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Books
Section
> Anecdotes from the Life of the Prophet
Muhammad by Mumtaz Ahmad Faruqui Anecdotes
from the Life of the Prophet Muhammad:
Introduction: My object in writing this booklet is to give the reader a glimpse into the life of the greatest benefactor of mankind -- the Holy Prophet Muhammad (may Allah's blessings be upon him) whose message is addressed to all mankind and holds good for all times to come. The very nature of this work demands that one should study the different biographies of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, his sayings and actions as mentioned in the standard works like Sahih al-Bukhari, Muslim, etc., and make selections therefrom. I have freely borrowed from the numerous writings on the subject, and have selected the choicest and most typical of the anecdotes of the Holy Prophet and present them here in this handy form. I am confident that these will hold the readers' interest and appeal to them. In the words of the Prophet Abraham (peace be on him), I also pray: "Our Lord, accept from us; surely Thou art the Hearing, the Knowing" (Holy Quran, 2:127). M. A. Faruqui 29 Gulberg Colony, Pen-Portrait
of the Holy Prophet: The Prophet's hair was curly and did not hang straight down, yet they were not too bushy. They are stated to have reached the lobes of his ears. The Prophet used to comb his hair, parting it in the middle of the head. In his beard and head, there were only seventeen grey hairs, and never more than that. His beard was thick and not trimmed, and his moustache he wore clipped. His face was neither long, nor circular, but slightly rounded. His forehead was wide, and the eyebrows were thin and full. Between the eyebrows there was a silvery lustre. The eyes of the Prophet were large and open, deep and dark with a tint of redness. His eyelashes were long and so thick that they looked as if they were about to meet. His nose sloped downward in just proportion; his teeth were white and a little interspersed. His cheeks were firm rather than soft. His neck was neither long nor short. His breast, free from all malice, was broad and no part of it seemed more prominent than the rest. His shoulders were broad and overgrown with hair. Both his hands and arms were fleshy, his wrists long and his palms broad. His feet were wide set. His thighs and calves were fleshy. His body was moderately stout, even in his old age it remained muscular and sinewy. His gait was firm and his step steadfast. In walking he leaned forward and kept his paces close together. Bismillah Praise be to Thee, my God, Lord of the worlds; (Note: The above is a free translation in rhyme of the opening chapter of the Holy Quran, which is recited repeatedly in all the five prayers of the day and night by a Muslim.) M.B. Before
the Call: According to the custom prevailing amongst the gentry, the child was handed over to a wet-nurse named Halima Sadia, with whom he stayed for a little more than four years at which time his mother took charge of him entirely. The young Muhammad was about six years old when his mother died and he was thus twice orphaned. His grandfather, Abdul Muttalib, then looked after him till the boy was eight years old, when Abdul Muttalib breathed his last. The upbringing of the boy then became the responsibility of his paternal uncle, Abu Talib, who looked after him till he grew up into manhood. The boy, however, was not taught to read or write and he remained illiterate in this sense for the rest of his life. When Muhammad was twelve years old, he first accompanied his uncle, Abu Talib, on a business trip to Syria, via Palestine. It is stated that when they reached Basra, a place located in the south of Syria, a Christian monk, Buhaira, happened to see the lad and was struck with wonder. He told Abu Talib that he saw in the lad certain signs which indicated that he would one day be that final and universal Prophet of God whose advent had been foretold both in the Old and the New Testaments. Buhaira also warned Abu Talib to guard Muhammad well, and especially against the Jews. In his youth, Muhammad preferred to indulge in trading and commercial activities, and by his truthfulness and honesty soon earned the titles of al-Amin and al-Sadiq (i.e., an honest and truthful dealer). It was due to this good reputation that a rich widow, Khadijah, asked for his services in conducting business transactions on her behalf. It was in this connection that he again accompanied a caravan to Syria. On entering that country, the caravan camped near a church. There, another monk, Nastura, happened to see Muhammad. Nastura felt so interested in Muhammad that he went and brought some of his sacred documents and started reading them, at the same time looking Muhammad all over. On being questioned, Nastura remarked that the young man seemed to fit in with the signs and descriptions given of that last and greatest of the prophets whose advent had been foretold in their Holy Books. This was the second incident of its kind. The courtesy and good work shown by Muhammad earned him the admiration of the rich and