All Praise is due to Allah, the Rubb of
the two worlds, and may Allah exalt
the mention of His Prophet, and render
him and his household safe and
secure of all derogatory things.
This booklet is part of several publications
on the history, conduct and
impact of the Prophet Muhammad
. In this part, we recount
a number of situations that show
how the Messenger of Allah
dealt with his companions. It gives
the reader a glimpse of the ethics and
manners that the Prophet Muhammad
demonstrated on a consistent basis,
and are the basis for why he is the
example that we should all emulate in
our daily life and various interactions.
Amongst the details, this booklet shows
that the Prophet kept close and
friendly relations with his companions.
He used to joke with them and was very
polite and friendly towards them like a
father and brother. He would routinely
11
visit them in their homes, especially
when they were sick, and he established
these beautiful manners as a part of the
religion. In fact, he would also visit non-
Muslims when they were sick. Furthermore,
he would consult his companions,
taking their opinions and points of views
into consideration, whenever Allah had
not given him a command as regards a
particular situation.
Additionally, the reader will have an opportunity
to gain an understanding of
how the Prophet behaved when he
was with his companions. He did not
wait for them to serve him, and instead
it would not be unusual to find him
serving them. He served
himself and would serve
others as well. He did not
distinguish himself from
his companions whether it
be by his dress, the size or
appointment of his home
or through having people
greet him in a manner
of undue homage, like
12
4
standing to greet him when he entered
their presence, which he disliked.
This booklet also mentions the marriages
of the Prophet Muhammad .
It spends time discussing the causes
behind a number of the marriages, and
how they were for a good purpose, often
solidifying relations between large
and strong Arab tribes. This served to
attract those strong tribes to Islam and
to support the spread of the call to Islam
(Da’wah). In other cases, he married
the widows of his companions who
were killed in battle or while they were
engaged in calling people to Islam. His
aim in these cases was to help these
widows and support them to live a dignified
life. Despite the underpinnings,
political or otherwise, of these marriages,
the Prophet was nonetheless always
loving and caring with his wives
and they each loved him greatly.
It is hoped that the reader will come to
appreciate the depth and extent of the
excellent manners of the Prophet Mu-
• Muhammad hammad from this brief introduction.
Close Relations with his Companions
Would Entertain his Companions
Would Consult his Companions
Visiting the Sick, Whether he was Muslim or nonMuslim
He was Grateful for People’s Goodness Towards him
Love for Everything Which is Beautiful and Good
Loved to Help Others by Interceding on Their Behalf
Would Serve Himself
The Prophet’s Manners with
Those Around Him
The Prophet’s close relations with
his Companions:
The Prophet was very close to his companions,
and this is well known when
one reads the detailed reports of the
Prophet’s life story. The Prophet is
the example which we should emulate
in all our matters. Jareer b. Abdullah
said, “The Prophet did not prevent
me from sitting with him since I accepted
Islam. He always smiled when
he looked at me. I once complained to
him that I could not ride a horse and he
15
The Prophet did
not only verbally
entertain and joke
with his companions,
but he sported
with them, and
sometimes amused
them as well.
slapped me lovingly on my chest and
supplicated God, saying:
‘O God! Steady him, and make him
a person who guides others and is a
source of guidance.’” (Bukhari)
The Prophet would entertain his
Companions and joke with them:
Anas b. Malik, with whom Allah is
pleased, said the Messenger of Allah
was the most well mannered
person. I had a young brother whose
name was Abu Umair, he would play
with a small bird called “An-Nughair”.
The Prophet said to him:
“O Abu Umair, what did the
Nughair do?”, while he
was playing with it.
(Muslim)
Tirmidhi reports in
Al-Shamaa’il that
Al-Hasan said, “An
old woman came to
the Prophet and
said, ‘O Messenger
16
4
The Prophet
would consult his
Companions, and
take their opinions
and points of view
into consideration.
of God, ask God to admit me into
the Heavenly Gardens.’ He said, ‘Old
women will not enter the Heavenly
Gardens.’ She then turned away crying.
The Prophet quickly said, ‘Tell
her that she will not enter the Heavenly
Gardens as an old woman, for Allah
says:
‘Indeed, We have produced the
women of Paradise in a new manner
of creation. And made them virgins,
devoted [to their husbands] and of
equal age.’” [56:35-7]
The Prophet did not only verbally
entertain and joke with his companions,
but he sported with them, and
sometimes amused them as well.
