Muhammad a Prophet For all Humanity
3. Exemplary Conduct
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such forbearance and humility even after being
established as head of the Muslim state of Madinah.
So successful was the Prophet’s life that, during his
lifetime, he became the ruler of the whole of Arabia
right up to Palestine. Whatever he said, as the
messenger of God, was accepted as law. He was
revered by his people as no other man has ever been
revered. When ‘Urwah ibn Mas’ud was sent to him
as an envoy of the Quraysh (A.H. 6), he was amazed
to see that the Muslims would not let any water used
by the Prophet for ablution fall on the ground, but
would catch it in their hands, and rub it on their
bodies. Such was their veneration for him. Anas ibn
Malik, the Prophet’s close companion says that in
spite of the great love they had for the Prophet, out
of respect they could not look him full in the face.
According to Mughirah, if any of the Prophet’s
companions had to call on him, they would first tap
on the door with their fingernails. One night, when
the moon was full, the Prophet lay asleep, covered in
a red sheet. Jabir ibn Samrah says that sometimes he
would look at the moon and sometimes at the
Prophet. Eventually he came to the conclusion that
the Prophet was the more beautiful of the two.
