In the name of Allah,
Assalamu Alaykum all,
InshaAllah you are all in the best of health and Iman,
In love and rememberence to our great Prophet (peace and blesssings be upon him) please read and send on: PART (1)
Character and Conduct of Holy Prophet (saw)
Source: Ihya-Ulum-Id-Din by Imam Ghazzali (r.a.)
All praise is due to Allah (SWT) who created the universe and taught. His greatest Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) (saw) the best good manners, purified his character and conduct and adopted him as His friend. He gives grace to follow the Holy Prophet (saw) to one who wishes to make his character and conduct beautiful. He deprives one to follow whom he wishes to destroy. Open good conduct is the fountain of secret good conduct. The movements of the bodily limbs are the results of thoughts of mind and the external actions are the result of character and conduct. To make efforts in recognizing Allah (SWT) and the acquisition of wonderful secret powers are the fountains of actions.
The light of this secret power is expressed outwardly and makes the body beautiful and gives rise to good attributes after removing evils. The man, who has got, not fear in mind, has got not fear expressed in his bodily limbs. The beauty of the conduct of Prophethood is not expressed in a man whose mind is not illumined with the light of Allah (SWT). I intended to gather together in this chapter the ways of the life of his ways in the first and second parts of this book. I do not wish to repeat them here.
Holy Prophet (Saw)’s Learning Through the Quran
The Holy Prophet (saw) used to invoke and pray to the Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant him good manners and good treatment with the people and to adorn him with good character and conduct. He use to say in his invocation: “O Allah (SWT), make my constitution and conduct good. He used to pray: O Allah (SWT), save me from bad character and conduct. Acceptance of his prayer is seen in the following verse. Invoke me, I will respond to you 2:186. Allah (SWT) revealed the Quran on him and through it He taught him good manners. His character is the Quran. Sa’ad (ra) reported: Once I went to Ayesha (ra) and her father and asked them about the character and conduct of the Holy Prophet (saw) to which Ayesha (ra) replied: Don’t you read the Quran? I said: Yes. She said: The character of the Messenger of Allah (SWT) is the Quran. His conduct is expressed in the following verse:
* Take to pardon, enjoin good and turn away from the illiterate.
* Allah (SWT) says: Allah (SWT) enjoins justice, kindness, giving charity to the relatives and prohibits indecencies, evils and rebellion -16:90.
* Have patience at the disasters that befall on you. It is a difficult task. It is difficult to have patience and to forgive.
* Allah (SWT) says: Pardon and forgive them. Allah (SWT) loves the doers of good. Allah (SWT) says: Don’t you like that Allah (SWT) should forgive you?
* Allah (SWT) says: Remove evil with what is good, as a result the enmity that exists between you and him will be removed and he will become your friend.
* Allah (SWT) says: Those who appease their wrath, those who pardon people, Allah (SWT) loves the doers of good.
* Allah (SWT) says: Give up conjectures in most cases, as some conjecture is sin. Don’t spy and don’t back-bite one another.
In the battle of Uhud, when the cover of the head of the Prophet fell down and he became separated from his companions, blood was oozing out from his face and he said wiping his blood: How will the people get salvation who dyed the face of the Holy Prophet (Saw) with blood while he calls them towards their Lord? Then Allah (SWT) revealed this verse:
“‘You have got no hand in the matter. This was only for teaching him good manners.”
The verse concerning the teaching of good manners to the Holy Prophet (saw) are many in the Quran. It was the first object of Allah (SWT) to teach the Prophet good manners and good character and conduct. For this reason, the Holy Prophet (saw) said: I have been sent to completed good conduct. Allah (SWT) praised the character of the Holy Prophet (saw) by saying! You are surely on sublime character. The Holy Prophet (saw) explained it to the people: Allah (SWT) loves good character, hates bad character.
Ali (ra) said: I wonder for a Muslim who does not do benefit to his brother Muslim who stands in need of it. If he hopes for rewards and fears punishment, he should hasten towards good conduct as it shows the path of salvation.
A man asked Ali (ra): Have you heard it from the Holy Prophet (saw)? He said: Yes, I have heard better advice from him. When the prisoners of the tribe of Hatem Tai were brought to him, a girl came to him out of them and said: O Muhammad, if you wish, release me, but don’t dishonour me before the tribe of the Arabs. I am the daughter of the leader of my people and my father was the caretaker of my people. He used to set free the captives, feed the hungry, spread peace and did never return any beggar at the time of his need. I am the daughter of Hatem Tai. The Holy Prophet (Saw) said: O girls, what you have mentioned about his qualities are the attributes of a believer. The Holy Prophet (saw) said to his companions. Let her be free as her father lewd good character and conduct.
Abu Burdah-b-Niyar stood up and said: O Messenger of Allah (SWT) (saw), does Allah (SWT) love good conduct? The Holy Prophet (Saw) replied: By One in whose hand there is my life, None shall enter paradise except one who has got good conduct.
