His Blessed Character

There are numerous cases throughout the blessed life of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم that demonstrate an exceptionally high level of mercy and forgiveness. One of the greatest of these cases is during the conquest of Makkah.

Makkah was the birthplace of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم where he lived for around 50 years of his blessed life. Despite this, the idol worshippers of Makkah persecuted the Muslims to a great extent, even leading to the deaths of some of them. They were boycotted, taunted, ridiculed and exposed to all kinds of harm. This eventually led to them migrating to the city of Madinah.

Yet, the struggle still continued with the Muslims and idol worshippers engaging in several battles. In these battles, close family and friends of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم were martyred. This does not do justice to the full conflict and the suffering the Muslims endured but gives just a brief glimpse. Eventually the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم conquered Makkah with an army that the idol worshippers had no hope at all of resisting.

Up till this point, we can only imagine how a normal individual would act in such a situation. They would feel anger and the need for revenge. The very same people who had caused so many years of harm are before them and they have them completely at their mercy. We would expect bloodshed out of such a situation at the very minimum.

But without a doubt, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was no ordinary individual. He forgave these very same people who had fought against him for so many years. The profound point in this was they became his devoted followers and went on to dedicate their lives towards the propagating of his message.

Despite being a ruler who held vast amounts of land under his control, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم chose to live a life of simplicity. It is important to highlight how this was done out of choice. It would have been quite easy for him to live an extravagant life, enjoying the pleasures of the world yet he did not do so.

This is truly something unique as if we look throughout history, kings have commonly lived in luxury, utilising their position to do so, even with only having a small amount of territory under their rule. The following case demonstrates this uniqueness of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.

Umar bin Khattab رضي الله عنه was one of the closest companions of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. He mentioned in a narration how he saw the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم on a mat which had left marks on his side. He further observed his simple living arrangements with only the basic necessities in the room. Upon this sight, his eyes welled up.

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم questioned him about this and he responded by mentioning how the mat had left marks on his side and the simple living arrangements he observed. Furthermore, he stated how lavishly the Persian and Roman emperors live and how despite him being a Messenger of God, his living space was the way it was. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم responded to him by saying:

Even after his passing from this temporal world, his blessed wife, Aisha رضي الله عنها reported how he left with only some food and basic furnishings which belonged to her remaining. Compare this with the vast amounts of wealth people leave behind despite being in a much less powerful and influential position.

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was known to be extremely generous. It was known that he would not be asked to give except that he did so.

One particular case mentions how he gave a man a herd of sheep found between two mountains. The man remarked to his people how Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم gives like the one who does not fear destitution (Sahih Muslim, 2312).

Combine this with his humility and it adds further emphasis as to how he chose this way, with not having an interest regarding the joys of this temporal world.

This is without a doubt one of the key attributes when looking towards a claim of prophethood. And without any exaggeration, it is one of the fundamental aspects of the Prophet's صلى الله عليه وسلم character.

He was called Al-Amin (the trustworthy) by the people of Makkah even before the announcement of his Prophethood. This is further certified through an interaction involving Abu Sufyan, who was not a Muslim at the time but later converted, regarding a conversation he had with the Byzantine emperor, Heraclius. Heraclius asked him whether he accused the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم as a liar, to which he replied "no" (Sahih al-Bukhari, 4278). It should be kept in mind this was at a time when he was not a Muslim and was actively against them.

If this is not enough, one of the most mass-transmitted narrations from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم is one where he famously stated: "Whoever tells a lie against me intentionally, he should take his seat in the Fire." Scholars have commented how this includes those who may lie even to promote Islam and how this is one of the worst kinds of lies. This reflects the high level of honesty that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم upheld despite the situation.

The courage of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was displayed numerous times throughout his blessed life. Although he was well known for his mercy and kindness, this was not a barrier in him doing what was necessary when the situation required.

He would put his own life at risk in battles despite being a leader who had devoted followers. This level of bravery is rarely found, if found at all, in leaders of states or even armies. Usually, such people would take a backseat and allow their soldiers to fight for them.

As the period of the childhood of the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم ended and he became a young man, his youth remained uniquely pristine. In his youth, he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم was an embodiment of modesty, chastity and dignity.

Even before the declaration of Nubuwwah (Prophethood), his life was a treasure of good manners and habits. He صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم had qualities such as truthfulness, honesty, loyalty, fulfilment of promise, respect for elders, sympathy with younger ones, affection for relatives, mercy, generosity, service to the nation, sympathy with friends, comforting relatives, caring for the poor and the destitute, behaving nicely even towards enemies and well-wishing of creatures.

He صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم had such unique attributes that even very great human beings could not even think of them, let alone having them. Less talking, hating useless talking, meeting friends and enemies with a smiling face and talking about any matter sincerely and truthfully were some of the particular attributes of the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم.

He صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم was completely free from bad attributes such as greed, fraud, deception, lying, drinking alcohol, fornication, dancing, singing, plundering, looting, stealing, indecent talking and having love affairs.

It was as if all of these bad habits were in the nature of every child in the pre-Islamic era of ignorance but he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم was absolutely free from them. He صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم was famous for his honesty, truthfulness and trustworthiness in entire Arabia. Everyone, whether old or young, was highly impressed with his good character and all held him in high regard.

He صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم was now about forty years of age. Despite living in the era of ignorance, he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم was absolutely free from all polytheistic traditions and practices of the pre-Islamic era of ignorance.

Makkah was the biggest center of polytheism and idol-worship. Even in the Holy Ka'bah, 360 idols used to be worshipped. The relatives of the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم were the custodians of the Holy Ka'bah but he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم never once bowed to idols.

In short, even before receiving the Divine revelation and before making the declaration of Nubuwwah, he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم spent a perfect life with good manners and excellent deeds and was completely free from all faults and defects. After he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم made the declaration of Nubuwwah, his enemies tried very hard to find even a minor fault in his character or something even slightly improper in any phase of his life in order to damage his prestige and to stain his honour but they could not do so.

Annals of history reveal that thousands of enemies spared no effort to find anything indecent in order to point a finger at him but they could not find any such thing. Hence every human being must accept the fact that the character of the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم is so unique and amazing that it is impossible for anyone other than a Nabi to have it.

This is the reason why fortunate people believed in him and devoted their bodies, hearts and wealth to him. They made so great self-sacrifices that other devotees of the Rasool were also inspired to make self-sacrifices. Those who accept the reality prefer to follow his truthfulness rather than their intellect alone. They follow Islam like true devotees.