1. Rubb: Some prefer to translate the term 'Rubb' into 'Lord.' Beside the fact that the latter is a Biblical term referring to the alleged lordship of the slave of Allah, Prophet Jesus, the word ‘lord’ which is limited to ‘master', 'chief', ‘proprietor’, or 'ruler', can never convey the conclusive signification of the term 'Rubb'. Among other signification, the term 'Rubb' means, the Creator, the Fashioner, the Provider, the One upon Whom all creatures depend for their means of subsistence, and the One Who gives life and causes death.

2. Deen: The word translated as religion is 'Deen', which in Arabic commonly refers to a way of life, which is both private and public. It is an inclusive term meaning: acts of worship, political practice, and a detailed code of conduct, including hygiene or etiquette matters.

3. Sal'lal'laahu a'laihi wa sal'lam. Some translate it as 'peace be upon him'. This translation is incorrect; the correct translation is, 'may Allah exalt his mention, and render him and his household safe and secure from every derogatory thing'.

All praise is due to Allah, the Rubb of the worlds, and may Allah exalt the mention of His Prophet, and render him and his household safe and secure from all derogatory things.

When talking about Prophet Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention, one should keep in mind that he is talking about the greatest individual in history. This is not a baseless claim; for the one who reads his biography, and learns of his mannerisms and ethics, while keeping aside all preconceived notions would certainly reach this conclusion. Some fair and just non-Muslims have reached this conclusion as well.

Professor Hasan Ali, may Allah have mercy on him, said in his magazine 'Noor al-Islam' that a Brahmin colleague of his once told him: 'I recognize and believe that the Messenger of Islam is the greatest and most mature man in history.' Professor Hasan Ali, may Allah have mercy on him, asked him: 'Why do you consider him as the greatest and most mature man?' He answered: 'No man possessed the characteristics, mannerisms and ethics that he possessed at one time. He was a king under whom the entire peninsula was unified; yet he was humble. He believed that the dominion belonged to his God alone. Great riches would come to him, and yet he lived in a state of poverty; fire would not be lit in his house for many days and he would stay hungry. He was a great leader; he led small numbers into battle against thousands, and yet he would decisively defeat them. He loved peace agreements, and would agree to them with a firm heart; even though he had thousands of his brave and courageous Companions by his side. Each Companion was very brave and could confront a thousand enemies alone, while not feeling the least bit intimidated. Yet, the Prophet was kind-hearted, merciful, and did not want to shed a drop of blood. He was deeply concerned about the affairs of the Arabian Peninsula, yet he did not neglect the affairs of his family, household, or the poor and needy. He was keen to disseminate Islam amongst those who had gone astray. In general, he was a man concerned with the betterment and wellbeing of mankind, yet he did not indulge in amassing worldly fortune. He busied himself with the worship of Allah and loved doings deeds which pleased Allah. He never avenged himself on account of personal reasons. He even prayed for his enemies' wellbeing, and would warn them of the punishment of Allah.

He was an ascetic regarding worldly affairs and would worship Allah throughout the night. He was the brave and courageous soldier who fought with the sword - and the infallible Prophet - the conqueror who conquered nations and countries. He slept on a mat of hay, and a pillow filled with course fibers. People crowned him as the Sultan over Arabs, or King of the Arabian Peninsula, yet his family lived a simple life, even after they received great fortunes; the riches were piled in the Masjid. Fatima complained to him about the strenuous work she did, the grinding stone and water jug which she used to carry - how they had left marks on her body. The Messenger at that time was dividing the female and male slaves amongst the Muslims. He did not give her a portion of that wealth; instead, the Prophet taught her a few words and supplications. His Companion, Umar came to his house and looked in his room, and saw nothing but a hay mat which the Prophet was sitting on, which had left marks on his body. The only provisions in the house were half a Saa' (measure of weight) of barley in a container, and a water skin that hung on the wall - this is all the Messenger of Allah owned at a time half the Arabs were under his control. When Umar saw this, he could not control himself and wept. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, said: 'Why are you weeping O Umar?' He replied: 'Why shouldn't I weep - Khosrau and Caesar enjoy themselves in this world and the Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, only owns what I see!' He responded: 'O Umar, wouldn't it please you that this is the share of Khosrau and Caesar in this life, and in the Hereafter this pleasure would be for us alone?'

When the Prophet examined his troops prior to the occupation of Makkah, Abu Sufyan stood beside al-Ab'bas, the uncle of the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, and they looked at the banners of the Muslim army. Abu Sufyan at that time was not a Muslim. He was amazed by the vast number of Muslims; they advanced towards Makkah like a torrent of water. No one could stop them and nothing stood in their way. Abu Sufyan then said to al-Ab'bas: 'O Ab'bas, your nephew has become a grand King!' Ab'bas responded saying: 'This is not kingship, rather prophethood, and the Message of Islam.'

Ad'ee at-Ta'ee, the son of Ha'tim at-Ta'ee who is the paradigm of generosity, attended the assembly of the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, while he was still a Christian. When he saw how the Companions aggrandized and respected the Prophet, he was confused - was he a Prophet or a king? He asked himself, 'is this a king or a Messenger of the Messengers of Allah?' While he was pondering over this, a destitute woman came to the Prophet, and said: 'I wish to tell you a secret.' He said to her: 'which road in Madinah do you want me to meet you in?' The Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, left with the destitute maid, and took care of her needs. When Ad'ee saw the humbleness of the Prophet, he realized the truth and discarded the crosses that he was wearing and became a Muslim.'

