Calling to Allah through the Prophet’s Impeccable Character

Calling to Allah through the Prophet’s Impeccable Character

It is one of Allah’s great blessings to humanity that he sent a kind, well-mannered, compassionate and gentle a person like Muhammad (peace be upon him) to carry His message.

Allah says: “And indeed (O Muhammad), you are on an exalted standard of character.” [Surah Al Qalam 68:4]

Allah says: “O Prophet! Truly We have sent you as a witness, a bearer of glad tidings, and warner – and as one who invites to Allah’s (grace) by His leave, and as a lamp spreading light.” [Surah Al Ahzab 33:45-46]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) was not stern in his dealings with others. He was gentle. He was concerned for the people and felt for them.

Allah says: “Now there has come to you a Messenger from amongst yourselves: it grieves him that you should feel distress: He is full of concern for you; to the believers he is most kind and merciful.” [Surah Al Tawbah 9:128]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) was not dictatorial.

Allah says: “Those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write, whom they will find described in the Torah and the Gospel (which are) with them. He will enjoin on them that which is right and forbid them that which is wrong. He will make lawful for them all good things and prohibit for them only the foul; and he will relieve them of their burden and the fetters that they used to wear. Then those who believe in him, and honor him, and help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him: they are the successful. “ [Surah Al A’raf 7:157]

Allah says: “It is part of the Mercy of Allah that thou (O Muhammad) dost deal gently with them Wert thou severe or harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about thee: so pass over (Their faults), and ask for (Allah’s) forgiveness for them; and consult them in affairs (of moment). Then, when thou hast Taken a decision put thy trust in Allah. For Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him).” [Surah Ali ‘Imran 3:159]

Allah makes it clear in these verses that the gentle and compassionate character of the Messenger (peace be upon us) was a mercy for humanity and one of the greatest factors behind the successful spread of Islam. It therefore, behooves those who wish to call others to this message of mercy to show the same compassion, clemency and gentleness in their own conduct.

We need to get to know the prophet’s personality better by reading his biography and by studying his Sunnah, and then by putting into practice the good qualities that we find.

Though we will never find in human history a greater leader or more heroic character than the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), we will likewise never find anyone who was more clement, forbearing, gentle and compassionate. The very humanity of the Prophet (peace be upon him) was unprecedented in history. None of us will ever reach a fraction of what he achieved in his life and none of us will shoulder a fraction of the responsibilities that he had to bear, but we can seek to adopt his gentle qualities and high moral standards into our lives.

The Prophet’s life is a practical manual of how we should conduct ourselves. His life shows us how to live wholesomely as a Muslim in this world, taking care of our spiritual welfare, our religious observances, and our worldly needs in a balanced and sensible way, without going to extremes of neglect or asceticism.

This is why the study of the Prophet’s life is so essential to those who wish to call others to the message of Islam. Allah declares him to be our example, the example for all those whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day.

“Ye have indeed in the Apostle of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for any one whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day, and who engages much in the Praise of Allah.” [Surah Al Ahzab 33:21]

We cannot follow someone’s life-example unless we are intimately acquainted with that life.

By studying his life, we see real events where the teachings of Islam were put into practice. We can see how Islamic principles were actualized in a human life. This boosts our spirits and gives vitality to the message that we carry. Islam’s message becomes immediate and relevant – a moral imperative that should guide our lives, rather than some set of dry theoretical abstractions, but.

Muslims today, in their conduct, are far removed from the wholesome ethics and values of their faith. They do not know how to translate the Prophet’s guidance into a practical, balanced mode of conduct.

This means that thinkers and writers who wish to spread Islam’s message need to give the study of the Prophet’s life a great deal of their attention. They need to then present that noble life to the general public in a way that is inspirational, informative, and entertaining. This does not only mean giving lectures and sermons, but also presenting his life through the television and storybooks and any other media that the public is receptive to.