The Prophet’s Polite Treatment and His Good Association

Man’s perfect nature appears in his good treatment and association. The beloved Muhammad, God’s blessing and peace be upon him, was a perfect example of good treatment. The following events are sufficient examples for the one who desires to follow Muhammad’s steps in his spiritual and moral perfections:
1. Ali, may God be pleased with him, described the prophet, God’s blessing and peace be upon him, by saying, ‘The Messenger of Allah was more tolerant than all people and the most truthful man’.
The following story confirms this saying: The Prophet, God’s blessing and peace be upon him, passed by Ibn ‘Ubayy who sat among the Muslims and other people. Ibn ‘Ubayy said to the Messenger of Allah who was on his sumpter, ‘Do not cover us with dust. Go back to your house’. The Muslims got so angry and cursed the unbelievers and they were about to fight them. But the Messenger of Allah calmed them down and prevented them from cursing each other and he went on in his way.
He went to Sa’d Ibn Mu’adh and told him what had happened. Sa’d told him, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Forgive him and excuse him. The people of Medina had already decided to appoint him as a king but when God sent you as a prophet he was disappointed’.
The Prophet forgave him and when he was about to leave, Sa’d gave him a donkey to mount it and said to Qays, ‘Accompany the Messenger of Allah’.
The Messenger said to Qays, ‘Mount with me’.
But when Qays refused to do so, the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Either you mount with me or you go your way’. The boy went.
What a great perfection is this! Let’s now listen to Ibn Abu Halah describing the Prophet, God’s blessing and peace be upon him. He said, ‘He was continually cheerful. He had good nature and was so compliant and was never rude. He was neither cynical nor panegyrist. He always answered every one who asked him something. Above all, he accepted the present even if it was a tatter of an ewe and he awarded its giver’.
2. Anas Ibn Malik said, ‘I served the Messenger of Allah, God’s blessing and peace be upon him, for ten years during which he never said ‘ugh’ to me and he never asked me about anything I did or left’.
3. A’isha, may God be pleased with her, said, ‘No one had a nobler character than the Messenger of Allah. No one of his companions and his household asked him anything but he said, ‘I am here’. That is he answered his request’.
4. Aref described him saying, ‘The Messenger of Allah talked and joked with his companions. He played with their children and put them in his lap. He also answered the request of the free and the slave, the bondmaid and the poor. He visited the ill in the furthermost part of the city and he accepted the excuse of the excused’.
5. Aleem described him saying, ‘ The Messenger of Allah, God’s blessing and peace be upon him, was the first to begin the greeting. He was also the first to shake hands with the others. He never spread his legs among his companions in order not to disturb anyone of them. He received the guest hospitably to the extent that he spread his garment for the visitor and preferred him to himself. He called his companions by their titles and not by their names (first names). Besides, he never interrupted anyone in his speech. When anyone sat beside him while praying, he lessened his prayer and asked him about his request and when he finishes, he continues his prayer’.
6. To show his good treatment and fine nature, it suffices to read the following holy verse said by God, the Great and Almighty,
{It is par of the Mercy of God that thou dost deal gently with them. Were thou severe or harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about thee: so pass over (their faults), and ask for (God’s) forgiveness for them; and consult them in affairs (of moment)} (The Family of Imran V., 159