gentle lady Khadijah. Through proper channels, she proposed marriage to him, and this was duly solemnised. Muhammad was then only twenty-five years old, while Khadijah was forty. From this union, in due course of time, were born three sons and four daughters. All the sons died in infancy while the daughters lived and grew up. The sacred house of God (Kaba) once caught fire and was burnt to the ground. However, when it came to affixing the sacred Black Stone onto the wall, a quarrel arose amongst the Quraish tribal leaders; they could not agree as to who should have the honour of handling the sacred stone. To avoid serious trouble, they agreed to choose a judge who would decide the issue for them. It is significant that Muhammad was chosen to be that judge, and he successfully resolved the difficulty of the tribal leaders. He spread a white sheet on the ground and put the Black Stone in the middle of it, and then asked all the tribal leaders to catch hold of the corners and edges of the sheet and carry the stone to its site. This being done, Muhammad then picked up the stone and affixed it in its place. Everyone was pleased with this action. This incident indicates the respect and faith which the people reposed in Muhammad when he was only an ordinary citizen of Mecca. Coming events, it is said, cast their shadows before. The
Call: "Recite: 'Read in the name of thy Lord Who creates... Creates man from a clot, read and thy Lord is most Generous, Who taught by the pen, taught man what he knew not.'" (96:1-5) The angel then disappeared, and Muhammad came back to his house pale and trembling, and asked his wife to cover him up with a blanket. On her inquiry, he told her about this experience which had filled him with fear. Upon hearing this, Khadijah, his close companion who knew him as nobody else knew him and from whom he could not conceal anything, consoled him. She attested to the truth of the message in these words: "Joyful tidings do you bring. By Him in Whose hand is the soul of Khadijah, I will henceforth regard you as the Prophet. Allah will not suffer you to be dejected. Have you not been affectionate to your kinsfolk, kind to your neighbours, charitable to the poor, hospitable to the stranger, faithful to your word and ever a defender of truth?" Lady Khadijah then took Muhammad to her cousin Warqa bin Naufal, who was a scholar and knew the biblical lore. She related to Naufal what had happened. Warqa assured Muhammad that it was the same type of Divine message as was revealed to Moses. He said: "The mantle of prophethood is being put on your shoulders. Your preaching will invite opposition and a day will come when your people will turn you out of this city, for this has been the lot of prophets before you." After this, Muhammad continued to visit the cave of Hira. After some time the revelation started coming again, at which time Muhammad was enjoined to go and preach and make people believe that "There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His Prophet." (Allah is the proper name applied to the Being Who exists necessarily by Himself, comprising all the attributes of perfection.) Faith
and Persecution: Muhammad once went to Taif, a town near Mecca, in the hope that the inhabitants would listen to his message patiently. Instead, those people mercilessly showered the Holy Prophet with stones. With blood flowing from the numerous wounds inflicted upon his body, Muhammad retraced his steps, all the while praying to Allah in these words: "Guide them in the right path for they know not what they do." (Jesus Christ, on being persecuted, had prayed: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.") The
Flight: Some people from Medina, a town about two hundred miles to the north of Mecca, had come on pilgrimage to Mecca, and having heard the message of Islam, accepted it. They entreated the Prophet to grace their town with his presence. It was the thirteenth year of the Call and the conditions had become almost intolerable for the Muslims in Mecca. A number of them left by ones and twos for Medina, but the Prophet and a few of his close Companions stayed on. Finally, the tribal leaders in Mecca met secretly, and decided to slay the Holy Prophet on a particular day when the Prophet would emerge from his house in the morning. By that time, not only had Abu Talib, the uncle of the Prophet, died, but, what was more saddening for the Prophet, his good and faithful wife, Lady Khadijah, had also passed away. The Prophet came to learn of the evil intentions of his enemies through Divine revelation, and permission was given to him to migrate to Medina. He asked Ali, his cousin and Companion, to stay behind to settle certain transactions and to follow them later on. Abu Bakr, the Prophet's close friend, was to accompany him. In the dead of the night, the two quietly slipped away from the town, and took shelter in the cave of Thaur, about three miles away from Mecca. Next morning the enemy, finding that their prey had fled, formed a posse and tracked the fugitives almost to the mouth of the cave. Hearing their voices and the sounds of their footsteps, Abu