Anas b. Malik said:
A Bedouin named Zahir b. Haram
would give gifts to the Prophet and
he would prepare things for him as
well. The Prophet said, “Zahir is
our desert, and we are his city.”
The Prophet approached him while
he was selling his goods, and the
17
The Prophet
wouldn’t only visit the
Muslims who were sick,
rather, he would visit
even non-Muslims.
Prophet hugged him from behind,
though he could not see him.
He then said: said, “Let me
go!” When he knew that
it was the Prophet
who was hugging him,
he pressed his back towards
the Messenger’s chest.
The Messenger of God then said,
“Who will buy this slave from me?” Zahir
said, “O Messenger of God, I am
worthless!” The Messenger of God
said:
“You are not considered worthless
by God,” or he said, “You are valuable
and precious to God.” (Ibn Hibban)
He would consult his Companions:
The Prophet would consult his
Companions, and take their opinions
and points of view into consideration,
whenever there was no revelation sent
down from God on the subject. Abu
Hurairah said:
“I have not seen a person more
18
4
keen for the sincere advice of his
companions than the Messenger of
God .” (Tirmidthi)
Visiting the sick person, whether
he was Muslim or non-Muslim:
The Prophet was concerned about
his Companions and would make sure
that they were well. If he was told
about a Companion who was sick, he
would rush to visit him with the Companions
that were present with him.
He wouldn’t only visit the Muslims
who were sick, rather, he would even
visit non-Muslims. Anas b. Malik said:
“A Jewish boy would serve the Prophet
and he fell sick, so the Prophet
said, ‘Let us go and visit him.’
They went to visit him, and found his
father sitting by his head, and the
Messenger of God said, ‘Proclaim
that there is no true god worthy of
being worshipped except Allah alone
and I will intercede on your behalf on
account of it on the Day of Resurrection.’
The boy looked at his father, and
The Messenger
of Allah would
accept gifts, and
reward generously
on account of that.
19
(1) A nick-name of the
Prophet .
the father said, ‘Obey Abul-Qasim!(1)’
So the boy testified, ‘There is no true
god worthy of being worshipped except
Allah alone and Muhammad
is the last Messenger.’ The Messenger
of God said, ‘All praise is due
to God, Who saved him from the Fire
of Hell.’” (Ibn Hibban)
He was grateful for people’s goodness
towards him, and would
reward that generously:
Abdullah b. Umar said that the Messenger
of God said:
“Whoever seeks refuge with God
against your evil, then do not harm
him. Whoever asks you by God, then
give him. Whoever invites you, then
accept his invitation. Whoever does
a favor for you or an act of kindness,
then repay him in a similar
manner. But, if you do not find
that which you can reward him
with, then supplicate God for him
continuously, until you think you
have repaid him.” (Ahmed)
20
4
Anas, with whom Allah
is pleased, said:
‘The hand of the
Messenger of Allah
was softer than
any silk that I had
ever touched.”
A’ishah said:
“The Messenger of God would
accept gifts, and reward generously
on account of that.” (Bukhari)
The Messenger’s love for everything
which is beautiful and good:
Anas said:
“The hand of the Messenger of God
was softer than any silk that I
had ever touched, and his scent
was sweeter than any perfume that
I had ever smelled.” (Bukhari)
The Messenger of God loved to
help others by interceding on their
behalf:
Abdullah b. Abbas said:
“The husband of Bareerah was a
slave whose name was Mugheeth. I
saw him walking behind her in the
streets of Madinah crying, and his
tears were falling off his beard. The
Messenger of God said to Al-
Abbas, ‘Doesn’t it amaze you, how
much Mugheeth loves Bareerah, and
how much she dislikes Mugheeth?’
21
The Prophet’s excellent
manners not
only made him serve
himself; rather, he
would serve others
as well.
The Prophet said to Bareerah,
‘Why don’t you go back to him?’ She
said to him, ‘Are you commanding
me to do so?’ He said, ‘No, but I am
interceding on his behalf.’ She said,
‘I have no need for him.’” (Bukhari)
The Messenger of God would
serve himself:
A’ishah said:
“I was asked how the Messenger
of God behaved in his house.”
She said, “He was like any man.
He washed his clothes, milked his
sheep, and served himself.” (Ahmed)
The Prophet’s excellent manners not
only made him serve himself; rather, he
would serve others as well. A’ishah said:
“I was asked how the Messenger
of God behaved in his house.”
