ASPECTS OF HIS EXCELLENT QUALITIES

The Prophet was noted for superb eloquence and fluency in Arabic. He was remarkable in position and rank. He was an accurate, unpretending and straightforward speaker. He was well-versed in Arabic and quite familiar with the dialects and accents of every tribe.
He spoke with his entertainers using their own accents and dialects. He mastered and was quite eloquent at both Bedouin and town speech. So he had the strength and eloquence of Bedouin language as well as the clarity and the decorated splendid speech of town. Above all, there was the assistance of Allaah embodied in the revealed verses of the Qur’aan.

His stamina, endurance and forgiveness — out of a commanding position — his patience and standing what he detested — these were all talents, attributes and qualities Allaah Himself had brought him on. Even wise men have their flaws, but the Messenger of Allaah, unlike everybody, the more he was hurt or injured, the more clement and patient he became. The more insolence an ignorant anybody exercised against him the more enduring he became.
‘Aaishah said:
"The Messenger of Allaah, whenever he is given the opportunity to choose between two affairs, he always chooses the easiest and the most convenient.
But if he is certain that it is sinful, he will be as far as he could from it. He has never avenged himself; but when the sanctity of Allaah is violated he would. That would be for Allaah’s not for himself. He is the last one to get angry and the first to be satisfied. His hospitality and generosity were matchless. His gifts and endowments manifest a man who does not fear poverty."

Ibn‘Abbas said: "The Prophet was the most generous. He is usually most generous of all times in Ramadan, the times at which the angel Gabriel - peace be upon him - comes to see him. Gabriel used to visit him every night of Ramadan and review the Qur’aan with him. Verily the Messenger of Allaah is more generous at giving bounty or charity than the blowing wind."

Jabir said:
"The Prophet would never deny anything he was asked for."

His courage, his succour and his might are distinguishable. He was the most courageous. He witnessed awkward and difficult times and stood fast at them.
More than once, brave men and daring ones fled away leaving him alone; yet he stood with full composure facing the enemy without turning his back. All brave men must have experienced fleeing once or have been driven off the battlefield at a round at a time except the Prophet. ‘Ali said: "Whenever the fight grew fierce and the eyes of fighters went red, we used to resort to the Prophet for succour. He was always the closest to the enemy."

Anas said: "One night the people of Madinah felt alarmed. People went out hurriedly towards the source of sound, but the Prophet had already gone ahead of them. He was on the horseback of Abu Talhah which had no saddle over it, and a sword was slung round his neck, and said to them: ‘There was nothing to be afraid for.’"
He was the most modest and the first one to cast his eyes down. Abu Sa‘îd Al-Khudri said: "He was shier than a virgin in her boudoir. When he hates a thing we read it on his face. He does not stare at anybody’s face.
He always casts his eyes down. He looks at the ground more than he looks sky-wards. His utmost looks at people are glances. He is willingly and modestly obeyed by everybody. He would never name a person whom he had heard ill-news about — which he hated. Instead he would say: ‘Why do certain people do so....’"

The Prophet is the most just, the most decent, the most truthful at speech, and the most honest of all. Those who have exchanged speech with him, and even his enemies, acknowledge his noble qualities. Even before the Prophethood he was nicknamed Al-Ameen (i.e. the truthful, the trustworthy). Even then — before the advent of Islaam - they used to turn to him for judgment and consultation. At-Tirmidhee reported on the authority of Ali ibn Abi Taalib that Abu Jahl one of the staunchest enemies of the Prophet once addressed him: "We do not call you a liar; but we do not have faith in what you have brought."
Allaah testifies to this stand of the believers when He says in the Qur’aan:
"It is not you that they deny, but it is the Verses of Allaah (the Qur’aan) that the wrong-doers deny." [6:33]

Even when Heraclius asked Abu Sufyan: "Have you ever accused him of lying before the ministry of Prophethood?" Abu Sufyan said: "No."

He was most modest and far from being arrogant or proud. He forbade people to stand up at his presence as other people usually do for their kings.
Visiting the poor, the needy and entertaining them are some of his habits. If a slave invited him, he would accept the invitation. He always sat among his friends as if he were ordinarily one of them.

‘Aaishah said that he used to repair his shoes, sew or mend his dress and to do what ordinary men did in their houses. After all, he was a human being like others. He used to check his dress (lest it has some insects on).
Milking the she-sheep and catering for himself were some of his normal jobs. The Prophet was the most truthful to his pledges, and it is one of his qualities to establish good and steady relationship with his relatives. He is the most merciful, gentle and amiable to all people. His way of living is the simplest one. Ill-manners and indecency are two qualities completely alien to him. He was decent, and did not call anybody names. He was not the sort of person who cursed or made noise in the streets. He did not exchange abuses with others. He pushed back an offence or an error by forgiveness and overlooking. Nobody was allowed to walk behind him as a bodyguard. He did not feel himself superior to others not even to his male and female bondsmen as far as food or clothes were concerned.

