THE EXCELLENCE OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD’S CHARACTER, PHYSIQUE AND BLESSINGS Part 3 Extracted from The Cure SAHIH-SHEFA by Supreme Justice Abulfadl Eyad, died (1123CE - Islamic Year 544H) Reported by Grand Muhaddith Habib Hafiz Abdullah Ben Sadek Revised by Muhaddith Abdullah Talidi An adaptation by Servant of Hadith, Shaykh Ahmad Darwish (Arabic) Khadeijah A. Stephens (English) Ayesha Nadriya (Indonesian) Copyright © 1984-2011 Allah.com Muhammad.com. All rights reserved. Terms of Service - Copyright/IP Policy – Guidelines The Prophet's Mercy and Compassion Allah says, "Indeed, there has come to you a Messenger from your own, he grieves for your suffering, and is anxious about you, and is gentle, merciful to the believers" (9:128) and speaks of Prophet Muhammad saying, "We have not sent you except as a mercy to all the worlds" (21:107). (Shaykh Darwish added: Allah made His Prophet's gentle disposition, concern and mercy encompass every sector of His creation. Part of the Prophet's excellence is that Allah adorned him with two of His Names when He said, "and is gentle, merciful" (9:128)). Safwan said, "By Allah, he (the Prophet ) gave me what he gave me. To me he (the Prophet ) was the most hated of people yet he continued to give me until he became the most beloved of all people to me." Upon reflection one sees that amongst his merciful way of dealing with his nation was that he made things easy for them. There were things he restrained himself from doing as he feared they might become obligatory for them. For example, he said, "If I had not been merciful to my nation, I would have ordered them to use a use a siwak (also called miswaak or sewak which is a hygienical tooth cleaning twig from the Arak, Peelu or Salvadora Persica trees. Its paste has now been added to Signal's range of tooth paste but they omitted to give the Prophet Muhammad the credit) each time they made ablution." What is meant by 'my nation' refers to everyone during the time of the Prophet and those who would come after, up until the Last Day. The Prophet’s mercy and concern for his nation is further demonstrated in the amount of time to be spent during the night in prayer and the forbidding of continuous fasting. The reason he disliked entering inside the room within the Ka’bah was the fear that it might become obligatory upon his nation. If the Prophet heard a child cry during the prayer, his tender loving care was evident. He would shorten his recitation and reduce the prayer essentials to the minimum. The Prophet’s tender mercy is seen when he supplicated to Allah saying, "Should I ever curse a man, or supplicate against him, let it be for him charity, mercy, supplication, purification, and a coming closer by which he will come closer to You on the Day of Resurrection." Even when the Prophet’s people rejected him, his mercy prevailed. We recall the time when the Archangel Gabriel, peace be upon him, came to him saying, "Allah has heard what your nation say and their rejection of you. He has ordered the Angel of the Mountains to obey whatever you tell him to do." Thereafter, the Angel of the Mountains called him and greeted him saying, "Send me to do whatsoever you wish. If you wish I will crush them between the two mountains of Mecca." In his tender, caring mercy, the Prophet replied, "No, rather it is my hope that Allah will bring forth from their loins those who will worship Allah alone and not associate anything with Him." Lady Ayesha, Mother of Believers, may Allah be pleased with her, confirmed that whenever the Prophet was given the choice between two matters he always chose the easier of the two. Masood's son commented, "The Messenger of Allah was careful when he warned us because he feared it might tire us." There was an occasion when Lady Ayesha, peace be upon her, rode an obstinate camel, whereupon the Prophet spoke gently to her saying, "You should be merciful" (so that others may follow her example). The Integrity of the Prophet in Promises and Family Ties Anas tells us a gift was given to the Prophet and he said, "Take it to such-and-such a lady's house, she was a friend of Khadijah and loved her." Lady Ayesha, may Allah be pleased with her, said, "When the Prophet mentioned Khadijah, I felt no woman had a greater advantage than her. When he sacrificed a sheep he would send some to her friends and when her sister asked permission to enter he was happy to see her." Lady Ayesha also said, "A lady came to him and he welcomed her with kindness and inquired about her at length. When she left the Prophet said, 'She used to come to us when Khadijah was with us. Maintaining promises is part of belief." The Prophet said, "The tribesmen of the children of so-and-so are not my friends, but there are kindred ties between us, so we will treat them with kindness on account of their kinship." The Prophet’s daughter, Lady Zaynab, may Allah be pleased with her, had a daughter named Umamah whom the Prophet used to carry on his shoulders. When he prostrated he would put her down, and when he stood up he would pick Umamah up. 