Part 2

English.islamweb.net/emainpage Page 9 something which he disliked, we could perceive it on his face." [Al-Bukhaari] These are very few examples of the beautiful physical and moral attributes of the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, who was the most perfect human being.

Speech of the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam

Let us now see how the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, used to speak. According to 'Aa'ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, "The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, never spoke hastily and too much like you; rather, he used to speak clearly and in concise sentences so that the listeners could memorize what they had heard." [Abu Daawood]

He was compassionate and lenient and he liked people to understand his words, and took into consideration individual differences and the degrees of their understanding and mental capabilities, which requires patience. 'Aa'ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, said, "The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam spoke in concise sentences so that whoever listened to his words understood him." [Abu Daawood]

See to what extent the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, was patient and forbearing while repeating his words so as to be understood. Anas ibn Maalik, may Allaah be pleased with him, said, "The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam used to repeat his

The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, used to pacify those who feared him. For example, Ibn Mas'ood, may Allaah be pleased with him, said, "Once a man came to the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, to speak with him and he was trembling, thereupon the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said to him, "Calm yourself! Indeed, I am not a king. I am only the son of a woman who used to eat dried meat." [Ibn Majaah]

After having permission to enter the house of the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, let us listen to the noble Companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, who described this house from the inside as well as its furnishings.

We know that is prohibited to give full rein to our eyes to look into people's houses, but the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, is our role model, thus, we should know the description of his house in order to follow him. The foundation of this house is humbleness, and Faith is its capital. Do you not see that there is no picture of any living being on its walls, contrary to what some people usually do today?

English.islamweb.net/emainpage Page 11 enter a house in which there is a dog or images (i.e images of creatures that have souls)." [Al-Bukhaari]

Then, let us see some of the kitchenware that the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, used in his daily life. Thaabit, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said, "Anas, may Allaah be pleased with him, took out a thick wooden cup fastened with an iron band for us and said, 'O Thaabit, this is the cup of the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam.'" [At-Tirmithi]

The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, used to drink water, honey and milk in this cup. [At-Tirmithi] Anas, may Allaah be pleased with him, also said, "The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, used to breathe thrice (outside the vessel in the course) of a drink." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim] The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, also forbade breathing into the drinking vessel or blowing in it. [At-Tirmithi]

As for the iron armor that the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, used to wear while performing Jihaad (armed struggle) and during battles, probably it is not there now because he has mortgaged it to a Jew for thirty Saa's of barley, as narrated by 'Aa'ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her. [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim], and he died while the armor was still mortgaged to the Jew.

The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, never entered upon his wives, may Allaah be pleased with them, without their knowing of his coming and he never mistrusted them; rather, he used to enter upon them while they were expecting him and he would also greet them.

English.islamweb.net/emainpage Page 12 - "Happiness is due to whoever is guided to Islam and possesses provision that suffices him for his day and remains content." [At-Tirmithi] - "Whoever begins the day feeling secure and in good health; and possessing provision for his day is as though he possessed the whole world." [At-Tirmithi] ***

The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, was the best of all people in maintaining kinship ties to the extent that the disbelievers of the Quraysh called him As-Saadiq Al-Ameen (the truthful and the trustworthy) even before he received the Message. Khadeejah, may Allaah be pleased with her, described him saying, "…you maintain kinship ties…"

Let us see the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, while performing one of the greatest duties; that is, visiting the grave of his mother who died when he was seven years old. Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, said, "One day, the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, visited the grave of his mother. He wept and this caused the people around him to weep. He said: 'I asked permission of my Lord to seek forgiveness for my mother, but I was not granted permission. I asked His permission to visit her grave, and He permitted me. Thus, visit the graves for they remind you of death." [Muslim]

English.islamweb.net/emainpage Page 13 guiding his relatives and saving them from Hell regardless of the hardships he faced because of this. Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, said, "When this Aayah (Verse) was revealed: {And warn, [O Muhammad], your closest kindred.} [Quran 26:214], the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, called the Quraysh; when they gathered, he said to them: "O sons of `Abd Shams; O Banu Ka'b ibn Lu'ay, save yourselves from Hell! O Banu Murrah ibn Ka'b, save yourselves from Hell! O Banu 'Abd Manaaf, save yourselves from Hell! O Banu Haashim, save yourselves from Hell! O Banu 'AbdulMuttaalib, save yourselves from Hell! O Faatimah, save yourself from Hell, for I have no power (to protect you) from Allaah in anything except that I would sustain my relationship with you." [Muslim]

