The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), was a role model and a leader to be followed. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often.} [Quran 33:21]
Therefore, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), would pray at night until his feet became swollen. It was said to him, “Why are you doing this when Allah has forgiven your past and future misdeeds?” He replied:“Should I not be a grateful slave [of Allah]?” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), would pray eleven or sometimes thirteen Rak‘ahs (units of prayer) at night. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] As for the regular voluntary prayers, he would perform ten Rak‘ahs [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] or twelve Rak‘ahs [Muslim]. He would perform four Rak‘ahs as the Dhuha (the prayer after sunrise until just before Thuhr) prayer. [Muslim] He would prolong his night prayer and recite almost five parts of the Quran in each Rak‘ah. [Muslim]
In summary, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), would pray more than forty Rak‘ahs every day, including the seventeen obligatory Rak‘ahs.
In other than the month of Ramadan, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), would fast three days every month [Muslim] and would regularly fast on Mondays and Thursdays [At-Tirmithi, An-Nasaa’i and others]. He would fast for most of, and perhaps the entire month of Sha‘baan. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] He encouraged Muslims to fast six days during the month of Shawwaal. [Muslim] He would fast until it would be said that he never broke his fast, and not fast until it was said that he never fasted. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] In other than Sha‘baan, he never fasted a complete month except Ramadan. He would fast on the tenth day of the month of Muharram [Al-Bukhari and Muslim], and he was reported to have fasted the first nine days of Thul-Hijjah [An-Nasaa’i, Abu Daawood and Ahmad]. He would fast uninterruptedly for two or three days, and at the same time he forbade uninterrupted fasting. In this regard, he explained that he was not like other members of his Ummah (nation), as he would stay the night with his Lord who provided him with food and drink. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] This is according to the soundest point of view proposed by the commentators on the words “food and drink” which indicate the joy, pleasure, comfort and happiness which the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), would find in worshipping Allah The Almighty and privately supplicating to and praising Him. Hence, he was reported to have said:
· “O Bilaal, relieve us by calling the Iqaamah for prayer.” [Abu Daawood and Ahmad]
· “The delight of my heart is in prayer.” [An-Nasaa’i and Ahmad]
The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), often gave in charity, and he was more generous than a strong and uncontrollable wind in his readiness and haste to do charitable deeds when Jibreel (Gabriel), may Allah exalt his mention, would meet him. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] He would give charity without fear of poverty. Hence, he gave a man as many sheep that filled a valley between two mountains. The man went back to his people, and said, “O my people! Embrace Islam, for Muhammad is so generous that he gives without fear of poverty.” [Muslim]
The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), was the best of people, the most generous, and the most courageous [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. He was the most merciful, the humblest, the fairest and the most patient of all people. Also, he was the most lenient, the gentlest, the most forgiving, the most forbearing, the most modest and the firmest on the truth.
The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), made Jihaad on every level:
First, there was the Jihaad against one’s self, which has four degrees: striving against one’s self to learn religious knowledge, to practice it, to call to it with insight, and to endure the hardships of Da‘wah (propagation) patiently.
Second, Jihaad against the devil, which has two degrees: striving against the devil to reject whatever doubts with which he inspires man, and to purge one’s self of the evil desires that the devil stirs in him.
Third, Jihaad against the disbelievers, which has four degrees: Jihaad by one’s heart, tongue, wealth and hand.
Fourth, Jihaad against the oppressors, which has three degrees: by one’s hand, tongue, and then by one’s heart.
These are the thirteen degrees of Jihaad, and the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), was the most perfect in all of them. His time was dedicated to Jihaad, and he contributed to it with his heart, tongue, hands and money. Hence, he was the best among people and of the greatest status in the sight of Allah. He led twenty-seven military battles against the enemies of Tawheed (Islamic monotheism), and fought in nine of them. As for the battles that he did not lead by himself, which are known as Saraaya, they amount to fifty-six.
The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), was the finest in his dealings. If it happened that he borrowed something, he would return something better than what he had borrowed. A man once came to him demanding the camel that he had lent him and said coarse words to him. Hence, the Companions were about to beat the man, but the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), said to them: “Leave him, for the one who has a right usually demands his right harshly.”Thereupon, they said,“O Messenger of Allah! We see only a camel which is stronger than the one he is entitled to.” In response to this, the man said, “You gave me more than my right, may Allah reward you generously.” So he sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “Give [it to] him, for the best amongst you is the one who pays the rights of others handsomely.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Also, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), once bought a camel from Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah, may Allah be pleased with him. When the latter brought the camel to deliver it to him, the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) asked: “Do you think I was unjust to you in this sale?”Jaabir, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “No, O Messenger of Allah.” Thereupon, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), said:“Take both the camel and its price.”[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), was the finest in morals as ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said, “His morals were the [embodiment of the] Quran.” [Muslim] Hence, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), said: “I was sent to perfect good morals.” [Al-Bayhaqi and Ahmad]