She said, “He would help out in the
house with the daily chores, and
when he heard the call to prayer he
would leave [everything and head]
for the Mosque.” (Bukhari)
Statements of Justice and
Equity:
Professor Keith Moore(1), said in his
book, The Developing Human: “It is
clear to me that these statements must
have come to Muhammad from God,
or Allah, because most of this knowledge
was not discovered until many
centuries later. This proves to me that
Muhammad must have been a messenger
of God, or Allah.” He further
said, “I have no difficulty in my mind
reconciling that this is a divine inspiration
or revelation, which lead him to
these statements.”
Dr. Maurice Bucaille(2), said in his book
The Qur’an, and Modern Science, “A
totally objective examination of it [the
The German Poet(3),
Goethe, said, “I looked
into history for a human
paradigm and found it
to be in Muhammad.”
(1) Former President
of the Canadian
Association of
Anatomists,
Department of
Anatomy and Cell
Biology University
of Toronto.
(2) Dr. Maurice Bucaille
was an eminent
French surgeon,
scientist, scholar
and author of The
Bible, The Qur’an
and Science.
(3) German writer and
scientist. A master
of poetry, drama,
and the novel. He
also conducted
scientific research
in various fields,
notably botany,
and held several
governmental
positions.
25
Qur’an] in the light of modem knowledge,
leads us to recognize the agreement
between the two, as has been
already noted on repeated occasions.
It makes us deem it quite unthinkable
for a man of Muhammad’s time to have
been the author of such statements,
on account of the state of knowledge
in his day. Such considerations are
part of what gives the Qur’anic Revelation
its unique place, and forces the
impartial scientist to admit his inability
to provide an explanation which calls
solely upon materialistic reasoning.”
Annie Besant(4) in The Life and Teachings
of Mohammad, said, “It is impossible
for anyone who studies the life
and character of the great Prophet of
Arabia, who knew how he taught and
how he lived, to feel anything but reverence
for the mighty Prophet, one of
the great messengers of the Supreme.
And although in what I put to you I shall
say many things which may be familiar
to many, yet I myself feel, whenever
I reread them, a new way of admira-
(4) English theosophist,
philosopher, and
political figure who
advocated home
rule and educational
reforms in India.
26
4
tion, a new sense of reverence for that
mighty Arabian teacher.”
Maurice Gaudefroy said, “Muhammad
was a prophet, not a theologian,
a fact so evident that one is loath to
state it. The men who surrounded him
and constituted the influential elite of
the primate Muslim community, contented
themselves with obeying the
Dr. Gustav Weil, in History of the Islamic
Peoples, said:
“Muhammad was a shining example
to his people. His character was pure
and stainless. His house, his dress,
his food - they were characterized
by a rare simplicity. So unpretentious
was he that he would receive from
his companions no special mark of
reverence, nor would he accept any
service from his slave which he could
do for himself. He was accessible
to all, at all times. He visited the
sick and was full of sympathy for
all. Unlimited was his benevolence
and generosity as also
was his anxious care for the welfare
of the community.”(1)
(1) Encyclopedia of
Seerah by Afzalur-
Rahman.
(2) ibid.
(3) He was a famous
American writer. He
died in 1859.
(4) Encyclopedia of
Seerah by Afzalur-
Rahman.
(5) ibid.
(6) archaic term for a
Muslim.
27
law that he had proclaimed in the
name of Allah and with following his
teaching and example.”(2)
Marquis of Dufferin said, “It is to
Mussulman(6) science, to Mussulman
art, and to Mussulman literature that
Europe has been in a great measure
indebted for its extrication from the
darkness of the Middle Ages.”
Washington Irving(3) said, “His military
triumphs awakened no pride nor vain
glory as they would have done had
they been effected by selfish purposes.
In the time of his greatest power,
he maintained the same simplicity of
manner and appearance as in the days
of his adversity. So far from affecting
regal state, he was displeased if, on
entering a room, any unusual testimonial
of respect was shown to him.”(4)
Edmund Burke said, “The [Islamic]
law, which is binding on all from the
crowned head to the meanest subject,
is a law interwoven with a system of
the wisest, the most learned and the
most enlightened jurisprudence that
ever existed in the world.”(5)
28
4
The Wives of the Prophet :
After the death of his first wife,
Khadeejah, the Prophet married a
number of women, all of whom were
divorcees, except for A’ishah. Most
of his wives were from the tribe of
Quraish, whereas the others were from
other families. The Prophet married
these women for a number of reasons:
Religious and legislative purpose:
The Prophet married Zainab b.