We will mention some statements of the Orientalists concerning Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention. We as Muslims believe in the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, and his Message. We are mentioning these statements for the following two reasons:

a. To serve as a reminder and admonition for name-sake Muslims who abandoned their Prophet, so that they would heed and return to their Deen.

b. So that non-Muslims would know who the Prophet is from the statements of their own people, so that they would be guided to Islam.

I ask these people to not hold any preconceived notions when searching for the truth, when reading this or any other Islamic material. I ask Allah to open their hearts and chests to accept the truth, and to show them the right path and inspire them to follow it.

His Lineage

He is Abul-Qasim (father of Al-Qasim) Muhammad, son of Abdullah, son of Abdul-Mutalib. His lineage traces back to the tribe of Adnan, son of Ismael [the Prophet of Allah, the son of Ibraheem, the one whom Allah chose for His love] may Allah exalt their mention. His mother is Aminah, daughter of Wahb.

The Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, said:

'Indeed Allah chose the tribe of Kinanah over other tribes from the children of Ismail; He chose the Quraish over other tribes of Kinanah; He chose Banu Hashim over the other families of the Quraish; and He chose me from Banu Hashim.' (Muslim #2276)

Thus, the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, has the noblest lineage on earth. His enemies attested to this fact; Abu Sufyan, who was the arch enemy of Islam before he became Muslim, attested to this fact in front of Heraclius, the Ruler of Rome.

Abdullah b. Ab'bas, with whom Allah is pleased, reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, wrote to Caesar and invited him to Islam and sent him a letter with Dihya Al-Kalbi, who handed it to the Governor of Busra who then forwarded it to Caesar.

Caesar as a sign of gratitude to Allah, had walked from Hims to Ilya (i.e. Jerusalem) when Allah had granted Him victory over the Persian forces. So, when the letter of the Messenger of Allah reached Caesar, he said after reading it, "Seek for me anyone of his people, (Arabs of Quraish tribe) if present here, in order to ask him about the Messenger of Allah!" At that time Abu Sufyan bin Harb was in Sham with some men from Quraish who had come (to Sham) as merchants during the truce that had been concluded between the Messenger of Allah; and the infidels of Quraish. Abu Sufyan said, ‘Caesar's messenger found us somewhere in Sham so he took me and my companions to Ilya and we were admitted into Caesar's presence to find him sitting in his royal court wearing a crown and surrounded by the senior Byzantine dignitaries. He said to his translator. "Ask them whom amongst them is a close relation to the man who claims to be a prophet."’

Abu Sufyan added, ’I replied: "I am the nearest relative to him." He asked, "What degree of relationship do you have with him?" I replied, "He is my cousin," and there was none of Bani Abd Manaf in the caravan except myself. Caesar said, "Let him come nearer." He then ordered that my companions stand behind me near my shoulder and said to his translator, "Tell his companions that I am going to ask this man about the man who claims to be a prophet. If he tells a lie, they should contradict him immediately."’

Abu Sufyan added, ’By Allah! Had it not been for shame that my companions brand me a liar, I would not have spoken the truth about him when he asked me. But I considered it shameful to be called a liar by my companions, so I told the truth.’

‘He then said to his translator, "Ask him what kind of family he belongs to." I replied, "He belongs to a noble family amongst us." He said, "Has anybody else amongst you ever claimed the same before him?" I replied, "No." He said, "Have you ever blamed him for telling lies before he claimed what he claimed?" I replied, "No." He said, "Was anybody amongst his ancestors a king?" I replied, "No." He said, "Do the noble or the poor follow him?" I replied, 'It is the poor who follow him." He said, "Are they increasing or decreasing (daily)?" I replied, "They are increasing." He said, "Does anybody amongst those who embrace his Deen become displeased and then discard his Deen?" I replied, "No." He said, 'Does he break his promises?" I replied, "No, but we are now at truce with him and we are afraid that he may betray us."

Abu Sufyan added, ’Other than the last sentence, I could not say anything against him.’

‘Caesar then asked, "Have you ever had a war with him?" I replied, "Yes." He said, "What was the outcome of your battles with him?" I replied, "Sometimes he was victorious and sometimes we." He said, "What does he order you to do?" I said, "He tells us to worship Allah alone, and not to worship others along with Him, and to leave all that our fore-fathers used to worship. He orders us to pray, give in charity, be chaste, keep promises and return what is entrusted to us. "'

‘When I had said that, Caesar said to his translator, "Say to him: I asked you about his lineage and your reply was that he belonged to a noble family. In fact, all the Messengers came from the noblest lineage of their nations. Then I questioned you whether anybody else amongst you had claimed such a thing, and your reply was in the negative. If the answer had been in the affirmative, I would have thought that this man was following a claim that had been said before him. When I asked you whether he was ever blamed for telling lies, your reply was in the negative, so I took it for granted that a person who did not tell a lie to people could never tell a lie about Allah. Then I asked you whether any of his ancestors was a king. Your reply was in the negative, and if it had been in the affirmative, I would have thought that this man wanted to take back his ancestral kingdom. When I asked you whether the rich or the poor people followed him, you replied that it was the poor who followed him. In fact, such are the followers of the Messengers. Then I asked you whether his followers were increasing or decreasing. You replied that they were increasing. In fact, this is the result of true faith till it is complete (in all respects). I asked you whether there was anybody who, after embracing his Deen, became displeased and discarded his Deen; your reply was in the negative. In fact, this is the sign of true faith, for when its pleasure enters and mixes in the hearts completely; nobody will be displeased with it. I asked you whether he had ever broken his promise. You replied in the negative. And such are the Messengers; they never break their promises. When I asked you whether you fought with him and he fought with you, you replied that he did and that sometimes he was victorious and sometimes you. Indeed, such are the Messengers; they are put to trials and the final victory is always theirs. Then I asked you what he ordered you. You replied that he ordered you to worship Allah alone and not to worship others along with Him, to leave all that your fore-fathers used to worship, to offer prayers, to speak the truth, to be chaste, to keep promises, and to return what is entrusted to you. These are really the qualities of a prophet who, I knew (from the previous Scriptures) would appear, but I did not know that he would be from amongst you. If what you say is true, he will very soon occupy the earth under my feet, and if I knew that I would reach him definitely, I would go immediately to meet him; and were I with him, then I would certainly wash his feet. "'