The Holy Prophet (saw) said: Allah (SWT) (sawadorned Islam with good character and beautiful actions. Good company, good manners, modest talk, doing good to others, feeding, spreading peace, visiting the ill pious or sinner, following the bier of a Muslim, treating good with a neighbour believer or non-believer, showing honour to a Muslim having honour to accept invitation, to forgive, to set disputes among the people, to give charity, to greet first, to pardon the faults of the people, to give up songs, instrument of songs and jests which Islam prohibited not to backbite, to speak truth, to give up miserliness, greed, deceit, to give up bad treatment with enemy, not to cut off blood tie, to give up bad conduct, pride, glory, haughtiness, indecencies, hatred rebellion, enmity, oppression, etc., all these are the attributes of a believer.
Anas (Ra) reported that the Holy Prophet (Saw) did not give up good advice and enjoined us to stick to it. He used to warn us from backbiting and prohibited it. The following verse is sufficient to prove it: Allah (SWT) loves justice and doing good to others. Muaz (ra) said: The Holy Prophet (aaw) advised me thus: O Muaz, I advise you: fear Allah (SWT), speak the truth, fulfil promise, pay up trust, give up breach of trust, save your neighbour, show kindness to orphans, be modest in talk, spread peace, do good deeds, hope less, stick to fifth earn knowledge about the Qur’an, love the next world, fear rendering of accounts and lower your aim. O Muaz, I forbid you: Don’t tell a truthful man lair, don’t follow any sin, don’t disobey any judge, don’t be a leader, don’t disobey a just judge, and don’t create disorder in land. I give you instruction: Fear Allah (SWT) while passing by each stone, tree, and heaps of earth. Make repentance anew after committing any sin. Repent secretly for secret sin and openly for open sin.
Holy Prophet (Saw)’s Character and Conduct
The Holy Prophet (saw) was the most patient among men, the bravest, the best judge, and one who pardoned most. His hand did not touch any strange woman. He was the greatest charitable man. He did not pass a single night hoarding any dirham or dinar. Whenever any excess money came to him and if he did not then get anyone to accept it as charity, he did not return home till he gave it to the poor and the needy. He did not store up for more than a year the provision of his family members which Allah (SWT) was pleased to give him. He used to take one fifth of what easily came to him out of dates and wheat. What remained in excess, he used to give in charity. He used to give away in charity to one who begged anything of him, even out of his stored up provision.
He used to repair his shoes, join his wives in their labours and cut meat with them. He was the most shy among men and could not stare at anyone for long. He accepted invitation of slaves and free men and presentation of even a cup of milk. He did not use the properties of Zakat and used to accept the invitation of the widows and the poor. He used to speak the truth even though it was sometimes a cause of trouble to himself and his companions. He used to say: I Don’t accept any invitation of any infidel. He used to bind stones in his bell for appeasing his hunger and eat whatever he got. He did not return any present and did not take precaution in any lawful food. If he got dried grapes in lieu of bread, he ate them. If he got baked meat, he ate it. He used to eat whatever he got of bread, wheat, sweets, and honey. He considered milk as sufficient if he did not get any other food. He used not to take food leaning against a pillow or upon a high table. Soles of his two feet served as his towel. He used not to eat bread consecutively for three days till he met Allah (SWT). it was a voluntary act on his part. He used to accept invitations of marriage attend the sick and the diseased and attend the funerals. He was the most modest without pride and his tongue was most eloquent without prolongation of his speech.
His constitution was the most beautiful. No worldly duties could keep him busy. He used to put on whatever he got. His ring was made of silver and he used to put it on in the little finger of his right or left hand. He used to take his servant behind his back on any conveyance, whether it was horse, camel or ass. Sometimes he walked bare footed; sometimes he had no turban or cap on his head.
He used to go even to a distant place to see sick, love scents and hate stench or bad smell, sit with the poor and the destitute, eat with them, honour those possessing honour, advise them to do good deeds and show kindness to the relatives. He did not treat harshly with anybody and accepted excuse offered to him. He used at times to cut jokes without falsehood and not burst into laughter.
He held innocent sports and plays as lawful, played with his wives and held races with them. He used to drink milk of camels and goats along with his family members and give them equal shares in foods and dresses. He passed no time uselessly except for Allah (SWT). He used to walk in the gardens of his companions for recreation. He did not hate the poor for their poverty, not fear the kings for their mighty power. He used to call the people, high or low, towards Allah (SWT). Allah (SWT) adorned him with all the qualities and good administration although he was illiterate. His boyhood was spent along with the shepherds and he used to graze sheep and goats. He was an orphan and his parents died in his infancy.
