The Noble Qur’an
The polytheists of the Quraysh gathered to consult each other on a strategy to prevent Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ’alaihi wa sallam (may Allah exalt his mention ) from inviting people to Islam, especially as the Haj (pilgrimage) season was nearing, and the Prophet, sallallaahu ’alaihi wa sallam, would surely call people to embrace Islam during it. They agreed on warning people against listening to the Prophet, sallallaahu ’alaihi wa sallam. Among the pilgrims was At-Tufayl ibn ‘Amr Ad-Dawsi, the chief of the tribe of Daws. The polytheists warned him about listening to the Prophet, sallallaahu ’alaihi wa sallam, and claimed that he was a sorcerer and a poet, so At-Tufayl put pieces of cotton in his ears so that he would not be able to listen to the Prophet.
Once, At-Tufayl went to the Ka’aba and found the Prophet, sallallaahu ’alaihi wa sallam, praying and reciting the Qur’an and Allah The Almighty willed that At-Tufayl listened to him. When he listened, he knew that what he had listened to was neither poetry nor magic, as At-Tufayl was a poet himself. Thus, when the Prophet, sallallaahu ’alaihi wa sallam, finished his prayer, At-Tufayl followed him home and told him what the polytheists had said. Then he asked the Prophet, sallallaahu ’alaihi wa sallam, to explain Islam to him. When he heard the Da‘wah (call) of Islam, he believed in Allah The Almighty, His Messenger and the Book the Prophet was sent with. The reversion of Tufayl was one of the blessings of the Qur’an. After this, he went to his tribe and invited them to Islam.
The Noble Qur’an is the Speech of Allah The Almighty and the eternal miracle of His Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. Allah The Almighty sent it down to the people of rhetoric and challenged them to compose one Surah (Chapter) or even one verse like it, but they were unable to do so. The Qur’an is the firm Rope of Allah The Almighty, and whoever adheres to it will be saved by it; whoever follows it will be guided to the right path.
The splitting of the moon
Imaam Al-Bukhari and Imaam Muslim, may Allah have mercy upon them both, narrated that Abu Jahl, Al-Waleed ibn Al-Mugheerah, Al-‘Aas ibn Waa’il and a large number of the polytheists from the Quraysh went to the Prophet, sallallaahu ’alaihi wa sallam, and said: “O Muhammad! If you are truthful in what you say, then split the moon for us into two pieces.” The Prophet, sallallaahu ’alaihi wa sallam, invoked Allah The Almighty to split the moon and Allah The Almighty answered his invocation. The moon split and people saw it and the Prophet, sallallaahu ’alaihi wa sallam, made them bear witness [to that], but they disbelieved.
Al-Israa’ and Al-Mi‘raaj (The Prophetic Journey and the Ascension)
When the polytheists intensified the harm they had inflicted on the Prophet, sallallaahu ’alaihi wa sallam, Allah The Almighty wanted to relieve his pains and bring him closer, so the journey of Al-Israa’ and Al-Mi‘raaj took place. Jibreel, may Allah exalt his mention, went to the Prophet, sallallaahu ’alaihi wa sallam, with Al-Buraaq (a riding mount). The Prophet mounted it and he was taken from Al-Masjid Al-Haraam to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa where he led all the Prophets in prayer, then he was taken to the upper heavens. During this journey, prayer was ordained, and the Prophet, sallallaahu ’alaihi wa sallam, returned to Makkah on the same night.
Increasing small amounts of food
During the Battle of the Trench, the polytheists besieged Madinah, and the Prophet, sallallaahu ’alaihi wa sallam, and his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, were digging a trench around Al-Madinah in order to prevent the polytheists from entering it. The Muslims ran out of food and they were starving. Jaabir, may Allah be pleased with him, wanted to provide the Prophet, sallallaahu ’alaihi wa sallam, and his Companions with food, but he had a small amount of barley and a small sheep.