Abu Sufyan added, ’Caesar then asked for the letter of the Messenger of Allah and it was read. Its contents were:

"I begin with the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful (This letter is) from Muhammad, the slave of Allah, and His Messenger, to Heraclius, the Ruler of the Byzantine. Peace be upon the followers of guidance. I invite you to Islam (i.e. surrender to Allah). Accept Islam and you will be safe; accept Islam and Allah will bestow on you a double reward. But if you reject this invitation of Islam, you shall be responsible for misguiding the peasants (i.e. your nation). O people of the Scriptures! Come to a word common between you and us, that we worship Allah, and that we associate nothing in worship with Him; and that none of us shall take others as Gods besides Allah. Then if they turn away, say: Bear witness that we are they who have surrendered (unto Him)" [3.64]

Abu Sufyan added, ’When Heraclius had finished his speech, there was a great hue and cry caused by the Byzantine dignitaries surrounding him, and there was so much noise that I did not understand what they said. So, we were ordered out of the court.’

‘When I went out with my companions and we were alone, I said to them, ”Verily, Ibn Abi Kabsha's (i.e. the Prophet's) affair has gained power. This is the King of Bani Al-Asfar fearing him.”’

Abu Sufyan added: 'By Allah, I became surer and surer that his Deen would be victorious till I ended up accepting Islam.' (Bukhari #2782)

Place of Birth and Childhood

The Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, was born in the year 571 (according to the Gregorian calendar) in the tribe of Quraish [which was held noble by all Arabs] in Makkah [which was considered the religious capital of the Arabian Peninsula].

The Arabs would perform Hajj in Makkah, and circumambulate around the Ka'bah which was built by Prophet Ibrahim and his son Prophet Ismael, may Allah exalt their mention.

The Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, was an orphan. His father passed away before he was born, and his mother died when he was six years old. His grandfather, Abdul-Mutalib, took care of him, and when he died, his uncle, Abu Talib, took care of him. His tribe and the other tribes worshipped idols made from stone, wood and even gold. Some of these idols were placed around the Ka'bah. People believed that these idols could ward off harm or extend benefit.

The Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, was a trustworthy and honest person. He never behaved treacherously, nor did he lie or cheat; he was known amongst his 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. Allah, the Exalted, says:

(Indeed you are of a great moral character.) [68:4]

Thomas Carlyle said in his book: 'Heroes, Hero-Worship and the Heroic in History':

'But, from an early age, he had been remarked as a thoughtful man. His companions named him "Al Amin, The Faithful." A man of truth and fidelity; true in what he did, in what he spoke and thought. They noted that he always meant something. A man rather taciturn in speech; silent when there was nothing to be said; but pertinent, wise, sincere, when he did speak; always throwing light on the matter. This is the only sort of speech worth speaking! Through life we find him to have been regarded as an altogether solid, brotherly, genuine man. A serious, sincere character; yet amiable, cordial, companionable, jocose even - a good laugh in him withal: there are men whose laugh is as untrue as anything about them; who cannot laugh. A spontaneous, passionate, yet just, true-meaning man! Full of wild faculty, fire and light; of wild worth, all uncultured; working out his life - takes in the depth of the Desert there.'

The Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, liked to seclude himself in the cave of Hira before he was commissioned as a prophet. He would stay there many nights at a time.

He, may Allah exalt his mention, did not practice falsehood; he did not drink any intoxicants, nor did he bow to a statue or idol, or take an oath by them or offer to them an offering. He was a shepherd over a flock of sheep which belonged to his people. The Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, said:

'Every prophet commissioned by Allah was a shepherd over a flock of sheep.' His companions asked him: 'Even you, O Messenger of Allah?' He said: 'Yes, I would take care of a flock of sheep for the people of Makkah.' (Bukhari 2143)

When Prophet Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention, turned forty, he received divine revelation; he was at the cave of Hira. The Mother of the believers, A'ishah, with whom Allah is pleased, said:

'The first thing that Allah’s Messenger, may Allah exalt his mention, received, while in the Cave of Hira in Makkah, were good visions [dreams]. Every time he had a dream, it would come true and clear, like the split of the dawn. Later on, Allah’s Messenger, may Allah exalt his mention, began to love being alone in meditation. He spent lengthy periods for days and nights to fulfill this purpose in the Cave before returning back to his family. He would take a supply of food for his trip. When he came back to his wife Khadeejah, with whom Allah is pleased, he would get a fresh supply of food and go back to the same Cave to continue his meditation.’

‘The Truth came to him while he was in the Cave of Hira. The Angel Jibreel, may Allah exalt his mention, came to Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention, and commanded him to read. Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention, replied, ”I cannot read!“ Jibreel, may Allah exalt his mention, embraced Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention, until he could not breathe, and then let him go saying: ”O Muhammad! Read!“ Again, Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention, replied: ”I cannot read!“ Jibreel, may Allah exalt his mention, embraced Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention, for the second time. He then ordered him to read for the third time, when he did not he embraced him tightly until he could not breathe, and then let him go saying: ”O Muhammad!

