His character: a mercy to the worlds

You have followed the life of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, from Makkah to Madinah. Now look at the man himself. Allah praised his character directly:

And indeed, you are of a great moral character.

Quran 68:4 (Saheeh International translation of the meaning)

A man once asked Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, to describe the Prophet's character. She asked him: "Do you not recite the Qur’an?" He said yes. She said:

In other words, what the Quran teaches, he lived. Anas ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, who served him for years, said he "was the best of people in terms of morals" (Sahih al-Bukhari 6203 and Sahih Muslim 2310).

A mercy to all

And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.

Quran 21:107 (Saheeh International translation of the meaning)

His mercy reached everyone around him: children, animals, his family, the people who served him, and even those who hurt him.

With children

He once kissed his grandson al-Hasan, may Allah be pleased with him, while a man named al-Aqra' ibn Habis, may Allah be pleased with him, was sitting with him. Al-Aqra' said: "I have ten children, and I have never kissed any of them." The Prophet looked at him and said:

Whoever does not show mercy will not be shown mercy!

Sahih al-Bukhari 5997 and Sahih Muslim 2318 (agreed upon)

He would pray while carrying his little granddaughter Umamah, may Allah be pleased with her, putting her down when he prostrated and picking her up when he stood (Sahih al-Bukhari 516 and Sahih Muslim 543). And when he led the prayer and heard a baby crying, he would shorten it so as not to make things hard for the mother (Sahih al-Bukhari 707).

With animals

He told of a man who, while walking on a road, found a dog panting with thirst. The man climbed down a well, filled his shoe with water, and gave the dog a drink, and Allah forgave him. The companions asked whether there is reward even for kindness to animals. He said:

There is a reward for (quenching the thirst of) every living creature.

Sahih al-Bukhari 2363 and Sahih Muslim 2244 (agreed upon)

Once he entered a garden in Madinah where a camel, seeing him, groaned with tears in its eyes. He went to it and stroked it until it calmed down, then said to its young owner:

Do you not fear Allah regarding this animal which Allah has placed in your possession? It is complaining to me that you starve it and put it to toil.

Sunan Abi Dawud 2549 (sahih, al-Albani)

With people

Anas ibn Malik served him for ten years, and said the Prophet never once said "uff" to him (a word of annoyance), and never asked him "Why did you do that?" or "Why didn't you do that?" (Sahih al-Bukhari 6038 and Sahih Muslim 2309). At home, Aisha said, he helped and served his family, and when the time for prayer came he went out to pray (Sahih al-Bukhari 676). She also said he never struck a woman or a servant with his hand (Sahih Muslim 2328).

When a Jewish boy who used to serve him fell ill, the Prophet went to visit him and sat by his head (Sahih al-Bukhari 1356). And Aisha summed up how he treated those who wronged him:

He did not repay evil with evil; rather, he would pardon and forgive.

Sunan al-Tirmidhi 2016 (hasan sahih)

Following his example today

There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often.

Quran 33:21 (Saheeh International translation of the meaning)

You do not need to change everything at once. Choose one quality and practise it this week:

You have completed the life of the Prophet. Check what you have learned below. Next, you will meet the prophets who came before him, peace be upon them all.

Sources

• Quran 68:4 (Saheeh International translation) (opens in a new tab)

• Sahih Muslim 746 (opens in a new tab)

• Sahih al-Bukhari 6203 and Sahih Muslim 2310 (agreed upon) (opens in a new tab)

• Quran 21:107 (Saheeh International translation) (opens in a new tab)

• Sahih al-Bukhari 5997 and Sahih Muslim 2318 (agreed upon) (opens in a new tab)

• Sahih al-Bukhari 516 and Sahih Muslim 543 (agreed upon) (opens in a new tab)

• Sahih al-Bukhari 707 (opens in a new tab)

• Sahih al-Bukhari 2363 and Sahih Muslim 2244 (agreed upon) (opens in a new tab)

• Sunan Abi Dawud 2549 (sahih, al-Albani) (opens in a new tab)

• Sahih al-Bukhari 6038 and Sahih Muslim 2309 (opens in a new tab)

• Sahih al-Bukhari 676 (opens in a new tab)

• Sahih Muslim 2328 (opens in a new tab)