Bakr felt afraid that they would soon be discovered. In this extremely critical situation, the Prophet did not despair. He remarked: "Do not be grieved, for surely Allah is with us." This tranquillity of mind could only have been Divinely inspired. It is also related that after the two fugitives had taken shelter inside the cave, some spiders had spun a cobweb across the rather small entrance to the cave, and a bird was seen nesting in a niche at the entrance. This seemed to have misled the trackers completely because they did not suspect the presence of any human being inside the cave; the trackers went away to search for the two fugitives elsewhere. For three days and nights the fugitives remained inside the cave. Asma, daughter of Abu Bakr, secretly brought them food, while Amr, the servant of Abu Bakr, would drive his goats to the vicinity of the cave, and thus manage to serve them with goat's milk. The enemy gave up the search after three days but they proclaimed a reward for whoever captured the Prophet, dead or alive. The two fugitives, finding the coast clear, continued on their trek to Medina. One day they saw an armed horseman coming after them. They waited for him to come near and saw him fit an arrow in his bow and prepare to shoot at them. Just then the rider's horse stumbled and its feet sank deep into a sandpit; the rider himself was thrown off. Suraqa, the horseman, is reported to have recounted the incident later on thus: "Then it transpired to me that it was preordained that the Prophet's cause should triumph." Abandoning his evil intentions, Suraqa approached the Prophet with a penitent heart and begged his forgiveness. The Prophet forgave Suraqa, and gave him the good news that he had seen in a vision that Suraqa was wearing the gold bangles of the ruler of Persia on his wrists. It may be remarked in passing that about twenty-four years later, in the regime of Caliph Umar, when Persia fell, Suraqa was sent for and made to wear the gold bangles of the Chosroes that formed part of the spoils. The Prophet and his Companion, Abu Bakr, finally arrived safely in Medina where they were welcomed by the Muslims and the local gentry. Here, the Muslims were at last free to observe their religious duties without interference. The enemies at Mecca, however, were out to destroy this new religion and its founder before it got too strong for them. The Prophet and his small band of the faithful consequently had to fight at least three major battles for survival before the tide turned. Eventually, the Muslim forces, having grown sufficiently strong, turned the tables on the enemy. The
Battles: "Permission (to fight) is given to those on whom war is made, because they are oppressed. And Allah is able to assist them.... Those who are driven from their homes without a just cause except that they say, Our Lord is Allah. And if Allah did not repel some people by others, cloisters and churches, and synagogues and mosques in which Allah's name is much remembered would have been pulled down. And surely Allah will help him who helps Him." (22:39,40) Barely two years had passed since the Flight when a force of one thousand fully-armed Meccans came to attack and annihilate the Muslims. The Muslims could only muster about three hundred and thirteen persons, and these included some boys and old men. Only two persons were on horseback, and there were only seventy camels to serve the rest. Most of the Muslims were poorly armed and it was only their faith, spirit and determination which gave them the valour to face a force of fully armed horsemen, more than three times their number. In a cottage near the battlefield of Badr, the Holy Prophet was lying prostrate before Allah, praying for Divine help and protection. His supplication was: "My Lord, if Thou alloweth this band of the faithful to be killed this day, then nobody would be left in this land to worship Thee truly. O Living and All-Powerful Allah, I beseech Thee for Thy help and protection." Then they saw the Holy Prophet come out of the cottage, a calm smile evident upon his countenance. He predicted the defeat of the enemy; and so it came to pass. The enemy lost seventy of their top warriors and fled from the field, leaving much spoils of war and prisoners in the hands of the Muslims. Only fourteen Muslims lost their lives. This unexpected defeat rankled in the hearts of the infidels, so they made war preparations again in earnest. By the time another year had passed, they mustered a force of three thousand fully armed horsemen and set out for Medina. The Holy Prophet took counsel with his followers and it was finally decided to give battle to the enemy outside the town. The Muslim force consisted of one thousand persons as they left the town of Medina, but before long Abdullah bin Ubayy, who was a hypocrite, and in league with the Jews of Medina, deserted with three hundred of his followers. So it was only seven hundred Muslims who had to face a force of three thousand Meccans at a place called Uhud. The battle began and the spirited onslaught of the Muslims upset the ranks of the enemy. At this juncture, a band of