(Recite with the Name of Your Rubb! Who created, Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood: Proclaim! And your Rubb is Most Bountiful.) [96:1-3]

The Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, returned home trembling. He entered his home and told Khadeejah: “Cover me up, cover me up!“ Khadeejah, with whom Allah is pleased, covered Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention, until he felt better. He then informed her about what happened to him in the Cave of Hira. He said: ”I was concerned about myself and my well-being.“ Khadeejah, with whom Allah is pleased, assured Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention, saying: “By Allah! You don’t have to worry! Allah, the Exalted, will never humiliate you! You are good to your kith and kin. You help the poor and needy. You are generous and hospitable to your guests. You help people who are in need.“ Khadeejah, with whom Allah is pleased, took her husband Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention, to a cousin of hers named Waraqah bin Nawfal bin Asad bin Abdul Uzza. This man became a Christian during the Era of Ignorance. He was a scribe, who wrote the Scripture in Hebrew. He was an old man who became blind at the latter part of his life. Khadeejah, with whom Allah is pleased, said to her cousin, ”O cousin, listen to what your nephew [i.e. Muhammad , may Allah exalt his mention, ] is about to tell you!“ Waraqah said: ”What is it you have seen, dear nephew?“ The Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, informed him of what he had seen in the Cave of Hira. Upon hearing his report, Waraqah said, ”By Allah! This is the Angel Jibreel, may Allah exalt his mention, who came to Prophet Musa, may Allah exalt his mention. I wish I would be alive when your people will drive you out of Makkah!“ The Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, wondered: ”Are they going to drive me out of Makkah?!“ Waraqah affirmed positively saying, ”Never has a man conveyed a Message similar to what you have been charged with, except that his people waged war against him - if I am to witness this, I will support you.” Waraqah lived only a short period after this incident and passed away. Revelation also stopped for a while.’ (Bukhari #3)

The chapter of the Qur'an quoted in the hadeeth above marks the beginning when he was commissioned as a Prophet. Allah, the Exalted, then revealed to him:

(O you (Muhammad (may Allah exalt his mention) enveloped (in garments); Arise and warn! And your Rubb (Allah) magnify! And your garments purify!) [74:1-4]

This chapter of the Qur'an marks the beginning when he was commissioned as a Messenger.

With the revelation of this chapter of the Qur'an the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, began calling his people to Islam openly. He began with his own people. Some of them refused adamantly to listen to him because he was calling them to a matter which they had not witnessed before.

The Deen of Islam is a complete way of life, which deals with religious, political, economical and social affairs. Furthermore, the Deen of Islam did not only call them to worship Allah alone, and to forsake all idols and things they worshipped; rather, it prohibited them from things they considered pleasurable, such as consuming interest and intoxicants, fornication, and gambling. It also called people to be just and fair with one another, and to know that there was no difference between them except through piety. How could the Quraish [the noblest tribe amongst Arabs] stand to be treated equally with the slaves!! They did not only adamantly refuse to accept Islam; rather, they harmed him and blamed him, saying that he was a crazy person, a sorcerer and a liar. They blamed him with things they would not dare to have blamed him with before the advent of Islam. They incited the ignorant masses against him, and harmed him and tortured his companions. Abdullah b. Masood, with whom Allah is pleased, said:

'While the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, was standing up and praying near the Ka'bah, a group of Quraish were sitting in their sitting place, one of them said: 'Do you see this man? Would someone bring the dirt and filth and bloody intestines from the camels of so and so, and wait till he prostrates, and then place it between his shoulders? The most wretched amongst them volunteered to do it, and when the Prophet , may Allah exalt his mention, prostrated, he put the filth between his shoulders, so the Prophet , may Allah exalt his mention, stayed in prostration. They laughed so hard that they were about to fall on each other. Someone went to Fatimah, with whom Allah is pleased, who was a young girl, and informed her of what had happened. She hurriedly came towards the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, and removed the filth from his back, and then she turned around and she cursed the Quraishites who were sitting in that sitting. (Bukhari #498)

Muneeb al-Azdi said: 'I saw the Messenger of Allah in the Era of Ignorance saying to people:

'Say there is no god worthy of being worshipped except Allah if you would be successful.' There were those who spat in his face, and those who threw soil in his face, and those who swore at him until midday. Whenever a certain young girl came with a big container of water, and he would wash his face and hands and say: 'O daughter do not fear that your father will be humiliated or struck by poverty.' (Mu'jam al-Kabeer # 805)

Urwah b. az-Zubair said, 'I asked Abdullah b. Amr al-Aas to tell me of the worst thing the pagans did to the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, and he said:

'Uqbah b. Mu'ait approached the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, while he was praying near the Ka'bah, and he twisted his garment around his neck. Abu Bakr, with whom Allah is pleased, hurriedly approached and grabbed Uqbah's shoulder and pushed him away saying: 'Do you kill a man because he proclaims Allah as his Rubb, and clear signs have come to you from your Rubb?' ' (Bukhari 3643)

These incidents did not stop the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, from giving Da'wah. He called the many tribes that came to Makkah for Hajj to Islam. A few believed from the people of Yathrib, which is known today as Madinah, and they pledged to support him and help him if he chose to go with them to Madinah. He sent with them Mus'ab b. Umair, with whom Allah is pleased, who taught them Islam. After all the hardships that the Muslims of Makkah faced from their own people, Allah allowed them to migrate from their city to Madinah. The people of Madinah greeted them and received them in a most extraordinary manner. Madinah became the Capital of the Islamic state, and the point from which the Da'wah was spread.

The Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, settled there and taught people Qur'anic recitation and Islamic Jurisprudence. The inhabitants of Madinah were greatly moved and touched by the Prophet's manners. They loved him more than they loved their own selves; they would rush to serve him, and spend all they had in his path. The society was strong and its people were rich in terms of Iman (Faith) and they were extremely happy. People loved each other, and true brotherhood was apparent amongst its people. All people were equal; the rich, noble and poor, black and white, Arab and non-Arab - they were all considered as equals in the Deen of Allah, no distinction was made among them except through piety. After the Quraish learnt of the Prophet's Da'wah and that it had spread, they fought with the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, in the first battle in Islam, the Battle of Badr. This battle took place between two groups which were unequal in preparations and weapons. The Muslims were 314; whereas, the pagans were 1000 strong. Allah gave victory to the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, and the Companions. After this battle, many battles took place between the Muslims and the pagans. After eight years the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, was able to prepare an army 10,000 strong. They headed towards Makkah and conquered it, and with this he defeated his people, who had harmed him and tortured his Companions in every way. They had even been forced to leave their property and wealth behind and flee for their lives. He decisively defeated them, and this year was called 'The Year of the Conquest.' Allah, the Exalted, says:

(When the victory of Allah has come and the conquest, and you see the people entering into the Deen of Allah in multitudes, then exalt him with praise of your Rubb and ask forgiveness of Him. Indeed, He is ever accepting of repentance.) [110:1-3]

He then gathered the people of Makkah and said to them:

'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, may Allah exalt his mention, said: 'Go - you are free to do as you wish.' (Baihaqi #18055)

This was one of the main reasons why many of them accepted Islam. The Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, then returned to Madinah. After a period of time, the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, meant to perform Hajj, so he headed towards Makkah with 114,000 Companions and performed Hajj. This Hajj is known as 'Haj'jatul-Wa'daa' or the 'Farewell Pilgrimage' since the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, never performed another Hajj, and died shortly after he performed it.

The Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, died in Madinah on the 12th day of Rabi ath-thani in the 11th year of Hijrah. The Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, was buried in Madinah as well. The Muslims were shocked when they learnt of his death; some Companions did not believe it! Umar, with whom Allah is pleased, said: 'Whoever says that Muhammad is dead, I will behead him!' Abu Bakr, with whom Allah is pleased, then gave a speech, and read the words of Allah:

(Muhammad is not but a Messenger. Other messengers have passed away before him. So if he was to die or be killed, would you turn back on your heels to unbelief? And He who turns back on his heels will never harm Allah at all; but Allah will reward the grateful.) [3:144]

When Umar, with whom Allah is pleased, heard this verse he stopped saying what he was saying, since he was very keen on applying the rules of Allah. The Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, was 63 years old.

He stayed in Makkah for forty years, before being commissioned as a prophet. After being commissioned as a Prophet; he lived there for another 13 years in which he called people to Tawheed (true monotheism). He then migrated to Madinah, and stayed there for ten years. He continuously received the revelation there, until the Qur'an and the Deen of Islam were complete.

George Bernard Shaw said:

‘I have always held the religion of Muhammad in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion which appears to possess that assimilating capability to the changing phases of existence which make itself appeal to every age - I have prophesized about the faith of Muhammad that it would be acceptable tomorrow as it is beginning to be acceptable to the Europe of today. Medieval ecclesiastics, either through ignorance or bigotry, painted Muhammadanism in the darkest colours. They were, in fact, trained to hate both the man Muhammad and his religion. To them, Muhammad was an anti-Christ. I have studied him, the wonderful man, and in my opinion, far from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the Saviour of humanity - ’ (Encyclopedia of Seerah, for Afzalur Rahman).

The Description of the Prophet

The Prophet was of a slightly above‐average height. Amazingly, in gatherings, he would appear taller than those actually taller than him ‐ until the people dispersed. In complexion, he was white with a rosy tinge; pale, but not excessively so. His hair was jet black and wavy, but stopped short of curling, and was kept between his earlobes and shoulders. Sometimes he would part his hair at the middle. Other times, he would wear it braided. The Prophet (pbuh) had the physique of a powerful man. He had a broad upper‐back and shoulders, between which was the Seal of Prophethood. He had long muscular limbs, large joints and girth. His lean stomach never protruded out past the profile of his chest. His face was radiant, “as if the sun were following its course across and shining from his face,” as one Companion explained. His neck was silvery white; his forehead, prominent; his pupils, large and black; his eyelashes, long and thick; his nose, high‐tipped with narrow nostrils. At the time of his death, the Prophet had exactly 17 white hairs shared between his temples and the front of his thick, beard. He had hair on his forearms and shins and a line of fine hair also ran from his chest to his navel.

