aal-e-qutub

Section 14 – The goodness of the Prophet’s companionship, his manners and nature.

One finds multiple reports of the good companionship of the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, his excellent manners and cheerfulness to all peoples. Ali described him as being the most generous and truthful of people as well as being the most lenient.

The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, went to visit the family of Kays, who was the son of Saad. When it was time for him to leave the father of Saad brought him a donkey with a saddle-cloth whereupon the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him mounted. Then the father of Saad said to Kays, “Accompany the Messenger of Allah.” So the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, invited Kays to ride with him saying “Ride in front of me, the owner is more entitled to be in front.” With respect, Kays politely declined and the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, departed.

It was customary for the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, to draw people to him, he never drove them away. When people embraced Islam he honored their hierarchy by letting them retain their previous position over their fellow tribesmen. Although he was always cheerful and well mannered with people he was cautious and careful.

He paid particular attention to his Companions and spared time for them and whosoever of them was in his company thought that none had been more honored than he.

Whenever someone either came to him, sat down with him or asked for

something he was always patient, and was never the first to take his leave of their company. His nature was to give those who asked or say a kind word to them. He was like a father to them and his fine nature embraced all.

Abi Hala’s son described him as always cheerful with an easy disposition. The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, was gentle rather than off-handed. He was never rude nor did he raise his voice. He was neither obscene nor did he find fault, and he did not over compliment. He left food that he did not want and never complained about it.

Allah says, “It was by that Mercy of Allah that you dealt so leniently with them. Had you been harsh and hard-hearted, they would have surely deserted you.” 3:159 and, “Good and evil deeds are not equal. Repel with that which is most just and see, the one whom there is enmity between you will be as if he were a loyal

guide.” 41:34

The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, never refused and invitation and accepted a gift even it if was as little as a sheep’s foot, and he would in return reward its giver with more and supplicate for him.

Anas served the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, for ten years and during that time he never said “Huh” to him nor did he ask, “Why did you do it?” or, “Why didn’t you do it?”

Lady Ayesha, may Allah be pleased with her, spoke of the Prophet’s character saying, “No one had a better character than the Messenger of Allah. Whenever a Companion or a member of his household called him, he replied, ‘Indeed, with pleasure.””

Jabir Abdullah’s son said of the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, “Ever since I became a Muslim, the Messenger of Allah never distanced himself from me and whenever he saw me he would smile.”

The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, would mix and joke with his Companions and play with their children. He allowed them to enter and sit in his room and accepted the invitation of a free person, those in servitude and the very poor. He would visit the sick even those on the outskirts of the City and accept the excuse of anyone who offered an excuse.

Whenever someone spoke in the ear of the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, he would never move his head away until the person moved his, and when anyone shook his hand, he was never the first to let go. He never placed his feet
in the face of anyone thereby complying with the etiquette of the desert Arabs. When he met someone he was always the first to greet them, likewise he shook the hands of his Companions first. He never stretched his legs so that his Companions felt cramped. Whenever someone visited him the visitor was treated with honor. Many were the times he would spread out his robe or offer the cushion he was sitting on to someone, and, if the person declined, he would insist upon his visitor to accept the invitation. It was his nature to prefer the needs of others to that of his own. To his Companions he gave endearing names, and honored them by calling them by the best of their names. As for his conversation he never cut a person short, and it was only when that person had finished speaking that he would get up. It has been reported that if someone should happen to come to him while he was praying a voluntary prayer – in which his habit was to enlong the recitation of the Koran – he would shorten his recitation and inquire as to their need, thereafter he would return to his prayer.

He smiled a lot and was very cheerful, except when verses of the Koran were being revealed, or when he was warning, or giving a sermon.

Anas tells us that the water bearers of Medina, seeking blessings, would bring their water containers to the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon
him,
in the morning and he would dip his hand in the containers even when the weather was cold.

Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Rislaan Misri

Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Rislaan Misri Abu Abdur Rahman would sell a shirt in exchange for a Dirham. If his customers gave him a real Dirham in exchange for the shirt the neck would be open, however if they attempted to trick him with a fake one they would find the neck closed. Then they would come back to Abdur Rahman pay another Dirham and in return he would rectify the shirt.

(Jame’ Karamaatul Auliya)

Muhammad Ibn Ahmad Ibrahim Abu Abdullah al Qurashi Hashmi

Shairani states that one of his miracles was that he would take a pact from his companions that they only cook one dish in their homes and refrain from having a variety so that then there would be no difference between them.

Coincidentally one day one of Hadhrat’s mureeds asked his wife what she would like so that he could bring it home and she could cook it. His wife deferred the decision to her daughter and asked him to ask her preference. So the mureed approached his daughter and asked her,

“what do you desire today?” she replied, “You will not be able to give me what I yearn for”. Her father assured her he would be able to grant her request even if it was at the price of 1000 dinars. She spoke “I would like you to marry me to Qurashi”.

The saint Qurashi had become blind and suffered from leprosy, generally women were not attracted to this type of man. In obeying her request her father then set forth towards Qurashi and informed him of the situation. Qurashi asked for the Qadhi to be summoned. The Qadhi came and the marriage was officiated.

The young girl was adorned and left in the company of the Shaykh. When everybody had left the Shaykh retired to the washrooms but when he emerged his appearance was changed. A beautiful, young, finely dressed man stood before the girl. She hastily covered her face assuming him to be an (outsider) somebody else. On seeing her reaction Shaykh reassured her that it was him Qurashi that stood before her. She asked again, and again he gave her his word. She then questioned, “What is this state?” He explained to her that he would live with her in this form so that she wouldn’t experience any trouble or grief. “My original form will remain for the rest of the people, but you must not disclose any of this till
the day I die” .She promised him she wouldn’t tell anybody “but I prefer and like the original form of you, that you have adopted for the people. To this Qurashi praised “May Allah reward you with good”, thus she continued living with him as he was.
Munadi has also stated that at prayer times Qurashi would be cured of his illness.

Maybe the wisdom in this was that he did not perturb or trouble any of the members of the congregation.

(Jame’ Karamaatul Auliya)