SPIRIT OF ISLAM MARCH 2O18

39 Spirit of Islam Issue 63 March 2018 The Prophet categorically prohibited gambling and the use of wine and would tell his followers that eating moderately is the best solution to avoid disease. said the Prophet. “Who is after that?”, asked the man, “Your mother”, was the Prophet’s answer. “Who comes next?” insisted the man again. “Your father”, said the noble Prophet. The Prophet gave great importance to family ties. He said, “The best man is he who is best to his wife”. Likewise, the best woman is the one whose husband feels pleased with her. The Prophet always emphasized good relations with neighbours and visiting the sick. He said that on the Day of Resurrection, God would say, “O son of man! I was sick, and you did not visit Me”. The man would answer, “O my Lord! How could I visit You when You are the Lord of the world?” God would answer, “Did you not know that such and such of My servants was sick, and you did not visit him. Did you not know that if you had visited him, you would surely have found Me with him? In a society based on good moral values, evils such as gambling and drinking find no place. Thus the Prophet categorically prohibited gambling and the use of wine and would tell his followers that eating moderately is the best solution to avoid disease. “Do not kill your hearts with excess of eating and drinking”. He told them to divide the stomach into three parts; one third for food, one third for water and one third to remain empty. The Prophet also felt very strongly about oral hygiene. He said if he had not feared putting his followers to trouble, he would have made it compulsory for them to clean their teeth five times daily before every prayer, and emphasized that “cleanliness is one half of faith”. Simple living and contentment were the key teachings in his life. “When you see a person, who has been given more money and beauty than you, look then to those who have been given less”. In so doing, we will thank God for His blessings, rather than feel deprived. The Prophet’s emphasis on moral values was so high that he advised his followers never to say that if people treat us well, we will treat them well, and if people treat us badly, we will treat them likewise. He taught them to be well mannered with everyone. He also taught them that under no circumstances should they become angry; “The strong man is not one who throws people down, but one who withholds himself from anger”. The Prophet encouraged his followers to earn their livelihood through trade and by the labours of their hands and to honour the dignity of labour. One of his saying is, “Pay the labourer his wages before his