'Amr, As-Sa'ibs son said, "One day as the Messenger of Allah was sitting his foster father by suckling came to him. The Prophet spread out part of his garment for him and the man sat down. Thereafter, his suckling mother came and he put the other half of his garment on the opposite side so that she too might sit on it. Then, his suckling brother came and the Prophet got up for him and let his brother sit down in front of him." After the Archangel Gabriel brought Prophet Muhammad the first Revelation, he was shaken and returned to his wife Lady Khadijah, may Allah be pleased with her. She immediately comforted him and attested to the uprightness of his character saying, "By Allah, be happy. Allah will never cause you to grieve. You preserve the ties of kinship, you help those in need, you are hospitable to guests, and assist people to receive what is due to them" (As reported in Muslim). The Humility of the Prophet Although Allah raised the Prophet to the highest rank and position he remained extremely humble; no trace of pride was ever observed in him. The proof of this is when he was offered a choice between being a king-prophet or a worshipper-prophet and he chose the latter. His humility is further demonstrated as the father of Umamah tells us, "The Messenger of Allah came out to us leaning on his walking stick, and we got up for him but he, in all humility, said, 'Do not get up as it is the way the Persians to show their respect for one another." Of himself, the Prophet said, "I am a servant. I eat as a servant eats and I sit as a servant sits." The Prophet was never too proud to visit and sit with the poorest of people and never declined an invitation of a servant. He would sit with his Companions and mingle with them and was not choosey where he sat. As for riding, he would ride a donkey and share the ride with another who would mount behind him. The Prophet disliked excessive praise for himself and Omar tells us that the Prophet said, "Do not lavish praise on me as the Christians do on the son of Mary (by associating me in a trinity). I am a worshiper, so say 'the worshiper of Allah and His Messenger'." The Prophet never shunned people and Anas relates the story of a woman, whose mental capacity was below normal who met the Prophet and said, "I need something from you." Rather than turning her away he told her "Come, sit down, mother of so-and-so, I will sit with you in any of the roads in Medina until you get what you need." Anas went on to say that it was only after the woman sat down that the Prophet sat and he stayed with her until her need was met. Anas further sheds light on the humility of the Prophet and recorded that during the conflict with the tribe of Korithah he rode a donkey with a bridle made from palm-fiber. Even when the Prophet was invited to eat bread made from coarse barley and rancid butter he never declined the invitation. He further tells us that after the Opening of Mecca, the Prophet went on pilgrimage riding a mount with a well worn saddle over which was placed a worn cloth that could only have been worth four dirhams. And he supplicated saying, "O Allah, make it an accepted pilgrimage without ostentation or desire of earning a reputation." During this pilgrimage he sacrificed one hundred camels and fed everyone in the City. The Prophet’s humility is highlighted again upon the Opening of Mecca when he entered the City with his band of followers. Rather than making a triumphant entry he rode humbled to Allah, bowing his head so low that it very nearly touched the saddle of his ride. Among the many signs of his humility is that the Prophet said, "Do not prefer me over Prophet Jonah, Matta's son, neither generate rivalry between the prophets, nor prefer me over Moses…. Had I remained in prison like Joseph, I would have answered the summons." Someone once said to the Prophet "O best of creation!" He replied, "That was Abraham". Lady Ayesha said that the Prophet would do housework like the other members of his family, rid his clothes from barbs, milk his sheep and patch his garment, and repair his sandals. Anas tells us that any female who served in the household of the Prophet could take hold of his hand and take him wherever she wished to go until he satisfied her need. A man came to the Prophet and when he saw him began to tremble on account of timidity, but the Prophet put him at ease straight away saying, "Be calm, I am not a king, I am the son of a woman from the Koraysh who eats dried meat." On another occasion, the Prophet and Abu Hurayrah went to the market where the Prophet purchased a loin cloth. He told the merchant, "Weigh and then add some more." The man jumped up to kiss the hand of the Prophet but he immediately withdrew his hand saying, "This is what the Persians do with their kings. I am not a king, I am one of your men." Then he took his loin cloth and carried it saying, "The owner is more entitled to carry his property." The Justice of the Prophet Of all people, the Prophet was by far the most