Before He Was Made a Prophet


The Prophet was a trustworthy and honest person before he received revelation.  He never betrayed anyone, neither did he lie or cheat.  He was known to people as ‘Al-Ameen’, or ‘The Trustworthy’.  People would entrust him with their valuables when they wanted to travel.  He was also known as ‘As-Sadiq’ or ‘The Truthful’ for he never told a lie.  He was well-mannered, well-spoken, and he loved to help people.  His people loved and revered him and he had beautiful manners.  Before becoming a prophet, he did not drink alcohol, worship a statue or an idol, or take an oath by them.

After He became a Prophet


Allah says:

“Indeed, you are of a great moral character.” (Quran 68:4)

Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon him, was an example for all human beings to follow.  His wife Aisha was asked about his manners, and she said,

“His manners were the Quran.”

What she meant was that the Prophet abided by the laws, commands, and prohibitions of the Quran.  He said about himself:

“Allah has sent me to perfect good manners and to do good deeds.”

Saheeh Al-Bukhari

Anas, the son of Malik, served him for ten years.  Anas was with him throughout the day and was knowledgeable of his manners.  Anas describes:

“The Prophet did not swear at anyone, nor was he rude, nor did he curse anyone.  If he desired to reprimand someone, he would say: ‘What is wrong with him, may dust be cast in his face!’”

Saheeh Al-Bukhari

Honesty & Trustworthiness


Prophet Muhammad was well-known for his honesty. The pagans of Mecca, who were openly hostile towards him, would leave their valuables with him as back then they were no banks.  His honesty was tested when the pagans of Mecca abused him and tortured his companions and drove them out of their homes.  He ordered his cousin, Ali to postpone his migration to Madina for three days to return to people their valuables.

Another example of his honesty is demonstrated in the Truce of Hudaibiyah.  Terms of the treaty were that any man who left the Prophet would not be returned to him, but any man who left Mecca would be returned to them.  A man named Abu Jandal managed to escape from the pagans of Mecca and joined the Prophet.  The pagans asked Prophet Muhammad to honor his pledge and return the man.  The Messenger of Allah said:

“O Abu Jandal!  Be patient and ask Allah to grant you patience.  Allah will surely help you and those who are persecuted and make it easy for you.  We have signed an agreement with them, and we certainly do not betray or act treacherously.”

Baihaqi

Patience and Forbearance


Anas said:

“Once, I was walking with the Messenger of Allah while he was wearing a Yemeni cloak with a collar with rough edges.  A Bedouin grabbed him strongly.  I looked at the side of his neck and saw that the edge of the cloak left a mark on his neck.  The Bedouin said, ‘O Muhammad! Give me (some) of the wealth of Allah that you have.’ The Messenger of Allah turned to the Bedouin, smiled and ordered that he be given (some money).”

Saheeh Al-Bukhari

Another example of his patience is the story of the Jewish Rabbi, Zaid bin Sa’nah.  Zaid had given something as a loan to the Messenger of Allah.  He himself said,

“Two or three days prior to the return of the debt, the Messenger of Allah was attending the funeral of a man from the Ansar.  Abu Bakr and Umar, Uthman and some other Companions were with the Prophet.  After he prayed the funeral prayer he sat down close to a wall, and I came towards him, grabbed him by the edges of his cloak, and looked at him in a harsh way, and said: ‘O Muhammad! Will you not pay me back my loan? I have not known the family of Abdul Muttalib to delay in repaying debts!’

I looked at Umar ibn Al-Khattab - his eyes swelled with anger! He looked at me and said: ‘O Enemy of Allah, do you behave towards him in this manner?! By the One who sent him with the truth, had it not been for the fear of not entering Paradise, I would have beheaded you with my sword!’ The Prophet looked at Umar in a calm and peaceful manner, and he said: ‘O Umar, you should have given us sincere counseling, rather than to do what you did! O Umar, go and repay him his loan, and give him extra because you scared him!’”

Zaid said: “Umar went with me, and repaid me the debt, and gave me over it twenty sa’a of dates.  I asked him: ‘What is this?’ He said: ‘The Messenger of Allah ordered me to give it, because I frightened you.’”  Zaid then asked Umar: “O Umar, do you know who I am?” Umar said: “No, I don’t - who are you?” Zaid said: “I am Zaid ibn Sa’nah.”  Umar inquired: “The Rabbi?”  Zaid answered: “Yes, the Rabbi.”  Umar then asked him: “What made you say what you said to the Prophet and do what you did to him?”  Zaid answered: “O Umar, I have seen all the signs of prophethood in the face of the Messenger of Allah except two – (the first) his patience and perseverance precede his anger and the second, the harsher you are towards him, the kinder and more patient he becomes, and I am now satisfied.  O Umar, I hold you as a witness that I testify and am satisfied that there is no true God worthy of being worshipped except Allah alone, and my religion is Islam and Muhammad is my Prophet.  I also hold you as a witness that half of my wealth - and I am among the wealthiest people in Madina - I give for the sake of Allah to the Muslims.” Umar said: “You will not be able to distribute your wealth to all the Muslims, so say, ‘I will distribute it to some of the followers of Muhammad.’” Both Zaid and Umar returned to the Messenger of Allah.  Zaid said to him: “I bear witness that there is no true deity worthy of being worshipped except Allah alone, and that Muhammad is the slave of Allah and His Messenger.” He believed in him, and witnessed many battles and then died in the Battle of Tabuk while he was encountering the enemy - may Allah have mercy on Zaid.

