In the holy character of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad, (PBUH), we see a compassionate merciful human being whose heart feels the sufferings and hopes of all mankind. In his holy character we see a man who wrote in threat to the great kings of the world bidding them to quit their vain arrogance and, at the same time, listened with utmost contentment and care to a barefooted Arabian say in ignorance, “O Muhammad! Be just! The wealth is neither yours nor your father’s!”

In the Prophet’s character we see a devoted worshipper who stood in prayer to recite with utmost happiness a long Surah of the Holy Quran that he would not exchange for as much gold and silver as would fill the whole world; but when he suddenly heard the crying of a baby whose mother was standing behind him in prayer at the back of the mosque, he, at once, sacrificed all of his unmatched happiness, and ended his prayer for the sake of such a baby and out of mercy upon him and his loving mother.

In his holy character we see a most sagacious man who said with unmatched tolerance, “Go! You are all free!” to his worst enemies, whom he could easily eradicate from the face of the earth when he conquered Mecca, and who had hated him, rejected his call, displayed insolent arrogance towards his religion, stood and fought against him, killed his beloved Companions, deformed the dead body of his dear martyred uncle, Hamzah, and even eaten his holy liver with incredible wild rancor.

In his noble character we see a man who collected wood for his Companions to cook their food and refused to consider himself superior to them although he was their Prophet and leader.

In him we see a man who would be fuming with rage whenever he saw an animal overloaded with things it could not bear.

In him we see a man who would milk his sheep, sew his clothes and repair his shoes.

In him we see a man who would stand up among people, even though he was at full might and power, to address them, “He whose back I have once lashed, here is my back, let him retaliate for himself.”

Glimpses of his mercy can be seen from his words and attitudes. He (PBUH) says about himself, “I am but a mercy granted (by the Lord, Most Gracious).” He (PBUH) also says, “The Most Merciful (Allah) will have mercy on those who are merciful. Have mercy on those that are on the earth, He, Who is in heavens, will have mercy on you.”

He (PBUH) announced clearly that he considered mercy better and purer than exaggeration in worship. In the month of Ramadan in the year of the conquest of Mecca, he (PBUH) headed for Mecca. And when he got to a place called Kura’ Al-Ghameem, he fasted, and so did other Muslims who were with him. But when he (PBUH) noticed that it was hard for some people to fast due to hardship of travel, he took a glass of water, held it up to his mouth so that everyone could see it, and drank some water, suggesting that everyone should break the fast. And when he was told that some people kept fasting, he (PBUH) said, “Those are the disobedient.”

A man came happily to the Messenger of Allah, (PBUH), in order to covenant him to emigrate and strive with him for the Cause of Allah, saying, “I have come to covenant you on emigration and Jihad, leaving behind my parents crying.” The Messenger of Allah, (PBUH), bade the man, “Go back to them, and make them laugh as you have made them cry!”

A happy smile on the face of a tender father or a compassionate mother is unmatched, in the sight of Muhammad (PBUH), by anything else, no matter how valuable it might be, even if it be strife for the Cause of Allah, Most Gracious, or the Call for His Religion. Moreover, worship turns into disobedience when it is performed at the expense of mercy upon one’s parents; and he (PBUH) used to put special emphasis on mercy whenever that was necessary.

Due to his sublime care and mercy, the Messenger of Allah, (PBUH), expresses his sorrow for those miserable people, who are driven by the necessities of life to get loans and then due to lack of income fail to pay back their debts and, therefore, suffer worry in the night and humiliation in the day. But he (PBUH) can not say to the creditors, “Relinquish your debts.”, for he is the best to preserve people’s rights. But he grants creditors his love and intercession with the Lord if they show adequate patience and give a respite to debtors until they are able to pay back their debts. To this effect, He (PBUH) says, “He who gives a respite to a debtor in hardship or releases him (of his debts) will be over-shaded with Allah’s Throne on the Day when there will be no shade but His Shade.” He (PBUH) also says, “A man used to loan people; and he used to say to his son, ‘If you come to a debtor who is in hardship, be tolerant with him, perchance Allah will be tolerant with us.’ When he encountered Allah (i.e. died), Allah was tolerant with him.”