archers whom the Holy Prophet had posted to guard the rear of his army, thinking that the enemy had been repulsed, left their posts to partake of the spoils. This action proved disastrous because an enemy general by the name of Khalid bin Walid (who later on accepted Islam and repented of his former opposition to Islam and became the famous commander of the Muslim forces which conquered Syria some years later) took advantage of the situation and made a cavalry charge from the rear. This upset the Muslim ranks and created much confusion. In this confusion, the Holy Prophet was wounded in the face and he fell into a hollow in the ground. The enemy rushed from all sides to slay him. The manner in which the handful of Muslims who surrounded the Prophet fought and defended him, forms a golden chapter in the history of Islam. Finally, the enemy attack was beaten back. They called it a day, hoping to fight another time. About seventy Muslims met martyrdom in this battle. At one time during the battle, a rumour had spread that the Holy Prophet had also been killed. Some people who had fled from the field carried the sad news to Medina. Upon learning this, many women left for the battlefield to verify if this was true. A story is told of a Muslim lady of Medina who repaired in haste for the site of the battle at Uhud, and finally met a Muslim soldier coming from that direction. She asked him about the welfare of the Prophet. He instead told her that her husband had been killed. She recited: "To Allah we belong and to Him do we return." She again asked about the Prophet. The soldier then informed her about the death of her brother and also of her father. She again recited the same verse and asked about the Prophet in particular, whereupon the man thanked Allah, and said that the Prophet was only slightly wounded and was on his way home. On hearing this she heaved a sigh of relief and exclaimed: "All calamities, after this, seem light to me." All honour be to such true and valiant daughters of Islam. The Holy Prophet had to fight many skirmishes with his enemies every now and then, because they kept on harassing the Muslims and looting their goods and cattle. However, in the fifth year after the Flight, the Meccans assembled the biggest army of over ten thousand fully armed and equipped warriors and decided to wipe out the Muslims that time. The Holy Prophet, on hearing this alarming news, took counsel of the faithful and, on the suggestion of Salman Farsi, a Muslim convert from Persia, it was decided to dig a trench, fifteen feet wide and fifteen feet deep, to protect the exposed side of the town. It was decided to fight the enemy from within the entrenched area, using the town as a fort. The Holy Prophet distributed the labour in parties of ten men each, himself participating as an ordinary labourer. This shows the dignity which the Holy Prophet accorded to honest labour. In the course of excavation, they found a hard stone which resisted all efforts of breaking it. The Holy Prophet then took a pick-axe and struck hard at the stone. A spark of fire was emitted due to friction. The Holy Prophet raised a cry of Allah-o-Akbar (God is Great) and said that he saw in the flash a vision in which the keys of the palace of the Syrian king were awarded to him. There followed a second stroke of the pick-axe when the stone was split giving out another spark of light. Once more the cry of Allah-o-Akbar was raised. This time the Holy Prophet saw in a vision that the Persian kingdom was handed over to him. At the third stroke the stone broke into pieces, and this time the possession of the kingdom of Yemen was promised to the Holy Prophet in a vision. This was a wonderful phenomenon to say the least, especially as the Muslims were hard pressed and fighting for their lives. This prediction about the future conquests of the Muslims, as they truly came about, could only originate from the All-Knowing God. The enemy surrounded the town of Medina from all sides and a grim fight went on day and night. The food supply ran short and one day a Muslim warrior raised his shirt and showed the Holy Prophet the stone that he had tied on his belly to allay the severity of hunger. The Holy Prophet smiled and raised his own shirt showing the two stones tied on his belly. It was the twenty-seventh night of the siege when a violent windstorm, blowing sand and gravel, struck the area where the enemy camp was located. The tents and their contents were blown away, and the fires were extinguished (this was considered an ill omen by the Arabs who were a highly superstitious people in those days). Chaos and confusion followed, and tribe after tribe started to slink away in the darkness. When morning dawned, the camp was entirely deserted. Thus again Allah saved the cause of Islam. This battle was called the Battle of Ahzab or the Confederates. The
Prophet's Missives to the Neighbouring
