Written By: Saad Mahmood
Edited By: Muhammed Tahmid Ahmed
This article is a summary of the content delivered at Cheadle Masjid’s Seerah Conference in Manchester on Saturday, 30th September 2023.
In our times, there may be nothing more vital for the Ummah than reconnecting with the life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. This was the resounding message at the conference, a day dedicated to reflecting on the character of our beloved Prophet ﷺ and drawing lessons for the present.
Imam Abid Khan: Reflecting on the Character of the Prophet ﷺ
The character of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was one deeply rooted in the Qur’an, as related by Aisha (RA):
عن قتادة قُلْتُ لعائشة يَا أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْبِئِينِي عَنْ خُلُقِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَتْ أَلَسْتَ تَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَتْ فَإِنَّ خُلُقَ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ الْقُرْآنَ
Qatadah (RA) reported: I said to Aisha (RA), “O mother of the believers, tell me about the character of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.” Aisha (RA) said, “Have you not read the Quran?” I said, “Of course.” Aisha (RA) said, “Verily, the character of the Prophet of Allah ﷺ was the Quran.”
She (RA) described him as a living embodiment of the Qur’an, a man sent to perfect people’s character through his own. His mission must make us ask ourselves: are we responding appropriately to it?
The Prophet ﷺ also stated:
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِنَّ أَقْرَبَكُمْ مِنِّي مَنْزِلاً يَوْمَ القيَامَةِ أَحَاسِنَكُمْ أَخْلَاقًا فِي الدُّنْيَا
Verily, those of you in the closest position to me on the Day of Resurrection are those of you with the best character in the world.
To that end, three essential reads are recommended before the next Rabi al-Awwal:
- A book on Seerah, such as one by Shaykh Yasir Qadhi.
- Ash-Shamaa’il al-Muhammadiya by Imam al-Tirmidhi.
- Ash-Shifa by Qadi Iyad.
Jabir bin Abdullah (RA) also noted:
قَالَ جَرِيرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ مَا حَجَبَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مُنْذُ أَسْلَمْتُ وَلاَ رَآنِي إِلاَّ ضَحِكَ
Allah’s Messenger ﷺ never refused me permission to see him since I embraced Islam and never looked at me but with a smile.
This underscores how the Prophet’s ﷺ smile was a bridge, fostering connection with everyone he met—unlike today, where our focus often stays downcast which is against the Sunnah.
Ali (RA) also described the Prophet ﷺ as easy-going and gentle, even in testing situations, as in the famous story of the Bedouin who urinated in the mosque:
حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ يُونُسَ الْحَنَفِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عِكْرِمَةُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ أَبِي طَلْحَةَ، حَدَّثَنِي أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ، – وَهُوَ عَمُّ إِسْحَاقَ – قَالَ بَيْنَمَا نَحْنُ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذْ جَاءَ أَعْرَابِيٌّ فَقَامَ يَبُولُ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَقَالَ أَصْحَابُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَهْ مَهْ . قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ” لاَ تُزْرِمُوهُ دَعُوهُ ” . فَتَرَكُوهُ حَتَّى بَالَ . ثُمَّ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم دَعَاهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ ” إِنَّ هَذِهِ الْمَسَاجِدَ لاَ تَصْلُحُ لِشَىْءٍ مِنْ هَذَا الْبَوْلِ وَلاَ الْقَذَرِ إِنَّمَا هِيَ لِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَالصَّلاَةِ وَقِرَاءَةِ الْقُرْآنِ ” . أَوْ كَمَا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . قَالَ فَأَمَرَ رَجُلاً مِنَ الْقَوْمِ فَجَاءَ بِدَلْوٍ مِنْ مَاءٍ فَشَنَّهُ عَلَيْهِ .
While we were in the mosque with Allah’s Messenger ﷺ, a desert Arab came and stood up and began to urinate in the mosque. The Companions of Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said: Stop, stop, but the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Don’t interrupt him; leave him alone. They left him alone, and when he finished urinating, Allah’s Messenger ﷺ called him and said to him: These mosques are not the places meant for urine and filth, but are only for the remembrance of Allah ﷻ, prayer and the recitation of the Qur’an, or Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said something like that. He (the narrator) said that he (the Holy Prophet ﷺ) then gave orders to one of the people who brought a bucket of water and poured over it.