Ibn Hibban

A great example of his forgiveness and perseverance is apparent when he pardoned the people of Mecca after its conquest.  When the Messenger of Allah gathered the people; who had abused, harmed and tortured him and his companions, and had driven them out of the city of Mecca, he said:

“What do you think I will do to you?” They answered: “You will only do something favorable; you are a kind and generous brother, and a kind and generous nephew!” The Prophet said: “Go - you are free to do as you wish.”

Baihaqi


Truthfulness


Aisha, the wife of Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:

“The trait and characteristic which the Prophet hated most was lying.  A man would tell a lie in the presence of the Prophet and he would hold it against him, until he knew that he repented.”

Tirmidhi

Amazingly, his enemies attested to his truthfulness.  Abu Jahl, who was one of the staunchest enemies of Islam, said: “O Muhammad! I do not say that you are a liar! I only deny what you brought and what you call people to.” Allah says:

“We know indeed that what they say certainly grieves you, but surely they do not call you a liar; but the unjust deny the verses of Allah.”

(Quran 6:33)

Bravery and Courage


Ali said:

“You should have seen him on the Day of Badr! We sought refuge with the Messenger of Allah.  He was the closest among us to the enemy.  On that day, the Messenger of Allah was the strongest one among us.”

Ahmed

Anas, speaking of his courage in peace time, said:

“The Messenger of Allah was the best of people and the most courageous.  One night, the people of Madina were frightened and headed towards the sounds they heard during the night.  The Messenger of Allah met them while coming back from the place of the sound, after he made sure that there was no trouble.  He was riding a horse that belonged to Abu Talha without any saddle, and he had his sword with him.  He was assuring the people, saying: ‘Do not be frightened! Do not be frightened!”

Saheeh Al-Bukhari

He caught up with people riding a horse with no saddle, and he carried his sword.  He took the lead and did not wait for others to investigate the source of trouble.

Justice and Fairness


The Messenger of Allah was fair in every aspect of his life and in the application of the religion.  Aisha said:

“The people of Quraish were extremely concerned about a woman from the tribe of Makhzum who committed a theft.  Speaking to themselves, they said, ‘Who can intercede on her behalf with the Messenger of Allah?’

They finally said: ‘Who dares to speak to the Messenger of Allah in this matter except Usama, the son of Zaid, the most beloved young man to the Messenger of Allah.’ So Usama spoke to the Messenger of Allah regarding the woman.  The Messenger of Allah said:

‘O Usama! Do you intercede (on their behalf to disregard) one of Allah’s punishments!’

The Messenger of Allah got up and delivered a speech, saying:

‘People before you were destroyed because when the noble among them stole, they would let him go and if the poor and weak stole they would punish him.  By Allah! If Fatima, the daughter of Muhammad stole, I would cut off her hand.’”

Saheeh Al-Bukhari

His sense of fairness was so intense that he allowed others to avenge themselves if he harmed them.  Usaid, the son of Hudhair, said:

“A man from the Ansar, was cracking jokes with people and making them laugh, and the Prophet passed by him and poked him lightly with a branch of a tree that he was carrying. 

The man exclaimed: ‘O Prophet of Allah! Allow me to avenge myself!’

The Prophet said: ‘Go Ahead!’

The man said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, you are wearing a garment, and I was not when you poked me (i.e.  you jabbed my exposed skin, so it is only fair I do the same to you)!’

The Messenger of Allah raised his upper garment (to expose his side), and the Ansari (merely) kissed it, saying:

‘I only meant to do this, O Messenger of Allah!’”

Abu Dawud

Kindness and Compassion


The Prophet was the kindest of people and this was also apparent in his treatment of infants.

“The Messenger of Allah performed the salah (prayer) while he was carrying an infant girl named Umama, daughter of Abul-Aas.  When he bowed, he put her on the ground, and when he stood up, he would carry her again.”

Saheeh Al-Bukhari

Sincerity


The Prophet was sincere and honest in all his matters, as Allah had ordered him in the Quran:

“Say, Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds.  No partner has He.  And this I have been commanded and I am the first (among you) of the Muslims.”

(Quran 6:162-163)

Humility


The Messenger of Allah was the humblest person.  He was so humble that if a stranger were to enter the mosque and approach him while he was sitting with his Companions, one would not be able to distinguish him from the rest.  Anas said:

“Once, while we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah in the masjid, a man on his camel approached.  After he tied it with a rope, he asked: ‘Who amongst you is Muhammad?’  The Messenger of Allah was sitting on the ground while he was leaning, with his Companions.  We directed the Bedouin, saying: ‘This white man leaning on the ground!’ The Prophet did not differ nor distinguish himself from his Companions.”

The Prophet would not hesitate to help the poor, needy and widows in their needs.  Anas said:

“A woman from the people of Madina who was partially insane said to the Prophet: ‘I have to ask you [your help] about something.’ He helped her and took care of her needs.”

Saheeh Al-Bukhari