The Messenger of Allah, (PBUH) gives superiority to mercy over all other human virtues. He (PBUH) even considers every merciful deed a kind of worship, for in his sight all our merciful deeds towards other fellow humans are considered by Allah as good deeds to Him. In other words, if someone visits a patient, it is as if he visited Allah; and if he feeds a hungry person, it is as if he fed Allah. To this effect, Allah says in the Holy Divine Hadith, “O son of Adam! I was ill, but you did not visit Me!” He (the son of Adam) says, “O Lord! How can I visit You and You are the Lord of all worlds?!” Allah says, “Did you not know that My slave so-and-so was ill, but you did not visit him? Did you not know that if you had visited him, you would have found Me with him?!” “O son of Adam! I asked you to feed Me, but you did not feed Me!” He (The son of Adam) says, “O Lord! How can I feed You and You are the Lord of all worlds?!” Allah says, “Did you not know that My slave so-and-so asked you to feed him but you did not feed him?! Did you not know that if you had fed him, you would have found that with Me?…”     

Once, he saw a loving mother embrace her baby and take it to her breast with utmost love and mercy. He (PBUH) took the opportunity to depict most beautifully and eloquently Allah’s Infinite Divine Mercy. He (PBUH) turned to his Companions and asked, “Do you think that woman could ever cast her baby in fire?” “No, not at all.” They replied. He (PBUH) said, “Verily, Allah is far more merciful upon His slave than this woman is (merciful) upon her baby!”

One day, a rough rude Arabian came to the Messenger of Allah, (PBUH), asking him for more donation. He said in great insolence, “O Muhammad! Be just and fair!” Smiling calmly, the Messenger of Allah, (PBUH), said, “Woe unto you! If I weren’t just, who else would ever be (just)?!” The feeling of security in the presence of the Messenger of Allah, (PBUH), which gave the Arabian, rude as he was, the courage to say such rough words to him, shows clearly justice and tolerance of the Messenger of Allah, (PBUH). The Arabian would never have dared say such words if Muhammad (PBUH) had taken armed guards and doormen to frighten people away or force them to show due respect to him. He (PBUH) eliminated all barriers between him and his subjects. And when, on another occasion, a man came to him trembling with reverence and veneration, he (PBUH) drew the man gently nearer to him, patted tenderly on his shoulder, and addressed him meekly, “Take it easy, man! I am no king! I am only the son of a woman, from Quraish, who used to eat Al-Qadeed (dried meat) in Mecca.”

The Messenger of Allah, (PBUH), was qualified to be above all mankind, but he (PBUH) lived among them. One day, an Arabian asked him with rude Bedouin roughness, “Is this money Allah’s or you father’s?!” Omar, who was present, got angry of the man’s impolite words and started towards the man to reproach him; but the Messenger of Allah addressed Omar, “O Omar! Leave him! A right-claimer has the right to speak!”

By virtue of values of justice which he preached and firmly believed in, the Messenger of Allah, made clear the rights of Muslims on one another. He (PBUH) said, “All of a Muslim is unlawful for another Muslim: his wealth, blood and honor.” He (PBUH) also said, “Perdition of the whole world is less important in the sight of Allah than murder of one Muslim.”

Muhammad’s overwhelming mercy, however, did not override his amazing justice. He (PBUH) says, “Verily, those who were before you were made to perish because if a powerful person from among them stole (something), they would let him go unpunished; but if a weak person from among them stole (something), they would punish him. By Allah! If Fatimah bint Muhammad were to steal (a thing), I would cut off her hand!”

If someone could unjustly and maliciously, by his verbosity or fluent speech, take to his favor a legal or religious judgment from the Messenger of Allah, (PBUH), he does not escape from Allah’s Punishment. To this effect, The Messenger of Allah, (PBUH), says, “I am but a human being; and you come (to me) disputing with one another. Some of you might be more eloquent in presenting his evidence than another, and hence, I judge in his favor in accordance with that which I hear. Therefore, he in whose favor I judge a right of his brother, I verily give him a piece of the Fire.”

Glimpses of his love:

Muhammad (PBUH was a very loving, compassionate and friendly man who obeyed his Lord because he loved Him so much. He (PBUH) was good to everyone because he loved everyone. He (PBUH) loved sublime issues and hated trivialities. He (PBUH) loved great things and practiced them with great ardor, like a compassionate lover and not an unwilling reluctant obliged man. In prayer he (PBUH) used to prolong prostration in which could be heard the yearning beating of his holy heart and his earnest invocation and sincere weeping, for he (PBUH) was in constant longing to his Lord, Most Gracious, and overwhelming love for him. He (PBUH) used to wait eagerly for prayer; and when it was time to pray, he would say, “O Bilal! Comfort us with it (prayer)!” That was because prayer provided him with utmost delight and comfort as well as spiritual enhancement.