Holy Prophet (saw)’s Good Manners
If the Holy Prophet (saw) abused anybody, he used to give him compensation and show him kindness. He did never curse any woman or slave. Once when he was in the battle field, he was asked: O Messenger of Allah (SWT), it would have been better if you had cursed them. He said: Allah (SWT) sent me as a mercy and not as a great curser. When he was asked once to curse a particular person or an unbeliever, he did not curse him but on the contrary prayed for his welfare. He never beat anybody with his own hand except in the way of Allah (SWT). He did not take any revenge for personal wrongs but he used to take it for preservation of the honour of Allah (SWT).
He used to select the easier of two things and kept away if there was any sin there in or anything to cut off relationship. He used to fulfil the needs of anyone who required his help, whether a slave or a freeman. Anas (ra) said: By One who sent him as a Holy Prophet (saw), he never said to me. Why have you done this or why have you not done this? His wives also did not rebuke me. If there was any bed of the Holy Prophet (Saw), he used to sleep on it or else he used to sleep on the ground. Allah (SWT) described the Holy Prophet (saw) in the Torah Muhammad the Holy Prophet (saw) of Allah (SWT), His chosen servant, without harshness, not roaming in the streets, not returning evil for evil. He is prone to pardon. He is forgiven. His birth is at Mecca, his migration to Ta’ba and his reign in Syria. He and his companions put on Ijar around their waists and call towards the Quran and wisdom. He makes ablution of his bodily limbs. Similar is his description in Injil (New Testament).
Another trait of his characters is that he used to salute first one whom he met with. He used to wait at a place where he was to meet a man. He used not to withdraw his hand from anybody till he first withdrew his hand. When he met with any of his companions, he used to handshake with him, hold his hand, enter his fingers unto his fingers and hold them firmly. He did not stand up or sit without remembering Allah (SWT). When anybody sat by him at the time of his prayer, he used to make it short and say to him: Have you got any need? When he fulfilled his need, he returned to his prayer.
His assembly was not different from that of his companions, as he sat where he went. He was not found sitting among his companions spreading out his legs. He used to sit mostly facing the Ka’aba and honour one who came to him. Even he used to spread his own sheet of cloth for one with whom he had no relationship. He used to give his pillow to one who came to him and everyone thought that the Prophet honoured him more. Whoever came to him could see his face.
He used to call his companions by their surnames with honour and he used to give one surname to one who had no surname. He used to call the women by the names of their issues and call others by their surnames. He used to call the boys by their surnames for which their hearts were inclined to him. He used to get angry last of all and was very affectionate and kind in dealing with the people. Nobody could speak loudly in his assembly. He used to recite: O Allah (SWT), Thou are pure, all praise is for Thee. I bear witness that there is no deity but Thee. I seek forgiveness from Thee and turn to Thee.
Holy Prophet (Saw)’s Words and Laughter
The Holy Prophet (Saw) was the greatest of the Arabs in oratory and sweet speech. He said: I am the greatest orator among the Arabs. He used to speak little. When he talked, he did not talk much. His talks fell gradually from his lips like pearls. Ayesha (ra) said: the Messenger of Allah (SWT) used to talk like you. They said: The Messenger of Allah (SWT) used to talk little and everything was expressed in this short talk. In his speech, there was no defect of excess or shortness. The words come one after another like pearls. Whoever heard them remembered them. He was sweetest in talk among his companions. He said to keep silent for long and have no talk without necessity. He used not to talk evil words and what he talked was just. He did not use ornamental words. His companions did never dispute before him. He used to say: Don’t beat one verse of the Quran by another as it has been revealed for many purposes. He used to smile much before his companions and teeth then were exposed to view.
It was reported: Once a desert Arab came to the Prophet whose face became changed at seeing him. Seeing anger in his face, the Arab said: By One who sent him as a true Holy Prophet (Saw), I will not ask him till he smiles. Then he said: O Messenger of Allah (SWT), we heard that Dajial (Anti-Christ) will come with Sarid for the people. Then the people will remain hungry. My parents be sacrificed to you. Do you forbid me to eat it till I am destroyed? Do you order me to eat it with satisfaction? Shall I talk infidelity after faith in Allah (SWT)? The Holy Prophet (Saw) laughed at this, so much so that his teeth were exposed to view. Then he said: It is not that, rather Allah (SWT) will make you free from the food from which he made the believers free.
At the time when the Quran was being revealed to him, he used to smile most when something happened, he entrusted it to Allah (SWT), kept himself free from his own strength and ability and said in invocation: O Allah (SWT), show me truth in a true manner or give me grace to give it up, save me from doubt so that I may not follow my passion without Thy guidance. Make my desire to obey Thee. Take pleasure from the peace of my mind. Show me the different shades of truth. Thou guidest to the straight path whomsoever Thou willeth.
