The Prophet’s Manners with Those around Him

1. The Prophet’s close relations with his Companions: The Prophet was very close to his companions, and this is well-known when one reads the detailed reports about the Prophet’s biography. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) is the example which we should emulate in all our matters. Jareer b. Abdullah said: ‘The Prophet (Peace be upon him) did not prevent me from sitting with him since I accepted Islam. He always smiled when he looked at me. I once complained to him that I could not ride a horse and he hit me in my chest and supplicated God, saying:

‘O God! Steady him, and make him a person who guides others and a source of guidance.’   (Reported by Bukhari #5739)

2. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) would entertain his Companions and joke with them: Al-Hasan said: ‘An old woman came to the Prophet (Peace be upon him) and said: “O Messenger of God, ask God to admit me into the Heavenly Gardens.” He said: “Old women will not enter the Heavenly Gardens!” She then walked away crying. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: “Tell her that she will not enter the Heavenly Gardens as an old woman, for Allah says:

“Verily, We have created them (maidens) of special creation. And made them virgins. Loving (their husbands only), (and) of equal age.”   [Surah Al-Waqi'ah, 56:35-37]

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) did not only verbally entertain and joke with his companions, but sported and amused them as well. Anas b. Malik said:

‘A Bedouin named Zahir b. Haram would give gifts to the Prophet (Peace be upon him) and he would prepare things for him as well. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: ‘Zahir is our desert, and we are his city.’

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) approached him while he was selling his goods, and the Prophet (Peace be upon him) hugged him from behind, and he could not see him. He then said: ‘Let me go!’ When he knew that it was the Prophet (Peace be upon him) who was hugging him, he pressed his back towards the Messenger’s chest! The Messenger of God (Peace be upon him) then said: ‘Who will buy this slave from me?’ Zahir said: ‘O Messenger of God, I am worthless!’ The Messenger of God (Peace be upon him) said: ‘You are not considered worthless by God!’ or he said: ‘You are valuable and precious to God.’ (Reported by Ibn Hibban #5790)

3. He would consult his Companions: The Prophet (Peace be upon him) would consult his Companions, and take their opinions and points of view into consideration in issues and matters for which no textual proofs were revealed. Abu Hurairah said:

‘I have not seen a person more keen for the sincere advice of his companions than the Messenger of God (Peace be upon him)’  (Reported by Tirmidthi #1714)

4. Visiting the sick, whether he was Muslim or non-Muslim: The Prophet (Peace be upon him) was concerned about his Companions and would make sure that they were well. If he was told about a Companion who was sick, he would rush to visit him with the Companions that were present with him. He wouldn’t only visit the Muslims who were sick; rather, he would even visit non-Muslims. Anas b. Malik said:

‘A Jewish boy would serve the Prophet (Peace be upon him) and he fell sick, so the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: ‘Let us go and visit him.’ They went to visit him, and found his father sitting by his head, and the Messenger of God (Peace be upon him) said: ‘proclaim that there is no true god worthy of being worshipped except Allah alone’ and I will intercede on your behalf on account of it on the Day of Resurrection.’ The boy looked at his father, and the father said: ‘Obey Abul-Qasim!’ so the boy uttered: ‘There is no true god worthy of being worshipped except Allah alone and Muhammad (Peace be upon him) is the last Messenger.’ The Messenger of God (Peace be upon him) said: ‘All praise is due to God, Who saved him from the Fire of Hell.’   (Reported by Ibn Hibban #2960)

5. He was grateful for people’s goodness towards him, and would reward that generously: Abdullah b. Umar said that the Messenger of God (Peace be upon him) said:

‘Whoever seeks refuge with God against your evil, then do not harm him. Whoever asks you by God, then give him. Whoever invites you, then accept his invitation. Whoever does a favor for you or an act of kindness, then repay him in a similar manner; but if you do not find that which you can reward him with, then supplicate God for him continuously, until you think you have repaid him.’   (Reported by Ahmed #6106)

A’ishah said:

‘The Messenger of God (Peace be upon him) would accept gifts, and reward generously on account of that.’ (Reported by Bukhari #2445)

6. The Messenger’s love for everything which is beautiful and good: Anas said:

‘The hand of the Messenger of God (Peace be upon him) was softer than any silk that I had ever touched, and his scent was sweeter than any perfume that I had ever smelt.’   (Reported by Bukhari #3368)

7. The Messenger of God (Peace be upon him) loved to help others by interceding on their behalf:  Abdullah b. Abbas said:

‘The husband of Bareerah was a slave whose name was Mugheeth - I saw him walking behind her in the streets of Madeenah crying, and his tears were falling off his beard. The Messenger of God (Peace be upon him) said to Al-Abbas: ‘Doesn’t it amaze you, how much Mugheeth loves Bareerah, and how much she dislikes Mugheeth!’

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said to Bareerah: ‘Why don’t you go back to him?’ She said to him: ‘Are you commanding me to do so?’ He said: ‘No, but I am interceding on his behalf.’ She said: ‘I have no need for him.’   (Reported by Bukhari # 4875)

8. The Messenger of God (Peace be upon him) would serve himself: A’ishah said:

‘I was asked how the Messenger of God (Peace be upon him) behaved in his house.’ She said: ‘He was like any man; he washed his clothes, milked his sheep, and served himself.’   (Reported by Ahmed 24998)

The Prophet’s excellent manners, not only made him serve himself; rather, he would serve others as well. A’ishah said:

‘I was asked how the Messenger of God (Peace be upon him) behaved in his house.’ She said: ‘He would help out in the house with the daily chores, and when he heard the Adthan he would leave [everything and head] for the Mosque.’  (Reported by Bukhari 5048)