The life of the Prophet ﷺ with his Companions.
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The Prophet’s life is a complete guide for all Muslims. Every word and deed of the Prophet ﷺ has a special significance and there are many lessons to be drawn from it.
There are many ahaadeeth available that give insight into the life of the Prophet with his Companions.
The Prophet ﷺ always behaved in a most just manner with his Companions. He never treated anyone unfairly. The only criterion that he used to give preference to one Companion over another was that of piety or closeness to Allah ﷻ .
The Prophet ﷺ never treated any of his Companions harshly. He would always say kind words to them. He would not reprimand a Companion in a way that made him feel bad, even if the latter was obviously wrong. He would rather advise him with patience and wisdom.
وعن عبد الله بن عمرو بن العاص رضي الله عنهما قال: لَم يَكُنْ رَسول الله صلى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم فَاحِشَاً وَلَا مُتَنَحِشَاً، وَكَانَ يَقولُ: ” إِنَّ مِنْ خِيارِكُم أَحسَنُكم أخلاقاً، (البخاري ومسلم)
“Abdullaah ibn’Amr narrated that The Prophet never used bad language and was neither a Fahish (one who speaks bad words) nor a Mutafahish (one who speaks obscene evil words to make people laugh). He used to say “The best amongst you are those who have the best manners and character.” [Al-Bukhaan]
The Prophet ﷺ mostly acceded to the requests of the Companions. Especially in times when they were in need, even if it meant borrowing from someone else to see to the needs of the Companions, the Prophet would do so. Even if the Prophet was in greater need than the Companion he would still see to the needs of the Companion first. He was extremely generous.
“ما سُئِلَ النَّبِيِّ – صلى الله عليه وسلم – عن شيء قط فقال: لا ” (البخاري )
“Never was the Prophet asked for a thing to be given for which his answer was ‘No.’” [Al-Bukhari]
“Sahl ibn Sa’d said that a woman brought a burdah (sheet) to the Prophet. Sahl asked the people, “Do you know what a burdah is?” The people replied, “It is a ‘Shamla’, a sheet with a fringe.” That woman said, “O Allah’s Messenger! I have brought it so that you may wear it.” So the Prophet took it because he was in need of it and wore it. A man among his Companions, seeing him wearing it, said, “O Allah’s Messenger! Please give it to me to wear.” The Prophet said, “Yes,” (and gave him that sheet). When the Prophet left, the man was blamed by his Companions who said, “It was not nice on your part to ask the Prophet for it while you know that he took it because he was in need of it, and you also know that he (the Prophet) never turns down anybody’s request that he might be asked for.” That man said,
فقال الرجل: “والله ما سألته إياها لألبسها ولكن سألته إياها لتكون كفني يوم أموت.” (البخاري )
“I just wanted to have its blessings as the Prophet had put it on, so I hoped that I might be shrouded in it.” [Al-Bukhaan]
The Prophet ﷺ was always brave; he never put his Companions in a situation without being willing to be there himself.
The Prophet was the best among the people (both in shape and character) and was the most generous, and the bravest of them. Once, during the night, the people of Madinah were afraid (of a sound they heard). So the people went towards that sound, but the Prophet having gone to that sound before them (was already returning), met them while he was saying.
كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلَّم أحسن الناس ، وأشجعُ النَّاسِ ، وأَجودُ النَّاسِ ، ولقد فَزِعَ أَهْلُ الْمَدِينَةِ ذَاتَ ليلة فانطلق ناسُ قبل الصوت ، فتلقاهم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم راجعا ، وقد سبقهم إلى الصوت ، وهو على فرس لأبي طلحة ، وهو يقول : ” لم تراعوا . لم تراعوا . قال : وجدناه بَحْراً ، أو إنَّه لَبَحْر .” ( يعني الفرس ) ( البخاري ومسلم)
“Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid.” (At that time) he was riding a horse belonging to Aboo Talha and it was without a saddle, and he was carrying a sword slung at his neck. The Prophet ﷺ said, “I found it (the horse) like a sea, or it is the sea indeed.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
The Prophet ﷺ was very modest. He showed good character to his Companions. He would smile without laughing.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
” إن لكل دين خلق ، وخلق الإسلام الحياء ” ( الموطأ)
“Every deen has an innate character. The character of Islam is modesty.” [AL-Muwatta]
The Prophet ﷺ never showed anger and never took vengeance on behalf of something that was done to him. He would even finish his prayer quicker if he heard a baby crying. He prayed for the man who used to clean the mosque.
“وما انتقم صلى الله عليه وسلم لنفسه قط إلا أن تُنْتَهَكَ حُرمَةُ الله فَيَنتقِيم ” ( الموطا)
*The Messenger of Allah did not take revenge for himself unless the limits of Allah were violated. Then he took revenge for it for Allah.” [AL-Muwatte]
The Prophet ﷺ assisted the Companions in all types of task. He did not consider it beneath him to engage in menial tasks. It is related in Khulaasat as-Siyar that on one occasion, the Prophet ﷺ was traveling with the Companions when it was time to have food prepared. He asked the Companions to slaughter a sheep. One Companion volunteered to slaughter the sheep, another said that he would skin it and a third offered to cook it. The Prophet ﷺ said that he would collect the wood and even though the Companions insisted that they would collect it, the Prophet did it himself.
These are just examples of how the Prophet ﷺ acted towards the Companions. They contributed towards building a relationship based on love, trust and respect.
Contrary to what some may believe, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was a man who would occasionally joke with this companions.
The Prophet ﷺ was a pleasant person, his company was neither boring nor dull and uninteresting. It is reported by Abu Hurairah that the Prophet used to mix with them on familiar terms, even to the extent of enjoying light jokes with them.
عن أنس أَن رَجُلاً أَتى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلَّم فقال يا رسول الله احملتي قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلَّم إنا حاملوك على ولد ناقة قال وَما أَصْنَعُ بولد الناقة فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلَّم وَهَلْ تَلِدَ الإِبل إِلا النُّوقُ . ( أبو داود )
Anas reported that once a man asked the Prophet ﷺ for an animal to ride. He replied that he would give him the baby of a she-camel to ride on. The man asked what would he do with a she-camel baby. The Prophet ﷺ replied, “Is there any camel which is not born of a she-camel?” [Aboo-Daawood]
جاءت امرأة عجوز من الصحابيات إلى رسول الله صَلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم وقالت له: يارسول الله أُدعُ اللَّهِ أَنْ يُدْخِلَني الجنَّة، فداعَبَهَا صلى الله عليه وسلم قائلاً : إِنَّ الجنَّةَ لا تَدْخُلُهَا عَجُوز، فانصرفت العجوز باكية، فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم للحاضرين: أخبِرُوها أَنَّها لا تَدْخُلها وهي عجوز: (الترمذي)
Anas also reported that the Prophet ﷺ often joked and laughed with them. He also said that an old woman came to see the Prophet and asked him to pray for her that she might go to Paradise. He replied, “No old woman will enter Paradise!” She was very grieved end began crying. The Prophet ﷺ told the companions to tell her that the old woman would go to Paradise but as a young girl. [At-Tirmidhi]