Holy Prophet (Saw)’s Manners in Eating
The Holy Prophet (Saw) eat whatever he got. To him, the best food was what all partook of. When the dining cloth was spread, he used to say: In the name of Allah (SWT), O Allah (SWT), make it a sift to express gratefulness that there might be gifts in paradise. Whenever the Holy Prophet (Saw) sat to eat, he used to sit as praying man sits, not placing one leg upon another and say: I am a mere servant, I eat as a servant eats. He used not to take any hot food and said: There is no grace in it and Allah (SWT) will not feed us with fire, so make this food cold. He used to eat whatever was presented to him with three fingers with the help of the fourth finger at times. Once a tiffin made of clarified butter, honey and wheat presented to him. He eat it and said: How good it is. He used to eat bread, curry, dates and salt. Of all the fresh fruits, the dearest to him was grapes, cucumber and water melon.
He used to eat gourd with bread and sugar and sometimes with dates. His ordinary meal consists of dates and water. Sometimes he mixed milk with dates. Meat was his most favourite curry. He said: Meat increase the power of hearing and is the king of foods in this world and the next. Had I prayed to my lord for eating meat everyday, He would have granted it. He used to eat cooked meat with gourd. He liked gourd and said: It is the fruit of a plant of my brother Jonah. The prophet said to me: O Ayesha (ra) when you cook meat, mix therewith much water as it makes the broken hearted strong. He used to eat the meat of hunted birds but he did not himself hunt or follow game.
He used to eat bread with butter and like goats neck and thigh. He liked gourd among curries, vinegar condiment, dried dates among dates. He prayed for three things and said: These have come from paradise and they are medicines for poison and insomnia. He liked among curries creepers of yellow newer and carrot. He disliked the meat of reservoir of urine. He did not eat several things of goat genital organ, female organ, blood, urinal meat, goitre, gall bladder, etc. He did not eat onion and garlic, nor condemned them. He used to eat what he liked and did not eat what he did not like. He did not like to eat the meat of lizard and cockroach; neither did he prohibit them to be eaten. He used to lick up his dish with his hand and said: Most blessing is in the remnants of food.
He used to lick up his fingers after meal so much so that they assumed reddish hue. He used not to cleanse his hands with towel till he licked up his fingers well and said: Nobody knows in which food there is blessing. When he finished his meal, he used to say:
“O Allah (SWT), for Thee is all praise. You have given me food and drink and given me satisfaction. So praise to Thee without expiation and farewell and being not free there from.”
He was accustomed to wipe his hand well and then wash his hands and mouth with excess water and take the name of Allah (SWT) each time. He used to drink water in slow degrees and not hastily in one breath. He used not to blow breath in the cup of water at the time of drinking and supply food to one by his side.
Once he was given milk and honey mixed together but he refused to drink it saying: Two drinks at the same time and two curries at the same time! He said: I don’t make them unlawful but I consider them bad for rendering accounts on the resurrection day as they are additional things in this world. I like modesty and Allah (SWT) raises up one who humbles himself for Allah (SWT). He lived in his house more bashful than an unmarried girl. He used not to order for preparation of any food and eat whatever was given to him and remain silent if not given.
Holy Prophet (Saw)’s Manners in Dress
The Holy Prophet (saw) use to put on sheet, gown, shirt and whatever he got. Green dress used to please him but most of his dresses were white. He said: Give your living men to dress with white garments and dress your dead therewith. He used to put on gown for Jihad. His shirt was long up to his thigh. He had only one shirt dyed with saffron with which he led prayers. Sometimes he put on only one shirt up to his thigh and say: I am only a slave. I put on garment as a slave puts on. He had two special garments for Jumma prayer which he did not put on at other times. Sometimes he had only one garment with which he cohabited with his wives. He had a black garment which he gifted away.
Omme Salma said: What fault has this black garment committed? He replied: I had put it on. She said: You look more beautiful if the black garment mixes with your beautiful constitution. Sometimes, he used to go out putting on a seal tied with thread in his hand. He used to impress his letters with seal and say: It is better to put seal in letter than back-biting. He used to put on cap under his turban. If he had no turban, he used to put on cap. Sometimes, he took off his cap from his head and fixed it in front as a prayer-stake. When he had no turban and cap, he covered his head with a sheet of cloth. He had a turban named Sahhab which he presented to Ali (ra).
Whenever he put on a garment, he began from his right side and said: All praise is due to Allah (SWT) who has given this garment to cover my private parts and to express adornment. When he wished to put off his garment, he began from his left side. When he put on a new garment, he gave his old cloth in charity to a poor man and said: If a Muslim gives his wearing garment to another Muslim, nobody except Allah (SWT) will dress him. He remains in the custody of Allah (SWT) till that cloth remains with him, be he alive or dead. His bed was made of grape-covers and refuges. It was two yards long and one yard and one cubit board.
He had the habit of naming animals, arms and properties. The name of his standard was Iqab, he had his swords named Zulfiqer, Makhzam, Rejab, and Kazib. The middle portion of his swords was moulded with silver. He used to wear belt of leather which had three rings of silver. The name of his arrow was Katum, of his shield Kafur, of his camel Qaswah, of his donkey Duldul, another donkey Ekab and of his goat Aynah whose milk he used to drink. He had an earthen pot, which he used as an ablution pot and drink water therefrom.
