Exemplary Behavior of the Chosen Prophet (PBUH) from the Two Sahīhs

Exemplary Behavior of the Chosen Prophet (PBUH) from the Two Sahīhs

Series (1)

Behavior of the Prophet (PBUH) towards Non-Muslims

Compiled and prepared by:

Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn Nāsir al-Zīr 

(God forgive him, his parents, and the Muslims)

In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.

Introduction

All praise is due to Allah, we praise Him, seek His help, and ask for His forgiveness We seek refuge in Allah from the evil of ourselves and from our misdeeds. Whoever Allah guides none can mislead, and whoever Allah leads astray none can guide. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, Who has no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and messenger, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, his family, his Companions, and those who follow his path until the Day of Judgment. To proceed,

The best speech is the Book of Allah and the best guidance is that of Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) for he is the Prophet who does not speak from his own inclination as Allah Almighty says: {Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination} [Al-Najm: 3] He is the guide and the role model to be followed. Allah Almighty says: {There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much.}

Whoever contemplates the Prophet’s biography, his guidance, and his behavior towards others will notice something amazing, which is his kindness towards everyone, male or female, young or old, Muslim or non-Muslim. He was kind even to inanimate objects. Allah Almighty says: {And indeed, you are of a great moral character.}

Scholars (may Allah have mercy upon them), in the past and the present, have always given great care to the Prophet’s biography. They compiled books and writings on that topic, some of which are detailed while others are brief. However, and as far as I know, they have rarely shed light on, collected, enumerated, then classified aspects of his behavior towards others.

Hence, I sought help from Allah Almighty in collecting the Hadīths, only from the two Sahīhs, which include aspects of the Prophet’s behavior towards all those around him. If Allah willed that I live longer, I shall include the rest of the six compilations of Hadīth and other compilations and writings, Allah willing.

One of the most important causes that urged me to compile and highlight that aspect is the Muslims’ need to learn about the approach of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) in this regard. I was also driven by the various mistakes and violations that I saw some Muslims committing among themselves or with others out of their ignorance of the biography of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and their remoteness from it. I was urged as well by the obligation of calling to Allah as Allah Almighty says: {And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah and does righteousness and says: “Indeed, I am of the Muslims.”}  Allah Almighty also says: {Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is rightly guided.}

Speaking about the biography of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and his behavior towards others wins the hearts owing to his great morals even with non-Muslims, for mercy was his methodology and message. {And We have not sent you [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.} Following the example of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) raises the Muslim way above others in terms of morals and helps him achieve uprightness, all of which result in winning the love and forgiveness of Allah Almighty Who says: {Say [O Muhammad], “If you love Allah, then follow me, so Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”}

Seeking to defend and support the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and to spread Islam among non-Muslims by clarifying his noble stance towards his opponents, I decided to start by highlighting the Prophet’s behavior towards non-Muslims and by presenting all such situations that took place between him and his opponents from among the Jews, Christians, and polytheists, as individuals and groups. This shall be the topic of the first series.

My methodology in research:

1-    I read Sahīh Al-Bukhāri and Sahīh Muslim and picked only the Hadīths that include situations and incidents showing how the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) treated others, be they people, animals, or inanimate objects. I relied on the edition published by the Risalah Publishers.

2-    I divided the research into sections, calling each section a "series". Each series includes Hadīths under the same title. My objective was to highlight the Prophet’s behavior towards others the best way I can. I was able to finish the series on his behavior towards his opponents, which is the first series. The second one is about his behavior towards the hypocrites, the third about his behavior towards the youngsters, the fourth about his behavior towards women, the fifth about his behavior towards those seeking his opinion, etc. until the whole project comes to an end by the might and power of Allah.

3-    I classified the Hadīths, putting each under the appropriate topic, along with mentioning the Hadīth number in the edition of Risalah Publishers, and giving it a number according to its order in this series.

4-    If the Hadīth selected from Sahīh Al-Bukhāri has Atrāf (indicative parts), I mention all the numbers of these indicative parts, and I refer to the part and page number in the footnote as mentioned in Fat-h Al-Bāri by Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy upon him). If the Hadīth coincides with what is in Sahīh Muslim, or is mentioned only in Sahīh Muslim, then I mention its number in Sahīh Muslim, besides the part and page number as mentioned in Sharh Al-Imam Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy upon him).

5-    I choose the most complete Hadīth, according to my Ijtihād (personal reasoning), from among these mentioned Hadīths, and sometimes I may mention other narrations when needed.

6-    I explained the unfamiliar terms in the Hadīths based on Fat-h Al-Bāri by Ibn Hajar, or Sharh Muslim by Al-Nawawi, or the commentary on Sahīh Al-Bukhāri by Mustafa al-Bagha, or the commentary on Sahīh Muslim by Muhammad Fouad ‘Abdul-Bāqi, or Hāshiyat Al-Sahīhayn, the Risalah Publishers edition.

7-    I extract aspects of the Prophet’s behavior towards others from every Hadīth based on Fat-h Al-Bāri by Ibn Hajar, or Sharh Muslim by Al-Nawawi, or based on my own thoughts that Allah, the Exalted, guides me to.

8-    I mention some of the important benefits in the Hadīths based on Fat-h Al-Bāri by Ibn Hajar, or Sharh Muslim by Al-Nawawi, or based on my own thoughts that Allah guides me to.

9-    I divided the research into two chapters:

•    Chapter One: The Prophet’s Behavior towards the Polytheists

•    Chapter Two: The Prophet’s Behavior towards the People of the Book

I praise Allah Almighty for the blessing of guiding me to choose this topic, delve into its wonders, and then write about it. I ask Allah to make it a means for attaining the intercession of our Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him).

I would also like to thank all the professors and seekers of knowledge who helped bring this book to light either by reviewing the content or offering advice. May Allah reward them and forgive them and their parents.

As for you, dear reader, whatever right you find, it is only the result of Allah’s favor and guidance, and whatever wrong you find, it is from myself and from the devil. I ask Allah to forgive me and I repent to Him. I ask Allah to help me write and finish the whole series, and may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.

Muhammad ibn ‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn Nāsir al-Zīr

Alzeer9000@hotmail.com

0505246823