Allah ﷻ Himself says to the Prophet ﷺ:
فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍۢ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ لِنتَ لَهُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ كُنتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ ٱلْقَلْبِ لَٱنفَضُّوا۟ مِنْ حَوْلِكَ ۖ
It is out of Allah’s mercy that you ˹O Prophet˺ have been lenient with them. Had you been cruel or hard-hearted, they would have certainly abandoned you
(Surah Ali ‘Imran, Verse 159)
Ali (RA) continued: the Prophet ﷺ was never loud or rude, always humble and soft-spoken, never mentioning others’ faults. This humility is vital, especially today when refutation culture dominates online discussions.
Abu Hurairah (RA) narrates:
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ لَا يَسْتُرُ عَبْدٌ عَبْدًا فِي الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا سَتَرَهُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ
A servant does not cover the faults of another servant in the world but that Allah ﷻ will cover his faults on the Day of Resurrection.
Ali (RA) also described the Prophet ﷺ as avoiding:
- Stubborn arguments, as shown when he approached a grieving woman at the graveyard with compassion.
- Excessiveness, reminding us to seek only what we need.
- That which did not concern him—as the hadith states, “From the excellence of a person’s Islam is leaving that which does not concern him.”
Following the Prophet’s ﷺ example, we can strive to avoid pride, petty arguments, and gossip. The true emulation of the Prophet ﷺ lies in mirroring his noble character in all that we do.
Ustadh Rehan Salim: The Companions’ Love for the Prophet ﷺ
The Prophet ﷺ is the best of creation, chosen by Allah ﷻ and honoured until the end of time. He ﷺ tells us in a hadith:
لاَ يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى أَكُونَ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ وَالِدِهِ وَوَلَدِهِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ
None of you will have faith till he loves me more than his father, his children and all mankind.
The Sahabah would frequently say, “May our mothers and fathers be sacrificed for you, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”
The Prophet ﷺ taught us that true love manifests through following his example. The verse in the Qur’an reads:
قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ ٱللَّهَ فَٱتَّبِعُونِى
Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “If you ˹sincerely˺ love Allah, then follow me
(Surah Ali ‘Imran, Verse 31)
This love, however, is not just in words. Hubb – the Arabic word for love, refers to a seed that grows into a plant. The Sahabah’s love for the Prophet ﷺ was not static; it was a growing, flourishing devotion, as demonstrated by their lives.
There are three forms of love for the Prophet ﷺ:
- Ittiba’ (Following) – The Sahabah were meticulous in following the Prophet’s ﷺ example. Anas ibn Malik (RA) once saw the Prophet ﷺ enjoying pumpkin and decided to eat it from then on, simply because the Prophet ﷺ liked it. While actions like eating pumpkin aren’t obligatory, they reflect the deep respect and admiration that moved the Sahabah. This following must also apply to the commandments of Shari’ah, where adherence is a true expression of love.
- Longing – The Sahabah felt immense longing for the Prophet ﷺ. Amongst them was Abu Huraira (RA), who, despite living in poverty and enduring hunger, was always in the company of the Prophet ﷺ and narrated the most ahadith. The Sahabah would rush to grab water from the Prophet ﷺ whilst he ﷺ performed wudu. Ubayy ibn Ka’b (RA) was noted for making dua and sending salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ, a practice that deepens our longing to meet him and, in turn, increases Allah’s ﷻ happiness with us.
- Sacrifice – During the Battle of Uhud, when Muslims were flanked and surrounded, senior Sahabah rushed to protect the Prophet ﷺ. Despite only nine standing by him, they faced the disbelievers who aimed to kill him. Talha ibn Ubaydillah (RA) shielded the Prophet ﷺ and was struck by multiple arrows, losing fingers and suffering paralysis in his hand. As the Prophet ﷺ was injured, Abu Bakr (RA) and other believers came to his aid, risking their own safety in the process. Their unwavering dedication meant they would never tolerate harm coming to the Prophet ﷺ, both physically and figuratively.
