MUHAMMAD'S DOMESTIC LIFE

The Prophet of Islaam, in spite of the fact that he could afford the most luxurious life, decided to live a life of abstinence.
His wife, Aaishah, said, "We would sight three new moons in two months without lighting a fire (to cook a meal) in the Prophet's houses." She was asked, "O Aunt, what sustained you?" She said, "The two black things, dates and water, but the Prophet had some Ansaar neighbours who had milk-giving she-camels and they used to send the Prophet some of its milk." (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)

Sahl Ibn Sa'ad, one of the Prophet’s companions, said, "The Prophet of God did not see bread made from fine flour from the time God sent him (as a Prophet) until he died." (Al-Bukhaaree and Al-Tirmidhee)

His wife, Aaishah, said, "The mattress of the Prophet, on which he slept, was made of leather stuffed with the fibre of the date-palm tree." (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)

‘Amr Ibn Al-Harith, another of his companions, said that when the Prophet died, he left neither money nor anything else except his white riding mule, his arms, and a piece of land which he left to charity.( Al-Bukhaaree and Musnad Ahmad)

Muhammad lived this hard life till he died although the Muslim treasury was at his disposal, the greater part of the Arabian Peninsula was Muslim before he died, and the Muslims were victorious after eighteen years of his mission. Is it possible that Muhammad might have claimed prophethood in order to attain status, greatness, and power? The desire to enjoy status and power is usually associated with good food, fancy clothing, monumental palaces, colourful guards, and indisputable authority. Do any of these indicators apply to Muhammad? A few glimpses of his life that may help to answer this question.

Despite his responsibilities as a prophet, a teacher, a statesman, and a judge, Muhammad used to milk his goat, mend his clothes, repair his shoes, help with the household work, and visit poor people when they got sick. He also helped his companions in digging a trench by moving sand with them. His life was an amazing model of simplicity and humbleness.

Long before there was any prospect of success for Islam and at the outset of a long and painful era of torture, suffering, and persecution of Muhammad and his followers, he received an interesting offer. An envoy of the pagan leaders, Utbah, came to him saying, “If you want money, we will collect enough money for you so that you will be the richest one of us. If you want leadership, we will take you as our leader and never decide on any matter without your approval. If you want a kingdom, we will crown you king over us..."

Only one concession was required from Muhammad in return for that, to give up calling people to Islam and worshipping God alone without any partner. Wouldn't this offer be tempting to one pursuing worldly benefit? Was Muhammad hesitant when the offer was made? Was Muhammad hesitant when the offer was made? Did he turn it down as a bargaining strategy leaving the door open for a better offer? The following was his answer: {In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful} And he recited to Utbah the verses of the Qur’aan 41:1-38. The Following are some of these verses:
“A revelation from (God), the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful; a Book whereof the verses are explained in detail; a Qur’aan in Arabic, for people who know, giving good news and warning, yet most of them turn away, so they do not listen.” (Qur’aan, 41:2-4)
On another occasion and in response to his uncle's plea to stop calling people to Islam, Muhammad's answer was as decisive and sincere: "I swear by the name of God, O Uncle, that if they place the sun in my right-hand and the moon in my left-hand in return for giving up this matter (calling people to Islam), I will never desist until either God makes it triumph or I perish defending it.”