The Prophet (pbuh) would walk briskly with a forward‐leaning gait, moving with strength of purpose and lifting each foot clearly off the ground. His pace was such that fit men would tire trying to keep up. When he turned, he would turn his whole body, giving full attention to the one addressing him and showing complete concern to what was being said. When he pointed, he would use an open hand so as not to offend. Likewise, when he criticized a personʹs behaviour, rather than name the individual, he would simply say: “Why do people do so and so?” He would laugh only to the extent that the gap between his front teeth would become visible. He would become angry only to the extent that his face would turn red and the vein between his fine, bow‐shaped eyebrows would bulge. He once said:

“I am the master of the descendants of Adam and I do not say so out of pride.” (Tirmidthi)

His freedom from pride was obvious even to children, who would playfully lead the Prophet (pbuh) through the streets of Medina while grasping his finger. Indeed he had said:

“He who does not show mercy to our young, nor honor our old, is not from us.” (Abu Dawood)

God, the Exalted, said: (Allah has sent you) a Messenger who recites to you the clear Signs of Allah that He may take out from the darkness to the light those who believe and work righteousness. [65:11]

Ali, cousin and son‐in‐law to the Prophet, said of Muhammad:

'He was the Last of the Prophets, the most generous of hearts, the most truthful, the best of them in temperament and the most sociable. Whoever unexpectedly saw him would stand in awe of him, and whoever accompanied him and got to know him would love him. Those describing him would say: ʺI have never seen anyone before or after him who was comparable to him.”

The Prophetʹs beloved wife, Aʹishah, said of her selfless husband:

“He always joined in household chores and would at times mend his clothes, repair his shoes and sweep the floor. He would milk, tether and feed his animals.” (Bukhari)

She also described his character as: “The Qurʹan (exemplified).”

Indeed in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example to follow for whoever hopes in Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much. [33:21]

Some of the Prophet’s Manners and Characteristics

Sound Intellect

The Messenger, may Allah exalt his mention, had an excellent, complete and sound intellect. No man has ever had an intellect as complete and perfect as his. Qadhi Iyaadh, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

'This becomes clear to an individual when the researcher reads the Prophet's biography and understands his state of affairs, and his meaningful and inclusive utterances and traditions, his good manners, ethics and moral character, his knowledge of the Torah and Gospel and other Divine Scriptures, and his knowledge of statements of the wise, and knowledge of bygone nations, and ability to strike examples and implement policies and correct emotional manners. He was an example and paradigm to which his people related to in all branches of knowledge; acts of worship, medicine, laws of inheritance, lineage, and other matters as well. He knew and learned all of this without reading or examining the Scriptures of those before us, nor did he sit with their scholars. The Prophet had no formal schooling, and was without knowledge of the above before being commissioned as a Prophet, nor could he read or write. The Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, was wise to the fullest extent of his mental capacity. Allah, the Exalted, informed him of some of what had taken place (in the past) and of that which would take place in the future. This is a sign that the Dominion belongs to Allah, and that He is capable over all things.'[Qadhi Eiyadh, ‘Al-Shifa bita’reefi Hoquooqil-Mostafa’].

Doing Things for the Sake of Allah

The Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, would always do deeds through which he would seek the pleasure of Allah. He was harmed and abused when he invited and called people to Islam; yet he was patient and endured all of this, and hoped for the reward of Allah. Abdullah b. Masood, with whom Allah is pleased, said:

'It is as though I am looking at the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, talking about a Prophet who was hurt by his people. He wiped the blood from his face and said: 'O Allah! Forgive my people, for they know not!' (Bukhari #3290)

Jundub b. Sufyaan, with whom Allah is pleased, said that the Messenger's finger bled during one of the battles, and he said:

'You are but a finger which has bled; which suffers in the path of Allah.' (Bukhari #2648)

Sincerity

The Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, was sincere and honest in all his matters, as Allah had ordered him. Allah, the Exalted, said:

(Say, 'Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Rubb of the worlds. No partner has He. And this I have been commanded, and I am the first (among you) of the Muslims.) [6:162-163]

Good Morals, Ethics and Companionship

The narrator said,

"I asked A'ishah, with whom Allah is pleased, to inform me of the Prophet's manners, and she said: 'His manners were the Qur'an'"

This means that the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, abided by its laws and commands and abstained from its prohibitions. He would observe the virtuous deeds mentioned in it. The Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, said:

'Allah has sent me to perfect good manners and to do good deeds.' (Bukhari & Ahmed)

Allah, the Exalted, described the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, saying:

(And indeed, you are of a great moral character) [68:4]

Anas b. Malik, with whom Allah is pleased, who was the servant of the Prophet , may Allah exalt his mention, for ten years; day in and day out, during the Prophet's travels and when he was a resident in Madinah. Throughout this period of time, he knew of the Prophet's manners. He said:

'The Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, did not swear at anyone, nor was he rude, nor did he curse anyone. When he blamed anyone he would say: 'What is wrong with him, may dust be cast in his face.' (Bukhari #5684)

Politeness and Good Manners

Sahl b. Sa'd, with whom Allah is pleased, reported:

"A drink was brought to the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, and he drank from it. On his right side there was a young boy and on his left side were elderly men. He asked the young boy: 'Do you mind if I give the drink to them?' The young boy said: 'O Prophet of Allah! By Allah! I would not prefer anyone to drink from the place you drank. This is my fair share [due to sitting to your right].’ The Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, handed the boy the drink." (Bukhari #2319)

Love for Reformation and Reconciliation

Sahl b. Sa'd, with whom Allah is pleased, said that the people of Qubaa' fought amongst themselves and threw rocks at each other. The Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, said:

'Let us go to resolve the situation and make peace between them.' (Bukhari #2547)

Ordering with the good and forbidding evil

Abdullah b. Abbas, with whom Allah is pleased, said:

The Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, saw a man wearing a gold ring, so he reached for it, removed it and threw it. He then said:

'Would one of you seek a burning charcoal and place it on his hand?!'

