THE JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME WITH PROPHET MUHAMMAD THE PROPHET OF ALLAH 046 THE PROPHET’S DAILY LIFE by Khadeijah A. Stephens Copyright © 1984-2012 by Allah.com Muhammad.com Mosque.com Khadeijah A. Stephens Bismillah Ir Rahman Ir Raheem The Prophet’s Daily Life Prophet Muhammad Never Turned Away Anyone The Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) would neither turn away nor look down upon anyone, no matter whether they happened to be a believer or an unbeliever, rich or poor. His patience and genuine care were unparalleled, and no one except the most hard-hearted, ever left his company except with a gladdened heart. Prophet Muhammad Practiced What He Preached Prophet Muhammad (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) led an exemplary life. He practiced what he preached, and Allah honors him and bears witness in the Holy Koran saying: “Surely, you (Prophet Muhammad) are of a great morality.” 68:4 He taught his followers to care for one another and not to ignore a fellow Muslim when they were greeted with peace, but to respond with a greeting like it or one better. Under his guidance, the elderly were now respected and looked after with kindness. He encouraged the visitation of the sick and protecting one’s neighbors, no matter whether they were believers or not. He encouraged truthfulness, forbearance, and suppression of anger, saying that anger was from the heat of Hell, rather he promoted tolerance and forgiveness, all of which is in keeping with the teachings of the Koran. “….yet pardon them, and forgive; indeed Allah loves the good doers.” 5:13 He also told his Companions that when a fellow Muslim passed away, one should walk in the funeral procession and pray for the deceased. He warned his followers not to pass slanderous remarks, to lie, to be greedy, miserly, rude, arrogant, or conceited. He warned of obscene language, envy, injustice and amongst other harmful destructive characteristics, oppression. One day Sa’ad, Hisham’s son asked Lady Ayesha about the Prophet’s character. She asked Sa’ad if he recited the Koran, whereupon he replied that he did. Then she told him, “The moral nature of the Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) was that of the Koran.” Amongst his practice and characteristics mentioned in the Koran are: “Allah orders justice, and good deeds, and giving to one’s kindred. He forbids indecency, dishonor and insolence. He admonishes you in order that you take heed.” Koran 16:90 and “Surely, he who bears patiently and forgives, indeed that is true constancy.” Koran 42:43 “… Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not yearn that Allah forgives you?” Koran 24:22 “Repel with that which is most just and see, the one whom there is enmity between you will be as if he were a loyal guide.” Koran 41:34 “who spend in prosperity and in adversity, for those who curb their anger and those who forgive people. And Allah loves the charitable.” Koran 3:134 “Believers, abstain from most suspicion, some suspicion is a sin. Neither spy nor backbite one another.” Koran 49:12 Justice Prevails Whenever disputes arose between Muslims and other citizens of Medina, the Prophet the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) would arbitrate fairly between the parties and, as one might expect, justice always prevailed regardless of belief. In his personal life he treated his wives with equal fairness. He had no room of his own and devised a rota whereby he would stay one day with one wife, the next with another and so on. When he traveled he would draw lots between them to determine which wife would accompany him. The Prophet and Household Affairs Even though he was the greatest Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam), he did not consider it beneath himself to help with the daily household chores and would often be found modestly helping around the house and when the need arose, even mending his clothes. The Prophet’s Love of Little Children The Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) loved the company of little children and always had time to spare for them. He would listen to them and talk gently with them, and there was nothing the little ones loved more than when he kissed them or they held his hand as they walked with him. O mummy dear, O mummy dear, Why do trees bow in the wind? My darling child, my darling child, they bow in obedience to Him. O mummy dear, O mummy dear, how many leaves grow upon trees? My darling child, my darling child, Allah alone knows the number of these. O mummy dear, O mummy dear, who should I love best? My darling child, my darling child, It’s Allah and His Prophet, the kind, the blessed! Al Hasan and Al Husain It was always a great delight when Lady Fatima brought her very young sons, Al-Hasan and Al-Husain, to visit -- they were very dear to the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) would play with them and refer to them as "his sons". Little Hasan and Husain loved to accompany their beloved grandfather to the Mosque and would pray as best they could alongside him. However, one day as the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) prostrated in his prayer, one of his young grandsons climbed upon his back and sat there for quite a while. The Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) showed no sign of irritation and waited patiently for his grandson to climb down and then continued with his prayer. The Companions who were praying behind the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) were also prostrate and did not know the cause of its prolongation and wondered whether perhaps a new command had been sent down to extend the prostration. After the conclusion of the prayer they inquired about its length, whereupon the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) smiled and told them what had happened. Through the blessing of Allah and the example of His last Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam), there was harmony among the believers and no human being became dearer to them than their beloved Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam). In the years that followed, the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) told his Companions when they were asked to lead the congregational prayer on Friday, they should make the sermon brief out of consideration for the young and those in the congregation who were elderly or sick. Promotion of Personal Hygiene The Prophet, (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam), also spoke to his Companions on matters of personal hygiene and advised them to brush their teeth with the splayed end of a twig called a "Miswak", and informed them that their stomach should be filled with a third of food, another third with liquid, and the remaining third with air. He also taught them to cleanse themselves with water with the left hand after having answered a call to nature and to eat with their right hand, to keep their nails short and amongst other things to shave public hair. Anxiousness for his Company Many were the occasions that Prophet Muhammad (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) invited his Companions to share a meal with him. However, in their anxiousness for his company and to learn more from him, some had taken to arriving before the meal and then lingering after they had eaten, which was an intrusion on the Prophet's time. Then Allah sent down the verse: "Believers, do not enter the houses of the Prophet for a meal without waiting for the proper time, unless you are given permission. But if you are invited, enter, and when you have eaten, disperse, not desiring conversation, for that is hurtful to the Prophet and he would be shy before you; but of the truth Allah is not shy." Koran 33:53 On other occasions, rather than disturbing the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam), some of his Companions had taken to asking his wives from behind a curtain to relay their matters to him because Allah had sent down the instruction: " ... And when you ask his wives for any thing, speak to them from behind a curtain, this is cleaner for your hearts and theirs." Koran 33:53 Allah also informed the Companions that they were not permitted to marry his wives after the death of the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) saying: " ... nor shall you ever wed his wives after him, surely, this would be a monstrous thing with Allah." Koran 33:53 The Prophet’s Daily Life 046 Back Cover Subtitles Prophet Muhammad Never Turned Away Anyone Prophet Muhammad Practiced What He Preached Justice Prevails The Prophet and Household Affairs The Prophet’s Love of Little Children Al Hasan and Al Husain Promotion of Personal Hygiene Anxiousness for his Company