Thus, Jaabir, may Allah be pleased with him, went to the Prophet, sallallaahu ’alaihi wa sallam, and invited him along with a small number of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with him, but the Prophet, sallallaahu ’alaihi wa sallam, called out loudly: “O people! Jaabir has made food for you, so let us go!” The Prophet ordered Jaabir to wait for him before he prepared the food, and when he arrived there, he blessed the food. The Companions entered in groups until they all ate and the food remained the same. Jaabir said: “By Allah! The fighters were one thousand on that day.” [Al-Bukhari]
The trunk of a palm tree longs for the Prophet
The Prophet, sallallaahu ’alaihi wa sallam, used to deliver his Khutbah (sermon) while standing beside the trunk of a date palm tree. When the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, made a pulpit for him, he, sallallaahu ’alaihi wa sallam, left the trunk and stood on the pulpit. The Companions heard a sound that was similar to the sound of a she-camel. The Prophet, sallallaahu ’alaihi wa sallam, knew that it was the trunk weeping for having been separated from him. He went to it and placed his hand over it, so it calmed down. [Ahmad and At-Tirmithi]
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Prophet’s justice and equality
The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam (may Allah exalt his mention) asked people to be just and kind. As the supreme judge and arbiter, as the leader of Muslims, as generalissimo of a rising power, as a reformer and apostle, he, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, had always to deal with people and their affairs. He had often to deal with mutually inimical and warring tribes when showing justice to one carried the danger of antagonising the other, and yet he never deviated from the path of justice. In administering justice, he, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, made no distinction between believers and nonbelievers, friends and foes, high and low. From numerous instances reported in the traditions, a few are given below.
Sakhr, a chief of a tribe, had helped the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, greatly in the siege of Taif, for which he, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, was naturally obliged to him. Soon after, two charges were brought against Sakhr: one by Mugheerah, may Allah be pleased with him, of illegal confinement of his (Mugheerah’s) aunt and the other by Banu Saalim of forcible occupation of his spring by Sakhr. In both cases, he, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, decided against Sakhr and made him undo the wrong. [Abu Daawood]
Abdullaah Ibn Sahl, may Allah be pleased with him, was deputed to collect rent from Jews of Khaybar. His cousin Mahisah, may Allah be pleased with him, accompanied him but, on reaching Khaybar, they had separated. Abdullaah was waylaid and done to death. Mahisah reported this tragedy to the Prophet, but as there were no eye-witnesses to identify the guilty, he, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, did not say anything to the Jews and paid the blood-money out of the state revenues. [Al-Bukhari]
A woman of the Makhzoom family with good connections was found guilty of theft. For the prestige of the Quraysh, some prominent people including Usaamah Ibn Zayd, may Allah be pleased with him, interceded to save her from punishment. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, refused to condone the crime and expressed displeasure saying:
“Many a community ruined itself in the past as they only punished the poor and ignored the offences of the exalted. By Allah, if Muhammad’s (My) daughter Faatimah would have committed theft, her hand would have been severed.” [Al-Bukhari]
The Jews, in spite of their hostility to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, were so impressed by his impartiality and sense of justice that they used to bring their cases to him, and he decided them according to Jewish law. [Abu Daawood]
Once, while he, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, was distributing the spoils of war, people flocked around him and one man almost fell upon him. He, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, pushed the men with a stick causing a slight abrasion. He, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, was so sorry about this that he, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, told the man that he could have his revenge, but the man said: “O Messenger of Allah, I forgive you.” (Abu Daawood)
In his fatal illness, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, proclaimed in a concourse assembled at his house that if he owed anything to anyone the person concerned could claim it; if he had ever hurt anyone’s person, honour or property, he could have his price while he was yet in this world. A hush fell on the crowd. One man came forward to claim a few dirhams which were paid at once. [Ibn Hishaam]
Equality
Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, asked people to shun notions of racial, family or any other form of superiority based on mundane things and said that righteousness alone was the criterion of one’s superiority over another. It has already been shown how he mixed with everyone on equal terms, how he ate with slaves, servants and the poorest on the same sheet (a practice that is still followed in Arabia), how he, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, refused all privileges and worked like any ordinary labourer. Two instances may, however, be quoted here:
Once the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, visited Sa’d Ibn ‘Ubaadah, may Allah be pleased with him. While returning, Sa’d sent his son Qays with him. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, asked Qays to mount his camel with him. Qays hesitated out of respect but the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, insisted: “Either mount the camel or go back.” Qays decided to go back. [Abu Daawood]
On another occasion he, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, was travelling on his camel over hilly terrain with a companion, Uqbah Ibn ‘Aamir, may Allah be pleased with him. After going some distance, he asked ‘Uqbah to ride the camel, but Uqbah thought this would be showing disrespect to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. But the Prophet insisted and he had to comply. The Prophet himself walked on foot as he did not want to put too much load on the animal. [An-Nasaa’ee]
The prisoners of war of Badr included Al-’Abbaas, the uncle of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. Some people were prepared to forgo their shares and remit the Prophet’s ransom but he declined saying that he could make no distinctions. [Al-Bukhari]
During a halt on a journey, the companions apportioned work among themselves for preparing food. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, took upon himself the task of collecting firewood. His companions, may Allah be pleased with them, pleaded that they would do it and that he need not take the trouble, but he, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, replied: “It is true, but I do not like to attribute any distinction to myself. Allah does not like the man who considers himself superior to his companions.” [Az-Zarqaani]
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His humbleness and trust in Allah
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 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 ‘Awfa 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.
