In Surah Al-Qalam, verse 4, Allah praises the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ with the words:
Which means: And you are truly ˹a man˺ of outstanding character.
In a hadith from Abu Hurairah r.a., the Prophet also said which means: “I was only sent to perfect good character.” (Hadith narrated by Imam Ahmad).
The personality and character of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ continue to be revered by mankind to this very day. Our love for Rasulullah ﷺ is not solely demonstrated through outward emulation of his teachings; it is equally crucial to reflect on how his teachings have shaped our values.
As we reflect on the Prophet’s da’wah efforts in Makkah and Madinah, we are reminded of how he patiently endured hostility, injustice, fear, and the harsh campaigns of boycott against him. His character was exemplary—despite being ridiculed, humiliated, and treated with aggression, he remained unfazed. The Prophet ﷺ did not retaliate but instead approached these trials with a positive outlook, even making du’a for goodness and peace to be granted to those who transgressed against him.
One example is when ‘Aisyah (RA) reported that she once asked the Prophet ﷺ, “Have you encountered a day harder than the Day of Uhud?”
The Prophet ﷺ said, Your tribe has abused me much, and the worst was the day of ‘Aqaba when I presented myself to ‘Abd Yalâyl b. ‘Abd Kulâl, and he did not respond to what I sought. I departed, overwhelmed with grief, and I could not relax until I found myself at a tree where I lifted my head towards the sky to see a cloud shading me. I looked up and saw Gabriel in it. He called out to me, saying, ‘Allah has heard your people’s saying to you and how they have replied, and Allah has sent the Angel of the Mountains to you that you may order him to do whatever you wish to these people.’ The Angel of the Mountains greeted me and said, ‘O Muhammad, order what you wish, and if you like, I will let the two mountains fall upon them.’ I said, ‘No; rather, I hope that Allah will bring from their descendants people who will worship Allah alone without associating partners with Him.’ (Hadith narrated by Imam Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
From the life of the Prophet ﷺ, we learn essential lessons in resilience and how our faith and morality come hand in hand to prevent negative desires from overpowering us. This also includes small acts of kindness, such as greeting one another or bringing joy into the lives of others.
Sayyidatina ‘Aisyah (RA) was once asked by an Arab Bedouin about the Prophet’s character, to which she responded, “His character was the Quran” (Hadith narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
Therefore, let us incorporate the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ into our daily lives. Let us strive to improve our character by adopting the best of morals. We should embody virtues such as tolerance, compassion for the less fortunate, benevolence, humility, justice, wisdom, sympathy, and love. If we truly love Rasulullah ﷺ, we must instill these beautiful values within ourselves and our families. Always reflect on our actions and ensure they positively impact others.
One supplication we can practice daily to achieve good character is by reciting this supplication taught by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ مُنْكَرَاتِ الأَخْلاَق، وَالأَعْمَال، وَالأَهْوَاء
Allahumma inni a’uzu-bika min munkaratil-akhlaq, wal-a’mal, wal-ahwa’
“O Allah! I seek refuge in You from undesirable manners, deeds, and aspirations.”
(Sunan At-Tirmizi)
