It is essential to
inculcate in one the reverence and respect for the lofty character and
habits of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). It is necessary that
the morals of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) become established
in ones heart so that love for Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)
becomes dominant in the heart and eagerness to follow the holy character
of Nabi-e-Kareem (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) is induced in the Believer.
Some aayaat and ahadith will be mentioned in this regard.
1. Allah Ta’ala says:
“Verily, you (Muhammad) are on a lofty character.” (Surah Noon)
2. Allah Ta’ala says:
“The Nabi is inconvenienced by this act (but he does not make
this known); he takes you into consideration (by his silence). But Allah
speaks plainly and cares not (for anyone).” (Surah Ahzaab)
This is a reference to a particular incident. Some Companions stayed
longer than what was proper on this occasion at the home of Rasulullah
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) who was anxious to retire for the night.
They continued in conversation. Although Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi
wasallam) was inconvenienced by their late stay, he nevertheless, refrained
from asking them to leave, not wishing to hurt their feelings. This
reticence of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was in regard to
his personal matters and not to such affairs which came within the purview
of Tableegh.
3. Hadhrat Anas (radiallahu anhu) narrates:
“I served Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) for ten years,
but never did he speak a word of rebuke to me; he never said to me:
‘Why did you do this and why did you not do that? (Bukhari,
Muslim)
“Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was the kindest in disposition.
Once Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) asked me to do something,
but I refused while in my heart I intended to go where ordered I then
went on the errand. I passed some children playing in the market-place
and I joined them. Suddenly Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)
arrived there and laughing he took hold of my neck and said: ‘Are
you going? I said yes, I am going now.”
(Muslim)
4. “I was walking with Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).
He had on him a heavy shawl made in Najran. Along the way a Bedouin
came. The Beduion grabbed hold of the Shawl and pulled it with such
force that Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was pulled forward
close to the breast of the Beduion who said:
‘O Muhammad! Order that I too be given from the wealth of Allah,
which is with you.”
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) smiled and ordered that he be
granted a gift. (Bukhari,
Muslim)
5. Hadhrat Jabbir (radiallahu anhu) said that Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wasallam) never refused to give anything which he was asked.
If he had it, he would give it. If he did not have it, he would present
an apology and make a promise to give it at another time. (Bukhari,
Muslim)
7. Hadhrat Anas (radiallahu anhu) narrates that once a man asked Rasulullah
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) for some goats which belonged to him (Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi wasallam). The goats were grazing in a valley. Rasulullah
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) presented all the goats to the person who
had asked for them. This man when he returned to his people, said:
“O my people! Become Muslims. By Allah! Muhammad gives much.”
(Muslim)
8. Jubair Bin Mut’im said that once he was walking with Rasulullah
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) on the occasion of his return from Hunain.
A group of Beduoins surrounded Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)
and were asking for gifts. They grabbed from Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wasallam) everything which he had until finally they snatched
even the shawl from his body. Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)
said:
“At least return my shawl … If I had camels as numerous
as the trees, I would have distributed them among you; you would then
not have found me to be miserly and small of heart.” (Bukhari)
9. Hadhrat Anas (radiallahu anhu) narrates that after Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wasallam) would complete Fajr Salaat, the servants of the people
of Madinah would bring containers of water. Whoever presented a container,
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) would immerse his holy hand
in the water. This was done for the sake of barkat. Sometimes the mornings
were extremely cold, nevertheless, he immersed his hand in the water.
(Muslim)
10. Hadhrat Anas (radiallahu anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wasallam) was not harsh in disposition nor was he one who cursed.
If someone had to be reprimanded he would (at most) exclaim: ‘What
is the matter with him’ May dust settle on his forehead.’
This statement, viz., ‘May dust settle on his forehead. Is not
a curse. Even during Salaat, dust settles on the forehead when in Sajdah
by the head touching the earth. In a way, this was a dua for the betterement
of the person. It implied that the errant attain rectitude by performance
of Salaat, for Salaat prevents from evil and shameless deeds. This is
one of the peculiarities of Salaat. This hadith is recorded in Bukhari
Shareef.
11. Hadhrat Abu Saeed Khudri (radiallahu anhu) narrates that Rasulullah
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was more modest that a young Purdah-Nasheen
girl (a girl who remains in seluion). Hadhrat Abu Saeed Khurdi says:
“When he (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) saw something detestable,
we would realize it from the effect on his auspicious face.” (Bukhari,
Muslim)
He would not generally mention it due to excessive modesty.
12. Hadhrat Aswad (radiallahu anhu) narrates that he asked Hadhrat Aishah
(radiallahu anhu):
“What did Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) do at home?”
She replied: “He would assist his wives in their housework”.
(Bukhari)
Some examples of the type of housework done by Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wasallam) are mentioned in the following hadith.
13. Hadhrat Aishah (radiallallahu anhu) narrates:
“Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) would mend his shoes,
sew his clothing, and do the work of the house as ordinary people among
you do.”
She also narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) did not
act like a master at home. He would milk the goats himself. (Tirmizi)
14. Hadhrat Aishah (radiallahu anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wasallam) never killed anything with his own hands nor did he
beat any servant. Yes, Jihaad in the Path of Allah, was an exception.