trustworthy, just, well-mannered and truthful. Even his opponents and enemies never denied these qualities. Before he was called to the prophethood he was called by all "the trustworthy". Isaac's son said explained, "He was called, 'the trustworthy' on account of the favor of Allah to him that granted him a concentration of all the indisputable qualities of goodness." When it came to placing the Black Stone during the rebuilding of Ka'bah each of the chieftains of the Koraysh sought the honor of being the one to place the Stone and a heated argument which was to continue for several days erupted. To resolve the dispute they all agreed that the first man to enter the precincts of Ka'bah would be the adjudicator. The Prophet was the first to enter and they said, "This is Muhammad, the trustworthy. We are satisfied with him", and the dispute was settled amicably. Ar Rabi, Khuthaym's son informs us that when there was a dispute between two parties in the "Time of Ignorance" (pre-Islamic days) and the Messenger of Allah was called upon to gave a judgment and that none disputed his judgment. The Prophet informs us, "By Allah, I am the one who is trustworthy in the heavens and the one who is trustworthy in the earth." Even Abu Jahl, whose hatred of the Prophet is well documented said to him, "We do not call you a liar, rather, we say what you have brought is a lie." Thereafter Allah sent down the verse, "We know what they say saddens you. It is not you that they belie; but the harm-doers deny the verses or Allah" (6:33). When Heraclius, the Emperor of Rome examined Abu Sufyan about the veracity of the Prophet he asked, "Did you ever suspect him of being a liar before he said what he says?" Abu Sufyan replied, "No." When it came to women, it is reported in the hadith that the Prophet never touched a woman over whom he did not have rights. Ali described the Prophet saying, "He was the most truthful of people." Prophet Muhammad told the people, "May Allah have mercy on you, who will be just if I am not just? If I am not just I will fail and lose." Lady Ayesha, Mother of Believers, may Allah be pleased with her, confirms whenever the Prophet was given the choice between two matters he always chose the easier of the two as long as it was not sinful. If it was sinful then he was the furthest of people from it." Imam Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, said he heard the Prophet say, "There were only two occasions when I was close to the improper practices practiced by the people during the 'Time of Ignorance' and on both occasions Allah prevented me. I have never considered doing anything like them ever since Allah honored me with His Message. One of the two occasions occurred one night when I asked a boy who was my fellow herdsman, to watch the sheep for me while I went to Mecca to spend the night. As I approached, I heard the playing of flutes and drums coming from one of the houses in Mecca as they celebrated someone’s marriage. I had just sat to watch when suddenly, my sense of hearing ceased and I was overcome by sleep, and nothing but the warmth of the sun woke me and I returned without having participated. The same thing happened another time, and since then I have never considered doing anything improper." The Dignified Refinement and Disposition of the Prophet The Companion Abu Sayeid Al Khudri observed the posture of the Prophet during meetings. He tells us that on most occasions he would sit with his hands clasped around his legs which he had pulled up to his stomach. Jabir, Samura's son said that the Prophet sat cross-legged. As for the way in which the Prophet walked, he inclined forward, similar to the way in which one walks when is going down a slope. It has also been reported that as he walked he concentrated, his pace was moderate and he neither walked hastily nor did he tarry. Abdullah, Masood's son said, "The best guidance is that of Muhammad ." Jabir, Abdullah's son informs that, "The words of the Messenger of Allah elegant in their phrasing and flowed easily." Lady Ayesha, may Allah be pleased with her, tells us that when he spoke the Prophet would say it in such a way that a person could count his words, if he wished to do so. The Prophet would perfume himself and was known to love fragrant aromas and perfume. He used them often and encouraged their use saying, "I have been made to love three things in this world of yours – women, perfume, but the coolness of my eye is in the prayer." The Prophet forbade people to blow over food and drink, and ordered them to eat what was near to them. He commended the use of a tooth-stick, cleaning between the fingers and toes, and cleansing the body including the removal of pubic hair. The Abstinence of the Prophet We have already mentioned many traditions depicting the Prophet's simplified life style in previous sections and it suffices to say that he was content with little, and turned away from worldly attractions. On many occasions the Prophet was given the riches of the world, yet he did not keep them, rather, he immediately gave