Seerat-un-Nabi Resources: http://www.biharanjuman.org/hadith/Seerah.html
A messenger to a tribe is transcended by a messenger to a
town, who is transcended by a messenger to a whole nation.
We keep ascending the ranks of greatness. We keep soaring towards the
summit.
We keep advancing, stride after stride, in the echelons of human
perfection until we reach a level that eyes, however ambitiously they
aspire, cannot reach, to find the man chosen to convey the Great
Message to all of humanity, whose highest levels of virtue and ideals
were shaped by Allah into a man who walked peacefully on earth.
- Muhammad's Lenience
- Muhammad: the Practical Image of Islam
- Prophet Muhammad: Master of Tolerance
- Forgiveness: A Prophetic Example
- Longing of the Restless Heart
That is Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah. (Sheikh Muhammad Al-Ghazali, Aqidat
Al-Muslim (Creed of Muslim)
Painting a word-picture of the Prophet of Mercy, peace be upon
him, his Companion, Abu Sa‘id Al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him,
said:
"He, peace be upon him, used to give fodder to the camel and tether it,
sweep the house, milk the sheep, mend his shoes, patch his garment, eat
with his servant, and grind the wheat instead of him if he asked him
to. He used to buy dates from the marketplace; shyness did not prevent
him from hanging them on his hand or wrapping them in the hem of his
garment to take them to his family.
He shook hands with the rich and the poor, the young and the old, and
was the first to greet whoever met him, whether young or old, black or
red, free or a slave.
He did not feel shy about accepting invitations when he was invited,
even if they came from an unkempt, dust-covered person. He never looked
down on anything to which he was invited.
He was lenient, generous, friendly, and cheerful. He smiled without
laughing, was sad without frowning, strong without violence, modest
without servility, and generous without extravagance. He was merciful
towards every kin and Muslim, tenderhearted, and always contemplative.
He was never satiated with food, and he never stretched his hand out of
greed."
Lady Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, the Prophet’s wife,
continues the admirable picture:
“The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, never satisfied his hunger,
and he never complained to anyone. He found poverty preferable to
affluence and richness. Even if he spent the night starving until
morning, this would not keep him from fasting during the day. Though
had he wished to ask his Lord to be given the treasures of the earth,
its fruits, and its luxuries, from its Eastern and Western parts, he
could have done so.”
“I might have cried out of pity for him for the hunger he suffered. I
would pass my hand over his stomach and say:
“May my soul be scarified for you. If only you would satisfy yourself
from this world with what sustains and protects you from hunger.”
He said:
“O Aishah, my brothers from the Messengers of strong will showed
patience over what is harder than this and they departed in this state
of theirs. They came to their Lord, Who honored their return and
rewarded them generously. I feel shame if I live in such luxury that it
makes me fall behind them. Therefore, patience for a few days is more
beloved to me than having my share lessened tomorrow in the hereafter,
and nothing is more beloved to me than joining my brothers.”
The Messenger of Allah was in a state of continuous grief and
thought, had little rest, periods of long silence, and never spoke
needlessly. He always started and ended his words by the Name of Allah.
His words were precise, pithy yet comprehensive, never more or less
than needed.
He walked as if descending a slope. When he turned, he would turn his
whole body. He always lowered his gaze. The time he looked towards the
ground was longer than that towards the sky. Most of his looking was
contemplative. He used to walk at the rear of his Companions, guiding
their steps, and would initiate greetings with anyone he met.
He appreciated any blessing, even if trivial, and never dispraised any
that he received. He was never angry about worldly life or worldly
things, but when a right was violated he stood angrily in defense of it
until he rectified it. Still, he never felt angry for his own person
(when wronged) or sought to avenge himself.
t home, he divided his time into three: a part dedicated to Allah, a
second to his family, and a third to himself, which he divided between
himself and other people.
He used to occupy himself with people’s concerns and guide them towards
what might set right their affairs, answering what they asked about,
telling them what they needed to know, and used to say:
“Let those of you who are present inform those who are absent (of the
knowledge they have heard); and inform me about the needs of those who
cannot convey it themselves. Truly, the one who informs a person of
authority about the need of one who is unable to convey it himself will
have his feet made firm by Allah on the Day of Resurrection.”
He used to inquire after his Companions, and ask about what troubled
people. He used to praise and support the good things, and condemn and
undermine the bad.
His method of assembly was one of knowledge, tolerance, modesty,
truthfulness, and patience, in which he was always cheerful, lenient,
and good-natured. He was never rude, tough, noisy, or a fault-finder.
He forbade himself from engaging in disputes, excess, and things that
did not concern him, and never dispraised, criticized, or sought to
know the lapses of anyone.
He only talked for a good purpose. No voices were raised during his
assemblies. When he talked, those sitting with him bowed their heads
and listened, as if there were birds perched on their heads. They did
not speak until he had stopped. None interrupted the other, nor did the
Messenger of Allah interrupt anyone. He laughed at what his attendants
laughed at and admired what they admired.