One day, he went to At-Taif, a town near Mecca, in order to call its people to Allah and His Religion. But he (PBUH) was met with rejection, mockery, denial and even injury; and people there incited their fools and young children, who abused him hurled him with stones. And when he (PBUH) was forced to take refuge in a safe place with his feet bleeding, he looked up towards the heavens and invoked his Lord eagerly, “If You are not angry with me, I care not.” In other words, he (PBUH) did not fear pain or torture so long as his Lord was pleased with him. Then suddenly, he realized that a true sincere lover should not be distracted by the rapture of sacrifice from seeking to be well and healthy. So he went on invoking, “But Your (providing me with) health and well-being seems better to me.”

One day, a rude rough Arabian, who had never seen Muhammad (PBUH) before but heard that he (PBUH) had abused the deities of Quraish and all other tribes, took up his sword in anger and swore that he would settle the matter with Muhammad (PBUH). The man entered upon Muhammad (PBUH) angrily and began growling, storming, and scolding Muhammad (PBUH), who kept smiling with fascinating calmness and captivating brightness. A few moments later, the rude rough angry Arabian turned out a passionate shy lover who bent down to kiss Muhammad’s hands with floods of tears falling from his eyes. When he recovered, he said, “O Muhammad! By Allah! When I came to you, no one on earth was more abhorred to me than you; and now I leave you when there is no one on earth more beloved to me than you!”

What happened?! Undoubtedly, Muhammad’s unmatched love and magnanimity fascinated the man, rude and impolite as he was, and turned his anger into love and compassion. This is because Muhammad’s heart was open to all people, friends and enemies; and when the man came nearer to Muhammad (PBUH), he was overwhelmed with the flood of human love flowing from his holy noble heart! Quraish should be excused for having said, “Verily, Muhammad is but a magician!”

Glimpses of his directives concerning love:

In this context, the Messenger of Allah, (PBUH), says, “(I swear) by Him, in Whose Hand is my soul! You shall not enter Paradise unless you are true believers; and you shall not be true believers unless you love one another.” He (PBUH) also says, “If one of you loves his brother (believer), he should tell him that he loves him.”, “If a man takes another for a brother, he should ask him his name, his father’s name, and where he is from, for this makes compassion stronger.”, “If you are three, let not two whisper secretly (to each other) in the presence of the third, for that will displease him.”, “He who forsakes his brother for a year, it is as if he shed his blood.”, and, “ It is sinful enough for you to keep quarreling.” He (PBUH) considers that perfection of Faith necessitates that if one’s brother apologizes for something wrong he has done, whether rightly or wrongly, one should accept his apology. He (PBUH) deems as the worst and most evil of all mankind those who do not forgive in case of error, do not accept apology, or do not pardon a mistake committed. He also confirms that true believers are those who conciliate people and bring them together in peace and brotherhood.

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Since the talk is focused on the question of love, here is a scientific issue whose relationship with love should be deduced by our dear readers!

In the human body is a special self-recovery mechanism that can not be traced in books of medicine. In other words, some cases of illness recover mysteriously and automatically although they seem to be incurable. This kind of self-recovery is usually attributed to such mysterious mechanism whose function can not be clearly explained: it is the mechanism of Immunity, which is one of the most amazing things that Allah, Most Gracious, has created. It can not be anatomically found anywhere in the human body although it is programmed by the Creator, Glory to Him, to be everywhere and to protect all parts of the body. This self-recovery mechanism works by identifying any alien enemy cells which might enter the human body and developing the necessary mechanism to destroy them. The most amazing thing about this mechanism is its miraculous memory, because it never forgets any weapon it has previously used against its enemies, no matter how long ago that may have been. In fact, without such miraculous memory vaccination against diseases would have been non-effective. The elements of this mechanism are made inside the bones and trained how to fight by the pineal gland, which is, as it were, a special institute for training fighters. The elements of this mechanism carry out such missions as reconnaissance, serum-making, fighting, and other services. But the AIDS virus sneaks into the body disguised in a shape that is similar to the elements of immunity and destroys them completely. From among such elements are the squad of commandos, which have been discovered in the late seventies of the last century and which are highly qualified to identify cancer cells and destroy them immediately. The most important thing about this mechanism of immunity is that the power which forms, develops and commands it does not come from inside but rather from outside the human body. Such power is the Power of Allah, the Almighty. And the most dangerous thing about this mechanism of immunity is that depression, sadness, tension, worry, hatred and psychological stress weaken it, and that hopefulness, love, calmness, and optimism strengthen it and make it more effective. That is why Monotheism is considered as great health in every sense of the word in the same way as Polytheism is considered as the main reason for fear and worry which , in turn, stand behind weakening the mechanism of immunity, which Allah, Most Gracious, has endowed man with for self-recovery. To this effect, Allah, All-Wise, says, “So invoke not with Allah another god lest you should be among those who suffer chastisement.” [XXVI; 213]

