THE MORALITY OF THE NOBLE MESSENGER(peace be upon him) 

His morality was that of the Quran; he used to be angry about those things, which the Quran condemned and he would be happy about those things of which the Quran approved. He never took revenge for himself, nor became angry for his own sake. He only used to be angry when the laws of Allah were violated, which incurs Allah’s wrath.

He was the most truthful of people in speech, the best of them in humility, the gentlest in disposition, the most noble of them in company, more modest than a virgin behind her screen, lowering his gaze much. He was never lewd, nor did he ever use profane language. He did not repay bad deeds in kind, but would pardon and overlook the sins of others against him. Who ever asked anything of him would be given that which he requested, or he would be answered with kind words, never with incivility or rudeness. He would not interrupt anyone, causing him to reject the truth and rebel. He used to take care of his neighbor and he was generous to his guests. He did not spend his time except in working for Allah, or in that which could not be avoided. He loved optimism and he disliked pessimism. He never chose between two matters without choosing the easiest, so long as it was not a sin. He loved to help those in need and the oppressed. He loved his Companions and he used to consult them and he would confer with them. When any of them was ill, he would visit him. And if anyone was absent, he would ask about him. He would always accept an apology. The rights of the strong and the weak were equal to him. When he spoke, his words could be counted (so succinct were they, due to his mastery of the Arabic language and his fluency) he used to joke, but he never spoke other than the truth.

Manners of the Messnger (peace be upon him), his modesty of bearing.....

He was the most compassionate of men hospitable towards his Companions and he would move up to make room for them. He would begin his speech with “ As-Salaamu ‘alaikum” when he shook hands with anyone, he would not remove his hand before the other did so. He was the humblest of people. If he sat with a people in an assembly, he would remain seating until the assembly was over and he ordered his companions to do likewise. He would give every person sitting, his due and he would not allow those present to feel that any was more honored by him than another. If anyone sat with him, he would not stand up until the other did so, unless there was any pressing matter to which he had to attend, then he would excuse himself. He hated that anyone would stand up for him. On the authority of Anas it is reported that he said: “ No person was more beloved of the companion than the Messenger (peace be upon him) of Allah but when ever they saw him, they would not stand up, because they knew how he hated that.” (An authentic hadeeth narrated by Imaam Ahmad and At-Tirmizi)

He would not greet people with expressions, which they disliked, and he would always visit the sick. He loved the poor and used to sit with them and he would attend the funerals. He didn’t despise anyone due to poverty nor did he reverse any king because of his crown. He would extol Allah’s Blessings, even when they were few. He never criticized his food; if it was pleasing to him he would eat it, and if not, he would leave it. He would eat and drin with his right hand, after saying: “Bismillah”; then he would say: “ Al-hamdu Lillaah” (all praise and thanks be to Allaah) when he had finished. He loved all good things and he hated bad things, such as onion, garlic and the like, because of their bad smell.

He performed Hajj saying, “Oh Allaah! This is Hajj, without riyaa’ theirin and with out sum’ah” ( An authentic hadeeth narrated by Al-Maqdisi)

He did not dixtinguish himself from his Companions, neither in his clothes, nor in his manner of sitting. A Bedouin entered and said: “ Which of you is Muhammad?”. His favorite clothing was a Qamees (a long shirt, which reached down to the middle of his calves). He was not wasteful in food or clothing. He used to cover his head with a cap and a turban. He wore a silver signet ring on the little finger of his hand and he wore a long beard.

The preaching of the Messenger (peace be upon him) and his Jihad

Allah sent Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a mercy to the worlds and he called the Arabs and all mankind to all that is good and brings happiness in this world and in the hereafter. The first thing to which he called was the message of Tawheed in worshipping Allah, which includes invoking none but Allah, Alone, for He, Most High says:

Say: I do no more than invoke my Lord, and I join not with him any (false god).".(72:20)

The polytheists rejected this call, for it contradicted their idolatrous beliefs and their blind imitation of their fathers. So they accused the Messenger (peace be upon him) of witchcraft and insanity, having previously called him ‘ the Truthful and Trustworthy’.

The Messenger (peace be upon him) bore with patience the harm done to him by his people in accordance with the Command of his Lord, Who said:

So be patient to the command of your Lord, and Obey not the sinner or the ingrate among them (Surah Insaan, verse 24)

He (peace be upon him) remained for thirteen yeas in Makkah, calling the people to Tawheed, bearing along with his followers the torments (inflicted on them by Quraish); then he migrated to Madinah, where he established the new Islamic society, based on principles of love and equality. And Allah supported him with miracles, the most important of them being the Noble Quran, which called the people to Tawheed, knowledge, struggle and the most honorable morality. He wrote to the kings of the earth, calling them to Islam, saying to Hercules: “ Embrace Islam and be saved, and Allah will grant you two rewards” And he (peace be upon him) said: “Oh People of Book (i.e. the Jews and Christians) come to common terms as between us and you: That we worship none but Allah; that we associate no partners with Him; that we erect not from among ourselves lords other than Allah.” (That is, that we do not obey the priests in their innovations, declaring the haraam to be halaal and vice versa)

The messenger of Allah made war on the polytheists and the Jews and he defeated them. He, himself fought around twenty battles and he sent many expeditions under the command of his Companions for jihad and for the purpose of calling the people of Islam and freeing them from oppression and slavery; and he always ordered them to begin by calling to Tawheed.

Excerpt From Directives To Reform The Individual And The Community

By Muhammad Ibn Jameel Zainoo