Exemplary Conduct

EXEMPLARY CONDUCT to the Prophet. But now that God had revealed to him that there was another perfect and eternal world besides this world, which was the actual abode of man, life and the universe took on new meaning. He now found a level on which his soul could subsist, a life in which he could involve himself, heart and soul. The Prophet now saw a real world into which he could put his heart and soul, a target for all his hopes and aspirations, a goal for all his life’s endeavours. This reality is discovered not merely on an intellectual level. When it takes root, it transforms one completely and raises one’s level of existence. The Prophet of Islam gives us an excellent example of this way of life. The greatest lesson imparted by his life is that unless one changes one’s plane of existence, one cannot change one’s actions. When the Prophet Muhammad discovered the reality of the world hereafter, it came to dominate his whole life. He became most desirous of the heaven of which he gave tidings to others, and he was most fearful of the hell of which he warned others. Deep concern for the life to come was always welling up inside him. Sometimes it would surge to his lips in supplication and sometimes in the form of heartfelt contrition. He lived on a completely different plane from that of ordinary human beings. Many incidents illustrate this, a few mentioned here. Once, the Prophet was at home with Umm Salamah. He called the maid-servant, who took some time to come. Seeing signs of anger on the Prophet’s face, Umm Salamah went to the window and saw that the maid was playing.