barley bread. There were occasions when he might skip that meagre meal too. He socialized with his companions as one of them: talking, listening, smiling and displaying a sense of humour. Sometimes he might join in their laughter to cheer their sprit up. He would visit them when they fell sick or accept an invitation for a meal irrespective of whether the person concerned was poor, a slave or any other. In case a companion of his died, he used to participate in the funeral procession, walking alongside the bier. Owing to his great modesty, he normally preferred riding a mule while moving around, using a saddle made of date-palm fibre. Sometimes he also rode his she-camel. If he was riding and somebody wished to accompany him on foot, he would ask him either to mount behind, and if the man declined out of respect, he would ask him to go ahead and await him at the fixed place, because he did not like the sight of people following him on foot, while he himself was mounted. So modest was he that he hated to see people rising to their feet when he entered an assembly. And on entering he used to sit at the nearest vacant spot, so that his companions might not think that he was sporting an air of superiority over them. His magnetic personality drew love and respect from all. He used to sit on the ground, even while eating, and slept on the ground with a simple mat serving as his bed. He greeted even small boys, as well as women. If some man shook hands with him, he would not unclasp his hand till the other did it first.
Once, a Christian chieftain named Adi bin Hatem at-Ta'i, came for an audience with the Prophet of Islam, who happened to be sitting on a cushion. On seeing the visitor he took the cushion from underneath and offered it to his Christian guest, himself preferring to sit on the ground. This admirable display of modesty by the great Prophet so deeply affected Adi bin Hatem at-Ta'i, that the Christian chief immediately embraced the truth of Islam. This is how Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) taught us best of morals and excellent manners. By living a simple and ordinary life and treating everybody alike with courtesy and respect, he was able to spread the light of Islam. His immaculate personality and lofty character, coupled with his honesty and wisdom, attracted multitudes of people towards truth and justice. His social ties with his companions portray the most wonderful picture of Islamic brotherhood ever heard of. The following narratives give us a glimpse of his firm ties with the society in which he lived: Anas bin Malik, who used to frequent the Prophet's assembly, says that whenever the Prophet missed any one of his companions for a period of three days, he used to inquire about that person, would pray for him and if he happened to be ill, would pay him a visit.
Another companion Jarir bin Abdullah, says that once the Prophet entered a house, and soon it was full of people. When Jarir went in, he found no vacant spot and therefore sat outside. The Prophet observing Jarir took a piece of his clothing, rolled it up and threw it, indicating him to spread it underneath him. Jarir says he caught hold of the clothing, put it on his face and kissed it.
These actions of the Prophet provide us the finest example of a leader unaffected by power and position whereas when we look at the lives of despots and other petty potentates, we see them sporting arrogant airs, trying to humiliate people, and always keeping a distance from the oppressed and the downtrodden. It will not be out of context here to cite another example from the Prophet's life. Once a man came to the Messenger of Allah but on entering his presence, started trembling with fear. Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) seeing the visitor terribly shaken and nervous, smiled and comforted him with utmost tenderness, saying: "Be at ease. I am no king but the son of a Quraishite woman who used to eat dried meat".
How wonderfully he comforts a frightened Arab nomad, who accustomed to the days of Jahiliyah was scared to death on entering the Prophet's presence. This is one of the many instances which prove that he is the Mercy for the human race and not one of those power-drunk despots who kill and terrorize Allah's creatures. Such supreme examples of kindness and generosity helped build a strong and coherent society and spread love and affection among the believers. Therefore it is obligatory for Muslims to learn a lesson from these admirable manners and tread the brilliant path blazed by Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). All Muslims should endeavour to acquire these lofty morals; especially those invested with power and authority, so that peace, love and harmony may prevail all around. If it is a real Islamic society, it will naturally be just and free, where everyone can defend their right and even advise those in authority if they happen to err.