them away, and when he died he owned nothing except his armor which he had pawned to a Jew so that he might feed his family. His supplication for his family was, "O Allah, make the provision of the family of Muhammad nourishment with no excess." Lady Ayesha, may Allah be pleased with her, said, "The Messenger of Allah never had his fill of bread for three consecutive days up to the day he passed away." Lady Ayesha, may Allah be pleased with her, confirmed, "The Messenger of Allah left neither a single dirham nor dinar, nor a sheep, nor a camel." Al Harith's son, Amr said, "The Messenger of Allah left only his armor, his mule and some land which he had gifted as charity." Lady Ayesha, may Allah be pleased with her, said, "When he passed away, there was nothing in his house that a creature could eat except some barley on one of my shelves." Lady Ayesha, may Allah be pleased with her, said, "We, the family of Muhammad would sometimes go for a month without lighting a fire; there was nothing except dates and water." And Abdur Rahman, 'Awfs son tells us that at the time of the death of the Messenger of Allah he and his household did not have even as much their fill of barley bread." Ayesha, Abu Ummamah Al-Ansari and Abbas' son said likewise. Abbas' son, tells us that the Messenger of Allah and his family, would not find anything for their evening meal on many consecutive nights. From Anas we learn of eating habits of the Messenger of Allah said, "He did not eat off a table or from a plate. Fine bread was not made for him neither a boiled sheep." As for the bed of the Prophet it was a skin stuffed with palm fiber. It is also reported that sometimes he slept on a bed made from palm-rope which left imprints on his side. The Prophet's Fear of Allah, and Intensity of his Worship The Prophet's fear of Allah, his obedience to Him, and the intensity of his worshipping Allah were rooted in his knowledge of his Lord. Abu Hurayrah tells us that the Messenger of Allah would say, "If you knew what I know, you would laugh but a little and weep a lot." Abu Dharr added further information telling us that he said, "I see what you do not see, and hear what you do not. The heaven cries out, and it cries out rightfully. There is not a single place in it, the width of four fingers that, does not contain an angel whose forehead is prostrating to Allah. By Allah, if you know what I know, you would laugh but a little and weep a lot, and you would not have enjoyed women in your beds, rather you would have gone out to the high places screaming to Allah…. "Abu Dharr commented, "Would that I were a fallen tree!" Lady Ayesha, wife of the Prophet, Mother of Believers and several of the Companions including Abu Hurayrah tell us that the Prophet would stand in prayer so much that his feet became swollen. When he was asked why he burdened himself in such a way when Allah had already given him the status coverage of forgiveness for past and future sins (by protection from sinning) he replied, "Shouldn't I be a grateful worshiper?" Lady Ayesha, may Allah be pleased with her, described the Prophet as being steadfast in every thing he did and she asked his Companions, "Who amongst you can do what he could do?" The Prophet would fast a lot and Lady Ayesha, peace be upon her, tells us, "He would fast until we said, 'he will not stop fasting!' He would also abstain from fasting until we would think, 'He will not fast.'" Abbas' son and Umm Salama said likewise. Anas said, "If you did not expect to see him praying at night you would find him praying, and if you did not expect he was sleeping you would find him sleeping." One night Malik's son, Awf was present when the Prophet prepared himself to pray and observed that before the Prophet made his ablution he used a tooth stick (siwak) and thereafter stood in prayer and he prayed alongside the Prophet During his recitation of the chapter "The Cow" he would stop and supplicate to Allah after he had recited a verse pertaining to mercy and after he recited a verse pertaining to punishment he would stop and seek refuge with Allah. His bowing was the length of his standing and he would say, "Exaltations be to the Owner of the worldly earth and the entire universe with its angels, of Greatness and Might." Thereafter he prostrated and said something similar. Then he recited the Chapter "The House of Imran" and so on, chapter by chapter. Hudhayfa said likewise adding that the Prophet would prostrate for the same length of time as his standing, and he would sit for a similar length of time between the two prostrations. He would stand and recite the Cow Chapter, The House of Imran and The Table chapters. Lady Ayesha tells us that the Messenger of Allah would stand throughout the entire night reciting a single verse of the Koran. Ash Shankhir's son, Abdullah tells us that he went to see the Messenger of Allah and found him praying. As he prayed he heard sobbing coming from his chest and its sound was similar to the boiling of a large pot. The Prophet told his Companions that he asked Allah to