The man was later told, after the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, left: 'Take your ring! Make good use of it [by selling it].' The man said: 'No, by Allah! I will never take it after the Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, threw it away.' (Muslim #2090)

Love of Purification

Muhaajir b. Qunfudth, with whom Allah is pleased, reported that he passed by the Prophet , may Allah exalt his mention, while he was urinating; he greeted him with Salaam, but the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, did not return the greeting until he made wudhu and apologized saying:

'I disliked that I should mention Allah's name while I am not in a state of purity.' (Ibn Khuzaimah #206)

Safeguarding and Minding One's Language

Abdullah b. Abi O'faa, with whom Allah is pleased, said that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, would busy himself with the remembrance of Allah; he would not talk in vain. He would lengthen his prayers and shorten the speech, and he would not hesitate to help and take care of the needs of a needy, poor or widow. (Ibn Hib'ban #6423)

Excelling in Acts of Worship

A'ishah, with whom is Allah is pleased, said that the Prophet of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, used to pray during the night until his feet would swell.

A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said: 'Why do you do this, O Messenger of Allah, and Allah has forgiven your past and future sins?' The Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, said: 'Shall I not be a grateful slave?' (Bukhari #4557)

Forbearance and Kindness

Abu Hurairah, with whom Allah is pleased, said At-Tufail b. Amr ad-Dawsi and his companions came to meet the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention.

They said: 'O Messenger of Allah, the tribe of Daws, has refused to accept Islam, so supplicate Allah against them. It was said: ‘the tribe of Daws is doomed and destroyed!’ The Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, raised his hands and said: 'O Allah guide the tribe of Daws and bring them!'

Good Appearance

Al-Baraa' b. Aazib, with whom Allah is pleased, said:

'The Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, was a person of average height. His shoulders were wide. His hair reached his earlobes. Once I saw him adorned in a red garment; I never saw anything more beautiful than him.' (Bukhari #2358)

Asceticism in Worldly Affairs

Abdullah b. Masood, with whom Allah is pleased, said:

'The Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, went to sleep on a mat. He got up and he had marks on his side due to the mat that he had slept on. We said: 'O Messenger of Allah, shall we not make bedding for you?' He said: 'What do I have to do with this world? I am only like a wayfarer who rides a beast that stopped to take shade and rest under a tree, and then leaves it behind and continues on the journey.' (Tirmidthi #2377)

Amr' b. al-Haarith, with whom Allah is pleased, said the Messenger of Allah , may Allah exalt his mention, did not leave a Dirham or Dinar, or slave male or female after his death. He only left behind his white mule, his weapons and a piece of land which he declared as Sadaqah (charity).' (Bukhari #2588)

Altruism

Sahl b. Sa'd, with whom Allah is pleased, said:

'A woman gave the Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, a Burdah (gown). The Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, asked his Companions: 'Do you know what a Burdah is?' They replied, 'Yes, O Prophet of Allah! It is a piece of woven cloth [similar to a shawl]. The woman said: 'O Prophet of Allah! I have woven this shawl with my own hands, for you to wear.' The Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, took it while he direly needed it. After a while, the Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, came out of his home wearing it, and a Companion said to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, : 'O Prophet of Allah! Grant me this shawl to wear!' The Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, said: 'Yes.' He thereafter sat for awhile, and headed back home, folded it and gave it to the person who asked for it. The Companions, with whom Allah is pleased, scolded him saying: 'It was not appropriate for you to ask for his shawl; especially since you know he would not turn anyone down, or send them away empty-handed! The man said: 'By Allah! I only asked him to give it to me because I want to be shrouded in this shawl when I die.' Sahl, the narrator of the Hadeeth, with whom Allah is pleased, said: 'The shawl was used as a shroud for that man when he died.' (Bukhari #1987)

Strong Faith and Dependence on Allah

Abu Bakr, with whom Allah is pleased, said:

‘I looked at the feet of the pagans while we were in the cave [of Thawr]. I said, ‘'O Prophet of Allah! If anyone of them looks down at his feet he would see us!’ The Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, said: ‘O Abu Bakr! What do you think of two with whom Allah, the Exalted, is their Third?’ (Muslim #1854)

Kindness and Compassion

Abu Qatadah, with whom Allah is pleased, said:

'The Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, performed Salah (prayer) while he was carrying a young girl named Umaamah, daughter of Abul-Aas. When he bowed, he put her on the ground, and when he stood up, he would carry her again.' (Bukhari #5650)

Simplification and Ease

Anas, with whom Allah is pleased, said that the Messenger of Allah , may Allah exalt his mention, said:

'I start the prayer with the intention of lengthening it, but when I hear a child crying, I shorten the prayer as I know the mother of that child would suffer from his screams!’ (Bukhari #677)

Fearing Allah, being Mindful to not trespass His Limits and Devotion

Abu Hurairah, with whom Allah is pleased, said that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, said:

‘Sometimes, when I return to my family, I would find a date-fruit on the bed. I would pick it up to eat it; but I would fear that it was from the charity, and thus, throw it back [on the ground].’ (Bukhari #2300)

Expending Generously

Anas bin Malik, with whom Allah is pleased, said:

'The Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, was never asked for something when someone accepted Islam, except that he granted that person what he asked. A man came to the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, and he gave him a herd of sheep that was grazing between two mountains. The man returned to his people and said: 'O my people accept Islam! Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention, gives out generously like one who does not fear poverty.' (Muslim #2312)

Truthfulness

A'ishah, with whom Allah is pleased, said:

'The trait and characteristic which the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, hated most was lying. A man would tell a lie in the presence of the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, and he would hold it against him, until he knew that he repented.' (Tirmidthi 1973)

