SPIRIT OF ISLAM MARCH 2O18

38 Spirit of Islam Issue 63 March 2018 EXAMPLE OF THE PROPHET Character to Emulate A BOUT 1400 years ago the Prophet was forced by the Quraysh tribe to leave his native city of Makkah. He showed the utmost patience and restraint in the face of provocation by the Makkans but finally to avoid confrontation, left the city along with a handful of his followers. In Madinah the Prophet was welcomed by the Ansar (the people who lived in Madinah) who treated the immigrants as their brothers and sisters and even shared their possessions and properties with them. In Madinah, the Prophet founded the mosque known today as the Prophet’s Mosque, himself taking part in the construction. It became the centre of his activities, from where he would preach the message of Islam and ensure that the revelations were memorized and written down by his Companions. The Prophet laid great emphasis on character building, excellence in moral and social conduct, good family ties and the dignity of labour. Charity was one of the main features of the new society. The Prophet said, “Give alms from your right hand in such a manner that your left hand should not know of it”. But over and above giving alms and feeding the poor, the Prophet gave much wider meaning to the concept of charity: as he believed that every good act was a form of charity; smiling at a fellow human being; showing the road to a person who has lost his way; removing hindrances such as thorns and stones from the road, assisting the blind; helping a person to mount his beast; uttering words of comfort and replying to questions with mildness. For the Prophet, all of these constituted charity. The Prophet’s kindness and merciful nature was unparalleled. Often when he passed by a group of children, he would say, “Children are the flowers of God”, and pass his hand affectionately over their heads and sometimes even joined in their innocent games. He gave special honour and regard to parents. Those, he believed, who served their parents well, were deserving of Paradise. A man once asked the Prophet, “Who rightfully deserves the best treatment from me?” “Your mother”, said the Prophet. Then the man said. “Who comes next?” “Your mother”, The Prophet laid great emphasis on character building, excellence in moral and social conduct, good family ties and the dignity of labour.