Monarchs: "And We have not sent thee but as a bearer of good news and as a warner to all mankind, but most men know not." (34:28) Consequently, the Prophet sent emissaries to the rulers of the neighbouring countries, announcing to them his claim and inviting them to the faith of Islam. He sent Dehya, one of his Companions, to the Court of the Byzantine Emperor, Heraclius. The Muslim envoy reached the Emperor when Heraclius was making a journey on foot to Jerusalem in fulfilment of his vow for his splendid victory over the Persians. The messenger was treated with great respect and the Emperor showed great interest in the claims of the Prophet. Heraclius wanted to know more of the character of the Holy Prophet. It happened that a caravan of some Meccan merchants was sojourning at that time in that part of the country. The Emperor summoned them to his presence. Abu Sufyan, their leader, was an inveterate enemy of the Prophet; he is responsible for the account of the interview which took place. The dialogue that followed is reproduced below: Heraclius: "What kind of family does he (the Prophet) come from?" What Heraclius meant by these questions and what conclusions he arrived at after he received the above answers, becomes clear from what the Emperor, himself, had to say regarding this matter. With reference to his first question, he remarked that prophets had always been raised from respectable families, otherwise they could not have commanded popular respect. With regard to the second and third questions, the Emperor observed that had any of the Prophet's tribesmen or ancestors laid claim to prophethood, or been a king before him, then one could have suspected him of trying to imitate them. From the seventh question he argued: "If he had never been guilty of falsehood with respect to man, he could not now be expected to have been guilty of falsehood with respect to God." With regard to the remaining questions, the Christian King said that if what Abu Sufyan had said was true, there was no doubt as to the truth of the Prophet, for such were undoubtedly the signs of a true prophet. Having read the letter of the Prophet, Heraclius asked his chief men to meet him in the royal camp at Himms. There he addressed them as follows: "Ye chiefs of Rome, if you desire safety and guidance, follow the Arabian Prophet." However, they raised their crosses and waved them aloft in the air. Thereupon, Heraclius said that he only wanted to test their faith, and that he was satisfied with their firmness and devotion. The reasons of State seemed to have prevailed. An original copy of one such letter sent by the Prophet to Maqawqis, the Christian king of Egypt, has been saved for posterity. This was discovered in the year 1858 C.E. by some French travellers at a convent in Upper Egypt. It is now preserved in the library of the Copt Brothers, Ahmim, Egypt. Dr. P. Badger, who deciphered it, has declared it to be genuine. The contents thus deciphered along with the facsimile and the English translation are given elsewhere in this book. It may, be noted that the contents of the letter correspond with the wording as reported in the authentic Traditions of the Holy Prophet. The
Conquest of Mecca: "Mercy, O generous brother," they replied. "Be it so," declared the Prophet. "I say unto you as Joseph said unto his brothers. There is no reproach on you this day; go, for you are free." The following narrative is related about Akrama, son of Abu Jahl (the most inveterate enemy of Islam, who was killed in the Battle of Badr). At the fall of Mecca, he fled in the hope of leaving Arabia and migrating to some other country. It is related that he boarded a sailing vessel which soon encountered a storm at sea. The sailors began praying to God for mercy and safety. Upon this, Akrama asked them as to why they did not appeal to their great idol-god, Hubbal, for help. The sailors replied that Hubbal might be the god on land, but at sea only God's rule prevailed. This gave a shock to Akrama, who said dejectedly: "If this is so, then put me back on shore for I have witnessed that the idol-god Hubbal does not even rule on land." Akrama later on accepted Islam. The
Farewell Pilgrimage: "This day have I perfected for you your religion and completed My favour to you, and chosen for you Islam as a religion." (5:3) The sermon that the Prophet delivered on this momentous occasion is remarkable. He was mounted on a camel and the people were assembled all around him in the plain of Arafat. He addressed them as follows: "O people! Lend an attentive ear to my words for I know not whether I shall ever hereafter have the opportunity to meet you here. Do you know what day it is today? This is the Yaum-un-Nahr or the sacred Day of Sacrifice. Do you know which month this is? This is the sacred month. Do you know what place this is? This is the sacred town. So I inform you that your lives, your properties, and your honour must be as sacred to one another as this sacred day, as this sacred month and as this sacred town. Let those present take this message to those who are absent. You are about to meet the Lord Who will call you to account for your deeds. Then the Prophet cried at the top of his voice: "O Lord! Have I conveyed Thy message?" And the valley resounded with the reply from a myriad human tongues with one accord: "By Lord! Surely you have." The
