The solution to every problem facing the Muslim ummah today can be found by looking back in our history, to our legacy, to the Prophet Muhammad and how he lived his life every day. We must look to him in his roles as a husband, a father, a military leader, a political mastermind, one in tune with his own precious spirituality, a friend, one both persecuted and glorified, and the cornerstone, the bedrock of a revolution that would change the course of history.
We have gone so far from the legacy of the Prophet (pbuh), and this has caused a plague to sweep across our ummah. So we have to resurrect his true charcter and remind each other and constantly keep him in mind as we travel through our individual and collective journeys so that we might get back some of the honor, integrity, and greatness that we, as a community had when we followed his lead.
When we face adversity, when our enemies attack us from all sides, when we deal with each other, in each situation we face in life, we must remember the stories of the Prophet (pbuh) or else we will certainly fail. So here is a small reminder for us all of what the Prophet (pbuh) was REALLY like.
“‘Imaam Hasan (ra) said, that his younger brother Husayn said: “I asked my father, Sayyidina ‘Ali (ra) about the conduct of Rasulillah (pbuh) and he replied:
‘Rasulillah (pbuh) was always happy and easy mannered. There was always a smile and a sign of happiness on his face. He was soft-natured and when the people needed his approval, he easily gave consent. He did not speak in a harsh tone nor was he stone-hearted. He did not scream while speaking, nor was he rude or spoke indecently.
He did not seek other’s faults. He never overpraised anything nor exceeded in joking, nor was he a miser. He kept away from undesirable language and did not make as if he did not hear anything. If he did not agree with the next person’s wish he did not make that person feel disheartened, nor did he promise anything to that person.
He completely kept himself away from three things: from arguments, pride and senseless utterances.
He prohibited people from three things. He did not disgrace or insult anyone, nor look for the faults of others, he only spoke that from which thawaab and reward was attained. When he spoke, those present bowed their heads in such a manner, as if birds were sitting on their heads. When he completed his talks, the others would begin speaking. They did not argue before him regarding anything. Whenever one spoke to him the other would keep quiet and listen till he would finish. The speech of every person was as if the first person was speaking.
When all laughed for something, he would laugh too. The things that surprised the people, he would also show his surprise regarding that. He exercised patience at the harshness and indecent questions of a traveller. Rasulillah (pbuh)’ would say: ‘When you see a person in need, then always help that person. If someone praised him, he would detest it, but if someone, by way of thanks, praised him, he would remain silent and permit him to finish. He did not interrupt someone talking and did not begin speaking when someone else was busy speaking…”
This is just a brief reminder of what our Prophet (pbuh) was like. He was a soft, gentle, wise man. He was intent on pleasing Allah (swt), but he was not harsh and not judgmental or extreme. He prayed for his enemies and his friends alike.
I wonder how we would handle out lives, both as individuals and as a community, if we sat together and discussed our issues and tried to recall stories of the Prophet (pbuh) that related to our lives and attempted to act according to his ideal. How would we talk? How would we work? How would we live differently if we remembered him, not just with lip service, but with actual dedication and committment? We would all be so different.
The character of the Prophet (pbuh) must be our guide, and I urge all of us, especially we as youth, to constantly explore together this man who carried the message of Islam to the world and who did it in such a humble, sincere, kind manner. Let us all strive to remember him in our daily lives and to make him our ultimate hero.
