Exemplary Conduct

EXEMPLARY CONDUCT that you will do it,” the Prophet replied, “but that would amount to discrimination, which I disapprove of. God does not like His servants to assert any superiority over their companions.” So humble was the Prophet himself that he once said: By God, I do not know, even though I am God’s messenger, what will become of me and what will become of you.18 One day Abu Dharr al-Ghifari was sitting next to a black Muslim. Abu Dharr addressed him as a “black man.” Hearing this, the Prophet was very displeased and told Abu Dharr to make amends. “Whites are not superior to blacks,” he added. Abu Dharr became conscious of his error when the Prophet admonished him. He cast himself to the ground in remorse and said to the person he had offended: “Stand up and rub your feet on my face.” The Prophet once saw a wealthy Muslim gathering his loose garment to maintain a distance from a poor Muslim sitting next to him. “Are you scared of his poverty clinging to you?” the Prophet remarked. Once, the Prophet had to borrow some money from a Jew named Zayd ibn Sa’nah. A few days before the date fixed for the debt repayment, the Jew came to demand his money back. He went up to the Prophet, caught hold of his clothes, and said to him harshly: “Muhammad, why don’t you pay me my due? From what I know of the descendants of Muttalib, they all put off paying their debts.” ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab was with the Prophet at the time. He became