Assalamu Alaykum all,
InshaAllah you are all in the best of health and Iman,
In love and rememberence to our great Prophet (peace and blesssings be upon him) please read and send on: PART (1)
Character and Conduct of Holy Prophet (saw)
Source: Ihya-Ulum-Id-Din by Imam Ghazzali (r.a.)
All praise is due to Allah (SWT) who created the universe and taught. His greatest Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) (saw) the best good manners, purified his character and conduct and adopted him as His friend. He gives grace to follow the Holy Prophet (saw) to one who wishes to make his character and conduct beautiful. He deprives one to follow whom he wishes to destroy. Open good conduct is the fountain of secret good conduct. The movements of the bodily limbs are the results of thoughts of mind and the external actions are the result of character and conduct. To make efforts in recognizing Allah (SWT) and the acquisition of wonderful secret powers are the fountains of actions.
The light of this secret power is expressed outwardly and makes the body beautiful and gives rise to good attributes after removing evils. The man, who has got, not fear in mind, has got not fear expressed in his bodily limbs. The beauty of the conduct of Prophethood is not expressed in a man whose mind is not illumined with the light of Allah (SWT). I intended to gather together in this chapter the ways of the life of his ways in the first and second parts of this book. I do not wish to repeat them here.
Holy Prophet (Saw)’s Learning Through the Quran
The Holy Prophet (saw) used to invoke and pray to the Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant him good manners and good treatment with the people and to adorn him with good character and conduct. He use to say in his invocation: “O Allah (SWT), make my constitution and conduct good. He used to pray: O Allah (SWT), save me from bad character and conduct. Acceptance of his prayer is seen in the following verse. Invoke me, I will respond to you 2:186. Allah (SWT) revealed the Quran on him and through it He taught him good manners. His character is the Quran. Sa’ad (ra) reported: Once I went to Ayesha (ra) and her father and asked them about the character and conduct of the Holy Prophet (saw) to which Ayesha (ra) replied: Don’t you read the Quran? I said: Yes. She said: The character of the Messenger of Allah (SWT) is the Quran. His conduct is expressed in the following verse:
* Take to pardon, enjoin good and turn away from the illiterate.
* Allah (SWT) says: Allah (SWT) enjoins justice, kindness, giving charity to the relatives and prohibits indecencies, evils and rebellion -16:90.
* Have patience at the disasters that befall on you. It is a difficult task. It is difficult to have patience and to forgive.
* Allah (SWT) says: Pardon and forgive them. Allah (SWT) loves the doers of good. Allah (SWT) says: Don’t you like that Allah (SWT) should forgive you?
* Allah (SWT) says: Remove evil with what is good, as a result the enmity that exists between you and him will be removed and he will become your friend.
* Allah (SWT) says: Those who appease their wrath, those who pardon people, Allah (SWT) loves the doers of good.
* Allah (SWT) says: Give up conjectures in most cases, as some conjecture is sin. Don’t spy and don’t back-bite one another.
In the battle of Uhud, when the cover of the head of the Prophet fell down and he became separated from his companions, blood was oozing out from his face and he said wiping his blood: How will the people get salvation who dyed the face of the Holy Prophet (Saw) with blood while he calls them towards their Lord? Then Allah (SWT) revealed this verse:
“‘You have got no hand in the matter. This was only for teaching him good manners.”
The verse concerning the teaching of good manners to the Holy Prophet (saw) are many in the Quran. It was the first object of Allah (SWT) to teach the Prophet good manners and good character and conduct. For this reason, the Holy Prophet (saw) said: I have been sent to completed good conduct. Allah (SWT) praised the character of the Holy Prophet (saw) by saying! You are surely on sublime character. The Holy Prophet (saw) explained it to the people: Allah (SWT) loves good character, hates bad character.
Ali (ra) said: I wonder for a Muslim who does not do benefit to his brother Muslim who stands in need of it. If he hopes for rewards and fears punishment, he should hasten towards good conduct as it shows the path of salvation.
A man asked Ali (ra): Have you heard it from the Holy Prophet (saw)? He said: Yes, I have heard better advice from him. When the prisoners of the tribe of Hatem Tai were brought to him, a girl came to him out of them and said: O Muhammad, if you wish, release me, but don’t dishonour me before the tribe of the Arabs. I am the daughter of the leader of my people and my father was the caretaker of my people. He used to set free the captives, feed the hungry, spread peace and did never return any beggar at the time of his need. I am the daughter of Hatem Tai. The Holy Prophet (Saw) said: O girls, what you have mentioned about his qualities are the attributes of a believer. The Holy Prophet (saw) said to his companions. Let her be free as her father lewd good character and conduct.
Abu Burdah-b-Niyar stood up and said: O Messenger of Allah (SWT) (saw), does Allah (SWT) love good conduct? The Holy Prophet (Saw) replied: By One in whose hand there is my life, None shall enter paradise except one who has got good conduct.