In the light of the above-mentioned, I hope I have made clear the relationship between psychological health coming from Monotheism and the mechanism of self-recovery, on the one hand, and between physical illness and psychological stress resulting from Polytheism, on the other.

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Here is the story of Jabir bin Abdillah with the Messenger of Allah, (PBUH). This story depicts the Prophet’s unmatched sympathy, mercy and compassion towards his Companions  as well as his great tenderness and care for their problems and his modesty and entertainment to them.

Narrated Jabir bin Abdillah: I went out with the Messenger of Allah, (PBUH), on Thatu-r-Riqa’ Expedition, on a lean camel of mine. When the Messenger of Allah, (PBUH) returned, my companions went ahead before me and I had to stay behind, because my camel was weak, until the Messenger of Allah, (PBUH), caught up with me and asked, “O Jabir! What’s the matter with you?” I said, “My camel is slow.” The Messenger of Allah, (PBUH), said, “Make it kneel down.”; and he also made his camel kneel down. Then, he (PBUH) said, “Give me that sick in your hand.”; and I did. The Messenger of Allah, (PBUH), took the stick, pricked the camel several times with it, and then said, “Get mounted.”, and I did. Then, my camel went on - I swear by Allah Who sent Muhammad with the Truth - as fast as that of the Messenger of Allah, (PBUH). Then, he (PBUH) spoke to me saying, “O Jabir! Would you like to sell me your camel?” I said, “O Messenger of Allah! I give it to you as a present!” He (PBUH) said, “No, but sell it to me.” “How much would you pay for it?” I asked. “I pay one Dirhem for it.” He said. “That’s too little.” I said. He said, “Then for two Dirhems.” “No.” I replied. He (PBUH) kept raising the price up to one Wuqiyeh (approximately 300 g of gold); and I said, “I accept.” He (PBUH) asked, “Do you accept?” “Yes. It is yours.” I said. He (PBUH) said, “Then I’ll take it.”, and added, “O Jabir! Are you married?” “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.” I answered. “A maid or a deflowered one?” He asked. “A deflowered one.” I replied. “Why didn’t you marry a maid?” He asked. I answered, “O Messenger of Allah! My father was killed in the battle of Uhud, leaving behind seven daughters. Therefore, I married an experienced woman to take care of them.” He (PBUH) said, “Well done, if Allah wills!” And he went on, “If we get to Sirar (a place near Medina), I shall have a Jazour (a camel) to be slaughtered; and we shall eat from it that day. And if she (i.e. your wife) knows of our arrival, let her spread her cushions for us.” I said, “O Messenger of Allah! We have no cushions.” “You will have ones by Allah’s Leave.” He (PBUH) said. When we arrived at Sirar, the Messenger of Allah, (PBUH), ordered to have a camel slaughtered; and we ate from it that day. And when it was the night, we entered Medina with the Messenger of Allah, (PBUH), and I went straight to my wife to tell her what he (PBUH) had said. She said, “Listen and obey (i.e. sell your camel to the Messenger of Allah).” Next morning, I took my camel, made it kneel at the door of the Messenger of Allah, (PBUH), and went to the mosque and sat beside. When he (PBUH) went out of the mosque and saw the camel at the door of his house, he (PBUH) asked, “What is that?” “It was brought by Jabir.” They answered. “Where is Jabir?” He (PBUH) asked. When I was brought to him, he (PBUH) said, “Come here, O son of my brother! Take your camel! It is yours!” And he (PBUH) summoned Bilal and bade him, “Take Jabir and give him a Wuqiyeh (approximately 300 g of gold).” I went with Bilal; and he gave me a Wuqiyeh and a little more of gold. I swear by Allah! That money has been growing with us ever since.

