PROPHET MUHAMMAD—PART I

PROPHET MUHAMMAD—PART I Exemplary Conduct T HE Prophet of Islam, Muhammad, upon whom be peace, was born in Arabia on 22 April 570 AD, and died on 8 June 632 AD. He was a handsome and powerfully built man. His childhood gave indications of the sublime and dynamic personality that was to emerge. Growing up, the nobility of his personality cast an effect on all who beheld him. His soft-spoken and genial disposition earned him a great deal of love from all who came in contact with him. A perfectly balanced personality—tolerant, truthful, perspicacious and magnanimous—he presented the highest example of human nobility. He became known as the most chivalrous among his people, tolerant and forbearing, truthful and trustworthy, always the good neighbour. He stayed aloof from quarrels and squabbles and never indulged in foul utterances, abuse or invective. People left their valuables in his custody, knowing he would never betray them. His unimpeachable trustworthiness won him the title of “al-Amin,” a faithful custodian, an unfailing trustee. He married at the age of twenty-five, his uncle Abu Talib performing the marriage service. “There is no one to compare with my nephew, Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah,” he said. “He outshines everyone in nobility, gentility, eminence and wisdom. By God, he has a great future and will reach a very high station.” Abu Talib meant them in a worldly sense. Nature had endowed his nephew with a magnetic and versatile personality. His people would surely appreciate his qualities, and raise him to a high position. Abu Talib envisaged a future of worldly success and accomplishment for his nephew; this was the “great future” which he referred to in his sermon. Without doubt the Prophet had every opportunity for worldly advancement. He was born into a noble family of Makkah and his virtues guaranteed his success in life. True, he had inherited just one camel and one servant from his father, but his inborn high qualities had impressed the richest woman in Makkah, Khadijah, a forty-yearold widow belonging to a family of merchants. Not only did marriage with Khadijah provide the Prophet with wealth and property; it also The Prophet's unimpeachable trustworthiness won him the title of “al-Amin,” a faithful custodian, an unfailing trustee.