His character
The Qur'an calls the Prophet (pbuh) "an excellent example" (Sura 33:21) and says he is "of great moral character" (Sura 68:4). Aishah said that "his character was the Qur'an". Qualities often described:
| Quality | Example |
|---|---|
| Honesty and trustworthiness | Called al-Amin before prophethood; even his enemies left valuables with him. At the Hijrah Ali returned the deposits left in his care |
| Patience | He bore insults and persecution in Makka and the stoning at Ta'if without revenge |
| Forgiveness and mercy | The general amnesty at the conquest of Makka; he forgave people who had harmed him and prayed for those of Ta'if |
| Humility | He mended his own clothes and sandals, helped with housework, and sat with the poor |
| Generosity | He gave away what he received and often had little for himself |
| Justice | He treated all alike, and said that if his own daughter Fatimah stole he would apply the punishment |
| Courage and leadership | He stood firm at Uhud and Hunayn |
| Kindness to children, animals, the poor and orphans | He played with children and forbade cruelty to animals |
Events that show each quality
The [10] question asks you to write about events, not just to name qualities. Learn three or four events for each.
| Quality | Events |
|---|---|
| Patience | When the Companions asked him to curse the Quraysh he said: "I was not sent to curse but as a mercy." The Quraysh whistled and clapped to disturb his prayer. Abu Jahl's man threw camel entrails on him while he prayed and he did not react (his daughter Fatimah cleaned him). At Ta'if he was stoned, and he refused the angel's offer to crush the town, saying he hoped God would raise believers from their children |
| Honesty and trustworthiness | Al-Amin and as-Sadiq. The Quraysh trusted him to settle the Black Stone dispute. Abu Jahl said "I do not say you are a liar; I disagree with what you bring". At Safa the Quraysh admitted they had never known him to lie. He earned double profit for Khadijah. At the Hijrah, with his life in danger, he left Ali to return the deposits |
| Humility and simplicity | He patched his own sandals and clothes, did housework (Aishah said he milked goats and swept), slept on a mat and a pillow of palm fibre, ate coarse bread and often only dates, and told Companions not to stand up for him. He visited the sick and accepted a slave's invitation. He entered Makka as conqueror with his head bowed to his saddle. He said "Do not praise me as the Christians praised the son of Mary: I am a servant, so say the servant and Messenger of God" |
| Justice and equality | He worked on the mosque and the trench like the others and gathered firewood on a journey. He refused to free his uncle Abbas after Badr without the ransom. When a Muslim was found killed at Khaybar and the Jews could not be proved guilty, he paid the blood money from the treasury. A noblewoman of the Makhzum clan stole, and he refused Usamah's plea for her: "If Fatimah did this, I would cut off her hand". He ruled in favour of a Jew against a Muslim in a business dispute |
| Generosity | He gave most in Ramadan and never kept money overnight. He once gave a man sheep filling the space between two hills. When he had given away 70,000 dirhams and one more beggar came, he borrowed to give. He repaid a debt with more than he owed |
| Mercy and forgiveness | At Makka he forgave Abu Sufyan, Wahshi (the killer of his uncle Hamzah), Hind and Ikrimah ibn Abi Jahl. At Uhud when his face was wounded he said "O God, forgive my people for they do not know". He prayed for Abdullah ibn Ubayy, the leader of the hypocrites, after he died |
| Keeping promises | He returned Abu Jandal under the terms of Hudaybiyyah. When two Muslims who had promised the Quraysh not to fight at Badr came to him, he sent them away even though he needed men. Even Abu Sufyan, then an enemy, told Heraclius that the Prophet had never broken a promise |
His importance as an example for individuals
Muslims follow his Sunnah in worship and daily life. His example guides them in:
- Prayer, fasting, charity and Hajj: he taught the details of how to perform them.
- Honesty in business and fair dealing.
- Family life: he was kind, helped at home and said that "the best of you is the best to his family".
- Kindness to neighbours and guests, the poor and orphans.
- Patience in hardship.
Women
- He honoured and protected women: he forbade the burying of baby girls, taught that daughters are a blessing and said that paradise lies at the feet of mothers.
- Women have rights to inheritance, property, consent in marriage, and education (he said seeking knowledge is a duty on every Muslim).
- He consulted his wives (for example Umm Salamah at Hudaybiyyah) and women took part in public life as traders, teachers (Aishah) and nurses in battle.
- His Farewell Sermon told men to treat women well.
Non-Muslims
- The Constitution of Madina protected Jews and gave them religious freedom.
- He treated Christians with respect (the Christians of Najran were allowed to pray in his mosque), and Muslims found safety with the Christian Negus of Abyssinia.
- The Qur'an says "there is no compulsion in religion" (Sura 2:256).
- He forgave former enemies at Makka, and allowed prisoners at Badr to be freed if each taught ten Muslim children to read.
- He kept treaties (at Hudaybiyyah he accepted terms that seemed to disadvantage Muslims, and kept them).
His importance as an example for Muslim communities and states
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Government by consultation (shura): he consulted the Companions (for example about Badr, the Trench and Uhud).
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Justice and equal law for all, whatever a person's rank or religion.
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Treaties and peace: the Constitution of Madina and Hudaybiyyah show that Muslims should keep agreements and prefer peace.
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Defence, not aggression: the battles were fought to protect the community; he told fighters not to harm women, children, the old, clergy, trees and crops.
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Diplomacy: he sent letters and envoys to neighbouring rulers.
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Welfare: he organised zakat and care for the poor, orphans and travellers.
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Forgiveness after victory at Makka.
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Education: the Prophet's Mosque was also a school.
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He treated envoys of other states with honour, receiving them in the mosque and serving them himself.
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He said: "Whoever wrongs a person who has a covenant with the Muslims, or burdens him beyond his ability, I will be his opponent on the Day of Resurrection."
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He sent his letters to rulers with a seal, and when the Negus died he prayed for him.
His significance as Seal of the Prophets and last Messenger
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The Qur'an (Sura 33:40) calls him the Seal of the Prophets (Khatam an-Nabiyyin): no prophet will come after him.
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His message completes the guidance of earlier prophets (Adam, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa) and is for all humanity, not one people.
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The Qur'an is the final revelation and is preserved, so Muslims do not expect another book.
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His Sunnah shows how to live the Qur'an. Muslims love and honour him, send blessings on him, and pronounce "Muhammad is the Messenger of God" in the shahada.
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Muslims respect all prophets; belief in the finality of Muhammad (pbuh) is central to Muslim faith.
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The Prophet described himself as the last brick in a beautiful building which was complete except for one brick (Bukhari, Muslim). He also said that every prophet had been sent to his own people, but he had been sent to all humanity (34:28, 21:107).
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The earlier books were changed or lost, were given to one people for a period, and did not give a complete code. The Qur'an has been preserved (15:9) and completes the religion (5:3).
Outline. Treaties: Constitution of Madina and Hudaybiyyah, so Muslims keep agreements and prefer peace. Justice and humane conduct: rules of battle (no harm to civilians or crops), forgiveness at Makka. Diplomacy: letters to rulers, envoys. Shura: consulting before decisions. Tolerance: freedom of religion for Jews and Christians. Judgement: his example gives a basis for peaceful, just and humane relations between states today.