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Characteristics of Prophet Muhammad
peace and blessing be upon him
Prophet Mohammed...Mercy for all mankind
Introduction
In a cruel world where people accepted cruelty as a sign of strength and dominance, where mercy faded, stubbornness and anger roared. In these difficult times comes the birthday of the prophet of mercy, peace and blessings be upon him, which we can only hope will revive the dying consciences.
Loving Prophet Mohammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was never expressed by verbal enthusiasm, but rather by embracing his noble principles and applying them in our lives in a way that would please him. These are his loved ones whom he missed and longed to see. For those who have loving hearts only, we will narrate some of the stories reported on our noble prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, that demonstrate his mercy and tolerance.
Mercy to non-believers
Ibn Abbas. May Allah be pleased with him, narrated that Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him was asked which verse revealed was the toughest? He answered that when he was in Menna and people were gathering when Jebril, peace be upon him, came with the revelation of the verse: (O Messenger, announce that which has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message. And Allah will protect you from the people.) – Surah AL-Maedah verse 67He prophet went to Aqaba and asked people who would stand up by him to deliver God’s message and his reward would be heaven and asked people to declare that there is no God but Allah and that Mohammad is his prophet by that they would achieve heaven. People started throwing dust and stones and even spit in his face and called him a liar so a man told him if he was a messenger from god then that was the time he should ask God to punish them like prophet Noah, peace and blessings be upon him, did with his people. Prophet Mohammad however said: (O God forgive my people as they don’t know and help me convince them to be obedient to YOU).
His uncle Al-Abbas came and saved him and with that attitude the members of AL-Abbas family took pride and said that the verse : (Indeed, [O Muḥammad], you do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided) – Surah Al-Qasas verse 56. Our noble prophet liked Abu Talib, but Allah willed Al-Abbas Ibn Abd EL-muttalib (Al-Dur al-Manthur - Suyuti)
Abu Huraira reported it was said to Allah's Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him: (Invoke curse upon the polytheists, whereupon he said: I have not been sent as the invoker of curse, but I have been sent as mercy." – (Sahih Muslim, the Book of Virtue, Enjoining Good Manners, and Joining of the Ties of Kinship)
Mercy to the tribe of Daws
Narrated Abu Huraira: Tufail bin `Amr came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and said, "The Daus (name of a tribe) have perished as they disobeyed and refused to accept Islam. So invoke Allah against them." But the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "O Allah! Give guidance to the Daus (tribe) and bring them (to Islam)" - (Sahih al-Bukhari – Book of Military Expeditions led by the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, (Ketab Al-Maghaazi)). Later the whole tribe of Daws embraced Islam.
Mercy to the people of Al-Taef (The tribe of Thaqif)
When Prophet Mohamed, peace and blessings be upon him, to call the tribe of Thaqif to embrace Islam, they not only refused but they also insulted him and drove him out of the city. They got their children to chase him out while throwing stones at him till his foot was severely wounded. His servant Zayd Ibn Haretha, may Allah be pleased with him, tried to defend him with valour and bravery till his head was wounded.At that moment Prophet Mohammad, peace and blessings be upon him, raised his hands and prayed to God saying: (O Allah! I raise unto you my complaint for my weakness, my helplessness, and for the ridicule to which I have been subjected. O Merciful of all the Mercifuls! You are the Master of all oppressed people, You are my God! So to whom would You consign me? To the strangers who would ill-treat me, or to the enemies who have an upper hand over me? If whatever has befallen me is not because of Your wrath, then I fear not. No doubt, the field of Your security and care is wide enough for me. I seek refuge in Your light which illuminates darkness and straightens the affairs of this world and hereafter, that Your displeasure and wrath may not descend upon me. For the sake of Your pleasure, I remain pleased and resigned to my fate. No change in this world occurs without Your Will.)