Ustadh Ubaidah Omar: The Prophet ﷺ as a Family Man
Around the 6th Hijri year, during a time of Islamic expansion, the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius received letters from neighbouring rulers. He instructed his people to find someone with close lineage to the Prophet ﷺ and brought Abu Sufyan [before his conversion] (RA) before him. Heraclius warned that if Abu Sufyan (RA) lied, the crowd would signal him. Despite potential strategic advantages, Abu Sufyan (RA) refused to lie, wanting to maintain his integrity. If Abu Sufyan (RA) could embody truthfulness – even as a former enemy of the Muslims – it speaks volumes about the inherent truthfulness of the Prophet ﷺ. The fact that even his adversaries acknowledged his noble character illustrates the profound respect commanded by the Prophet ﷺ. [Sahih al-Bukhari 7]
Shaykh Hammad Fahim: The Motivation to Strive for Jannah
A man once asked a scholar, ‘Tell us something that will motivate us to work for Jannah.’ The scholar replied, ‘In it, there is Muhammad ﷺ.’
The mere thought of seeing the Prophet ﷺ in Jannah serves as an unparalleled motivation for believers to strive toward the ultimate goal.
As humans, we naturally look to role models to shape our character. Allah ﷻ states in the Qur’an:
لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِى رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌۭ
Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example
(Surah al-Ahzab, Verse 21)
The phrase “لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِى” here refers to immersion within. Almost as though the Qur’an is saying to immerse ourselves into the character of the Prophet ﷺ, and observe him from all angles.
The Story of Hatib ibn Abi Baltiah (RA)
حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ حُصَيْنٍ، عَنْ فُلاَنٍ، قَالَ تَنَازَعَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ وَحِبَّانُ بْنُ عَطِيَّةَ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ لِحِبَّانَ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ الَّذِي جَرَّأَ صَاحِبَكَ عَلَى الدِّمَاءِ يَعْنِي عَلِيًّا. قَالَ مَا هُوَ لاَ أَبَا لَكَ قَالَ شَىْءٌ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُهُ. قَالَ مَا هُوَ قَالَ بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَالزُّبَيْرَ وَأَبَا مَرْثَدٍ وَكُلُّنَا فَارِسٌ قَالَ ” انْطَلِقُوا حَتَّى تَأْتُوا رَوْضَةَ حَاجٍ ـ قَالَ أَبُو سَلَمَةَ هَكَذَا قَالَ أَبُو عَوَانَةَ حَاجٍ ـ فَإِنَّ فِيهَا امْرَأَةً مَعَهَا صَحِيفَةٌ مِنْ حَاطِبِ بْنِ أَبِي بَلْتَعَةَ إِلَى الْمُشْرِكِينَ فَأْتُونِي بِهَا ”. فَانْطَلَقْنَا عَلَى أَفْرَاسِنَا حَتَّى أَدْرَكْنَاهَا حَيْثُ قَالَ لَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم تَسِيرُ عَلَى بَعِيرٍ لَهَا، وَكَانَ كَتَبَ إِلَى أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ بِمَسِيرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَيْهِمْ. فَقُلْنَا أَيْنَ الْكِتَابُ الَّذِي مَعَكِ قَالَتْ مَا مَعِي كِتَابٌ. فَأَنَخْنَا بِهَا بَعِيرَهَا، فَابْتَغَيْنَا فِي رَحْلِهَا فَمَا وَجَدْنَا شَيْئًا. فَقَالَ صَاحِبِي مَا نَرَى مَعَهَا كِتَابًا. قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا مَا كَذَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ حَلَفَ عَلِيٌّ وَالَّذِي يُحْلَفُ بِهِ لَتُخْرِجِنَّ الْكِتَابَ أَوْ لأُجَرِّدَنَّكِ. فَأَهْوَتْ إِلَى حُجْزَتِهَا وَهْىَ مُحْتَجِزَةٌ بِكِسَاءٍ فَأَخْرَجَتِ الصَّحِيفَةَ، فَأَتَوْا بِهَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ عُمَرُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَدْ خَانَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ. دَعْنِي فَأَضْرِبَ عُنُقَهُ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ” يَا حَاطِبُ مَا حَمَلَكَ عَلَى مَا صَنَعْتَ ”. قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَالِي أَنْ لاَ أَكُونَ مُؤْمِنًا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ، وَلَكِنِّي أَرَدْتُ أَنْ يَكُونَ لِي عِنْدَ الْقَوْمِ يَدٌ، يُدْفَعُ بِهَا عَنْ أَهْلِي وَمَالِي، وَلَيْسَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِكَ أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ لَهُ هُنَالِكَ مِنْ قَوْمِهِ مَنْ يَدْفَعُ اللَّهُ بِهِ عَنْ أَهْلِهِ وَمَالِهِ. قَالَ ” صَدَقَ، لاَ تَقُولُوا لَهُ إِلاَّ خَيْرًا ”. قَالَ فَعَادَ عُمَرُ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ قَدْ خَانَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ، دَعْنِي فَلأَضْرِبَ عُنُقَهُ. قَالَ ” أَوَلَيْسَ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ، وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ اطَّلَعَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَقَالَ اعْمَلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ فَقَدْ أَوْجَبْتُ لَكُمُ الْجَنَّةَ ”. فَاغْرَوْرَقَتْ عَيْنَاهُ فَقَالَ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ.