The Holy Prophet (saw) said: Allah (SWT) (sawadorned Islam with good character and beautiful actions. Good company, good manners, modest talk, doing good to others, feeding, spreading peace, visiting the ill pious or sinner, following the bier of a Muslim, treating good with a neighbour believer or non-believer, showing honour to a Muslim having honour to accept invitation, to forgive, to set disputes among the people, to give charity, to greet first, to pardon the faults of the people, to give up songs, instrument of songs and jests which Islam prohibited not to backbite, to speak truth, to give up miserliness, greed, deceit, to give up bad treatment with enemy, not to cut off blood tie, to give up bad conduct, pride, glory, haughtiness, indecencies, hatred rebellion, enmity, oppression, etc., all these are the attributes of a believer.
Anas (Ra) reported that the Holy Prophet (Saw) did not give up good advice and enjoined us to stick to it. He used to warn us from backbiting and prohibited it. The following verse is sufficient to prove it: Allah (SWT) loves justice and doing good to others. Muaz (ra) said: The Holy Prophet (aaw) advised me thus: O Muaz, I advise you: fear Allah (SWT), speak the truth, fulfil promise, pay up trust, give up breach of trust, save your neighbour, show kindness to orphans, be modest in talk, spread peace, do good deeds, hope less, stick to fifth earn knowledge about the Qur’an, love the next world, fear rendering of accounts and lower your aim. O Muaz, I forbid you: Don’t tell a truthful man lair, don’t follow any sin, don’t disobey any judge, don’t be a leader, don’t disobey a just judge, and don’t create disorder in land. I give you instruction: Fear Allah (SWT) while passing by each stone, tree, and heaps of earth. Make repentance anew after committing any sin. Repent secretly for secret sin and openly for open sin.
Holy Prophet (Saw)’s Character and Conduct
The Holy Prophet (saw) was the most patient among men, the bravest, the best judge, and one who pardoned most. His hand did not touch any strange woman. He was the greatest charitable man. He did not pass a single night hoarding any dirham or dinar. Whenever any excess money came to him and if he did not then get anyone to accept it as charity, he did not return home till he gave it to the poor and the needy. He did not store up for more than a year the provision of his family members which Allah (SWT) was pleased to give him. He used to take one fifth of what easily came to him out of dates and wheat. What remained in excess, he used to give in charity. He used to give away in charity to one who begged anything of him, even out of his stored up provision.
He used to repair his shoes, join his wives in their labours and cut meat with them. He was the most shy among men and could not stare at anyone for long. He accepted invitation of slaves and free men and presentation of even a cup of milk. He did not use the properties of Zakat and used to accept the invitation of the widows and the poor. He used to speak the truth even though it was sometimes a cause of trouble to himself and his companions. He used to say: I Don’t accept any invitation of any infidel. He used to bind stones in his bell for appeasing his hunger and eat whatever he got. He did not return any present and did not take precaution in any lawful food. If he got dried grapes in lieu of bread, he ate them. If he got baked meat, he ate it. He used to eat whatever he got of bread, wheat, sweets, and honey. He considered milk as sufficient if he did not get any other food. He used not to take food leaning against a pillow or upon a high table. Soles of his two feet served as his towel. He used not to eat bread consecutively for three days till he met Allah (SWT). it was a voluntary act on his part. He used to accept invitations of marriage attend the sick and the diseased and attend the funerals. He was the most modest without pride and his tongue was most eloquent without prolongation of his speech.
His constitution was the most beautiful. No worldly duties could keep him busy. He used to put on whatever he got. His ring was made of silver and he used to put it on in the little finger of his right or left hand. He used to take his servant behind his back on any conveyance, whether it was horse, camel or ass. Sometimes he walked bare footed; sometimes he had no turban or cap on his head.
He used to go even to a distant place to see sick, love scents and hate stench or bad smell, sit with the poor and the destitute, eat with them, honour those possessing honour, advise them to do good deeds and show kindness to the relatives. He did not treat harshly with anybody and accepted excuse offered to him. He used at times to cut jokes without falsehood and not burst into laughter.
He held innocent sports and plays as lawful, played with his wives and held races with them. He used to drink milk of camels and goats along with his family members and give them equal shares in foods and dresses. He passed no time uselessly except for Allah (SWT). He used to walk in the gardens of his companions for recreation. He did not hate the poor for their poverty, not fear the kings for their mighty power. He used to call the people, high or low, towards Allah (SWT). Allah (SWT) adorned him with all the qualities and good administration although he was illiterate. His boyhood was spent along with the shepherds and he used to graze sheep and goats. He was an orphan and his parents died in his infancy.