Prophet's Demise: He was buried in the very room in the house of his wife (Ayesha) where he died. His closest Companions, Abu Bakr, the first Caliph (Commander of the Faithful), and Umar, the second Caliph, on their deaths, were buried beside the Prophet. Later on, a mausoleum was built over these graves with the mosque adjacent to it. This shrine at Medina attracts thousands of pilgrims every year. Knowledge
and Learning: * Acquire knowledge. It enables its possessor to distinguish right from wrong. It lights the way to the heaven. It is our friend in the desert, our society in solitude, and our companion when friendless. It guides us to happiness, it sustains us in misery. It is an ornament among friends, and an armour against enemies. Muhammad:
A Model of Veracity and Uprightness: The day on which Ibrahim, his baby son, breathed his last was darkened by a solar eclipse. Some of the Arab tribes were singularly affected by the concurrence of the two events. They thought that the eclipse took place on account of the sad demise, and that the father of the deceased, whose loss was mourned by even the celestial bodies, must surely be a true messenger. Consequently, they flocked to the door of the Prophet and requested him to make them Muslims. The Prophet, on hearing what they meant and what they thought, came out and told them plainly that the phenomenon they had witnessed had nothing to do with the birth or death of any mortal; and that if any of them had been induced under such an impression to accept him as a Divine messenger, he had better go away. Incidentally, Ibrahim, the Prophet's only son, died in infancy. When he was dying, the Holy Prophet, accompanied by some of his Companions, visited him. The Prophet's eyes were filled with tears and he exclaimed: "The eyes shed tears, the heart grieves, but we are reconciled to what our Creator has ordained for us. But your leaving us, O Ibrahim, makes us sad indeed." Thereupon one of his Companions questioned him whether showing grief like this was proper for a prophet of God. The Holy Prophet replied that this was only human nature and an expression of God-given mercy and love. No
Compulsion in Religion: "There is no compulsion in religion... the right way is indeed clearly distinct from error. So whoever disbelieves in the devil and believes in Allah, he indeed lays hold on the firmest handle which shall never break. And Allah is Hearing, Knowing." (2:256) The following instructions were given to the troops dispatched against the Byzantines by the Holy Prophet: "In avenging the injuries inflicted upon us, molest not the harmless inmates of domestic seclusion; spare the weakness of the females; injure not the infant at the breast, nor those who are ill in bed. Abstain from demolishing the dwellings of the unresisting inhabitants; destroy not the means of their subsistence, nor their fruit trees, and touch not the palm." In the battle of Hunain, six thousand men of the Hawazin tribe (infidels) were taken prisoners, and they were all set free simply as an act of favour. Seventy prisoners were taken in the Battle of Badr and it was only in this case that ransom was exacted, but the prisoners were granted their freedom while the war with the Meccan infidels was yet in progress. In no case was the religion of Islam forced upon them, nor was it offered as a price for their freedom. After the conquest of Mecca, the leader of the tribal deputation of Banu Hanifa was Musailima. He accepted Islam along with the others, but on return to his home in Yamama, he apostatised and wrote to the Holy Prophet: "In prophethood, you and I are partners, hence you keep half the country, while I will rule over the other half." The Prophet replied: "In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. From Muhammad, the Prophet of Allah, to Musailima the liar. Peace be on those who follow the right path. After this, note that the Earth belongs to Allah and He awards it to any of His bondsmen, as He pleases; and the end of those who fear God is good." Even in this letter, there was no threat of punishment; on the other hand, the Prophet sent a responsible man, Rijal, to counsel Musailima to accept Islam again. Musailima refused and started another state within the State and collected an army to fight the Muslims. After the death of the Prophet, the first Caliph, Abu Bakr, sent an army against him, and after a fierce battle Musailima was killed. But it was as a rebel that he was punished, and not because he had become an apostate. Facility