He always served those who served him. ‘Ugh’ (an utterance of complaint) is a word that had never been said by him to his servant; nor was his servant blamed for doing a thing or leaving it undone. Loving the poor and the needy and entertaining them or participating in their funerals were things the Prophet always observed.
He never disdained or disgraced a poor man for his poverty. Once he was travelling with his Companions and when it was time to have food prepared, he asked them to slaughter a she-sheep. A man said: I will slaughter it, another one said: I will skin it out. A third said: I will cook it. So the Messenger of Allaah said: I will collect wood for fire. They said: "No. We will suffice you that work." "I know that you can do it for me, but I hate to be privileged. Allaah hates to see a slave of his privileged to others." So he went and collected fire-wood.

Hind bin Abi Halah gives us some of the apt description of him: "The Messenger of Allaah was continually sad, thinking perpetually. He never took a long rest. He only spoke when it was necessary. He would remain silent for a long time, and whenever he spoke, he would end his talk with his jawbone but not out of the corners of his mouth, i.e. (snobbishly). His speech was inclusive. He spoke inclusively and decisively. It was not excessive nor was it short of meaning. It was amiable.
It was in no way hard to understand. He glorified the bounty of Allaah; even if it were little. If he had no liking for someone’s food, he would neither praise nor criticize.
He was always in full control of his temper and he would never get seemed angry unless it was necessary. He never got angry for himself nor did he avenge himself. It was only when Allaah’s sanctity is violated that he got angry.

When he pointed at a thing he would do so with his full hand-palm, and he would turn it round to show surprise. If he were angry he would turn both his body and face aside. When he was pleased, he cast his eyes down. His laughter was mostly smiling. It was then that his teeth which were like hail-stones were revealed. He never spoke unless it was something closely relevant to him.

He established brotherhood among his Companions; and eliminated all causes of enmity from their midst. He honoured and respected those who were honourabe among their people and assigned them as governors over their own peoples.
His cheerfulness was never withdrawn at anyone’s face; even at those whom he warned his people from or those whom he himself was on the alert of. He visited friends and inquired about people’s affairs. He confirmed what was right and criticized the awful and tried to undermine it. He was moderate in all affairs. He was equal to others and was not privileged. He would never act heedlessly, lest the others should get heedless. Each situation was dealt with in its proper due.

Righteousness was his target; so he was never short of it or indifferent to it. People who sat next to him were the best of their people and the best of them all were — for him — those who provided common consultations. For him, the greatest ones and the highest in ranks were the best at providing comfort and co-ordination and succour. Remembrance of Allaah was a thing he aimed at and established whenever he sat down or stood up. No certain position was assigned for him to sit on. He sits at the end of the group, seated next to the last sitter in the place. He ordered people to do the same.
He treats his audience in social gatherings with utmost equality so much so that the one he addressed would think that he was the most honourable in his sight. Whenever a person approached him for advice or a need, that person would be the first to speak and last to speak. The Prophet would listen to him patiently till he ended his speech. The Prophet never denied a request to anyone.

His magnanimity, broad-mindedness and his tolerance embraced all people; a trait that made the father of all. In justice, all of them were equal. Nobody was better than another except on the criterion of piety.

The Prophet was the most pious and most righteous. His assembly was a meeting of compassion, modesty, patience and honesty. In his presence, voices were not raised and sacred things were never violated.

The Messenger of Allaah was always cheerful, easy, pleasant-tempered and lenient. He was never rude or rough nor clamorous or indecent. He was neither a nagger nor a flatterer. He overlooked what he did not desire, yet you would never despair of him.
Three qualities he disposed of: hypocrisy, excessiveness, and what was none of his concern. People did not fear him in three areas: — for they were not qualities or habits of his —: He never disparaged, or reproached nor did he seek the defects or shortcomings of others. He only spoke things righteous words. When he spoke, his companions would attentively listen, casting down their heads. They only spoke when he was silent. They did not have disputes or arguments about who was to speak first. He who talked in his presence would be listened to by everybody till he finished his talk. Their talk would be about the topic discussed or delivered by their first speaker. The Messenger of Allaah used to laugh at what they laughed at and admired what they used to admire. He would always show patience with a stranger’s harshness at talk. He used to say:
Kharijah bin Zaid said: "The Prophet was the most honoured among the people with whom he sat.
His limbs could hardly be seen. He was often silent and rarely talked when speech was not a necessity. He turned away from those whose speech was rude or impolite. His laughter was no more than a smile. His speech, which was decisive, it was neither excessive nor incomplete. Out of reverence and esteem and following the example of their Prophet, the Companions’ laughter at his presence — was smiling, as well."
On the whole the Prophet was ornamented with peerless attributes of perfection. No wonder to be like that for he was nurtured, educated and taught by Allaah, the Lord of Majesty. He is even praised by his Lord:
"And verily, you (O Muhammad) are on an exalted standard of character." [68:4]
Those were the attributes and qualities that the Prophet enjoyed that endeared him to hearts and souls. Those traits made him so popular that the restraint and enmity of his people grew less and they started to embrace Islam in large crowds.”
Details of Prophet Muhammad’s excellent life are certainly beyond any human’s coverage.