Angel Jibreel came down to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, with the angel of mountains and said: (O Prophet of Allah if you order us then we will grind them between Al-Akhshabain (two mountains in Mecca). Prophet Mohamed, peace and blessings be upon him, refused and said: (I rather hope that Allah will raise from among their descendants people who will worship Allah the One, and will not associate any partners to Him)
Days pass and the tribe of Thaqif held on their arrogance and disbelieve and even cooperated with the tribe of Hawazen in a war against Muslims in the battle of Hunain. The Muslims won the battle and their enemies retreated to Al-Taef. Muslims firmly besiege AL-Taef for a whole month, but couldn’t conquer it. Muslims left the area, but the companions were frustrated and sad so they asked the prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to curse them. Our noble prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, refused and said: (O Allah! Guide Thaqif) – (Al-Tirmidhi)
Mercy to the harsh people
- Anas, May Allah be pleased with him, reported: I was walking with Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, who was wearing a Najrani cloak with a very thick border when a bedouin happened to meet him. He took hold of the side of his cloak and drew it violently. I noticed that the violence of jerk had bruised the neck of Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. The bedouin said: "O Muhammad! Give me out of Allah's wealth that you possess." Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, turned to him and smiled and directed that he should be given something. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
- Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, took a loan from a Jew named Zaid bin Sa’nah, but Zaid came to claim it, before it was due. Zaid came to meet the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and pulled the Prophet’s shirt harshly and said: (O Muhammad! Why don’t you pay off my due? By Allah, I know nothing of your family except deferment [on debts]. I know well of your people)
At this Umar got extremely angry and said: (O enemy of Allah! Did you actually just say what I heard you say to the Messenger of Allah? Did you really just do to him what I saw? By the One Who holds my life in His hand, if I were not concerned with [the Prophet’s] leaving us, I would have struck your head with my sword) The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, calmly told him: (O Umar, me and him needed a better reaction from you. The best you should do is to advise me to pay my debt properly and to advise him to claim his loan properly. Umar, go and fulfill his right, and add twenty saa’ (~44 kilograms) of dates for you have scared him.)
Umar took Zaid ibn Su’nah and paid off his debt, and gave him the extra twenty saa` of dates. Zaid then asked him about the reason for the extra dates. Umar replied that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, had ordered to give it because Umar had scared him.
According to Zaid, he then asked: “Do you recognize me, Umar?"
“No", he said.
“I am Zaid ibn Su`nah"
“The Rabbi of the Jews?" Umar asked.
“The Rabbi"
“Then what made you behave and speak with the Messenger of Allah as you did?" Umar asked.
“O Umar!" I replied.
“I recognized all of the signs of prophethood upon seeing the face of Muhammad except two signs that were not immediately evident: One, that his forbearance would precede his rashness, and that his forbearance would increase upon encountering excessive rashness. Now I have recognized these two signs as well.
Bear witness, O Umar! I am pleased with Allah as my Lord, with Islam as my religion, and with Muhammad as my Prophet. Also bear witness that I give half of my wealth – and I have plenty of wealth – in charity to the nation of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him."
Umar and Zaid then returned to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and Zaid publicly announced: "I bear witness that none is worthy of worship besides Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger and I believe in him." (Sahih Ibn Habban)
Mercy to animals
When Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was marching with his 10,000-man army, he saw on their way a dog that had just given birth with her puppies. He ordered the army to change its course in order not to disturb the dog and her puppies.
Have you ever heard in the history of ANY nation, a leader at war commanding his army to change course so as not to scare a dog?
Mercy to people with special needs
Anas reported that a woman had a partial derangement in her mind, so she said. Allah's Messenger, I want something from you. He said: (Mother of so and so, see on which side of the road you would like (to stand and talk) so that I may do the needful for you). He stood aside with her on the roadside until she got what she needed. (Sahih Muslim - The Book of Virtues). This story is an example for his patience, and modesty in fulfilling the needs of disabled people.
Jabir reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "Who is your chief, O Banu Salama?"
We replied, "Judd ibn Qays, although we think that he is a miser."
He said, "What illness is worse than miserliness? Rather, your chief is the white curly haired Amr ibn al-Jamuh."
Amr, may Allah be pleased with him, was a cripple and the Prophet said that as a way to honour him.
(Sahih Al-Albani – Book of Excellence in Character).
Prophet Mohammad, peace and blessings be upon him, once said: (It is as if I am looking at you walking with your own legs in heaven) – (Sahih Al-Albani – Fekh al-sirah). Amr, may Allah be pleased with him, used to arrange the marriage banquet of the Messenger of Allah if he married.
Mercy to the weak
- Haritha b. Wahb reported that he heard Allah's Apostle, peace and blessings be upon him, as saying: (May I not inform you about the inmates of Paradise?
They said: Do this, of course.
Thereupon Allah's Apostle, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Every humble person who is considered to be humble if he were to adjure In the name of Allah, He would fulfill it. He then said: May I not inform you about the denizens of Hell-Fire?
They said: Yes.
And he said: Every haughty, fat and proud (person).