in Religion: The man replied: "I cannot afford to do that." "Then keep fast for two months." "No," said he, "I am not strong enough." "Then go and feed sixty poor men," said the Prophet. The man declined, saying: "I do not have the means." The Prophet kept silent for a little while. In the meanwhile, somebody came and presented a basketful of dates to him. The Prophet turned towards his questioner and said: "Take this basket and distribute the dates among the poor." The man replied; "O Prophet of God, there is none so poor within the limits of this town as myself." The Prophet laughed and said: "So be it, go and distribute it amongst your family." Muaz bin Jabal used to lead the prayers in a certain quarter of the town and, in his prayers, used to recite lengthy chapters of the Quran. A certain man complained to the Prophet that Muaz read such long chapters that it had proved to be a hindrance for him to say his prayers in Muaz's leadership. Abu Masud Ansari relates that he had never seen the Prophet angrier than at that time. The Holy Prophet responded thus: "There are certain people who inspire aversion in the minds of others; everyone from amongst you, who happens to lead the prayers, should read short chapters, for in the congregation of those that pray, there are the weak, the decrepit, and the old." Hazrat Ayesha (the wife of the Holy Prophet) reported that one of her friends got married. She met the bride again after a few months and noticed with somewhat of a shock that she was looking pale and sad and was shabbily dressed. Hazrat Ayesha asked her the reason. She replied that her husband hardly took notice of her, as he kept fast during the day and prayed the whole night through. Ayesha reported this to the Holy Prophet who sent for the man and was very angry with him. "I pray in the night also, but I have my sleep as well," exclaimed the Prophet. "Similarly, I fast on certain days and eat and drink on other days." Afterwards, he directed the man to go and show love to his wife. He said that he was keeping fast, whereupon the Holy Prophet ordered him to break his fast and go home. The Holy Quran says: "...Allah desires ease for you, and He desires not hardship for you..." (2:185). How
Islam was Propagated: "First of all, teach them that God is One," he said, "and after they have come to accept it as an unalterable truth, then only should you tell them about His Prophet Muhammad and his teachings." The Prophet further told Muaz to render justice that was tempered with mercy. Then the Prophet asked him what if he found no solution to a particular problem or case in hand in either the Holy Quran or in his (the Prophet's) actions or sayings, what was he supposed to do then. "I shall use my own judgement then," replied Muaz. At this the Holy Prophet expressed his entire satisfaction and exhorted him always to fear Allah and ask for His help and guidance. Before the Prophet left Muaz, he shook hands with him and expressed his fear that he probably would not meet him again in this life. Muaz could not but shed tears on hearing this. And so it came to pass that the Holy Prophet died shortly thereafter. The
Story of the Blind Man: "He frowned and turned away, because the blind man came to him. And what would make thee know that he might purify himself, or be mindful, so the Reminder should profit him? As for him who considers himself free from need to him thou dost attend. And no blame is on thee, if he purify himself not. And as to him who comes to thee striving hard, and he fears. To him thou payest no regard. Nay, surely it is a Reminder, so let him who will mind it." The blind man had gone away by this time. The Prophet sent for him, spread his own cloth for him to sit on, and then asked him to question him about anything he wanted to know. It will be noted that from the point of view of social etiquette, the blind man was in the wrong; but God Almighty wanted the Prophet to be indulgent towards others' weaknesses and have the best of manners, as the Holy Quran certifies: "And surely thou hast sublime morals." (68:4) In Islam, mere rank in society, the wealth a person possesses, or the colour of his skin does not confer any superiority on him. The Holy Quran says: "O mankind, surely We have created you from a male and a female, and made you tribes and families that you may know each other. Surely the noblest of you with Allah is the most dutiful of you. Surely Allah is Knowing, Aware." (49:13) Thus in a mosque, when prayers are being led, a beggar may stand shoulder to shoulder with a wealthy man and none may say nay to him. Muhammad
as a Husband: Another saying goes: "That is the best of Muslims whose disposition is best; and the best of you are they who behave best to their wives." At the age of twenty-five, he married a well-to-do widow, Khadijah, who was then forty years old. He remained devoted to her till her death twenty-seven years later; and she was then his only wife and the mother of his children. He was true to his wife all his life, and even after she was dead, he never forgot her. He always showed respect and consideration even for those with whom Khadijah had associated. Later on, he married a second time and his wife, Ayesha, was both young and beautiful. He liked her very much, but he never forgot his late wife, Khadijah, and always used to remember her with such affection that Ayesha once felt a little jealous and said to him: "Was she not old, and has not Allah given you a better one in her place?" "No," replied Muhammad, "there can never be one better than her; she believed in me when others ridiculed me, she helped me when I was persecuted by the world." No wonder, Professor T.W. Arnold called it "one of the most beautiful pictures of a perfect wedded life that history gives us." Respect