He never rose or sat down without mentioning Allah, and would seat
himself where he found a place (not in a particular place), and advised
others to do the same. He used to divide his attention between all the
attendants of his assembly to such a degree that each believed himself
to be the closest to him. When anyone sat or talked with him about some
issue, he remained patiently with him until that person was the one to
leave. Anyone who came to him with a need would leave either having it
fulfilled or with a kind word. His generously noble character was
spacious enough to love all people, and he became a father to them all.
(At-Tirmidhi)
The Prophets and Messengers of Allah were all blessed with the
most gracious appearance and the noblest characters. Allah elected
them, and certainly {Allah knows best with whom to entrust His
Message."(Al-An’ am 6: 124) And as such was Muhammad.
The Almighty chose him – He is the All-Knower of His creatures – to
convey His last Message, and to set the ideal example for people until
the Last Day. {And your Lord creates what He wills and chooses, not for
them was the choice.} (Al-Qasas 28: 68)
This choice dictates that the messenger should be at the highest level
in all human characteristics, both physical and ethical. He is a human
just like all other people. He may forget as they forget, marry and
have children, eat food, walk in the markets, and he is not immortal on
earth.
He does not know the Unseen except what Allah wills. {The All-Knower of
the Unseen, and He reveals to none His Unseen. Except to a Messenger
whom He has chosen.} (Al-Jinn 72: 26-27) He is the same as all people,
but he is superiorly at the highest level in any quality that can exist
in a human.
Noble manners have the profoundest influence in guiding and reforming.
The Prophet reached the summit of all virtues so perfectly that Allah
praised him, saying: {And indeed, you (O Muhammad) are of an exalted
moral character.} (Al-Qalam 68: 4)
This is the essence of the Prophet’s mission: “Verily, Allah has sent
me to perfect righteous manners,” (Musnad Ahmad) to which he himself
was the living embodiment, perfectly living what he preached. Lady
Aishah described her husband, saying:
“The manners of the Prophet of Allah were (those of) the Quran.” (Sahih
Muslim)
Anas ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, the servant of the
Prophet, said:
The Messenger of Allah was the best, the most generous, and the bravest
of all people. One night, the people of Al-Madinah were terrified by a
sound towards which some hastened, to be received by the Messenger of
Allah on his way back. He had already preceded them to the source of
the sound.
He was riding an unsaddled horse that belonged to Abu Talhah, with a
sword slung round his neck, and he was saying:
“Do not be frightened. Do not be frightened.” (Sahih Muslim)
People of self-sacrifice and valor sought protection behind the back of
the Prophet (peace be upon him) during moments of intense fighting:
“Whenever the battle grew fierce and the two parties clashed, we would
seek protection with the Messenger of Allah who was the closest of us
to the enemy.”(Musnad Ahmad)
People of sagacity appealed to the broadness and depth of his wisdom:
The Quraysh differed over who would replace the Black Stone after the
rebuilding of the Ka‘bah (the Sacred House at Makkah) to the point that
a war was about to erupt among them. They agreed to appeal to the
judgment of the first person to enter (through the gates of the
Sanctuary), which was the Messenger of Allah. When they saw him, they
said: “This is Al-Amin (the Trustworthy). We will be satisfied with his
decision. This is Muhammad.”
He said: “Bring me a cloth.”
He placed the stone in the middle of the cloth and said: “Let each
tribe hold one side of the cloth, then lift it up together,” and then
he laid it back with his own hands. (Ibn Hisham, As-Sirah An-Nabawiyyah)
People of charity saw him as a more generous giver of good than the
freely going wind. He left nothing of material wealth to his heirs
except his white mule, his weapon, and a piece of land bequeathed to
charity. Anas ibn Malik narrated:
“A man asked of the Prophet, so he gave him a flock of sheep filling a
valley between two mountains. The man returned to his people, saying:
‘O people, embrace Islam. By Allah, Muhammad gives like one who fears
no poverty.’” (Musnad Ahmad)
This portrayal of virtues could go on and on. In every virtue he
excelled, like a brilliant light nobly glittering on the loftiest of
peaks. But this grandeur and nobility of character was not a barrier
that isolated him from people.
The Messenger of Allah lived so closely to people, and was lenient and
kind to everyone, walking with the widows and the poor to fulfill their
needs, so much so that each believed themselves to be the closest and
dearest to him, in the same way that the sun sends its rays and warmth
so that each person profits and has a share without feeling that others
are sharing in or rivals for its warmth. (Sheikh Muhammad Al-Ghazali,
Aqidat Al-Muslim)
From the Book "Muhammad the Prophet of Mercy" by Haya Muhammad
Eid
Dedicated to anyone not aware, not fully informed, or has been
misinformed about the Prophet of Islam.
Source: http://www.onislam.net/english/reading-islam/about-muhammad/458959-the-prophet-of-mercy-a-word-picture.html
Native Deen - Zamiloonii | Eid Songs (Audio and Video) |
Heart of a Muslim | Allah Knows |
Allahu Allahu | Can't Take It With You |
Orphan Child | Have you Heard? (a cappella) |