Muhammad in His Profession
Other aspects of Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) modesty are related to His public professions and traditional works. He never looked down at doing any of the jobs of His people. Narrated by Jabir bin Abdullah, We were with Allah’s Messenger collecting Al-Kabath at Mar AI-Zahran. The Prophet said, ‘Collect the black ones, for they are better.’
Somebody said, ‘(O Allah’s Messenger!) Have you ever shepherded sheep?’
He said, ‘There has been no prophet but has shepherded them.” (Al-Bukhari: 3406 , Muslim: 2050)
Muhammad’s Forbidding People from Praising Him Excessively
Modesty might be a trait of some people because they became accustomed to a simple life, with nothing that encourages them to feel proud car haughty. However, this was not the case of Muhammad’s modesty; He deliberately practiced it and rejected to have any other attitude in its place. He rather warned against the danger of the heart’s diseases, particularly the hateful disease of arrogance. He says, “A man who has as much as one iota of arrogance in his heart will not enter paradise.” (Muslim: 91)
He also forbade His companions from excessive respect for Him like the manner with which people treat kings. Likewise, He forbade them from standing up to greet Him, He said, “Let him who likes people to stand up in his honour, he should seek a place in hell.” (Abu Dawud: 5229 , At-Tirmidhi: 2755)
Anas bin Malik reported, “No one was more beloved to us than the Prophet. When they saw Him they did not stand up, knowing that He did not approve of it.” (At-Tirmidhi: 2754)
The Prophet Muhammad forbade Muslims from praising Him in an exaggerated way, like the Christians did when they praised Eesaa (Jesus) -may Allah exalt his mention saying that he is a god.
Narrated by Umar, “I heard the Prophet saying, ‘Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians praised the son of Mary, for I am only a slave. So, call me the Slave of Allah and His Messenger” (Al-Bukhari: 3445)
Muhammad (peace be upon him) also forbade His companions from raising Him above any other man without proof or knowledge. He used to maintain justice and decide fairly between people even if the wronged party was not of His followers and the wrongdoer is one of His companions. He would divest Himself from bias and prejudice and command His companion to quit what he or she does. Narrated by Abu Said Al-Khudri, “While Allah’s Messenger was sitting, a Jew came and said, ‘O Abul Qasim! One of your companions has slapped me on my face;
The Prophet asked who that was. He replied that he was one of the Ansar. The Prophet sent for him, and on his arrival, he asked him whether he had beaten the Jew.
He (replied in the affirmative and) said, ‘I heard him taking an oath in the market saying, ‘By Him Who gave Moses superiority over all the human beings.’ I said, ‘O wicked man! (Has Allah given Moses superiority) even over Muhammad; I became furious and slapped him across his face;
The Prophet said, ‘Do not give one prophet superiority over another.” (Al-Bukhari: 2412)
When one of His companions gave Him a title of superiority over others, He disliked it. Anas bin Malik reported, “Someone called to Him saying,’ best of mankind!’
Muhammad replied, ‘That is the Prophet Abraham, peace be upon him.” (Al-Bukhari: 2369)
Historians Bear Witness to Muhammad’s Modesty
many historians who studied the biography of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) bear witness to His modesty; Scottish historian William Montgomery Watt says, “Muhammad gained men’s respect and confidence by the religious basis of His activity and by qualities such as courage, resoluteness, impartiality and firmness inclining to severity but tempered by generosity. In addition to these, He had a charm of manner which won their affection and secured their devotion.”
British historian Edward Gibbon, in his well-known book, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, writes, “The good sense of Muhammad (peace be upon him) despised the pomp of royalty. The Apostle of God submitted to the menial offices of the family; He kindled the fire; swept the floor; milked the ewes; and mended with His own hands His shoes and garments.”
Reverend Bosworth Smith commented on Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) modesty saying, “He was Head of the State as well as the Church; He was Caesar and the Pope in one; but He was the Pope without the Pope’s pretensions, and Caesar without the legions of Caesar, without a standing army, without a bodyguard, without a police force, without a fixed revenue. If ever a man ruled by divine right, it was Muhammad, for He had all the powers without their supports. He cared not for the dressings of power. The simplicity of His private life was in keeping with His public life.” (Muhammed and Muhammadism)
What Was the Name of His Followers?
The ones close to Muhammad, (peace be upon him) are called al-Sahaba (the companions) and were not called ministers, the court, or any other title like that, with which we are familiar in modern historical writings. In reality, Muhammad did not live as a king or an emperor and never treated others on this ground. However, He lived among them as a caller to Islam, an educator, a friend, a leader, and a teacher. This wonderful character of Muhammad had its positive effect on His people. He worked to dispel the feeling of anxiety appearing on the people who did not know Him and met Him for the first time.
A man came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and he began to speak to Him, and he was seized by fear (of the Prophet). Upon witnessing his demeanour, the Prophet said to him, “Take it easy and calm down, for verily I am not a king, but instead I am only the son of a Quraysh woman who used to eat dried salted meat strips:” (ibn Majah 3312)
Moreover, Muhammad (peace be upon him; was careful to show His modesty in each attitude, and even in minor matters to the extent the He would not let His hand go first when He shook hands, until the other man let his hand go. Of course, this is a great sense of modesty, which gives an implicit feeling of love, friendliness, and generosity.
Muhammad Shares His Companions their Tasks and Professions
It was not the attitude of Muhammad (peace be upon him) to only give commands to His companions, though He was capable of doing so. However, He decided to co-work with them happily and comfortably in simple and easy way. Accordingly, when He migrated to Medina, the first work He did was building His Masjid (Mosque) in cooperation with His companion. Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported, “The Messenger of Allah came to Medina and stayed in the upper part of Medina for fourteen nights with a tribe called the Banu Amr bin ‘Auf…and while building the mosque, they (the companions) sang rajaz verses along with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) O Allah, there is no good but that of the hereafter, so help the Ansar (Muslims originally from Medina who provided support to the Prophet) and the Muhajirin (migrants from Makkah to Medina):”
(Al-Bukhari 428; Muslim 524)
In the Battle of the Trench, when Quraysh waged the war in alliance with other pagan tribes against the Prophet in Medina, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) carried sand while digging up the trench around Medina. He carried sand and stones with His companions, though He was able to give His commands and let His companions work on behalf of Him. Indeed, His participation had its effect on His companions who sang this verse in enthusiasm:
If we sat while the Prophet is working,
It would be the ever-misguided act of us. (Translator)
