Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was a perfect model of modesty and humbleness. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, never spoke loudly or in an unseemly manner. In the market, he always passed by the people quietly with a smile. Whenever he heard anything undesirable in an assembly, he did not say anything out of respect for the people, but the color of his face showed his feelings and the Companions became cautious. `Aa’ishah 
said that she never saw Allaah's Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, laughing so that she could see his molar teeth, for he only used to smile.
`Abdullaah Ibn Maslamah 
reported Allaah's Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, as saying:"Modesty is a part of the teachings of the previous prophets and anyone who lacks it is most likely to do whatever he likes." Zayd reported Allaah's Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, as saying: "Every religion has a character and the character of Islam is modesty."
The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, lived a simple and modest life, both in Makkah as a trader before his prophethood, and in Al-Madeenah as the head of the State after being appointed Allaah’s Messenger. The change in his social status from that of a trader in Makkah to the head of the State in Al-Madeenah did not bring any change in his modest living. `Umar reported the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, as saying: "Do not exalt me as the Christians have exalted Jesus, son of Mary. I am just His servant, so call me Allaah's Servant and Messenger."
The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did not behave towards others as if he was better than they were, nor did he spurn manual work. `Abdullaah bin Abi `Awfa reported that the Prophet of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, never disdained to go with a slave or a widow to accomplish his or her tasks. Others reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to tidy up his house, tie the camels, feed the animals, take food with his servants, and help them in kneading dough and bringing provisions from the market. Anas reported that the Prophet of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to visit the sick, attend funerals, ride on a donkey and accept a slave's invitation for a meal. Jaabir stated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to slow down his pace for the sake of the weak and also prayed for them.
When `Adiyy bin Haatim came to see the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, he called him inside his house. A maidservant brought a cushion to rest on, but the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, placed it between him and `Adiyy and sat down on the floor. `Adiyy later said that he had then immediately realized that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was not a king. A similar incident was reported by `Abdullaah bin `Amr bin Al-`Aas who said: “Once when the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, came to my house, I gave him a cushion filled with bark, but he sat down on the floor placing the cushion between me and him.”
Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was humble in all things. Anas said that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would accept an invitation even if he was presented barley bread and soup whose taste had changed. He also reported the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, as saying: "I am Allaah's servant, I eat like a servant and sit like a servant.''
On one of his journeys, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, asked his companions to roast a goat. One said that he would slaughter the animal; another said that he would skin it, while a third said that he would cook it. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, then said that he would collect wood for fuel. Their response was: “O Messenger of Allaah! We will do everything.” The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, then said: “I have no doubt that you will. But I do not like distinctions to be made, nor does Allaah like any one of His servants to assert his superiority over his companions.”
His self-deprecation was such that he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, once said: “By Allaah, I do not know, even although I am Allaah’s messenger, what my fate in the next world will be, nor do I know what yours will be.”
Abu Tharr Al-Ghifaari narrates that one day he was sitting with another companion of black complexion whom he addressed as: “O black man.” When the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, heard of this, he was greatly displeased and cautioned Abu Tharr never to make scornful remarks to anyone, whoever he might be, and to accord equal treatment to all, adding: “No white man has any superiority over a black man.”
The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, once saw a wealthy Muslim gathering up his loose garments so that a certain distance would be kept between himself and a poor Muslim sitting close by. He sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam remarked: “Do you fear that his poverty will cling to you?”
The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, lived like any ordinary person, and did not assume any superior rights. He once had to borrow some money from a Jew called Zayd bin Sana’a. The Jew came to demand the immediate return of the loan a few days before the expiry of the stipulated period. Tugging at the mantle around the Prophet’s shoulders, he jibed that the progeny of ‘Abd Al-Muttalib were always defaulters.
`Umar not being able to tolerate this misbehavior on the part of the Jew, started berating him, and was on the point of beating him when the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to the Jew, smiling: “There are still three days to go before the promise has to be fulfilled.” To ‘Umar he sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “We might have had better treatment from you. You could have advised me to be more careful about the return of loans and you could have advised the Jew to be more courteous in demanding repayment.” He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, then requested ‘Umar to get some dates so that the loan could be repaid, and to give the Jew an extra forty kilograms for the rebuke he had been given.
We can say that humbleness is seen in every sphere of the Prophet’s life. His way of talking, walking, sitting, eating and every aspect of his life reflected humbleness.
No comments:
Post a Comment