Author: Mohammad Asim Ismail Zahi
Morals of the Prophet “PBUH” (The 6th and Final Part)
The Extraordinary Compassion of Divine Leaders
It is well understood from the verses of the Qur’an and history that divine leaders suffered from the misguidance of the people more than is commonly imagined and loved their faith. They were saddened to see the thirsty people sitting next to the spring of clear water, crying out of thirst. They shed tears, prayed, worked hard day and night, preached both in secret and openly, and cried out in private and public. They felt deep sorrow that people left the clear and straight path and went astray—a grief so profound that it sometimes threatened their lives! Indeed, if it were not for this compassion, the true essence of leadership would not be realized. Sometimes, this state of sadness became so intense that the Prophet’s life was placed in danger, prompting Allah to console him. As Allah Almighty said: «لَعَلَّكَ بَاخِعٌ نَفْسَكَ أَلَّا يَكُونُوا مُؤْمِنِينَ»; “It’s as if you want to destroy yourself because they don’t believe.
Then He says for consolation: «إِنْ نَشَأْ نُنَزِّلْ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ السَّماءِ آيَةً فَظَلَّتْ أَعْناقُهُمْ لَها خاضِعِينَ»; “If We will, We will send down a miracle from the sky upon them, so that their necks will bow before it (and they will believe under compulsion and) surrender. However, the Sunnah and wisdom of Allah involve free will, and He has provided reward for it.”
In the Qur’anic interpretation, there is a notion of blame regarding the Prophet, peace be upon him, feeling sorrowful for himself because the polytheists do not believe: «بَخَعَ النَّفْس». It means to kill oneself.
This also depicts how much the Prophet, peace be upon him, suffered due to their denial. He knew what kind of punishment awaited them for their disbelief; therefore, his heart burned for them, and his blessed existence felt diminished.
5. Humility Towards Believers
Almighty Allah has said: «وَاخْفِضْ جَناحَكَ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ»; “And be kind and humble to the believers who follow you.”
This beautiful interpretation hints at humility combined with kindness. Just as birds, when they want to express their love for their chicks, spread their wings to shelter them from potential dangers and prevent them from scattering, the Prophet is also entrusted with taking true believers under his wing.
These examples illustrate the moral behavior of the Prophet of Islam, each serving as a transparent mirror reflecting the beauty of his good character and revealing one of the important secrets behind the remarkable progress of Islam at its inception. The Prophet, peace be upon him, behaved towards his companions in a manner that was always pleasant, smiling, soft, and gentle. He was never harsh, hard-hearted, aggressive, foul-mouthed, fault-finding, or praiseworthy. No one was disappointed by him, and whoever came to his door did not leave feeling rejected. He avoided three things: arguing in speech, speaking too much, and interfering in matters that did not concern him. He did not condemn anyone and refrained from seeking out people’s hidden faults. He only spoke when there was a divine purpose in it. When he did speak, his words were so impactful that everyone fell silent and listened intently.
In the end, we ask Allah, the Beneficent and Merciful, to grant us the success to establish and imitate the beautiful and pleasing morals, actions, circumstances, and sayings of the Prophet, peace be upon him, for He is the Almighty who hears and answers prayers.
Continues…