(Sahih Muslim - The Book of Paradise, its Description, its Bounties and its Inhabitants)
- Anas bin Malik, May Allah be pleased with him, reported: (A slave-girl of Al-Madinah would take hold of the hand of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and take him wherever she desired. - (Sahih Bukhari)
- Anas bin Malik, May Allah be pleased with him, reported: (I served him for ten years, and he never said 'Uff' (an expression of anger) to me. He never said 'why did you do that?' for something I had done, nor did he ever say 'why did you not do such and such' for something I had not done) - (Sahih Bukhari - 6911)
Mercy to children
We can easily write books about his mercy to children, Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, would kiss them and play with them.
A'isha, may Allah be pleased with her, reported that there came a few desert Arabs to Allah's Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, and said: Do you kiss your children?
He said: Yes.
Thereupon they said: By Allah but we do not kiss our children.
Thereupon Allah's Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Then what can I do if Allah has deprived you of mercy?
Ibn Numair said: from your heart comes mercy. (Sahih Muslim)
Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, whenever he was leading prayer and heard a child crying, he would hasten the prayer and would carry kids while praying and would put them on the floor when he kneeled and when he sttod he would carry them back. He did that with his granddaughter Zainab, may Allah be pleased with her.
Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that Prophet Mohammad, peace and blessings be upon him, kissed his grandson AlHassan Ibn Ali and with him was Al-Akraa Ibn Habes Al-Tamimi. Al-Akraa said: (I have ten kids and I have never kissed any of them)
Prophet Mohammad, peace and blessings be upon him, looked at him and said: (He who is not merciful to people Allah will not be merciful to him.) – (Sahih Muslim and Sahih Bukhari)
Mercy to Mankind
- Abu Mas'ud 'Uqbah bin 'Amr Al-Badri, May Allah be pleased with him, reported:
A man came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and said: "I join the morning prayer late because of so-and-so who leads it and prolongs it."
Abu Mas'ud said: I have never seen the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, so angry while giving a speech as he was on that day.
He, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Some of you are repulsive. Whoever leads the prayer should make it brief because the congregation includes old men and youngsters and those who have some urgent work to do." - (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
- Abu Hurairah, May Allah be pleased with him, reported: (A bedouin urinated in the mosque and some people rushed to beat him up. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: (Leave him alone and pour a bucket of water over it. You have been sent to make things easy and not to make them difficult.) - (Al-Bukhari).
Our noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, refused to embarrass the man, but at the same time taught him the sanctity of the mosque but in a friendly and lenient way as sheikh Ali Gomaa said: (The kneeler before the mosque and the human before the buildings).
The general rule in Islam is not to despise the one who makes a mistake and never to close the gates of mercy in his face since the keys to heaven are not in anybody’s hands. Prophet Mohammad, peace and blessings be upon him, praised the woman who committed adultery then repented so the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said about her: (She has repented in a manner that, if it were to be shared among seventy of the people of Al-Madinah it would suffice them) - (Sahih Muslim)
Amr Ibn Absa, may Allah be pleased with him, said that he was not convinced with the Gods of his tribe in Jaheliyah (before Islam) so he went to Prophet Mohammad, peace and blessings be upon him. When he approached, he asked: Who are you?
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, answered: A prophet
He said: and what is a prophet?
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, answered: I am the Messenger of Allah.
He asked: Who sent you?
The prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, answered: Allah sent me."
He asked: What message did he send you with?
The prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, answered: “To worship Allah without attributing any partners to him, to break the idols, to visit relatives."
Amr, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "You were sent for very good things. I bare witness that I believed you, and would like to stay with you or you prefer anything else?"
The prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, answered: You can see how people dislike what I came for, so stay with your family, If you hear that I succeeded come to me. (Musnad Ahmed - 17057)
Our final word
The examples of Prophet Mohammad’s mercy are countless since mercy was a focal point in his message. God, the All merciful, said in the Holy Quran: (And We have not sent you, [O Muḥammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.) – Surah Al-Anbya verse 107 and said: (So by mercy from Allah, [O Muḥammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him].) – Surah the family of Imran verse 159
We can write books about Prophet Mohammad’s mercy, but our target here is to inform people of the real value of (mercy). Prophet Mohammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was sent in a rude and uncivilized community by our current standards. Truth is –despite the incivility- they were more mature and their hearts were more insightful than those in our modern world which is full of empty arguments and rivalry. That is why they were strong enough to choose to follow the truth despite its contradiction with their firm beliefs. What we sadly see today from cruelty and violence is the peak of injustice and incivility.
We advise you all, ourselves included, to fearlessly follow the right way and to hold on to principals like tolerance and forgiveness and to spread love and mercy among all people, regardless of their religion, gender, color or even preferences, may be God will bestow on us the blessing of being with his last Prophet in heaven.
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