Holy Prophet (saw)’s Good Manners
If the Holy Prophet (saw) abused anybody, he used to give him compensation and show him kindness. He did never curse any woman or slave. Once when he was in the battle field, he was asked: O Messenger of Allah (SWT), it would have been better if you had cursed them. He said: Allah (SWT) sent me as a mercy and not as a great curser. When he was asked once to curse a particular person or an unbeliever, he did not curse him but on the contrary prayed for his welfare. He never beat anybody with his own hand except in the way of Allah (SWT). He did not take any revenge for personal wrongs but he used to take it for preservation of the honour of Allah (SWT).
He used to select the easier of two things and kept away if there was any sin there in or anything to cut off relationship. He used to fulfil the needs of anyone who required his help, whether a slave or a freeman. Anas (ra) said: By One who sent him as a Holy Prophet (saw), he never said to me. Why have you done this or why have you not done this? His wives also did not rebuke me. If there was any bed of the Holy Prophet (Saw), he used to sleep on it or else he used to sleep on the ground. Allah (SWT) described the Holy Prophet (saw) in the Torah Muhammad the Holy Prophet (saw) of Allah (SWT), His chosen servant, without harshness, not roaming in the streets, not returning evil for evil. He is prone to pardon. He is forgiven. His birth is at Mecca, his migration to Ta’ba and his reign in Syria. He and his companions put on Ijar around their waists and call towards the Quran and wisdom. He makes ablution of his bodily limbs. Similar is his description in Injil (New Testament).
Another trait of his characters is that he used to salute first one whom he met with. He used to wait at a place where he was to meet a man. He used not to withdraw his hand from anybody till he first withdrew his hand. When he met with any of his companions, he used to handshake with him, hold his hand, enter his fingers unto his fingers and hold them firmly. He did not stand up or sit without remembering Allah (SWT). When anybody sat by him at the time of his prayer, he used to make it short and say to him: Have you got any need? When he fulfilled his need, he returned to his prayer.
His assembly was not different from that of his companions, as he sat where he went. He was not found sitting among his companions spreading out his legs. He used to sit mostly facing the Ka’aba and honour one who came to him. Even he used to spread his own sheet of cloth for one with whom he had no relationship. He used to give his pillow to one who came to him and everyone thought that the Prophet honoured him more. Whoever came to him could see his face.
He used to call his companions by their surnames with honour and he used to give one surname to one who had no surname. He used to call the women by the names of their issues and call others by their surnames. He used to call the boys by their surnames for which their hearts were inclined to him. He used to get angry last of all and was very affectionate and kind in dealing with the people. Nobody could speak loudly in his assembly. He used to recite: O Allah (SWT), Thou are pure, all praise is for Thee. I bear witness that there is no deity but Thee. I seek forgiveness from Thee and turn to Thee.
Holy Prophet (Saw)’s Words and Laughter
The Holy Prophet (Saw) was the greatest of the Arabs in oratory and sweet speech. He said: I am the greatest orator among the Arabs. He used to speak little. When he talked, he did not talk much. His talks fell gradually from his lips like pearls. Ayesha (ra) said: the Messenger of Allah (SWT) used to talk like you. They said: The Messenger of Allah (SWT) used to talk little and everything was expressed in this short talk. In his speech, there was no defect of excess or shortness. The words come one after another like pearls. Whoever heard them remembered them. He was sweetest in talk among his companions. He said to keep silent for long and have no talk without necessity. He used not to talk evil words and what he talked was just. He did not use ornamental words. His companions did never dispute before him. He used to say: Don’t beat one verse of the Quran by another as it has been revealed for many purposes. He used to smile much before his companions and teeth then were exposed to view.
It was reported: Once a desert Arab came to the Prophet whose face became changed at seeing him. Seeing anger in his face, the Arab said: By One who sent him as a true Holy Prophet (Saw), I will not ask him till he smiles. Then he said: O Messenger of Allah (SWT), we heard that Dajial (Anti-Christ) will come with Sarid for the people. Then the people will remain hungry. My parents be sacrificed to you. Do you forbid me to eat it till I am destroyed? Do you order me to eat it with satisfaction? Shall I talk infidelity after faith in Allah (SWT)? The Holy Prophet (Saw) laughed at this, so much so that his teeth were exposed to view. Then he said: It is not that, rather Allah (SWT) will make you free from the food from which he made the believers free.
At the time when the Quran was being revealed to him, he used to smile most when something happened, he entrusted it to Allah (SWT), kept himself free from his own strength and ability and said in invocation: O Allah (SWT), show me truth in a true manner or give me grace to give it up, save me from doubt so that I may not follow my passion without Thy guidance. Make my desire to obey Thee. Take pleasure from the peace of my mind. Show me the different shades of truth. Thou guidest to the straight path whomsoever Thou willeth.