Even his enemies attested to his truthfulness. Abu Jahl, who was one of the harshest enemies, 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, the Exalted, 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.) [6:33]

Aggrandizing the limits and boundaries of Allah

A'ishah, with whom Allah is pleased, said:

'The Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, was not given a choice between two matters, except that he chose the easier of the two, as long as it was not a sinful act. If that act was a sinful act, he would be the farthest from it. By Allah! He never avenged himself. He only became angry when people transgressed the limits and boundaries of Allah; in that case he avenged.' (Bukhari #6404)

Pleasant Facial Expression

Abdullah bin al-Harith, with whom Allah is pleased, said:

‘I have never seen a man who smiled as much as the Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention.' (Tirmidthi #2641)

Honesty and Loyalty

The Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, was well-known for his honesty. The pagans of Makkah -who were openly hostile towards him- would leave their trust-items with him. His honesty and loyalty was tested when the pagans of Makkah abused him and tortured his companions and drove them out of their homes. He ordered his nephew, Ali b. Abi Talib, with whom Allah is pleased, to postpone his migration for three days to return to people their trust-items.[Ibn Hisham’s Biography, Vol. 1, p.493 [Arabic Edition]]

Another example of his honesty and loyalty is demonstrated in the Truce of Hudaibiyah, wherein he agreed to the article in the treaty which stated that any man who left the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, would not be returned to him, and any man who left Makkah would be returned to them. Before the treaty was concluded a man named Abu Jandal b. Amr had managed to escape from the pagans of Makkah and rushed to join Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention. The pagans asked Muhammad to honor his pledge and return the escapee. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, 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.' (Baihaquee #18611)

Bravery and courage

Ali, with whom Allah is pleased, said:

‘You should have seen me on the Day of Badr! We sought refuge with the Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention. He was the closest among of us to the enemy. On that Day, the Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, was the strongest one among us.’ (Ahmed #654)

As for his courage and bravery under normal circumstances - Anas b. Malik, with whom Allah is pleased, said:

'The Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, was the best of people and the most courageous. One night, the people of Madinah were frightened and headed towards the sounds they heard during the night. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, 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 Talhah, with whom Allah is pleased, without any saddle, and he had his sword with him. He was assuring the people, saying: 'Do not be frightened! Do not be frightened!’

Anas, with whom Allah is pleased, further said: ‘Verily, we found the Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, to be like an ocean.’ (Bukhari #2751)

He met up with people riding a horse with no saddle, and he carried his sword, for there might be a reason or need to use it. He did not wait for others to check out the source of trouble; as is done in these situations.

In the Battle of Uhud, the Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, consulted his Companions. They advised him to fight, while he himself did not see the need to fight. However, he took their advice. The Companions, upon learning the Prophet’s feelings regretted what they had done. The Ansaris said to him, 'O Prophet of Allah! Do as you please.’ But, he replied:

‘It does not befit a Prophet who has worn his war attire to remove it until he fights.' (Ahmed #14829)

Generosity and Hospitality

Ibn Ab'bas, with whom Allah is pleased, said:

'The Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, was the most generous of people. He was most generous during Ramadhan when he met Jibreel, may Allah render him safe from every derogatory thing; he would meet him every night during Ramadhan to practice and review the Qur'an with him. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, was so generous, that he was faster than the swiftest wind in this regard. (Bukhari #6)

Abu Dharr, with whom Allah is pleased, said:

'I was walking with the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, in the Har'rah (volcanic region) of Madinah and we faced the mount of Uhud; the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, said: 'O Abu Dharr!' I said: 'Here I am O Messenger of Allah!' He said: 'It would not please me to have an amount of gold equal to the weight of Mount Uhud, until I expend and give out (in the sake of Allah) within a night or within three nights. I would keep a Dinar of it to help those who are in debt. (Bukhari #2312)

Jabir b. Abdullah, with whom Allah is pleased, said:

'The Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, did not refuse to give anything which he had, to someone if he asked for it.' (Bukhari #5687)

Bashfulness and Modesty

Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri, with whom Allah is pleased, said:

'The Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, was more modest and bashful than a virgin who hides in the women's quarter of the tent. If he hated or disliked something, we could sense it from his facial expressions.' (Bukhari #5751)

Humbleness

The Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, was the most humble person. He was so humble that if a stranger were to enter the Masjid and approach the Prophet's sitting place and he was sitting with his Companions one would not be able to distinguish him from his Companions.

Anas bin Malik, with whom Allah is pleased, said:

'Once, while we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah , may Allah exalt his mention, in the Masjid, a man on his camel came in, after he tied it with a rope, he asked: 'Who of you is Muhammad?' The Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, was sitting on the ground while he was leaning, with his Companions. We directed the Bedouin, saying: 'This white man, who is leaning on the ground.' The Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, did not differ nor distinguish himself from his Companions.

The Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, would not hesitate to help the poor, needy and widows in their needs. Anas b. Malik, with whom Allah is pleased, said:

'A woman from the people of Madinah who was partially insane said to the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, : 'I have to ask you about something.' He helped her and took care of her needs.' (Bukhari #670)

Mercy and Compassion

Abu Masood al-Ansari, with whom Allah is pleased, said:

'A man came to the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, and said: "O Messenger of Allah! By Allah! I do not pray Fajr prayer because so and so lengthens the prayer." He said: 'I have never seen the Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, deliver a speech in such an angry state. He said:

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Muhammad the Messenger of Allah

Introduction

His Lineage

Place of Birth and Childhood

The Description of the Prophet

Some of the Prophet’s Manners and Characteristics