forgive him one hundred times a day. In another narration it is reported seventy times a day. The Qualities of the Noble Prophets of Allah Each and every noble prophet and messenger of Allah was blessed with a perfect disposition, peace be upon all of them. They were handsome and their lineage noble. Their character was good as was their behavior. This is because they all possessed the attributes of perfection. They guided towards the complete code of human spiritual behavior which was to be completed by Prophet Muhammad and practiced virtuous deeds on account of their rank being of the most noble and their degree being of the highest. Allah tells us that He preferred some of the prophets and messengers over others with His words, "Of these Messengers, We have preferred some above others. To some Allah spoke; and some He raised in rank. We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear signs and strengthened him with the Spirit of Purity (Gabriel)" (2:253). He also tells us, "and We chose them, out of a knowledge above the nations (of their time)" (44:32). Prophet Muhammad said, "The first group to enter the Paradise will be like the full moon…… every man will be in the height of their father Adam who was sixty cubits tall." The description of several of the prophets has been made known to us by Prophet Muhammad who tells us, "I saw Moses, he was slender with wavy hair and his nose was long with a slight raise in the middle . He resembled the men of Shanu'a. I saw Jesus, he was of medium height with a reddish face, just as if he had come out after having taken a hot bath." Of himself the Prophet said, "Among the descendants of Abraham, I am the one who most resembles him." The Prophet gave additional information about Moses saying, "He is like the best men you have ever seen with a dark complexion." Abu Hurayrah tells us, "After Prophet Lot, Allah did not send a prophet except that he was from the most elite members of his nation. When Heraclius (Emperor of Rome), asked about the Prophet he said, "I questioned you about his lineage and you told me that he was of noble lineage. That is the characteristic of all the Messengers that were sent, all were from a noble lineage." There are many references to the prophets and messengers who were preferred by Allah in the Holy Koran, some of which are mentioned below: Of Prophet Job, Allah says, "We found him to be patient, a good worshiper and he was penitent" (38:44). Of Prophet John, Allah says, "'O John, hold fast to the Book' and We bestowed upon him judgment while yet a child, and tenderness from Us and purity, and he was cautious; honoring his parents, being neither arrogant nor rebellious. Peace be upon him on the day he was born and the day he dies, and on the day when he is raised up alive" (19:12-15). He also tells us of the time Prophet Zachariah, peace be upon him, was given the good news of a son, "Allah gives you glad tidings of John, who shall confirm a Word from Allah. He shall be a master and chaste, a Prophet and from the righteous" (3:39) Allah tells us, "Allah chose Adam and Noah, the House of Abraham and the House of Imran above all worlds" (3:33-34). Of Prophet Noah He says, "He was a truly thankful worshiper" (17:3). Of Prophet Jesus He says, "When the angels said, 'O Mary, Allah gives you glad tidings of a Word (Be) from Him, whose name is Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary. He shall be honored in this world and in the Everlasting Life – and he shall be among those who are close" (3:45) Allah quotes Prophet Jesus who said, "I am the worshiper of Allah. Allah has given me the Book and made me a Prophet. (He has made me) kind to my mother; He has not made me arrogant, unprosperous. He made me to be blessed wherever I am, and He has charged me with prayer and charity for as long as I shall live" (19:29-31). Regarding Moses Allah said, "Believers, do not be like those who hurt Moses" (33:69). Prophet Muhammad , tells us that Prophet Moses, peace be upon him, was a shy man who covered himself. No part of his body was seen on account of his shyness. Allah quotes Moses as saying, "But my Lord has given me judgment and made me one of the Messengers" (26:21) Several of the prophets are mentioned by Allah in the Koran as saying to their people, "I am for you an honest Messenger" (26:107). Referring to Moses, Allah says, "One of the two women said, 'Father, hire him. The best who you can hire, is the strong, the honest." (28:26). And for their Seal, Allah said, "Be patient, as the Messengers of might were patient, and do not hasten it for them. On the Day when they see what they have been promised, it will be as if they did not stay except an hour of a day. (This Koran is) a Conveyance! Shall any be destroyed except the nation of evildoers (46:35). In reference to Abraham, Allah says, "We gave him Isaac and Jacob and guided both, and We guided Noah before them, among his descendants were David and Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses and Aaron – as such, We recompense the good-doers, and