The Perfect Man SalAllahuAlayhiWasallam: The Beloved of Allah

By: Shaik Muhammad Khairun Nabil

Abu Dujana, Talha bin Ubaidullh, Saad bin Abi Waqqas Do these names ring a bell? Or you
may only have heard about one of them? If these names are still foreign to us or weve not heard
of them before, then we should start to find out and read about their legacy. They are amongst the
many companions (RA) of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), whose love towards him (PBUH) can
never be measured. They are amongst the revered companions whom devoted their body and
sacrificed their lives as a shield for our Prophet (PBUH), without thinking twice at the Battle of
Uhud.
When the arrows were flying on the day of Uhud, the Companions were jumping up to try and
stop it from hitting the Prophet (PBUH). That level of love, that's what we should aspire to reach
and thats what we want people to have. That's what a parent would do for their child. When you
hear bullets, everybody hits the ground, but if you hear bullets and your child is there, you're
going to run to protect that child. Why? Because that child is precious to you, more precious than
your own self. That's what the Companions had for the Prophet (PBUH). He was more precious
to them than their own lives. And how did they reach this level? Because theyve met him, lived
with him, sat with him, and served him and more (PBUH). Most importantly, they know him
(PBUH), far more than we ourselves know him, or at least, about him (PBUH)
In order to fall in love with someone, we have to know them and to fall deeper in love, we need
to know more about them. Let it be known that The Prophet (PBUH) is undoubtedly The Perfect
Man and he (PBUH) is perfect in every way, physically and spiritually, and free of all fault and
blemish. And Allah (SWT) Himself has declared this of His beloved (PBUH) in the Quran:
Verily, you are of a tremendous nature [Al-Qalam: 4]
Due to lack of training and knowledge in the Hadith of The Messenger (PBUH), it is
inappropriate for me to be sharing about the qualities, character and attributes of His beloved
(PBUH) as I myself am still like everyone else, yearning to learn more about them. I shall refer
to the renowned works of the Great scholar of Hadith and Muhaddith of the 21st century, the late
Shaykh Dr. Sayyid Muhammad ibn Alawi al-Maliki al-Hasani (May Allah bless and sanctify
him), from his book, Muhammad Al-Insan Al-Kamil i.e. The Perfect Man, which serves as a
timely reminder to the noble traits and qualities of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) with scriptural
evidence from the Quran and Hadith. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the perfect role model in
our social lives and the character attributes of his (PBUH) which I wish to highlight on, is his
perfect mercy with his family and children and his perfect generosity. We are living in such
perilous times where it is constantly challenging but by Allahs will, if we are able to follow the
Messenger of Allah (PBUH) in these two attributes, we would be able to live and manage our
lives better, with His permission.
We are living in an age where cases of domestic abuse, high divorce rates due to irreconcilable
differences and high rates of child abuse are plaguing our societies but if we look at how The
Messenger (PBUH) treated his family and the young, its so beautiful and incomparable. An

example of his mercy (PBUH) is that he would help them with the household chores as was
mentioned in the hadith of al-Aswad, who said:
I asked Aisha r.a. what the Prophet (PBUH) used to do around the house. She replied: He was
at the service of his family; and when the time for the prayer came, he would go to pray.
As a husband, he was not one of the oppressive men but rather, he would often serve himself
(PBUH) and it is narrated in the Musnad of Imam Ahmad, and elsewhere, that Our Mother
Aisha r.a. said:
The Prophet (PBUH) would sew his clothes, cobble his shoes, and do all the work that men do
in their houses.
Such beautiful character are often missing in todays households and with many couples, both
needing to work to earn the family income, it is highly important for the men to emulate the
Messenger (PBUH) and ease the load of our mothers or wives back at home by being at their
service and assist in the necessary chores or duties.
We might already know that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) loves children and children loves
him but in what detail of this, that we are actually aware of? We grow up or live our lives, being
surrounded by adorable children, be it our own children, our nieces or nephew, students and
more. How could we treat them better? How can we shower more love upon them? It is narrated
in the Sahih collections of al-Bukhari and Muslim that Our Mother Aisha r.a. said:
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) kissed al-Hasan and al-Husayn, the sons of Ali, whilst in the
company of al-Aqra ibn Habis al-Tamimi. Al-Aqra said: I have children, not one of whole I
have ever kissed! The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) looked at him, and then said: Those who
show no mercy will be shown no mercy.
Al-Bukhari, Muslim and al-Tirmidhi narrate that al-Barra r.a. said:
I saw the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) with al-Hasan on his shoulder. He (PBUH) was saying:
O Allah, I love him, so love him!
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) loves children so much that he would spread joy amongst them.
Al-Tabarani narrated,
On the authority of Ibn Abbas r.a, that when the Prophet (PBUH) was brought the first harvest of
a fruit, he would place them on his eyes, and then on his lips, and say: O Allah, as you shown us
the first of it, show us the last of it! Then, he would give it to any children that were present.
Look at this amazing love the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) has towards children. Perhaps, the
next time we think of taking pictures of our adorable children or child relatives, we are reminded
of carrying out these Sunnas first and why not, make it a habit for us to gift the children we know
with sweets or fruits that would ignite joy in their hearts.
The Messenger (PBUH) is the most generous man that walked on earth. Its not about how much
you have but how much of what you have, that you keep giving willingly. The Messenger
(PBUH) would not stop giving to others even if he had little with him. He (PBUH) always put

