The Prophet's Good Deeds

When someone asked 'A'isha about the conduct of the Prophet, she said that his actions mirrored the Qur'an. AII that the Qur'an preaches could be seen in his conduct The Qur'an itself testifies that the Prophet's conduct was the best.

The Prophet was very modest, warm-hearted, helpful and merciful. He loved the low and the high alike, and was generous to everyone. He helped others whenever he could. He never hurt anyone. He often provided food while remaining hungry himself. Once, when a Companion married and had no food for the wedding feast, the Prophet told him to ask his wife 'A'isha for some flour. Apart from that small quantity of flour, there was no other food in the Prophet's house.

The Prophet was so generous and indifferent to riches that he would not save money. He was content only after he had given away his money. Once, the chief of Fidak sent him four camel-Ioads of grain. The Prophet sold the grain in order to repay a debt, and had some money left. He refused to go home until he had given it all away. He spent the night in the Mosque and went home only when he was sure that all the money had been given to the poor.

The Prophet was also very hospitable. He entertained both Muslims and non-Muslims at his house, where he personally served them and looked after their needs. Often he gave a guest all the food in the house while he ¡ and his family went hungry. Once, an unbeliever came to the Prophet's house as a guest. The Prophet served him with the milk of a goat, and the guest drank all the milk. Then, although the guest drank the milk of six more goats, the Prophet continued to serve him.

The Prophet got up during the night to attend to the needs of his guests. When he was at home, he helped with the housework. He mended his own clothes and shoes and milked the goats. When the Muslims were building the Prophet's Mosque and digging the ditch at Madinah, he worked equally hard alongside them. The Prophet had a special place in his heart for orphans. He constantly urged his Companions to behave well towards them. He said that the best house is the one in which an orphan is properly cared for, and the worst house is the one in which an orphan is ill-treated.

The Prophet treated the poor in such a way that they did not feel humiliated. He helped and consoled them. Often he prayed that he should die destitute and be treated with the destitute on the Last Day. Once, a tribe called on him who were so poor that they were without shoes, bare-headed and scantily clad. The Prophet was very disturbed by their plight and asked the Companions to help them.

The Prophet always helped the oppressed to get justice. He was merciful towards the weak and assisted the needy. He let it be known that if a Muslim died and left behind a debt, he would repay it. He took no share from the inheritance of the deceased person as that belonged to the descendants.

The Prophet visited and cared for the sick, whatever their faith. He pardoned the guilty and prayed for the well-being even of his enemies. He spoke good of those who were out to do him harm, and he did not take revenge even against those who wanted to kill him. Once, a person who intended to kill him was arrested by the Companions and brought before him. The man was afraid that the Prophet would harm him, but the Prophet told him not to fear and said: 'Had you wanted to kill me, you could not have done so.'

The Prophet took good care of his neighbours. He sent them gifts and urged his Companions to follow his example. In a gathering, his Companions once heard him remark: 'By Allah, he would not be a believer! By Allah, he would not be a believer!' A Companion asked: 'What do you mean, O Prophet of God?' He said: 'I mean the one whose neighbour is not safe from his mischief.' When a slave-girl of Madinah asked for his help with some matter, he obliged her at once.