for Parents: "And thy Lord has decreed that you serve none but Him, and do good to parents. If either or both of them reach old age with thee, say not 'fie' to them, nor chide them, and speak to them a generous word. And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy, and say: My Lord, have mercy on them, as they brought me up (when I was) little." (17:23-24) Muawiyah bin Jahima relates: " I went to the Holy Prophet and told him that I was prepared to go to any holy war that he cared to send me. The Prophet asked me if my mother was alive, and I replied in the affirmative. On this, the Prophet said: 'Go and serve your mother, as Heaven lies at the feet of mothers.' " Abdullah bin Umar relates that the Prophet said: "Your Lord is pleased if you please your father; and He is displeased if you displease your father." Anas relates that the Prophet said: "Whosoever wishes that his wealth may increase and that his life span be lengthened, then he should do good to his kith and kin." The
Prophet's Respect for Conventions: (Lady Safiyyah was the daughter of a big Jewish chieftain and after the fall of Khaibar Forts, was amongst the captives that had fallen into the hands of the Muslims. The Prophet liberated her and took her in marriage. The Prophet had not the means at that time to entertain his friends to a feast, as is customary. The Companions were asked to come with their own meals, and eat all together, which thus constituted the wedding feast. She once complained to the Prophet that some women, out of jealousy or spite, called her a Jewess in a derogatory manner. The Prophet said: "Next time, you may tell them that your grandfather was Prophet Abraham and your father Prophet Moses, and your husband Prophet Muhammad; that would silence them.") His
Respect for his Wet-Nurse: It is related that amongst the prisoners taken after the battle of Hunain was a woman name Shima. She came forward and told the Prophet that she was his foster-sister (the daughter of his wet-nurse). The Prophet failed to recognise her, and asked for proof. She exposed her waist and showed him his teeth marks on her back; for in childhood they used to play together and once in play he had bitten her. When the Prophet saw that he smiled and at once said: "Please, stay with us, and we will do all we can to make you comfortable." She and her friends were, of course, set free and allowed to go home with presents. Love
of Fellow-Men: "Whoever is kind to the creation, God is kind to him; therefore be kind to man on the earth, whether he be good or bad; and being kind to the bad is to withhold them from wrong-doing." The following poem, Abou Ben Adhem, by Leigh Hunt, illustrates what the sentiments of a true Muslim should be: Abou Ben Adhem... may his tribe increase... Kindness
towards the Poor: Abu Huraira relates that the Holy Prophet said: "When a person sees a man who is wealthier and healthier than himself, he should think of those who are poorer and weaker than himself, so that he may not feel discontented and ungrateful." On another occasion, the Prophet said: "There is many a person who looks poor and dishevelled and who may be rudely driven away from a door, but if he takes an oath by God, then God (out of regard and love for him) would see to it that what he has sworn for comes out true." Love
for Children: It was an Eid day. The month of fasting had ended, and the great Muslim festival was being celebrated in the proper manner. Charity was extended to the poor and alms were distributed amongst the needy. The Eid prayer and the sermon were duly observed. Now the Eid fair was being held, where food, fancy articles, toys for children and merry-go-rounds were in abundance. People were flocking to it. Children in new clothes were accompanying their parents, and there was laughter and liveliness all around. It was then that the keen and kindly eyes of the Prophet noticed a small boy in tattered clothes, who was standing all alone under a palm tree and was looking longingly and sadly at the other children going to the fair. The Prophet then knew him to be an orphan. He went up to him and smilingly said, "Let me be your father for the day," and then gently jerk him and put him astride his shoulder, and talking and joking, soon brought a smile to the boy's face, as they both headed for the fair-ground. Kindness
to Animals: "We were sitting in the company of the Prophet when a man came with a blanket wrapped round him and said: 'O Prophet. I passed through the woods, and heard the sound of young birds. I took the birds and put them in my blanket. Then their mother came fluttering round my head. I uncovered the young, and the mother fell down upon them. Then I wrapped them in my blanket, and here I have them.' It was a hot summer in Arabia, and there was a great scarcity of water. A woman of ill-repute happened to pass by a well and noticed that a dog suffering from extreme thirst was running round and round the well, but could find no water to drink. Upon seeing this, the woman took pity on the animal. Taking her shoe, she tied it | |||
