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 Muhammad
was a perfect model of modesty and humbleness. He never spoke loudly
or in an unseemly manner. In the market, he always passed by the
people quietly with a smile. Whenever he heard anything undesirable
in an assembly, he did not say anything out of respect for the
people, but the color of his face showed his feelings and the
Companions became cautious. `A'ishah said that she never saw Allah's
Messenger laughing so immoderately that she could see his molar
teeth, for he only used to smile.
Ibn
`Umar reported that a man from the Ansar (the Muslims of Madinah)
was giving his brother a warning against modesty when the Prophet
came along and said, "Leave him alone, modesty is a part of
faith."
`Abdullah
ibn Maslamah reported Allah's Messenger as saying, "Modesty is
a part of the teachings of the previous prophets and anyone who
lacks it is most likely to do whatever he likes."
Zayd
ibn Talya reported Allah's Messenger as saying, "Every religion
has a character and the character of Islam is modesty."
The
Prophet lived a simple and modest life, both in Makkah as a trader
and the Messenger of Allah, and in Madinah as the head of the state
and Messenger of Allah. The change in his social status from that of
a trader in Makkah to the head of the state in Madinah did not bring
any change in his modest living. `Umar reported the Prophet as
saying, "Do not exalt me as the Christians have exalted Jesus
son of Mary. I am just His servant, so call me Allah's Servant and
Messenger."
The
Prophet did not behave towards others as if he was better than them,
nor did he spurn manual work. `Abdullah ibn Abi Awfa reported that
the Prophet of Allah never disdained to go with a slave or a widow
to accomplish her tasks. Others reported that the Prophet used to
tidy up his house, tether the camels, feed the animals, take food
with his servants, and help them in kneading dough and bringing
provisions from the market. Anas reported that the Prophet of Allah
used to visit the sick, attend funerals, ride on a donkey and accept
a slave's invitation for a meal. Jabir stated that the Prophet used
to slow down his pace for the sake of the weak and also prayed for
them.
When
`Adiyy ibn Hatim came to see the Prophet, he called him inside his
house. A maidservant brought a cushion to rest on, but the Prophet
placed it between him and `Adiyy and sat down on the floor. `Adiyy
later said that he had then immediately realized that the Prophet
was not a king. A similar incident was reported by `Abdullah ibn `Amr
ibn al-`As, who said: Once when the Messenger of Allah came to my
house, I gave him a cushion filled with bark, but he sat down on the
floor placing the cushion between me and him.'
In
all things Muhammad was humble. Anas said that the Prophet would
accept an invitation even if he was presented barley bread and soup
whose taste had changed. He also reported the Prophet as saying,
"I am Allah's servant, I eat like a servant and sit like a
servant.''
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