The manners of the Messenger (peace be upon him)

The Prophet's age approached forty, and his people who knew him as a child and as a young man knew his good manners. They used to call him the trustworthy, therefore they entrusted him with every dear and precious. He was an innocent child and a young man of integrity who did not commit anything of the falsehood of the Pre-Islamic Period.

As the Holy Scriptures were speaking about the coming of a prophet who is about to come to the world, Prophet Muhammad used to worship Allah alone and hate what his people were doing because he knew that they were in a plain error. People and youth used to go to catch their amusement and enjoyment, whereas he was talking to the universe, the earth, the heaven, and read therein the creativity of the Creator who perfected everything He established.

It is the suitable time for him to bring a new message. His manners were proofs to his pure soul which Allah instilled in him and behaved him properly. His manners were his provision in life which was full of goodness, reform, and perfection. His life was full of wisdom and virtue, and was a model example. This pure and high life seemed to be created according to pure virtue and good manners, but it was created according to the plan of the Creator. So, his manners have become the everlasting miracle, and their owner (peace be upon him) was the role model for young and old, the worshipper and the ascetic, the husband and the father, the friend and the leader, the writer and the guide, the peaceful and the defender, the lawgiver and the judge, the reformer and the politician, the ruler and the administrator, and to those who seek perfection in their lives when dealing with himself and his brothers in social life.

Let us mention in short his high manners from the books of biographies:

The Prophet (peace be upon him) was an ascetic in life, so he only took little of it even in prosperity. He was eager to know the secrets of life and its facts. He turned away from the features of glory in the time of winning and victory. He was frequent in worship, always fearful of Allah, chaste, clean, truthful, trustworthy, brave, strict, generous, tolerant, just, and firm in adversity. He was keen to time, got angry for the sake of Allah not for himself, always smiling except when the Qur'an is revealed to him. He was so tolerant, compliant, keeper of promise, beautiful in silence, truthful, eloquent with sweet speech, clear in answer, polite, wise, turning away from falsehood even if all people chase it. Approved good speech and disapproved ugly speech. When attendants spoke about the Hereafter, he would listen and speak with them, but when they started to speak in worldly matters, he would talk with them slightly. He was a good husband who sat when he finds an empty room, and his guests would think there is no more generous than him. He would listen to those who sit or negotiate with him about something until they finish. When someone asks for something from him, he either would give it to him or refuse nicely. He accepted gifts and rewarded for them. He cared for the feelings of his Companions, asked about the absent, and accepted the pardon of an apologizer. He used to sit with the poor, respond to the invitation of people, and he never dispraised a person or even spoke about him. He used to warn people and watch out of them. He used to honor noble people and appointed them leaders to their own people. He used to start people with salutation and start his Companions by shaking their hands and calling them with their most beloved nicknames. He used to shake the hands of children, sit with them, and befriend them. He used to visit the sick even if they live at the furthest Medina spot. He used to remove pain from the distressed, follow funeral processions, and no day passes but after recording in his sheets of actions multiple good and righteous deeds. His good manners were an embodiment to the manners of the Qur'an, so he was the most perfect to convey the message of Allah to perfect manners.[1]

Excerpted from the magazine of Islamic modernism, 1st year, first edition, 1354 AH.

                         

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[1] Bernard Show, the English writer and philosopher said about him: "I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it the much needed peace and happiness."