Abu Abdur-Rahman (RA) and Hibban bin Atiyya (RA) had a dispute. Abu Abdur-Rahman (RA)said to Hibban (RA), “You know what made your companions (i.e. Ali (RA)) dare to shed blood.” Hibban (RA) said, “Come on! What is that?” Abdur-Rahman said, “Something I heard him saying.” The other said, “What was it?” AbdurRahman said, “Ali said, Allah’s Messenger ﷺ sent for me, Az-Zubair (RA) and Abu Marthad (RA), and all of us were cavalry men, and said, ‘Proceed to Raudat-Hajj (Abu Salama (RA) said that Abu Awana (RA) called it like this, i.e., Hajj where there is a woman carrying a letter from Hatib bin Abi Balta’a to the pagans (of Mecca). So bring that letter to me.’ So we proceeded riding on our horses till we overtook her at the same place of which Allah’s Messenger ﷺ had told us. She was traveling on her camel. In that letter Hatib (RA) had written to the Meccans about the proposed attached of Allah’s Messenger ﷺ against them. We asked her, “Where is the letter which is with you?’ She replied, ‘I haven’t got any letter.’ So we made her camel kneel down and searched her luggage, but we did not find anything. My two companions said, ‘We do not think that she has got a letter.’ I said, ‘We know that Allah’s Messenger ﷺ has not told a lie.'” Then Ali (RA) took an oath saying, “By Him by Whom one should swear! You shall either bring out the letter or we shall strip off your clothes.” She then stretched out her hand for her girdle (round her waist) and brought out the paper (letter). They took the letter to Allah’s Messenger ﷺ. Umar (RA) said, “O Allah’s Messenger ﷺ (Hatib) has betrayed Allah ﷻ, His Apostle and the believers; let me chop off his neck!” Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said, “O Hatib! What obliged you to do what you have done?” Hatib (RA) replied, “O Allah’s Messenger ﷺ Why (for what reason) should I not believe in Allah ﷻ and His Apostle? But I intended to do the (Mecca) people a favor by virtue of which my family and property may be protected as there is none of your companions but has some of his people (relatives) whom Allah ﷻ urges to protect his family and property.” The Prophet ﷺ said, “He has said the truth; therefore, do not say anything to him except good.” Umar (RA) again said, “O Allah’s Messenger ﷺ He has betrayed Allah ﷻ, His Apostle and the believers; let me chop his neck off!” The Prophet ﷺ said, “Isn’t he from those who fought the battle of Badr? And what do you know, Allah ﷻ might have looked at them (Badr warriors) and said (to them), ‘Do what you like, for I have granted you Paradise?’ ” On that, Umar’s (RA) eyes became flooded with tears and he said, “Allah ﷻ and His Apostle know best.”
A video explanation of the story can also be found here.
We learn from this story that even in a tense situation, the Prophet ﷺ showed mercy by recalling the good track record of his companion, even when it could have jeopardised the Muslims. Today, however, we see a toxic online culture and cancel culture that overlooks years of positive contributions from individuals they seek to condemn.
In summary, we learn that embodying the Prophet ﷺ’s character is a part of our faith and obedience to Allah ﷻ and a form of responding to His commands via the Qur’an. We further learn that the Companions tried to emulate him ﷺ in all aspects of their lives, and we must have the same holistic mindset. Finally, if we are weakened in our resolve to do good deeds, we must remember that the greatest man to have ever lived, and the most beloved being to Allah ﷻ, will be present in what is the ultimate reward for our good deeds – Jannah.
And Allah ﷻ knows best.