Jahsh. The Arabs in the Era of Ignorance
Religious and legislative purpose
Political reasons
Social reasons
THE PROPHET MARRIED
The Prophet married
Zainab b. Jahsh,
although she was
previously the wife
of his adopted son,
Zaid b. Harithah.
29
30
4
would prohibit a man from marrying the
wife of his adopted son. They believed
that the adopted son was like a man’s
actual son in all aspects. The Prophet
married her, although she was previously
the wife of his adopted son, Zaid
b. Harithah. The Messenger of God
married her to abolish this false belief.
God, the Exalted, says:
“And [remember, O Muhammad],
when you said to the one on whom
Allah bestowed favor and you bestowed
favor, ‘Keep your wife and
fear Allah’, while you concealed
within yourself that which Allah is to
disclose. And you feared the people,
while Allah has more right that you
fear Him. So when Zayd had no longer
any need for her, We married her
to you in order that there not be upon
the believers any discomfort concerning
the wives of their adopted
sons when they no longer have need
of them. And ever is the command of
Allah accomplished.” [33:37]
The Messenger of Allah
married women
from the largest and
strongest Arab
tribes for political
reasons.
31
Political reasons and for the spread
of Islam, to invite people to Islam, and
to gain the favor of the Arab tribes:
The Messenger of God married women
from the largest and strongest Arab
tribes. The Prophet recommended
his Companions to do this as well when
they were sent as emissaries.
“If they obey you (i.e. accept Islam)
then marry the daughter of the chief
of the tribe of Kalb.” (Ibh Hisham)
Dr. Cahan said, “Some of the aspects
of his life may seem confusing
to us due to present day mentality.
The Messenger is criticized due to his
obsession of attaining worldly desires
and his nine wives, whom he married
after the death of his wife Khadeejah.
It has been confirmed that most of
these marriages were for political reasons,
which were aimed to gain loyalty
of some nobles and tribes.”
Social reasons:
The Prophet also married some of
The Prophet also
married some of
the widowed wives
of his Companions;
those of them who
had died in war or
in spreading the
message.
32
4
the widowed wives of his Companions;
those of them who had died in
war or in spreading the message. He
married them even though they were
older than him, and he did so to honor
them and their husbands.
Veccia Vaglieri(1) in her book, In Defense
of Islam, said:
“Throughout the years of his youth,
Muhammad only married one
woman, even though the sexuality of
man is at its peak during this period.
Although he lived in the society he
lived in, wherein plural marriage was
considered the general rule, and divorce
was very easy - he only married
one woman, although she was older
than him. He was a faithful husband
to her for twenty-five years, and did
not marry another woman, except after
her death. He at that time was fifty
years old. He married each of his wives
thereafter for a social or political purpose;
such that he wanted to honor
the pious women, or wanted the loyalty
of certain tribes so that Islam would
spread amongst them. All the wives
33
Muhammad married were not virgin,
nor were they young or beautiful,
except for A’ishah. So how can anyone
claim that he was a lustful man?
He was a man, not a god. His wish to
have a son may have also lead him
to marry, for the children that he had
from Khadeejah all died. Moreover, he
undertook the financial responsibilities
of his large family, without having
large resources. He was just and fair
towards them all and did not differentiate
between them at all. He followed
the practice of previous Prophets such
as Moses, whom no one objected to
their plural marriage. Is the reason why
people object to the plural marriage of
Muhammad the fact that we know
the minute details of his life, and know
so little of the details of the lives of the
Prophets before him?”
Thomas Carlyle said, “Mahomet himself,
after all that can be said about
him, was not a sensual man. We shall
err widely if we consider this man as
a common voluptuary, intent mainly
on base enjoyments, – nay on enjoyments
of any kind.”(2)
(1) A famous Italian
Orientalist.
(2) Heroes, Hero-
Worship and the
Heroic in History.
• Thomas Carlyle
His Lineage, Childhood and Prophethood
Persecution and Hijra
His Manners & Characteristics
The Prophet’s Manners With Those Around Him
Textual, Scriptural and Intellectual Testimonials of his Prophethood
Intellectual Proofs of his Prophethood
The Relevance of his Prophethood
This booklet is the fourth in a series
of publications based on a book titled
Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah.
Each booklet covers an aspect of the
Prophetʼs life, deeds and teachings and
aims to provide a better understanding of
Islam.