others ahead of himself and his household, give away those things he needed most, and give a lot
when he needed a little. Ibn Majah narrated that Our Mother Aisha r.a. said:
I never saw the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) entrusted the delivery of charity to another person;
he (PBUH) would be the one to put in the beggars hand.
Al-Bayhaqi and Abu Dawud narrate in their Sunan collections that Abdallah al-Hazwani said:
I met Bilal, and said to him: O Bilal, tell me how the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to
spend. He replied: He had nothing, and I was the one who would arrange his financial
affairs, from the time Allah (SWT) sent him until he passed away. If anyone ever came to him as
a (new) Muslim, and he (PBUH) saw them to be without clothing, he would have me go and
borrow some money to clothe and feed them.
Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrate in the Sahih collections that Ibn Abbas r.a. said:
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was the most generous of people, and he would be at his most
generous during Ramadhan, when he met with Jibril to study the Quran with him. Indeed, the
Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was more generous in bestowing goodness than the very wind.
In these times of rapid growth that we live in, we have witnessed increasing income inequalities
and poverties, the gap between the rich and poor and widening even more. Many are in need of
our help to ease their suffering and we may not have much but theres no value that is too litte. If
we are given the opportunity to even give a few cents, then we should not miss that opportunity
to emulate the noble attribute of giving which The Messenger (PBUH) has taught us.
One may ask, why highlight on his perfect mercy and generosity (PBUH)? Whats so important
about these two character traits and attributes? Its because, as we all are aware of, there is so
much injustice going on around the world. Innocent children are being killed, women being
abused, wives being treated unfairly, the poor being left to die out of poverty. We may be living
average lives in this rapid globalized world but the solutions to these problems can be found in
one Perfect Man. In the 63 years of The Messengers (PBUH) blessed life, he never allowed such
problems to breed and he would personally, with the amazing characteristics and attributes that
he possesses (PBUH), ensured people are rightly treated and none were suffering, even if it
means to sacrifice anything he had. He is the perfect epitome of selflessness and mercy to the
universe. So now that we more about his beautiful traits and qualities, how much of it do we
want to follow?
Being aware of this, we are able to learn how he (PBUH) managed his life beautifully, why The
Messenger (PBUH) left a great impact on the lives of many that came before us. Well learn how
to deal with people and all of Allahs creations the right way because he (PBUH) has taught us.
There are so many things and details about The Messenger (PBUH) that we still do not know.
The scholars also reminded that, if we claim to love The Messenger of Allah (PBUH), yet we
have people around us or we still do acts or say things that make people dislike us, then we ought
to relook into ourselves and re-read about him (PBUH). Why is it important for us to know more
about his life and character and emulate them as far as we can? What benefit is it for us? So that
we may get the strength and motivation to live our lives, just as Allah (SWT) related the stories

of the Messengers to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Allah told His Beloved Messenger (PBUH)
in the Quran,
And all that We relate to you (O Muhammad) the stories of the Messengers, by which We
strengthen you. [Hud: 120]
Another benefit as the Ulama taught us is, so that we would be able to taste the sweetness of
making salutations and salawat upon him (PBUH) because we are connected to him, when we
emulate him (PBUH). In a vigorously authenticated Hadth narrated by Imam Tirmidhi,
Ubayy bin Kaab r.a. said I once told the Messenger of God, (upon whom be peace and
blessings of God The Exalted) O Messenger of God, I invoke much (du'a). What portion should
I offer salutations upon you?
The Prophet replied, However much you wish.
To this I asked, A fourth?
He said, If you wish, but should you increase the number, it will be better for you.
I then asked, A third?
He said, If you wish, but should you increase the number, it is still better for you.
I then asked, A half?
He said, If you wish, but should you increase the number, it is still better for you.
I then said, Indeed in my invocation, I shall make all of my prayers upon you!
To this, the Messenger of God replied, If you do that you will be freed from all your worries and
all your wrongs pardoned.
The Prophet (PBUH) is a great blessing of Allah to us. His way of life, his character and his
sacrifice (PBUH) are a guidance for us and they are timeless. Timeless because his life and
advices are always relevant for any era and age and he is the perfect example and role model for
us to emulate. Lets not forget to be thankful to Allah for the gift of Islam and the gift of being
chosen to be a follower of His Beloved Messenger, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and make
copious amounts of salutations and salawat upon His Beloved (PBUH). The Messenger (PBUH)
said, Al mar-u ma'a man ahabba You will be with those whom you love. (Bukhari). Thus,
lets also not forget to read more about him, to learn more about him, so that we may love him
(PBUH) and be amongst those who are with him (PBUH) in the Day of Judgement. I conclude
by asking you, the reader to forgive me if there are any inaccuracies or errors in this article and
that you include me in your duas. May Allah accept from us.
O Allah, accept from us. Indeed You are the Hearing, the Knowing. [Al-Baqarah: 127]