Prophet Muhammad SAW as role model for individual

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as a role model for individual

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) led an exemplary life that can act as a guide for
both Muslim and non-muslim individuals equally. According to an American
author, Michael Hart, he (PBUH)was "supremely successful" in both religious and
secular matters. Hence, every individual should take the Holy Prophet as their role
model, to be successful in life. This is especially important for a Muslim, as
following his (PBUH) example will not only benefit a Muslim in thisworld but also
benefit him on the day of judgment. As it is mentioned in Quran: The Messenger of
Allah is certainly a good example for those of you who have hope in Allah and in
the Day of Judgment and who remember Allah very often. (Surah Al-Ahzab, Verse
21)When considering the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as a role model for
an individual, we must analyze the qualities that he possessed as a person, as a
family member, as a friend, as a professional, as a citizen and as a Muslim.

Prophet Muhammad was born to a noble family which belonged into the powerful tribe - the
Quraish – in the city of Makkah in the Arabian Peninsula, 1,400 years ago in the year 570 AD.
He was the son of Abdullah and Aminah. His father Abdullah passed away a few days before
his birth. His mother then brought him up with great love and devotion. When he was about six
years, his mother Aminah also passed away. Thereafter, his grandfather Abdul Muthalib and
then his uncle Abu Thalib took him into their care. As a young boy, he was known as a person
of integrity with high moral standards.

1. .As a person:

Preceptor of Ethics
2. As a Social Preceptor
In order to give ethics and purify all ethical ills, his personality presents a
complete, comprehensive and safe pattern to be followed
He vividly described the purpose of his Prophethood in these words: “That I
have been sent to complete good morals”
 The basic purpose of his Prophethood was to show a
climax of good morals
As a moral Preceptor he himself was embodiment of lofty moral values
Hazrat Abuzar Ghaffari (R.A) sent his brother to view his
Seerah and message and his brother told him: “I saw Holy Prophet
(PBUH) gives education of good morals

1.Personal hygieneProphet PBUH combed and put oil in his hair regularly.
Cleaning teeth with miswak and cutting nailsis another sunnah of Prophet PBUH.
He always wore neat clothes as Islam orders us to keepourselves clean physically.
In Quran Allah SWT said:‘Cleanse your garments and keep away from filth.’Surah
Taghabun: 4

Trustfulness and trustworthiness

Undoubtedly, the Prophet Muhammad was known for his virtue and noble conduct from
an early age and he did not engage in the immoral and corrupt practices of the society
in which he lived. Rather he was far removed from them. Practices such as idolatry,
drinking intoxicants, oppression and dishonesty were prevalent at the time, yet his
upright and noble character was noticeably obvious to all those who knew him or came
into contact with him. This was such that the people of his time would come to refer to
him as ‘Al-Amin’ – or the one who is trustworthy, and all those in that society knew of his
honesty and trustworthiness. He was also known as ‘Al-Sadiq’- the truthful one.
Because of these qualities, he was respected by everyone beyond race, colour, gender,
age and religion in the city of Makkah.

Noble qualities

Prophet Muhammad was attracted by everyone in the society because of his noble
qualities and he was a perfect example of an honest, just, merciful, compassionate,
truthful and brave human being who showered peace and mercy upon all creatures who
lived on the face of this earth. His qualities of being peace-loving, kind and merciful,
generous, pleasant and modest, and his concern for orphans and children, his respect
for the people of other religions and religious leaders touched everyone’s heart no
matter the race, colour, gender, religion or faith.

Equality and justice

Prophet Muhammad set up principles based on the Holy Quran to create an order in
social life. A few of these principles include the brotherhood of all Muslims, helping one
another and solidarity amongst people as well as speaking up against injustice. Prophet
Muhammad was a role model himself and encouraged all Muslims to treat people with
respect regardless of colour, religion, faith, gender or tribe.

As the Governor of Medina State, Prophet Muhammad placed an Islamic legislative

system in place to benefit everyone, giving the nation true power, peace, stability,
firmness and progress. During the time of his ruling, various faiths were present in his
state. There were Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, Polytheists and others not affiliated
with any religion. As the minorities, they all were treated fairly and equally.

When one looks into the life of the Prophet, one may draw on many examples to portray
the high level of tolerance shown to people of other faiths. When he established a
constitutional system in the State of Medina, he confirmed that no one has the right to
bully or annoy anyone else for their religious beliefs or rituals. Under his legislative
system crime, bribery, harassment and bullying were prohibited. All were considered
members and citizens of Medina regardless of religion, race or ancestry. As the
Governor, he protected the people of other faiths from harm as much as the Muslims.
When he started as the ruler of Medina, there were provinces which followed their own
system according to their tribes. The Prophet gathered these different tribes under one
system of governance equally treating them under one constitutional system. This is a
good example for today’s leaders.

Social and family life

Rabi-ul -Awwal is the month celebrated to dwell on the life of Prophet Muhammad and
his teachings: how he dealt with different issues and how he treated his neighbours and
other communities with great respect regardless of race, colour and faith.

Prophet Muhammad’s simple lifestyle is a good example for the whole of mankind. He
taught equality, humanity and the rights of women. He was an exemplar who showed
his followers the value of humility in social life and simplicity in family life.
His teachings to respect other faiths and communities are still relevant for today’s
society. His family and social life was shaped around Islamic principles ensuring peace
and happiness. He simply showed what peace and happiness is all about in a family
life. When teaching the rights of women, he taught his followers saying, “The best
among you are those who behave best towards their wives. The best among you is the
one who is the kindest to his wife and the worst among you is the one who treats his
wife badly.”

Prophet Muhammad himself was a perfect family man for all time. He raised four
daughters. He educated them and married them to pious husbands. Even when his
children were married, Prophet Muhammad still rushed his daughters’ houses even
after they became mothers to many children themselves, and he loved his
grandchildren very much. Being a respectful husband and a loving father to his children
and grandchildren, he showed a good example to his followers about the way of
peaceful family life in the way of Islamic teaching.

As a businessman, successful reformist, strategic leader, governor of the state, brilliant

administrator, he was an extraordinary individual in his social life. As a businessman, he
used to give needy people whatever he earned. He was extremely generous and
sociable himself. He encouraged his followers to help the people in need. One of his
companions asked the Prophet, which act in Islam is the best and then Prophet
Muhammad replied, to feed the poor and needy people whether Muslim or non-Muslim
and greet the people you know and those you do not regardless religion or race.

Humanity of Prophet Muhammad

Well-known writer and Nobel Prize winner Sir George Bernard Shaw had said in his
book Genuine Islam, “I have studied Prophet Muhammad – a wonderful man and in my
opinion far from being an anti-Christ, he must called the Saviour of Humanity. Indian
nationalist leader Mahatma Ghandi said in the Young India journal, “I became more
than ever convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days –
it was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet Muhammad, the
scrupulous regard for his pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his
intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and his own mission.”
•FortitudeProphet PBUH had such level of fortitude that he denied the offer of
Gabriel to crush thepeople of ta’aif between the two mountains when they injured
him to bleed.
•Calmness and self-controlThe prophet of Allah neither cursed and nor been rude
to anyone. If he had reprimand anyonehe would say:‘What is wrong with him, may
dust be cast in his face!