Notes on the topic: Personal aspects of the Prophet’s life.

The students can read life in Makkah and Madinah for their research.

The Holy Prophet (PBUH) is the center of the characteristics of all Messengers of Almighty Allah.

Jalalud Din Rumi said: “You possess the beauty of Joseph, the breath of Jesus, and the bright hand of
Moses. Whatever good attributes the greats all have, you (Hazrat Muhammad) alone possess.”

Almighty Allah has presented him in the Holy Quran as an exemplar, role model and ideal for mankind.
The Quran says: “Certainly you have in the Apostle of Allah an excellent exemplar for him who hopes in
Allah and the Judgment Day and remembers Allah much.” Surah Al Ahzab ayat 21

This is to keep in mind that Hazrat Muhammad’s (PBUH) personality is flawless in each aspect of life and
an individual can simply follow him for his well-being. For this, one can pick those very principles, which
he adopted for leading a perfect life. Undoubtedly, he should be followed as he is pure, sinless and has
links with Allah’s revelation. Let us look at some of the principles, which Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH)
adopted in his life.

1. The most prominent principle on which he acted upon frequently was to endure hardships with
patience and pardoned his foes for their cruel and inhumane treatment. He never took revenge against
his personal insult and injury and embraced those who hurt him with their words or hand. Once a non-
Muslim came across Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) and asked for paying a sum of money. Hazrat
Muhammad (PBUH) refused to pay as he borrowed nothing from him. On this, that man hurt his neck by
pulling his shawl and a rash appeared on his skin. Some faithful companions of Hazrat Muhammad
(PBUH) were ready to take revenge against this insult, but he embraced that person and asked softly for
giving some time so that he could pay him money. This behavior inclined that non-Muslim to change his
approach and he accepted Islam at once. On the contrary, Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) dealt strongly
with those who disobeyed the rules of Allah. Once an offspring of the chief of Quraish was brought to
him in theft case. He ordered to cut the offender’s hand. Some elders requested him to excuse her for
that offence as she belonged to a noble tribe; but his verdict remained unaltered.

2. The second principle, which influenced his life was to guide people on right direction to achieve their
goals. He led everyone to the light and taught him or her that virtue cannot be yielded with the seed of
vice. One does not serve the religion if he distributes looted things among the needy. Crime is not the
credibility that can take you to paradise. Islam does not allow someone to feed a poor with stolen food.
Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) never took undue advantage from people’s ignorance. The moment when
his eighteen months old son Hazrat Qasim passed away, his eyes were full of tears and he mourned after
his burial. Meanwhile, solar eclipse darkened the sky and people associated it with his son’s demise and
presumed as the sky showed its grief too. On this, he gathered all of them and announced clearly: “The
sun and moon are signs of Allah which travel on their path with His command. None’s life or death
causes their eclipse. My prestige is determined by Almighty Allah and it cannot be measured by your
ignorance.” See that Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) did not misuse their unawareness for his personal
status.
3. The principle of moderation was also a part of his character. Hazrat Ali (AS) said: “Moderation was his
quality.” He avoided extremism in each step of his life. Whatever he did, it was away from extremes and
in a beneficial way. Imam Jaafar Sadiq (AS) said: “We are a moderate community, the living beings who
witness the entity of Allah and His creatures as our each thought, reflection and step is based on
moderation.” Almighty Allah likes the quality of moderation and includes Hazrat Luqman’s advice in a
chapter of the Holy Quran where he said to his son: “And be moderate in thy pace.” Surah Luqman ayat
19

4. Righteousness was another principle that can also be presented as a feature of his character. Hazrat
Ali (AS) said: “Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was one of the most righteous messengers of Allah.” Hazrat
Muhammad (PBUH) had many wives but history tells that he never laid too many food items on his
dining cloth. He never took wheat bread nor ate barley bread for three nights continuously. Even he did
not leave any extraordinary things as his possessions at the time of his death. He used to distribute a
sum of three lakh dirham to the needy from charity and his personal gifts in a single day. It shows that
he had nothing for himself but everything for everyone. Righteousness plays a vital role to reduce
desires and produce purity in one’s actions. This is what Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) did throughout his
life.

5. After studying many events of his life we can also describe him as “persistent” who held firmly and
steadfastly to his purpose despite obstacles and hardships. No one could ever undermine his strength of
determination. Allah has promised victory for such people as He says: “That often a small company has
triumphed over a large company by permission of Allah.” Sura Al Bakarah ayat 249. How magnificently it
described the principle of persistence from Hazrat Muhammad’s life.

6. The principle of simplicity was another mark of his personality. He led a simple and pure life and
stayed away from luxuries. Hazrat Ali (AS) said: “He (Hazrat Muhammad PBUH) used less and granted
more, he used to sit without the support of wall. Sometime he used to walk without shoes, turbine and
shawl.” He preferred sitting on floor while taking food and none could ever recognise him as a Prophet
whenever he appeared publicly. He rode a pony and mended his shoes and clothes habitually. Once he
said after seeing an embellished curtain at the entrance of his house: “Remove this curtain from my
sight as I do not want to see anything at my home that reminds me worldly desires.” Here it does not
mean that Islam or the Holy Prophet (PBUH) inspire to take simplicity as poverty; Islam appreciates if
someone strives for better earning and a noble life style. The only undesirable thing in Islam is to forget
Allah and the real objective of life for worldly desires. To use Allah’s blessings for the preparation of life
hereafter was the objective of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH).

7. Another quality of his personality that can be taken as a significant principle is emancipation. He was a
person free from oppression or restraint and did each action without any fright. He wanted to see a man
free from all types of slavery i.e. slavery of wealth, fame, desires and tyranny.

If above mentioned principles are presented to the world as meaningful aspects of the life of Hazrat
Muhammad (PBUH), people will get closer to Islam unhesitatingly and no one will ever speak evil of
Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH), the Prophet of Allah and I am sure about that! May Almighty Allah guide us
to the right path.