Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam was a perfect model of modesty and humbleness. He never spoke loudly or in an unseemly manner. In the market, he always passed by the people quietly with a smile. Whenever he heard anything undesirable in an assembly, he did not say anything out of respect for the people, but the colour of his face showed his feelings and the Companions became cautious. ‘Aa’ishah (radhiallah ‘anha) said that she never saw Allah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, laughing so that she could see his molar teeth, for he only used to smile. ‘Abdullaah Ibn Maslamah reported Allah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, as saying: “Modesty is a part of the teachings of the previous prophets and anyone who lacks it is most likely to do whatever he likes.” Zayd (radhiallah ‘anhu) reported Allah’s Messenger as saying: “Every religion has a character and the character of Islam is modesty.” The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, lived a simple and modest life, both in Makkah as a trader before his prophethood, and in Al-Madinah as the head of the State after being appointed Allah’s Messenger. The change in his social status from that of a trader in Makkah to the head of the State in Al-Madinah did not bring any change in his modest living. ‘Umar (radhiallah ‘anhu) reported the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, as saying: “Do not exalt me as the Christians have exalted Jesus, son of Mary. I am just His servant, so call me Allah’s Servant and Messenger.” The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, did not behave towards others as if he was better than they were, nor did he spurn manual work. ‘Abdullaah bin Abi ‘Awf (radhiallah ‘anhu) reported that the Prophet never disdained to go with a slave or a widow to accomplish his or her tasks. Others reported that the Prophet used to tidy up his house, tie the camels, feed the animals, take food with his servants, and help them in kneading dough and bringing provisions from the market. Anas (radhiallah ‘anhu) reported that the Prophet of Allah used to visit the sick, attend funerals, ride on a donkey and accept a slave’s invitation for a meal. Jaabir (radhiallah ‘anhu) stated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, used to slow down his pace for the sake of the weak and also prayed for them.When ‘Adiyy bin Haatim (radhiallah ‘anhu) came to see the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, he called him inside his house. A maidservant brought a cushion to rest on, but the Prophet placed it between him and ‘Adiyy and sat down on the floor. ‘Adiyy later said that he had then immediately realised that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, was not a king. A similar incident was reported by ‘Abdullaah bin ‘Amr bin Al-‘Aas (radhiallah ‘anhu) who said: “Once when the Messenger of Allah came to my house, I gave him a cushion filled with bark, but he sat down on the floor placing the cushion between me and him.”Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, was humble in all things. Anas (radhiallah ‘anhu) said that the Prophet would accept an invitation even if he was presented barley bread and soup whose taste had changed. He also reported the Prophet as saying: “I am Allah’s servant, I eat like a servant and sit like a servant.’’ On one of his journeys, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, asked his companions to roast a goat. One said that he would slaughter the animal; another said that he would skin it, while a third said that he would cook it. The Prophet then said that he would collect wood for fuel. Their response was: “O Messenger of Allah! We will do everything.” The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, then said: “I have no doubt that you will. But I do not like distinctions to be made, nor does Allah like any one of His servants to assert his superiority over his companions.” His self-deprecation was such that he, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, once said: “By Allah, I do not know, even although I am Allah’s Messenger, what my fate in the next world will be, nor do I know what yours will be.” Abu Tharr al-Ghifaari (radhiallah ‘anhu) narrates that one day he was sitting with another companion of black complexion whom he addressed as: “O black man.” When the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, heard of this, he was greatly displeased and cautioned Abu Tharr never to make scornful remarks to anyone, whoever he might be, and to accord equal treatment to all, adding: “No white man has any superiority over a black man.”The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, once saw a wealthy Muslim gathering up his loose garments so that a certain distance would be kept between himself and a poor Muslim sitting close by. He remarked: “Do you fear that his poverty will cling to you?”The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, lived like any ordinary person, and did not assume any superior rights. He once had to borrow some money from a Jew called Zayd bin Sana’a. The Jew came to demand the immediate return of the loan a few days before the expiry of the stipulated period. Tugging at the mantle around the Prophet’s shoulders, he jibed that the progeny of ‘Abd al-Muttalib were always defaulters. ‘Umar (radhiallah ‘anhu) not being able to tolerate this misbehaviour on the part of the Jew, started berating him, and was on the point of beating him when the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said to the Jew, smiling: “There are still three days to go before the promise has to be fulfilled.” To ‘Umar he sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “We might have had better treatment from you. You could have advised me to be more careful about the return of loans and you could have advised the Jew to be more courteous in demanding repayment.” He, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, then requested ‘Umar to get some dates so that the loan could be repaid, and to give the Jew an extra 40 kilograms for the rebuke he had been given.Emigration to MadinaBy Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-’Uthaimeen (rahimullah)Thirteen years after the commencement of the prophetic message, In the month of Rabee’ Al-Awwaal, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam reached Madina having left from Makkah, which was the initial point of revelation and the most beloved of places to him. He left Makkah as an emigrant, in compliance with the command of his Lord, after he had spent 13 years there calling to the clear guidance of the message of his Lord. During this period he sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and his followers were confronted with rejection, defiance and even physical harm from Quraysh (his tribe).Moreover, Quraysh even conspired to kill him when their leaders met and exchanged views in order to decide on what course of action to take regarding the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and his followers. They felt endangered by the message of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and when some of his companions emigrated to Madina, they knew that he would join them there sooner or later. They knew also about the pledge that the Ansaar (the Madinan supporters of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) had given to the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam which stipulated that they would protect him from any kind of harm, just as they protected their own wives and children.Quraysh feared the revenge of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and his followers if they had the opportunity of establishing themselves firmly in Madina. Therefore, during the meeting of the elders of Quraysh, Abu Jahl said: “My opinion is that we should select a strong young man from each of our tribes and give each a sword to strike Muhammad all at the same time. On doing so, his blood will spread among all the Arab tribes – and it will be impossible for the Banu ‘Abd Manaaf (the clan to which the Prophet belonged) to revenge his death, rather they will be obliged to take the diyyah (blood-money).”“And [remember, O Muhammad], when those who disbelieved plotted against you to restrain you or kill you or evict you [from Makkah]. But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners.” (Al-Anfaal: 30).Despite this, Allah revealed the entire conspiracy to the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and permitted him to emigrate to Madina. Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, who had prepared himself for the move to Madina, was told several times by the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam to wait. It was clear that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam wanted to accompany him in the journey of Hijrah, as he sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said to him: “Wait, for I hope that Allah will allow me also to emigrate.”‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, narrated: “One day, at midday, while we were sitting in our house, someone said to Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him: ‘Here comes Allah’s Apostle, with his head and part of his face covered with a cloth (i.e. wishing to conceal his identity), at an hour in which he has never come to us’. Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, said: ‘Let my father and mother be sacrificed for you (an expression that indicates the level of sacrifice that the person expressing it is prepared to make), (O Prophet)! It must have been an urgent matter that brought you here at this hour.’ The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam asked permission to enter and then did so, he sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam then said to Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him: “Let those who are here with you leave.” Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, replied: ‘These people are your family (i.e. there is no need for them to leave because they are your own people); Let my father be sacrificed for you, O Allah’s Apostle!’ The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam then said: “I have been given permission leave (Makkah).” Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, asked: ‘Can I accompany you, O Allah’s Apostle? Let my father be sacrificed for you!’ The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam replied: “Yes.” Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, said: ‘O Allah’s Apostle! Let my father be sacrificed for you! Take one of these two she-camels of mine.’ The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam replied: “I will take it only on the condition that I pay you for it.”So we packed their baggage and placed food for their journey into a leather bag. Then the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, set off on their journey. After this, they arrived at a mountain named Thawr and remained there for three nights. ‘Abdullah bin Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, who was an intelligent young man, would stay with them two at night and leave before dawn so that in the morning, he could be among the Quraysh in Makkah and act as if he had spent the whole night there. If he heard of any plot contrived by the Quraysh against the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, he would return and inform them two of the plot after dark.” Quraysh exerted the maximum effort to seize the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and his companion, may Allah be pleased with him. They searched in all directions and could not find them and so they announced a reward of one hundred camels for anybody who could seize either or both of them. However, it was Allah’s plan to protect them, for some men from the Quraysh reached the very cave where the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and his companion, may Allah be pleased with him, were hiding – but were unable to spot them.Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “I said to the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam when we were in the cave: ‘O Messenger of Allah, if any of them looks down at their feet, they will see us.’ The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam replied, assuringly: “What do you think about two companions, of whom Allah is the third? (i.e. in terms of assistance)”.When Quraysh’s pursuit abated, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, left the cave after three nights and headed for Madina following the coastline. A young man by the name of Suraaqah bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, who had not yet at that time embraced Islam caught sight of them on his horse. When Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, turned back and saw him, he said: “Messenger of Allah, someone is following us.” The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam replied: “Don’t be anxious; for Allah is with us.” When Suraaqah came closer to them and heard the Prophet’s recitation of the Qur’an, the forelegs of his horse sank into the hard ground, so much so that the horse’s stomach touched the ground. Suraaqah dismounted and spurred the horse until it stood up, but its forelegs were struggling, causing dust to rise up into the sky like smoke. Recalling this at a later date, Suraaqah said: “I felt then that the Prophet’s affair will come to prominence some day, (i.e. I knew that the day would come when his message would be accepted by the masses) so I cried out at them giving them a pledge of security. The Messenger of Allah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam was standing ahead of me with his companion. I mounted my horse and rode until I reached them and told them about the plots contrived against them. I offered them food and luggage and said to the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam: ‘You will pass by some flocks of sheep and camels that belong to me; you may take what you need from them.’ The Prophet replied: “I have no need of this, just conceal your knowledge of us.”Suraaqah headed back to where he had set out from and diverted all those he came across away from the direction that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and his companion, may Allah be pleased with him, were heading towards. It seems so strange that Suraaqah, who first sought after the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and his companion, may Allah be pleased with him, to seize them ended up giving them his full support. This is the support Allah gives to those who serve His cause.When news of the Prophet’s Hijrah reached the people of Madina from among the Muhaajireen (those Muslims who emigrated from Makkah) and Ansaar (the Madinan supporters of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), they would go out to Al-Harrah, which is a place on the outskirts of Madina, in anticipation of the Prophet’s arrival, until they would be forced back by the heat of the sun. When the day of arrival of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam finally came, a Jew who was looking for something on a hillock in Madina saw him approaching. Despite his enmity, he could not help but cry out: “O Arabs! This is your long-awaited fortune and honour.” The Muslims hastened to meet the Messenger of Allah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam with their weapons, as an honorary reception as well as an indication of their readiness for Jihad in the cause of Allah and to defend him. They met him at a place in Al-Harrah and he sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam diverted his course rightward and settled in the Banu ‘Amr bin ‘Awf in Qooba’ (a place on the outskirts of Madina) where he stayed for some nights and built a mosque. He then went on to Madina accompanied by many people, while many others lined the roadside.Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, related: “When we came to Madina, people went out onto the roads and onto the tops of houses, along with their children and servants, crying: “Allaahu Akbar! The Messenger of Allah has come! Allaahu Akbar! Muhammad has come!” Anas bin Maalik, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated: “I was walking among small boys, since I was one of them, while people were crying out: ‘Muhammad has come! Muhammad has come!’ So the people repeated these words out of joy due to the Prophet’s arrival, who was the dearest to them. What an arrival! It filled the hearts with joy, pleasure and delight and illuminated the horizons with happiness.”When the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam reached Madina, the various tribes of Al-Ansaar rivalled each other in leading the Prophet’s she-camel to their dwellings, each saying: ‘Come, O Messenger of Allah! Stay with us! We are great in number, fully armed and ready to defend you’ The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam replied, regarding his she-camel: “Let it go where it wishes, for it is inspired. I will stay where Allah wished me to stay.” The she-camel stood in the place where he sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam later built his mosque, it knelt down and remained there for sometime, while the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam remained on its back. After this, the she-camel got up again and the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam loosened its bridle, it walked for a short distance and then returned to the previous location and knelt down. Upon this the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “Here is the settling place, Allah willing”. The place where the she-camel knelt belonged to two orphans, who offered to give it to the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam for free, but he sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam refused and instead he purchased it from them. Then Allah’s Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam asked: “Whose is the nearest of the houses to here?” A man called Abu Ayyoob, may Allah be pleased with him, replied: ‘Mine, O Allah’s Prophet! This is my house and this is my gate.’ The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam then said: “Go and prepare a place for our midday rest.” Abu Ayyoob, may Allah be pleased with him, prepared it, then returned and said: ‘Come along, both of you, with the blessings of Allah.’ When Allah’s Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam went into the house, a man named ‘Abdullah ibn Salaam, may Allah be pleased with him, came and said: “I testify that you (i.e. Muhammad) are Apostle of Allah and that you have come with the truth. The Jews know very well that I am their chief and the son of their former chief and the most learned amongst them and the son of the former most learned amongst them. So send for them (i.e. the Jews) and ask them about me before they know that I have embraced Islam, for if they know that then they will say about me things which are not correct.” So Allah’s Apostle sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam sent for them and they came and entered. Allah’s Apostle sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said to them: “O Jews! Woe to you! Fear Allah! I swear by Allah besides Whom none has the right to be worshipped that you people know for certain that I am the Apostle of Allah and that I have come to you with the truth, so embrace Islam.” The Jews replied: “We do not know this.” So he sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam repeated this twice and they repeated their answer twice. Then he sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam asked them: “What sort of a standing does ‘Abdullah ibn Salaam have amongst you?” They said: “He is our chief, the son of our former chief and the most learned man, the son of the former most learned man amongst us.”He sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “What would you think if he should embrace Islam?” They replied: “Allah forbid! He cannot embrace Islam.” He sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam repeated the question and they repeated the response, then He sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam called out: “O Ibn Salaam! Come out to them.” He came out and said: ‘O Jews! Be afraid of Allah besides Whom none has the right to be worshipped. You know for certain that he is Apostle of Allah and that he has brought the true religion!” The Jews replied: “You are a liar.” On that Allah’s Apostle sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam turned them out. ‘Abdullah ibn Salaam, may Allah be pleased with him, then said: “Did I not tell you, Messenger of Allah, that they are a people of falsehood, betrayal, lying and obscenity?”That was the Prophet’s emigration, who left his home town to call to the religion of Allah and reform His servants.Fear Allah! O servants of Allah and abandon acts of disobedience so that you can all at least achieve one kind of Hijrah. (This refers to the abandonment of sins. According to Islam, Hijrah is of two kinds: literal, which denotes moving from one place to another in order to be able to practise one’s religion, and metaphorical which means the abandonment of sins). Whoever abandons something which he likes for Allah’s sake, Allah will reward him with something better. Whoever sticks to piety and goodness, Allah will be with him. Allah the Almighty said that which translates as: “Indeed, Allah is with those who fear Him and those who are doers of good.” (Al-Nahl: 128).His manners and dispositionAllah Says (what means): “By the grace of Allah, you are gentle towards the people; if you had been stern and ill-tempered, they would have dispersed from round about you” [Qur’an, 3: 159]About himself the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “Allah has sent me as an apostle so that I may demonstrate perfection of character, refinement of manners and loftiness of deportment.” [Maalik and Ahmad] By nature he (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) was gentle and kind hearted, always inclined to be gracious and to overlook the faults of others. Politeness and courtesy, compassion and tenderness, simplicity and humility, sympathy and sincerity were some of the keynotes of his character. In the cause of right and justice he could be resolute and severe but more often than not, his severity was tempered with generosity. He had charming manners which won him the affection of his followers and secured their devotion. Though virtual king of Arabia and an apostle of Allah, he never assumed an air of superiority. Not that he had to conceal any such vein by practice and artifice: with fear of Allah, sincere humility was ingrained in his heart. He (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) used to say: “I am a Prophet of Allah but I do not know what will be my end.” [Al-Bukhari]In one of his sermons calculated to instill the fear of Allah and the day of reckoning in the hearts of men, he (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “O people of Quraysh be prepared for the hereafter, I cannot save you from the punishment of Allah; O Bani Abd Manaaf, I cannot save you from Allah; O Abbaas, son of Abdul-Mutalib, I cannot protect you either; O Faatimah, daughter of Muhammad, even you I cannot save.” [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]He (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) used to pray: “O Allah! I am but a man. If I hurt anyone in any manner, then forgive me and do not punish me.” [Ahmad]He always received people with courtesy and showed respect to older people and stated: “To honour an old man is to show glorification to Allah.” He would not deny courtesy even to wicked persons. It is stated that a person came to his house and asked permission for admission. The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) remarked that he was not a good person but might be admitted. When he came in and while he remained in the house, he was shown full courtesy. When he left ‘Aa’ishah (radhiallah ‘anha) said: “You did not think well of this man, but you treated him so well.” The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) replied: “He is a bad person in the sight of Allah who does not behave courteously and people shun his company because of his bad manners.” [Al-Bukhari] He (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) was always the first to greet another and would not withdraw his hand from a handshake till the other man withdrew his. If one wanted to say something in his ears, he would not turn away till one had finished as reported in the books of Abu Daawood and At-Tirmithi. He did not like people to get up for him and used to say: “Let him, who likes people to stand up in his honour, he should seek a place in hell.” [Abu Daawood]. He (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) would himself, however, stand up when any dignitary came to him. He had stood up to receive the wet nurse who had reared him in infancy and had spread his own sheet for her. His foster brother was given similar treatment. He avoided sitting at a prominent place in a gathering, so much so that people coming in had difficulty in spotting him and had to ask which one was the Prophet. Quite frequently uncouth bedouins accosted him in their own gruff and impolite manner but he never took offence. [Abu Daawood]