Manners Inspired by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)

 

The life of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) offers timeless lessons on manners, kindness, and the essence of good character. As the final Messenger of Allah, he was a walking embodiment of the Qur’an, exemplifying the highest standards of behavior. His manners were rooted in compassion, humility, patience, and respect for all, serving as a guide for humanity.

In this blog, we will explore the manners inspired by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), supported by Qur’anic verses and authentic hadiths in both Arabic and English.

The Foundation of Manners in Islam

 

Manners, or akhlaq, hold a central place in Islam. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) emphasized good character as an integral part of faith. Allah mentions in the Qur’an:

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ
“And indeed, you are of a great moral character.”
(Al-Qalam, 68:4)

This verse highlights that the Prophet’s (ﷺ) character is the pinnacle of moral excellence. His life was a practical demonstration of these values, encouraging Muslims to emulate him.

Manners Inspired by the Prophet Muhammad

Kindness and Compassion

 

One of the defining traits of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was his compassion. He treated everyone with kindness, whether they were friends, strangers, or even enemies. Allah says in the Qur’an:

فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ لِنتَ لَهُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ كُنتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ الْقَلْبِ لَانفَضُّوا مِنْ حَوْلِكَ
“So by mercy from Allah, [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you.”
(Ali ‘Imran, 3:159)

The Prophet’s (ﷺ) kindness extended to animals, the environment, and even inanimate objects. He advised:

الرَّاحِمُونَ يَرْحَمُهُمُ الرَّحْمَنُ، ارْحَمُوا مَنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ يَرْحَمْكُمْ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاءِ
“The merciful are shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Be merciful to those on the earth, and the One above the heavens will have mercy upon you.”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, 1924)

Humility

 

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) lived a life of humility despite his high status. He never considered himself superior to others and engaged with people as an equal. He said:

إِنَّمَا أَنَا عَبْدٌ، آكُلُ كَمَا يَأْكُلُ الْعَبْدُ، وَأَجْلِسُ كَمَا يَجْلِسُ الْعَبْدُ
“I am only a servant. I eat as a servant eats and sit as a servant sits.”
(Sunan Abi Dawood, 2855)

The Prophet (ﷺ) also displayed humility in his interactions, avoiding arrogance and pride, as Allah commands:

وَلَا تُصَعِّرْ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمْشِ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا
“And do not turn your face away from people in arrogance, nor walk in pride on the earth.”
(Luqman, 31:18)

Truthfulness and Integrity

 

Truthfulness was one of the most notable traits of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Even before prophethood, he was known as Al-Ameen (the Trustworthy). He emphasized honesty in all aspects of life:

إِنَّ الصِّدْقَ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْبِرِّ، وَإِنَّ الْبِرَّ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ
“Indeed, truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, 6094; Sahih Muslim, 2607)

Allah also commands honesty in the Qur’an:

وَقُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا
“And speak words of appropriate justice.”
(Al-Ahzab, 33:70)

 Forgiveness and Patience

 

The Prophet (ﷺ) displayed remarkable patience and forgiveness, even in the face of hostility. One of the most notable examples is his forgiveness of the people of Makkah after the conquest, when he said:

لَا تَثْرِيبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ، يَغْفِرُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ
“No blame will there be upon you today. May Allah forgive you; and He is the most merciful of the merciful.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, 4288; Sahih Muslim, 1769)

Patience, or sabr, is highly emphasized in Islam, as seen in the Qur’an:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ
“Indeed, Allah is with the patient.”
(Al-Baqarah, 2:153)

Respect for Others

 

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) respected everyone, regardless of their status, age, or background. He taught that no one is superior to another except in piety:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ وَاحِدٌ، وَإِنَّ أَبَاكُمْ وَاحِدٌ… أَلَا لَا فَضْلَ لِعَرَبِيٍّ عَلَى أَعْجَمِيٍّ، وَلَا لِعَجَمِيٍّ عَلَى عَرَبِيٍّ، وَلَا لِأَحْمَرَ عَلَى أَسْوَدَ، وَلَا لِأَسْوَدَ عَلَى أَحْمَرَ، إِلَّا بِالتَّقْوَى
“O people, your Lord is one, and your father is one… There is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab over an Arab; neither white over black nor black over white—except by piety.”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, 3270)