The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, kept inviting his uncle Abu Taalib persistently and repeatedly to embrace Islam even while he was dying. When the time of the death of Abu Taalib approached, the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, went to him and found Abu Jahl ibn Hishaam and 'Abdullaah ibn Abu Umayyah ibn Al-Mugheerah by his side. The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said to Abu Taalib: "O uncle! Say: No one is worthy of worship except Allaah, a sentence with which I could intercede for you before Allaah." Abu Jahl and 'Abdullaah ibn Abu Umayyah said, "O Abu Taalib! Are you going to denounce the religion of Abdul Muttalib?" They (i.e. Abu Jahl and Abdullah) kept on repeating their statement until Abu Taalib said as his last statement that he was on the religion of Abdul Muttalib. Then The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said:

English.islamweb.net/emainpage Page 14 forbidden by Allaah) to do so." So Allaah The Almighty revealed (what means): • {It is not for the Prophet and those who have believed to ask forgiveness for the polytheists, even if they were relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are companions of Hellfire.} [Quran 9:113] • {Indeed, [O Muhammad], you do not guide whom you like, but Allaah guides whom He wills. And He is Most Knowing of the [rightly] guided.} [Quran 28:56] [Ahmad, Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, invited his uncle many times during his life and even on his deathbed and then started asking forgiveness of Allaah The Almighty for him until he was forbidden from doing so. The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, complied with this command and stopped supplicating for his polytheist relatives introducing a great image of compassion and care for this Ummah on one side, and a form of disassociation from the disbelievers and the polytheists even if they were relatives.

The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, in His Home

One's home represents the real state that shows his true manners and morals. It is the place where one's good companionship and pure

English.islamweb.net/emainpage Page 15 people's eyes. However, the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, used to treat his slaves, servants, and wives humbly and leniently without arrogance in spite of the fact that he was the master of this house and all those who are under his command were weak.

Let us contemplate how the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, who is the leader of this Ummah and its teacher used to behave in his house. 'Aa'ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, was asked, "What did the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, do in his house? She said, 'He was a human like other humans; he used to clean his clothes from any insects, milk the sheep and serve himself." [Ahmad and At-Tirmithi]

He was an example of humbleness and completely devoid of arrogance. He was noble in his helpful nature and he helped with the housework in spite of the fact that he is the best human being. In this house, the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, did not often find the means of satisfying his hunger. An-Nu'maan ibn Basheer, may Allaah be pleased with him, said, "I saw your Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam while he did not find enough low quality dates to fill his stomach." [Muslim] 'Aa'ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, said, "A complete month would pass by during which we would not kindle a fire (for cooking), and our food used to be only dates and water." [Al-Bukhaari]

Nonetheless, nothing distracted the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, from worship and obedience to Allaah The Almighty; thus, whenever he heard the Athaan (call for prayer), he would respond quickly leaving the whole world behind him.

English.islamweb.net/emainpage Page 16 did the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, behave in his house?" She said, "He used to help his family, but once he heard the Athaan (call for prayer), he went out (for prayer)." It was not reported that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, ever performed the obligatory prayers at home except when he got sick and feverish during the last illness before his death.

Although the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, was so compassionate with his Ummah, he adopted an extremely harsh stand against those who do not perform prayers in congregation without an acceptable excuse. He said: "By Him in Whose hand my soul is (i.e. Allaah), I was about to order for firewood to be collected (fuel) and then order someone to pronounce the Athaan (call for prayer) for the prayer and then order someone to lead the prayer then I would go from behind and burn the houses of the men who did not come to the mosque to offer the (compulsory congregational) prayer. [AlBukhaari and Muslim]

This proves the extent to which the congregational prayer is important, as the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, also said: "He who hears the Athaan (call for prayer) and does not respond to it (by coming to the mosque to offer the prayer in congregation), his prayer (in his home) is not valid unless he has a valid excuse [i.e. fear or disease]." [Ibn Maajah and Ibn Hibbaan]

So, what are the excuses of those who intentionally refrain from going to the mosques to perform the congregational prayer?

One's demeanor and behavior indicates his wisdom and represents a key to his heart. 'Aa'ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, is the best person who knew the manners and all the conditions of the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, whether in his manner of sleeping, while being awake, during his health or illness, and his anger or ease. She said, "The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, was never unseemly or lewd, harsh nor a noisemaker in markets, and he never repaid evil with evil; but, he would forgive and pardon." [Ahmad]