In the Footsteps of Muhammad (PBUH) - (1)

Some of the Characteristics of Allah's Messenger that One Should Emulate

     [You will never know the characteristics of Allah's Messenger B without studying Allah's Book and the way of the Messenger B. Even if you managed to do so, you would not be able to enumerate them, for the meanings extracted from Allah's Book and the way of His Messenger are endless. Each one comprehends them according to his aptitude and light. We, in this book, plan to adorn it with something indispensable.

     Al-Ghazali has composed in his book Al-Ihya' some of the characteristics of Allah's Messenger. Al-'Iraqi has authenticated Al-Ghazali's words and Hadiths that he mentioned. We relied upon Al-'Iraqi's work and omitted from Al-Ghazali's work whatever Al-lraqi failed to prove regarding its authenticity. In this way, we have combined summarization and authentication. Whoever wants to know the degree of authenticity of any Hadith may refer to the comments of Al-'Iraqi on Al-Ihya]. Al-Ghazali said,

Allah's Education of Muhammad B by the Qur'an

     The Messenger of Allah B used to supplicate and invoke Allah Q a great deal. He used to invoke Allah Q to provide him with etiquettes and good manners and upgrade his character. He used to pray unto Allah Q: "O Allah! Elevate my character and beautify my complexion." And say, "O Allah! I seek refuge with You from the evil attributes [i.e. envy, rancor, lies...etc., evil deeds and whims."

Allah Q answered his prayers and he used to behave conformity with the Qur'an because Allah Q says,

(ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ)

"...Invoke Me [and ask Me for anything] I Will respond to your [invocation]..." [Ghafir 40: 60]

     S'ad ibn Hisham said, 'I entered on `A'ishah and asked about the character of Allah's Messenger and she asked, 'Have you not read the Qur'an?' I said, 'Yes indeed.' She said, 'The Messenger of Allah's character was in conformity with the Qur'an.' Undoubtedly, Allah Q educated him with the commandments of the Qur'an such as:

( (خُذِ الْعَفْوَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْعُرْفِ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ الْجَاهِلِينَ

"Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the foolish [i.e. don't punish them]." [Al-A'raf 7: 199] And,

(إِنَّ اللّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاء ذِي الْقُرْبَى وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاء وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ)

'Verily, Allah enjoins Al-'Adl [i.e. justice and worshipping none but Allah Alone - Islamic Monotheism] and Al-Ihsan [i.e. to be patient in performing your duties to Allah, totally for Allah's sake and in accordance with the Sunnah [legal ways] of the Prophet B in a perfect manner], and giving [help] to kith and kin [i.e. all that Allah has ordered you to give them e.g., wealth, visiting, looking after them, or any other kind of help], and forbids Al-Fahsha' [i.e. all evil deeds, e.g. illegal sexual acts, disobedience of parents, polytheism, to tell lies, to give false witness, to kill a life without right], and Al-Munkar [i.e. all that is prohibited by Islamic law: polytheism of every kind, disbelief and every kind of evil deeds] , and Al-Baghy [i.e. all kinds of oppression]..." [An-Nahl 16: 90] And,

(وَاصْبِرْ عَلَى مَا أَصَابَكَ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ)

"...And hear with patience whatever befalls you. Verily, these are some of the important commandments [ordered by Allah with no exemption]." [Luqman 31: 17] And,

((وَلَمَن صَبَرَ وَغَفَرَ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ لَمِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ

"And verily, whosoever shows patience and forgives, that would truly be from the things recommended by Allah." [Ash-Shura 42: 43] And,

فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَاصْفَحْ إِنَّ اللّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ))

"... But forgive them, and overlook [their misdeeds!. Verily, Allah loves Al-Muhsinun [good-doers]." [Al-Ma'idah 5: 13] And,

وَلْيَعْفُوا وَلْيَصْفَحُوا أَلَا تُحِبُّونَ أَن يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ))

"...Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love that Allah forgive you? ..." [An-Nur 24: 22] And,

ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا الَّذِي بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ عَدَاوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُ وَلِيٌّ حَمِيمٌ))

"...Repel [the evil] with one which is better [i.e. Allah ordered the faithful believers to be patient at the time of anger, and to excuse those who treat them badly] then verily he, between whom and you there was enmity, [will become] as though he was a close friend." [Fussilat 41: 34] And,

وَالْكَاظِمِينَ الْغَيْظَ وَالْعَافِينَ عَنِ النَّاسِ وَاللّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ))

"...Who repress anger, and who pardon men; verily, Allah loves Al-Muhsinun [the good-doers]." [Al 'Imran 3: 134] And,

اجْتَنِبُوا كَثِيراً مِّنَ الظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُوا وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضاً))

"... Avoid much suspicion; indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not, neither backbite one another..." [Al-Hujurat 49: 12] And,

     When the teeth of the Messenger of Allah B were broken and his face was wounded on the day of Uhud and blood was shed on his face, he wiped away the blood saying: "How can the people shed the blood of their Prophet's face while he is inviting them to Allah so they would prosper! Allah Q revealed the verse:

((لَيْسَ لَكَ مِنَ الأَمْرِ شَيْءٌ

"Not for you [O Muhammad B but for Allah] is the decision..." [Al Imran 3: 128]

     There are many other commandments like these. The Messenger of Allah B is the one meant for this discipline and education. Light emits to other creatures because he was disciplined in the light of the Qur'an and he disciplined people therewith. For this reason, the Messenger of Allah B said, "I was sent to teach noble manners." Allah Q endowed him with noble characteristics and attributed them to him by His statement:

(وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلى خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ)

"And verily, you [O Muhammad B] are on an exalted [standard of] character." [Al-Qalam 68: 4]

     Then, the Messenger of Allah Q clarified to people that Allah loves noble characteristics and detests evil ones. He invited them to sociability, kindness, leniency, serving food, spreading greetings, visiting the sick no matter whether he is a well-mannered or ill-mannered person, escorting the Muslim's funeral, kind treatment of one's neighbor no matter whether he is a Muslim or a non-Muslim, revering the eldery, inviting others to banquets and responding to invitations, pardoning, reforming, being beneficent, tolerant, initiating greetings, suppressing one's vexation, over-looking people's faults...etc.

     He forbade them from seeking diversion and pastime, singing and music, telling lies and stinginess, cunning and trickery, backbiting and slandering, severing one's relations, haughtiness and vain pride, transgression and extravagance, lewdness and insolence, envy and spite, bad omens, tyranny and oppression...etc.

     He did not leave a noble characteristic except that he invited us to it and ordered us to adhere to it. He did not leave an evil characteristic except that he warned us against it and forbade it. It is sufficient to mention the following verse:

(…إِنَّ اللّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالإِحْسَانِ)

"Verily, Allah enjoins Al-‘Adl [i.e. justice and worshipping none hut Allah Alone - Islamic Monotheism] and Al-Ihsan [i.e. to be patient in performing your duties to Allah, totally for Allah's sake ad accordance with the Sunnah [legal ways] of the Prophet B in a perfect manner]..." [An-Nahl 16: 90]

     In this way he invited the servants of Allah Q to noble and fine characteristics and manners.

Reference:

Selected Writings on Purifying the Soul, by Sa'eed Hawwa, page 524-528. (a non Ibadhi Book)