Abdul Rasool Syed
THE last Prophet (SAWW) was sent as a mercy for the entire world. He was an epitome of lofty morals and was entrusted with a noble task to build a Muslim society, premised on the very foundations of excellent ethos and etiquettes. The Islamic chronicle is replete with numerous examples where the Holy Prophet (SAWW) not only himself evinced high moral standards but also advised his holy syndicate of followers to mould themselves into men of exceedingly refined character. The criteria of morals, which are enshrined in Quran, were perfectly personified in being of his eminence as Ayesha (RA), his wife and other companions have also admitted in various traditions.
Abu Darda says: I asked Ayesha (RA) about the morals and manners of the Holy Prophet (SAWW), she said, “The morals of the Prophet were based on Quran. He was pleased with whatever Almighty Allah was pleased with and was angry at whatever Almighty Allah was angry with.” He was having such excellent morals that Quran has praised him and said with regard to him: “And most surely you conform (yourself) to sublime morality.” (68:4). At another place, regarding the exemplary manners of holy Prophet (SAAW) Allah 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]
By his own words “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). He (SAAW), further, 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.”(Masnad Ahmad) The holy Prophet (SAAW) 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 (SAWW) 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 ‘Aysha (R.A) said: “You did not think well of this man, but you treated him so well.”
The Prophet (SAAW) 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 (SAAW) always received people with courtesy and showed respect to older people and stated: “To honor an old man is to show glorification to Allah.” Moreover, he (SAAW) 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.
Abu Qatada (RA) said with regard to His Eminence” Despite that grade and status, his humility exceeded that of other people. When he came to a group of companions, they stood up to pay respect to him, but he said: Do not honour me like the Persians who stand to pay respect to each other. I am the servant of God and I eat and drink like them. The Holy Prophet (SAAW) sometimes used to astride a donkey and also made another person sit behind him. He visited the poor to show his support and interacted with the underprivileged and even accepted invitations of slaves. When he entered an assembly, he took a seat in the last row”. However, He (SAAW) 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. He also accorded his foster brother the 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 what one was the Prophet. Quite frequently uncouth bedouins accosted him in their own gruff and impolite manner but he never took offence. [Abu Daawood]
Hazrat Husain ibn Ali (AS) narrates from his father that he said, “The Holy Prophet (SAWW) was always cheerful, good natured and soft spoken; he was never nasty, bad natured and fault-picker and he ignored that which he did not like. He never disappointed anyone. He had purified his self from three things: Argumentation, extravagance and vain acts. In three things he had nothing to do with anyone: He was never harsh and a fault finder; he was never inclined to expose the secrets and hidden deficiencies of others; he never spoke, except when it entailed gaining heavenly rewards. Finally, Ibn Masud (RA) says: A person wanted to speak to the Holy Prophet (S AWW), but began to tremble at the awe of his eminence. The Prophet said, “Take it easy. I am not a king. Rather, I am the son of a lady who ate dried meat. May Allah, The sublime give us strength to act upon what our Holy Prophet (SAAW) practised and admonished.
— The writer, an Advcate, based in Quetta Balochistan.