Holy Prophet (Saw)’s Manners in Eating
The Holy Prophet (Saw) eat whatever he got. To him, the best food was what all partook of. When the dining cloth was spread, he used to say: In the name of Allah (SWT), O Allah (SWT), make it a sift to express gratefulness that there might be gifts in paradise. Whenever the Holy Prophet (Saw) sat to eat, he used to sit as praying man sits, not placing one leg upon another and say: I am a mere servant, I eat as a servant eats. He used not to take any hot food and said: There is no grace in it and Allah (SWT) will not feed us with fire, so make this food cold. He used to eat whatever was presented to him with three fingers with the help of the fourth finger at times. Once a tiffin made of clarified butter, honey and wheat presented to him. He eat it and said: How good it is. He used to eat bread, curry, dates and salt. Of all the fresh fruits, the dearest to him was grapes, cucumber and water melon.
He used to eat gourd with bread and sugar and sometimes with dates. His ordinary meal consists of dates and water. Sometimes he mixed milk with dates. Meat was his most favourite curry. He said: Meat increase the power of hearing and is the king of foods in this world and the next. Had I prayed to my lord for eating meat everyday, He would have granted it. He used to eat cooked meat with gourd. He liked gourd and said: It is the fruit of a plant of my brother Jonah. The prophet said to me: O Ayesha (ra) when you cook meat, mix therewith much water as it makes the broken hearted strong. He used to eat the meat of hunted birds but he did not himself hunt or follow game.
He used to eat bread with butter and like goats neck and thigh. He liked gourd among curries, vinegar condiment, dried dates among dates. He prayed for three things and said: These have come from paradise and they are medicines for poison and insomnia. He liked among curries creepers of yellow newer and carrot. He disliked the meat of reservoir of urine. He did not eat several things of goat genital organ, female organ, blood, urinal meat, goitre, gall bladder, etc. He did not eat onion and garlic, nor condemned them. He used to eat what he liked and did not eat what he did not like. He did not like to eat the meat of lizard and cockroach; neither did he prohibit them to be eaten. He used to lick up his dish with his hand and said: Most blessing is in the remnants of food.
He used to lick up his fingers after meal so much so that they assumed reddish hue. He used not to cleanse his hands with towel till he licked up his fingers well and said: Nobody knows in which food there is blessing. When he finished his meal, he used to say:
“O Allah (SWT), for Thee is all praise. You have given me food and drink and given me satisfaction. So praise to Thee without expiation and farewell and being not free there from.”
He was accustomed to wipe his hand well and then wash his hands and mouth with excess water and take the name of Allah (SWT) each time. He used to drink water in slow degrees and not hastily in one breath. He used not to blow breath in the cup of water at the time of drinking and supply food to one by his side.
Once he was given milk and honey mixed together but he refused to drink it saying: Two drinks at the same time and two curries at the same time! He said: I don’t make them unlawful but I consider them bad for rendering accounts on the resurrection day as they are additional things in this world. I like modesty and Allah (SWT) raises up one who humbles himself for Allah (SWT). He lived in his house more bashful than an unmarried girl. He used not to order for preparation of any food and eat whatever was given to him and remain silent if not given.
Holy Prophet (Saw)’s Manners in Dress
The Holy Prophet (saw) use to put on sheet, gown, shirt and whatever he got. Green dress used to please him but most of his dresses were white. He said: Give your living men to dress with white garments and dress your dead therewith. He used to put on gown for Jihad. His shirt was long up to his thigh. He had only one shirt dyed with saffron with which he led prayers. Sometimes he put on only one shirt up to his thigh and say: I am only a slave. I put on garment as a slave puts on. He had two special garments for Jumma prayer which he did not put on at other times. Sometimes he had only one garment with which he cohabited with his wives. He had a black garment which he gifted away.
Omme Salma said: What fault has this black garment committed? He replied: I had put it on. She said: You look more beautiful if the black garment mixes with your beautiful constitution. Sometimes, he used to go out putting on a seal tied with thread in his hand. He used to impress his letters with seal and say: It is better to put seal in letter than back-biting. He used to put on cap under his turban. If he had no turban, he used to put on cap. Sometimes, he took off his cap from his head and fixed it in front as a prayer-stake. When he had no turban and cap, he covered his head with a sheet of cloth. He had a turban named Sahhab which he presented to Ali (ra).
Whenever he put on a garment, he began from his right side and said: All praise is due to Allah (SWT) who has given this garment to cover my private parts and to express adornment. When he wished to put off his garment, he began from his left side. When he put on a new garment, he gave his old cloth in charity to a poor man and said: If a Muslim gives his wearing garment to another Muslim, nobody except Allah (SWT) will dress him. He remains in the custody of Allah (SWT) till that cloth remains with him, be he alive or dead. His bed was made of grape-covers and refuges. It was two yards long and one yard and one cubit board.
He had the habit of naming animals, arms and properties. The name of his standard was Iqab, he had his swords named Zulfiqer, Makhzam, Rejab, and Kazib. The middle portion of his swords was moulded with silver. He used to wear belt of leather which had three rings of silver. The name of his arrow was Katum, of his shield Kafur, of his camel Qaswah, of his donkey Duldul, another donkey Ekab and of his goat Aynah whose milk he used to drink. He had an earthen pot, which he used as an ablution pot and drink water therefrom.