Gratitude

 

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was deeply grateful to Allah and encouraged others to show gratitude in every aspect of life. He said:

مَنْ لَا يَشْكُرُ النَّاسَ لَا يَشْكُرُ اللَّهَ
“Whoever does not thank people has not thanked Allah.”
(Sunan Abi Dawood, 4811)

Gratitude is also a recurring theme in the Qur’an:

لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ
“If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor].”
(Ibrahim, 14:7)

Generosity and Charity

The Prophet (ﷺ) was known for his generosity, especially towards the poor and needy. He reminded his followers of the importance of giving:

مَا نَقَصَ مَالٌ مِنْ صَدَقَةٍ
“Charity does not decrease wealth.”
(Sahih Muslim, 2588)

The Qur’an also emphasizes spending in the way of Allah:

وَآتُوا حَقَّهُ يَوْمَ حَصَادِهِ وَلَا تُسْرِفُوا
“And give its due [zakah] on the day of its harvest, and do not be excessive.”
(Al-An’am, 6:141)

Gentleness in Speech

 

The Prophet (ﷺ) was known for his soft and gentle speech, even when correcting others. He taught:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الرِّفْقَ فِي الْأَمْرِ كُلِّهِ
“Indeed, Allah loves gentleness in all matters.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, 6024; Sahih Muslim, 2165)

Allah also instructs in the Qur’an:

وَقُولُوا لِلنَّاسِ حُسْنًا
“And speak to people good [words].”
(Al-Baqarah, 2:83)

Maintaining Ties of Kinship

 

The Prophet (ﷺ) stressed the importance of family and maintaining ties of kinship (silat ar-rahim). He said:

مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُبْسَطَ لَهُ فِي رِزْقِهِ، وَيُنْسَأَ لَهُ فِي أَثَرِهِ، فَلْيَصِلْ رَحِمَهُ
“Whoever wishes for his provision to be increased and his life to be extended, let him uphold the ties of kinship.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, 5986; Sahih Muslim, 2557)

Conclusion

The manners of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) are a beacon of light for humanity, showcasing how to lead a life rooted in kindness, humility, and compassion. Allah Himself attested to the greatness of the Prophet’s character in the Qur’an:

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ
“And indeed, you are of a great moral character.”
(Surah Al-Qalam, 68:4)

The Prophet (ﷺ) emphasized that good manners are a vital part of faith, stating:

إِنَّ مِنْ أَحَبِّكُمْ إِلَيَّ وَأَقْرَبِكُمْ مِنِّي مَجْلِسًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَحَاسِنَكُمْ أَخْلَاقًا
“Indeed, the most beloved of you to me and the closest to me on the Day of Judgment are those of you with the best character.”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, 2018)

Emulating the Prophet’s manners—such as his truthfulness, patience, gratitude, and respect for others—helps us build stronger relationships and grow closer to Allah. These qualities not only enhance our lives but also create harmony within society.

May we strive to follow his noble example and embody his teachings in every aspect of our lives. اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ.

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Internal Resources and Services

 

External Resources

 

  • For a comprehensive understanding of the Prophet’s lineage and early life, visit this resource.
  • Understand the Prophet’s role as a leader and reformer by exploring this detailed analysis.
  • To learn more about the Qur’anic miracles associated with Prophet Muhammad, read this article.
  • The Qur’an explicitly highlights the treatment of parents in Surah Al-Isra Ayah 23-24, urging believers to speak to them with humility and respect.
  • Learn more about the dynamics of parenting and family life in Islam through this resource on Parenting and Family in Islam.
  • For those caring for elderly parents, explore the Ethics of Caregiving in Islam to understand your responsibilities better.