We can say that humbleness is seen in every sphere of the Prophet’s life. His way of talking, walking, sitting, eating and every aspect of his life reflected humbleness.
Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention), preached to the people to trust in Allah. His whole life was a sublime example of the precept. In the loneliness of Makkah, in the midst of persecution and danger, in adversity and tribulations, and in the thick of enemies in the battles of Uhud and Hunayn, complete faith and trust in Allah appears as the dominant feature in his life. However great the danger that confronted him, he, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, never lost hope and never allowed himself to be unduly agitated. Abu Talib knew the feelings of the Quraysh when the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, started his mission. He also knew the lengths to which the Quraysh could go, and requested the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, to abandon his mission, but the latter calmly replied: “Dear uncle, do not go by my loneliness. Truth will not go unsupported for long. The whole of Arabia and beyond will one day espouse its cause.” [Ibn Hisham]
When the attitude of the Quraysh became more threatening, Abu Talib again begged his nephew to renounce his mission but the Prophet’s reply was: “O my uncle, if they placed the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left, to force me to renounce my work, verily I would not desist thereform until Allah made manifest His cause, or I perished in the attempt.”
To another well-wisher, he , sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “Allah will not leave me forlorn.”
A dejected and oppressed companion was comforted with the words:
“By Allah, the day is near when this faith will reach its pinnacle and none will have to fear anyone except Allah.” [Al-Bukhari]
It was the same trust in Allah which emboldened the Prophet , sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, to say his prayers openly in the Haram (sacred Mosque of Makkah) in the teeth of opposition. The Quraysh were once collected there and were conspiring to put an end to his life when he next entered the Haram. His young daughter Fatimah, may Allah be pleased with her, who happened to overhear their talk rushed weeping to her father and told him of the designs of the Quraysh. He, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, consoled her, did his ablutions and went to the Ka’aba to say prayers. There was only consternation among the Quraysh when they saw him, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. [Ahmad].
Then leaving his house for Madinah he, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, asked Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, to sleep on his bed and told him: “Do not worry, no one will be able to do you any harm” [At-Tabari, Ibn Hisham]
Even though the enemies had surrounded the house, he, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, left the house reciting the Qur’anic verse (which means): “We have set a barricade before them and a barricade behind them and (thus) have covered them so that they see not” [Qur’an, 36: 9]
Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, was frightened when pursuers came close to the cavern in which he and Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, were hiding during their flight, but the Prophet heartened him: “Grieve not. Allah is with us.”
A guard was kept at the Prophet’s house in Madinah because of the danger that surrounded him but he had it withdrawn when the Qur’anic verse was revealed (which means): “Allah will protect you from the people”. [Qur’an, 5: 67]
A man was caught waiting in ambush to assault the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, but he was directed to be released with the words: “Even if this man wanted to kill me, he could not.” [Ahmad]
A Jewish woman from Khaybar had put poison in the Prophet’s food. He, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, spat it out after taking a morsel but a companion who had his fill died the next day. The Jewess was brought before the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, who questioned her: “Why did you do this?” “To kill you,” was her defiant reply. She was told, “Allah would not have allowed you to do it.” [Muslim]
In the Battle of Uhud when the rear guard action of the Makkan army had disorganised the Muslim army and had turned the tables, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, stood as firm as a rock even though he had suffered personal injuries. When Abu Sufiyan taunted the Muslims and shouted “Victory to Hubal!” (Hubal was one of their idols), the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, asked Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, to shout back: “Allah is our protector and friend. You have no protector and friend. Allah is Great, Magnificent.” [Ibn Hisham]
Again in the Battle of Hunayn, when the unexpected assault of the army had swept the Muslim force off its feet and a defeat seemed imminent, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, did not yield ground. With trust in Allah he showed such courage that the Muslim army rallied behind him to win a signal victory.
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