Zachariah, John, Jesus and Elias, each was of the righteous, and Ishmael, Elisha, Jonah and Lot. Each We preferred above the worlds as We did their fathers, their descendants, and their brothers. We chose them and guided them to a Straight Path. Such is the guidance of Allah by it He guides whom He will of His worshipers. Had they associated (others with Him), their labors would have indeed been annulled. Those, We have given them the Book, judgment, and Prophethood. If these disbelieve it, We have entrusted it to others who do not disbelieve in it. Those were whom Allah guided. Follow then their guidance and say, 'I do not ask you a wage for it. Surely, it is a reminder to the worlds.'" (6:84-90). Allah describes the prophets and messengers as possessors of many fine qualities; right action, chosen, judgment and prophecy, peace be upon all of them. Concerning Isaac, Allah tells us that the angels said to Abraham, "'Have no fear', and gave him the glad tidings that he was to have a knowledgeable son" (51:28). Concerning Ishmael, the first son born to Abraham, Allah says, "And We gave him the glad tidings of a very gentle son" (37:101). Allah says, "We tried Pharaoh's nation before them. A noble Messenger came to them (saying), 'Be obedient to me O worshipers of Allah, I am your honest Messenger" (44:17-18). At the time when Abraham was about to fulfill his sacrificial vision of his son, Ishmael told him, "Father, do as you are ordered (by Allah). Allah willing, you shall find me one of those who are steadfast" (37:102). Of Ishmael, Allah says, "And mention in the Book, Ishmael; he too was true to his promise, a Messenger and a Prophet. And he ordered his people to pray and to give charity and his Lord was pleased with him." (19:54-55) Allah tells us that Solomon was, "an excellent worshiper, he was penitent" (38:30). Allah calls upon us to remember, ”Also, remember Our worshipers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, those of might and vision. Indeed, We purified them with a most pure quality, the remembrance of the Everlasting Life. Indeed with Us they are among the chosen; the excellent" (38:45-47). Of David, He says, "Our worshiper David, a man of might. He was ever turning in repentance" (38:17), and, "We made his kingdom strong and gave him wisdom and decisive speech" (38:20). Of Joseph, Allah says, "He (Joseph) said: 'Give me charge of the storehouses of the land, I am a knowledgeable guardian" (12:55). Of Moses, Allah says, "He (Moses) said, 'If Allah wills, you shall find me patient.'" (18:69). Allah mentions the saying of Shu'aib, "Surely, you will find me, if Allah wills, among the good" (28:27). And, "I do not desire to go behind you, taking for myself that which I forbid you. I seek but to reform as much as I can" (11:88). Of Lot, Allah tells us, "To Lot, We gave judgment and knowledge" (21:74). Allah tells us, "They raced with each other in good works and called on Us out of yearning and awe, and they were humble to Us" (21:90). There are many hadiths which detail the fine qualities and characteristics of the prophets. Prophet Muhammad , described the noble lineage of Prophet Joseph, saying, "The noble son of a noble son, of a noble son of a noble man, Joseph, son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham the prophet., son of a prophet, son of a prophet, son of a prophet." He also said, "The eyes of the prophets slept, but their hearts did not sleep." Abu Hurayrah heard the Prophet say, "Recitation was made easy for him. He would order his mount and turn it loose, and would finish his recitation before his mount wandered off." David ate only from the labor of his own hands and would ask Allah to provide for him from the work of his own labor so that he would not need to take anything from the treasury. Allah tells us, "And We softened iron for him, (saying) 'Make large coats of mail and measure their links well.'" (34:10-11). Prophet Muhammad told his Companions, "The prayer Allah loves most is that of David, and the fast Allah loves most is that of David. He would sleep for half of the night, stand up for a third and sleep again for a sixth. He would fast alternate days. He wore wool and slept on hair. He ate barley bread mixed with salt and ashes. Prophet Muhammad spoke of the trials of previous prophets saying, "Some of the prophets before me were tested with poverty …. They preferred trials as you prefer gifts." These reports have all been recorded and the perfect attributes of the prophets and messengers together with their good character, handsome features and qualities are well known. Should you read contrary to these reports in other books, know that the historian or commentator is among the ill-informed. We have already spoken about several of the Prophet's praiseworthy qualities, his excellent virtues and perfect attributes, and brought you ample proof through reliable reports that all these qualities are truthful. However, one must be aware that these reports are but a sample and that there are so many more to learn, collect and study.