I hope I have made clear by virtue of the above story the Prophet’s tenderness, mercy, kindness, gentleness and modesty towards his Companions. Such was the Prophet’s character, (PBUH). Allah, Most Gracious, says, “And verily, you (O Muhammad) are on an exalted (standard of) character.” [LXVIII; 4]

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Glimpses of his care for his Companions:

One of the Prophet’s venerable Companions was called ‘Uthman bin Math’oun, who was so much devoted to religious observances that he did not care for any of the worldly pleasures or enjoyments, not even his sexual relation with his wife. One day, ‘Uthman bin Math’oun’s wife came to the Prophet’s wife, ‘A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, in a shabby miserable apparel. When ‘A’ishah asked ‘Uthman’s wife what the matter was with her, the latter answered sadly, “My husband is always fasting during the day and standing in prayer in the night.” ‘A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, informed the Messenger of Allah, (PBUH), of the woman’s problem with her husband. The Messenger of Allah, (PBUH), summoned ‘Uthman bin Math’oun and addressed him, “O ‘Uthman! Don’t you take me for a good model?” ‘Uthman said, “I sacrifice my father and mother for you, O Messenger of Allah! What’s the matter?” The Messenger of Allah, (PBUH), said, “You fast the day and stand up the night?!” ‘Uthman said, “Yes, indeed. I do.” The Messenger of Allah, (PBUH), said, “Do not do! Verily, your body has a right on you; and surely, your wife has a right on you.”

‘Uthman took the Prophet’s advice and did well to his wife. The next day, ‘Uthman’s wife went as happy and beautiful as a bride to the Prophet’s house; and the women gathered round her, asking in great astonishment, “What’s the matter, O wife of Bin Math’oun?!” With utmost joy she replied, “We’ve had what other people have!”

Due to his humanitarian nature, the Messenger of Allah, (PBUH), could not bear to see a woman being worried about her husband or neglected by him even for the sake of his religious observances.

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The Messenger of Allah, (PBUH), was more merciful upon other fellow humans than they were upon themselves. In this context, he (PBUH) says, “He who seeks to fulfill his brother’s needs, Allah will fulfill his needs.” And one day, he (PBUH) was asked, “O Messenger of Allah! Who is the most beloved to Allah of all mankind?” He (PBUH) answered, “The most beloved to Allah of all mankind are those who do best to mankind.” He (PBUH) also confirmed that a believer who intercedes with a ruler or a man in power for his brother’s goodness, happiness or help, Allah will surely help him with all of the affairs of his life. He (PBUH) was quoted as saying, “Allah has people whom He singles out for His Favors for the benefits of His slaves. He is pleased with them so long as they give them (such Favors to His slaves). But if they withhold them (such Favors from His slaves), Allah will deprive them thereof and grant them (such Favors) to other people.” It is also narrated in Prophetic Tradition that whosoever gives someone leadership over a group of people while there is someone else who is better than him in the sight of Allah, he is disloyal to Allah, His Messenger and believers. And verily, Allah will question each custodian whether he has maintained or lost the custody with which He entrusted him.

That was the humanitarian aspect of the holy character of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad, (PBUH), the best of all mankind, the mercy granted by Allah to all mankind, the one who was more merciful upon other fellow humans than they were upon themselves, the most careful to guide mankind to the Right Path, the first and foremost of all Prophets and Messengers, by whose life Allah, Most Gracious, swore: “By your life (O Muhammad)! Verily, in their wild intoxication they are wandering blindly.” [XV; 71], and whose noble character was praised by Him, All-Wise: “And verily, you (O Muhammad) are on an exalted (standard of) character.” [LXIII; 4].

Undoubtedly, the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad, (PBUH), was, in the sight of his just unbiased enemies, the first and foremost one of the best hundred men in world history in view of power, kind, duration and geographical extension of impact.

And more beautiful than you my eye has never seen,

And more perfect than you women have never born.

You were created free from any imperfection,

As if you were created just as you desire.

And daughter of Wahab gave to all mankind

A white hand that embraced all necks.

She bore him bright and illuminating,

Just like heavens bearing bright luminous stars.