He never hit anyone in anger nor inconvenienced anyone unnecessarily
or in revenge. However, when the prohibitions of Allah were violated,
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) took appropriate action for
the sake of Allah Ta’ala. (Muslim)
15. Hadhrat Anas (radiallahu anhu) narrates:
“I was eight years old when I joined the service of Rasulullah
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam). I remained in his service for ten years.
Whenever I damaged anything with my hands, Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi
wasallam) did not scold me. Even if someone from the family of Rasulullah
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) scolded me, he would prevent them, any
say:
“If anything else was decreed, it would have happened.”
(Masaabeeh
and Baihaqi)
16. hadhrat Anas (radiallahu anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wasallam) visited the sick and participated in the funeral (janaazah)
service. (Ibn
Majah, Baihaqi)
17. Hadhrat Anas (radiallahu anhu) narrates that when making musafahah
(shaking hands) with someone, Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)
would not withdraw his hand before that person withdrew his hand; nor
would he turn away his face until the other person did not turn away
his face. Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was never seen stretching
his legs towards others. (Tirmizi)
18. In the Kitaab, Shamaail Tirmizi are two lengthy narrations from
which some sentences will be quoted here. Hadhrat Hasan and Hadhrat
Husain (radiallahu anhuma) narrate on the authority of their father,
Hadhrat Ali (radiallallhu anhu):
“At home Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) divided his time
into three periods. In one period he remained engrossed in the ibaadat
of Allah Azza Wa Jal. In the other period he engaged himself in fulfilling
the rights of his family. One period he reserved for himself. His special
period was then further divided between others and himself. The benefits
and barkat of this special period were spread among the people at large
through the medium of the special companions of Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wasallam). In this special period, Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi
wasallam) granted certain distinguished Sahaabah (the Ulama among the
Sahaabah) permission to sit in his company. In this special time Rasulullah
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) preferred the distinguished Sahaabah above
others. In this time Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) engaged
the distinguished group of Sahaabah in matters of the Deen and the Ummah.
Allwho attended came with the motive of acquiring benefit from Rasulullah
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam). Besides the benefits of Knowledge they
would also participate in meals with Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).
When they departed from his company, they would leave as guides of the
Deen.”
This was the atmosphere of the special and distinguished gatherings
of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).
Regarding the time Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) spent outside
the home, Hadhrat Hasan and Hadhrat Husain (radiallahu anhuma) narrate
on the authority of their father, Hadhrat Ali (radiallahu anhu) that
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was at all times pleasant and
smiling. People would not quarrel in his presence. Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wasallam) did not speak until another speaker completed and became
silent. He overlooked the disrespect which was in the conversation of
a stranger. He did not interrupt a conversation unless it exceeded the
bounds of propriety. He would then intervene and bring it to an end
either by his express prohibition or by leaving the company.
This was his attitude with the general public, i.e. with those with
whom he had connection, viz., the Sahaabah. Regarding his attitude towards
his enemies, something will be said about it now.
19. Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (radiallahu anhu) narrates that once someone
asked Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam):
“O Rasulullah! Curse the mushrikeen.”
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) replied:
I was not sent as one who curses. “I was sent only as a mercy.”
(Muslim)
Rasulullah’s (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) habit was to even ask
for the betterment of his enemies. Occasionally he would supplicate
to Allah for protection against enemies.
20. In a lengthy hadith narrated by Hadhrat Aishah (radiallahu anha),
regarding the incident of Taaif, Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)
referred to the torture of the kuffaar on this occasion to have been
severer than the hardship which he suffered during the battle of Uhad.
On this occasion at Taaif, Hadhrat Jibraeel (alayhis salaam) introduced
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) to the Angel in charge of the
mountains. The Angel greeted Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)
and said: “O Muhammad! I am the Angel of the mountains. Allah
has sent me to you so that you command me. If you command, I will crush
the people of Taaif between these two mountains.”
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) replied:
“No! I hope that Allah will create from among them such men who
will worship only Allah and associate none with Him.” (Bukhari,
Muslim)
At this critical time too, Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) never
thought of revenge. He only had to give the order and his enemies would
have perished. But, he chose to forgive them and supplicate on their
behalf. He confronted his opponents with love and affection.
21. In a lengthy hadith, Hadhrat Ali (radiallahu anhu) narrates an incident
about a Jew who at the time was a subject of the Muslim state in Madina.
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) owed the Jew some money. Once,
in demanding his money, he refused to allow Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi
wasallam) to go home. He blockaded Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)
in the Musjid from Zuhr until Fajr of the next day. When people started
to remonstrate with the Jew, Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)
prevented them and said:
“Allah has forbidden me to be unjust to those with whom I have
a treaty and with those with whom I have no treaty.”
Late during the day, the Jew proclaimed:
“I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah and I bear witness,
that verily, you (O Muhammad!) are the Rasool of Allah.”
The Jew said;
“I adopted this attitude (towards Rasulullah) because in the Taurah
a description of the Nabi is given. The Taurah describes the Nabi to
be Muhammad, the son of Abdullah. His birthplace will be Makkah. His
place of migration, Madinah. His kingdom will be over the Land of Shaam.
He will not be harsh. He will not be loud in the market-places. He will
not commit acts of immodesty. I wished to ascertain whether this man
is indeed the Muhammad stated in the Taurah. (Baihaqi)
If these few ahadith are read once daily, one will very soon realize
the change towards piety, which will overcome one.