A merciful gift

If humanity needs a good example to follow, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is the role model, Allah says: "Indeed, in the Messenger of Allâh (Muhammad peace be upon him) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the Meeting with) Allâh and the Last Day, and remembers Allâh much." [Surat Al Ahzab: 21].

The entire humanity needs a good example, Allah says: "And We have not sent you (O Muhammad peace be upon him) except as a giver of glad tidings and a warner to all mankind, but most of men know not." [Surat Saba': 28].

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is the role model for every person who wants to lead an honorable life. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "And Verily, you (O Muhammad peace be upon him) are on an exalted (standard of) character." [Surat Al Qalam: 4].

His Lord educated him well and reared him properly. He was trustworthy, truthful, just, benevolent, brave, and a diligent worker. He did not slacken to do any act that draws him near to his Lord, none was nearer to the enemy than him in all battles, none was more just than him in giving people their due shares, none was more truthful than him in speech, and none was more keeping to the trust than him. "It is He Who has sent His Messenger (Muhammad peace be upon him) with guidance and the religion of truth (Islâm), to make it superior over all religions even though the Mushrikûn (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh) hate (it)." [Surat As-Saf: 9].

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is our symbol, the leader of our religion, and he is our only salvation. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is the conscience of the world and the universe, about whom the Lord (may He be Glorified and Exalted) says: "And We have sent you (O Muhammad peace be upon him) not but as a mercy for the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists)." [Surat Al Anbiya': 107].

He was merciful with humans, animals, stones, trees, and he was compassionate to everything.

It was reported in the Hadith: "None of you (truly) believes until his whims agrees with what I have come with." In another Hadith: "None of you (truly) believes till I become dearer to him than the members of his household, his wealth, his children, and himself which within himself." [Reported by Al Bukhari]. The Prophet (peace be upon him) is closer to the believers than their own selves. We have not seen someone loves another like the love of the Companions of Muhammad to Muhammad. Indeed, they loved Allah, so they followed His Messenger out of their love to Him: "Say (O Muhammad peace be upon him to mankind): If you (really) love Allâh then follow me (i.e. accept Islâmic Monotheism, follow the Qur'ân and the Sunnah), Allâh will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." [Surat Al `Imran: 31].

The biography of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) reminds us of every step he walked and with every goal he pursued. The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to worship his Lord in the morning, in the evening, and in all times. He did not know fatigue or boredom; the people used to sleep deeply while the Messenger of Allah was standing before Allah for Salah and shedding tears because the entire life should be dedicated for Allah and by His method we live: "Say (O Muhammad peace be upon him): "Verily, my Salât (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allâh, the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists). *He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims." [Surat Al An`am: 161 - 162].

He considered his obedience to his Lord a joy for his eye and purity to his heart. He used to invoke his Lord saying: "O Allah! For You all praise, you are the Light of the Heavens and the Earth and that is in between. Praise to You! You are the Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that dwell therein. Praise to You! You are the Lord of the heavens, the earth and all that dwell therein. You are the truth, Your Speech is the truth, Your promise is true, and Your Meeting is true. Paradise is true, Fire is true, and the Hour is true." The glory of the Messenger (peace be upon him) became clear in his humbleness and religious devotion, so he treated his Companions as he treated himself, showed no haughtiness over them, and lived content with his low sustenance although he was able to live like Chosroes and Caesar, but he refused the adornment of the world and set the good example to the callers to Allah and educators. The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to live in a small chamber in the middle of which there was a mat upon which he used to sleep and the mat left traces on his body. A man came to him and when he saw him, he got frightened, thereupon the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to him: "Take it easy, for I am not a king, I am only the son of a woman from Quraysh who used to eat charqui in Makkah." [Reported by Ibn Majah on the authority of Abu Mas`ud Al Badry].

The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to sit among his Companions, and when a stranger entered upon them, he did not know who of them was Muhammad. That was incomparable humbleness and manifestation to the meaning of guidance from the beginning to the end.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) was always smiling, of soft speech, not harsh, not boisterous, not rude, nor insulter. When he spoke, the people listened carefully out of appreciation and reverence to Him.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to forgive those who oppress him, connect those who cut the ties with him, give those who deprive him, turn away from the ignorant, and did not avenge for himself, but used to get angry only for the sake of Allah (Glory be to Him).

These morals are the balance which judges all acts, thereby Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the role model in all situations: "Indeed, Allâh conferred a great favor on the believers when He sent among them a Messenger (Muhammad peace be upon him) from among themselves, reciting to them His Verses (the Qur'ân), and purifying them (from sins by their following him), and instructing them (in) the Book (the Qur'ân) and Al-Hikmah [the wisdom and the Sunnah of the Prophet peace be upon him (i.e. his legal ways, statements, acts of worship)], while before that they had been in manifest error." [Surat Al `Imran: 164].

Everyone reads the biography of that honorable Messenger from among the fair researchers admits that the Prophet (peace be upon him) combined all perfect qualities of human race.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) did not let despair of Allah's Mercy leaks into his Companions, but he taught them how to be hopeful. So, during the lifetime of the Companions, they did good deeds to erase their bad ones and knew that a real Muslim is the one who avoids harming Muslims with his tongue and hands. Moreover, they knew that one of the perfect qualities of a Muslim is to leave what does not concern him, and a believer is like a mirror to his Muslim brother in which he sees his defects.

He was Muhammad (peace be upon him) who exhorted his Companions to conceal the defects of one another so as not to spread bad morals in the society. He said: "He who defends the honor of his (Muslim) brother, Allah will secure his face against the Fire on the Day of Resurrection." [Reported by At-Tirmidhy].

His words became a light for them to enlighten their way and whenever they fell into darkness, they were guided by his words and their souls yearned to his wisdoms.

So, it is important to follow the guidance of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and abide by his commands: "In order that you (O mankind) may believe in Allâh and His Messenger (peace be upon him), and that you assist and honor him (peace be upon him), and (that you) glorify (Allâh's) praises morning and afternoon." [Surat Al A`raf: 157]. In another Ayah: "And whoso obey Allâh and the Messenger (Muhammad peace be upon him), then they will be in the company of those on whom Allâh has bestowed His Grace, of the Prophets, the Siddiqûn (those followers of the Prophets who were first and foremost to believe in them, like Abu Bakr As-Siddîq may Allah be pleased with him), the martyrs, and the righteous. And how excellent these companions are!" [Surat An-Nisa': 69].

If some fools have dared to insult Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Allah (Glory be to Him) have defended him in the Glorious Qur'an saying: "Truly, Allâh defends those who believe. Verily, Allâh likes not any treacherous ingrate to Allâh [those who disobey Allâh but obey Shaitân (Satan)]." Who knows? A matter which we think to be harmful may be beneficial because after these attacks, we saw Muslims returning to their religion and defending their symbols; verily the most important symbol is the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).