The PROPHET (SAW) as a Man: A Model Servant of God
We often speak of the Prophet (peace be upon him) as God's Messenger,
entrusted with the delivery of His final message to mankind, which He
has guaranteed to preserve intact for the rest of human life. This is
certainly Prophet Muhammad's essential role. However, like the rest of
mankind, he was simply one of God's servants. Indeed, to be God's
servant is a position of honor. Unless we submit ourselves to God,
then we are in a position where we do not recognize His power and
authority over us and over everything in our lives. As such, we
maneuver ourselves into a position of rebellion against God. All
prophets recognized this fact, and every one of them declared himself
God's servant. When Mary carried her baby son, Jesus, and went to her
people, they were shocked, thinking that it was illegitimate. However,
she pointed to him and he declared that he was God's servant, to whom
God's message would in time be entrusted. Prophet Muhammad, the last
of God's messengers, always emphasized the honor of being God's
obedient servant. We are also given a constant reminder of the fact
when we often refer to him as "God's servant and messenger." In our
regular prayer, both obligatory and voluntary, we quote the full
declaration of faith, stating: "I bear witness that there is no deity
other than God, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and
messenger."
In the way he conducted his life, Prophet Muhammad stressed this
aspect preferring a simple life that was far removed from luxury and
ostentation. This was his deliberate choice, as it is reflected in the
following report by his wife, Aishah, quoting him as saying to her:
"Aishah! Had I wished I would have been given mountains of gold. Once
came to me an angel whose waist line is as big as the Kaabah and said:
`Your Lord sends youu His greetings and says that you can choose
either to be a Prophet and a servant of God, or a Prophet and a king.'
I looked at Gabriel, who was also present, and he indicated to me that
I better maintain my humility. I said: `I choose to be a Prophet and a
servant of God.' Ever since that moment, the Prophet never ate his
food in a reclining position. He used to say: `I eat like a servant
and sit like a servant.'" (Related by Ibn Hibban, Al-Baghawi, Ibn Saad
and Al-Haythami.)
Aishah also reports that she said to him: "Messenger of God! You may
wish to take a reclining position when you eat, for it would be more
comfortable for you." He lowered his head in a gesture of humility
until his head nearly touched the floor and answered: "No. I would
rather eat like a servant eats and sit like a servant." (Related by
Ibn Hibban.)
Another Hadith that stresses the same point is narrated by Abdullah
ibn Amr who says: "God's Messenger was never seen eating in a
reclining position, nor did he ever walk with two men behind him."
(Related by Ahmad, Abu Dawood and Ibn Majah.)
All three Hadiths speak about the Prophet's position when he ate. He
would never eat while reclining. This was common among kings, rulers
and people of affluence and in high positions. They would have
magnificent tables laid before them, and they would recline on couches
in the most comfortable positions. The very situation suggests much
more than affluence: It suggests indulgence that cares nothing for
those who are in a lower social position. The Prophet would never give
such an impression. He felt that whatever food one eats has been
provided by God, and as His servants we must always express our
gratitude for His favors by acknowledging our servitude to Him. Hence,
the Prophet's emphasis that He is only a servant of God. The last of
the quoted Hadiths mentions the Prophet's habit when walking with his
companions. He would not walk ahead of them. Rather, he would be in
the rear, with no more than one person behind him. This habit
confirmed his keenness to be seen as one of his companions, walking in
their midst and close even to the one at the tail end.
There are several other Hadiths stressing that this was his usual
practice. Ibn Abbas reports: "God's Messenger used to sit on the floor
and eat while seated on the floor." (Related by Ibn Hibban and
Al-Tabarani.) The latter adds the following: "He also used to tie his
sheep and accept invitation even from a slave who can afford to give
him no more than barley bread." Jabir quotes the Prophet as saying: "I
am no more than a servant of God: I eat like a servant and sit like one."
While humility was evident in the way he walked, sat or ate, it was
even clearer in his worship. Abu Saeed Al-Khudri reports: "I have seen
God's Messenger prostrating himself, putting his forehead in water and
mud. I indeed saw traces of mud on his forehead." (Related by
Al-Bukhari, Muslim and Ahmad.)
In all these Hadiths, the stress is on the fact that the Prophet was
God's servant and Messenger. The two qualities are complementary. God
chooses His messengers and assigns tasks to them. They carry out these
tasks to the best of their abilities. They, thus, enhance their
position, but remain God's servants. Hence, when the Prophet sought
Gabriel's advice on the choice God had given him to be a king or a
common person in God's service, Gabriel unhesitatingly counseled him
to maintain humility. Nevertheless, Prophet Muhammad has been given
high and wide renown. Even his enemies recognized his fine character
and noble qualities. Muslims frequently mention him in the highest
human position. Moreover, it is enough that anyone who wishes to be a
Muslim must recognize him as God's Messenger. This is mentioned in the
declaration by which a person becomes a Muslim, which states: "I bear
witness that there is no deity other than God, and I bear witness that
Muhammad is God's Messenger."
The Prophet was always keen that he should be seen demonstrating this
fact. Hence, he would never behave in a way that suggested a position
superior to that of his companions. He would sit, walk, talk and
worship with them in the way they were used to do. Yet all luxuries
were available to him, had he chosen to avail himself of God's
repeated offers. He would indeed go further than what is ordinary in
stressing this fact, as is clearly apparent in his willingness to
prostrate himself before God even in a dirty place which causes mud to
stick to his forehead. Blessed indeed is God's Messenger who always
strove to be a model servant of God.
Courtesy: Shahid Khan [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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{Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom
(i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue
with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone
astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.} (Holy
Quran-16:125)
{And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in
His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites
(men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I
am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33)
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if
Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of
camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said, "Whoever
calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who
follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all."
[Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah]
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