Personality traits of Prophet Muhammad Thursday, 10 February 2011 22:48

By Jabir Rahman

Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was endowed both with physical and inner beauty that reflected in his virtuous character. He maintained his distinct personality throughout his life.  It was the Holy Quran that formed the character and personality of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).  It shaped and nurtured a perfect man within him. His character is the Quran. The Prophet’s wife Ayesha once told to Prophet’s companion Sa’ad about Prophet’s character as: ‘The character of the Messenger of Allah is the Quran’.

The prime personality trait of the Prophet was his positive attitude towards life and life after death.  We know it is the nucleus of all the Personality Development theories. Islam is a religion of optimism as well as a complete code of life and the holy Quran is a book of positive energy. The term pessimism has nothing to do with the religion Islam. The holy Quran says:

“Say: “In the bounty of Allah. And in His Mercy, in that let them rejoice”: that is better than the (wealth) they hoard.”                                                                                                                                   (10:58)         

This verse tells us that a believer rejoices Almighty’s clemency; this delight is a kind of positive behaviour and a kind of optimism that provides the believer happiness.

Quran says: “So lose not heart, nor fall into despair: For ye must gain mastery if ye are true in Faith”.                                                                                                                                               (3: 139)     

It is a verse that urges a believer to behave positively and not to grieve or weaken. As the opinion of the psychologists, one’s feeling of permanent grief causes him varieties of psychological unrest.

There is no word as ‘boredom’ in the dictionary of the Prophet. He was always dynamic and enthusiastic. He lived among his companions and found happiness from all the good deeds. The Prophet guided his companions, consoled them in their miseries and shared their burden. He gave special attention to every person before him when he engaged in a group discussion, such that each one of them felt that the Prophet was paying attention to him only. He took a keen interest in matters pertaining to faith, behavior, cleanliness, happiness and health of his companions.  He enquired about the needs of his companions and catered to them accordingly. In every gathering he was one among his companions. The Prophet was kind towards them and won their love. When his companions would leave his gathering, they would be in full of joy and their level of Iman(faith) would increase manifolds.

He was extremely gentle, soft-spoken and known for his effective, wise and concise manner of speech. The speech was not quick and continuous as common people. He spoke clearly, word by word. The Prophet spoke to people according to their caliber and level of maturity. He acted as a child when he mingled with children. The Prophet gave different answers to the same question keeping in account the background and intellectual capability of the questioner such that nobody could find any contradiction in the answers. Everyone took great pleasure in talking with the Prophet and his messages had a great effect on people.  He never uttered any useless words. The Prophet was the greatest of the Arabs in oratory and beauty of speech. He said: ‘I am the greatest orator among the Arabs’.

According to the companions of the prophet, the Messenger of Allah was very eloquent and spoke only when needed. His speech was concise and comprehensible. The words came one after another like pearls so much so that they could be counted. Whoever heard them remembered them. He was the sweetest in talk among his companions. He avoided unnecessary conversations and preferred silence. He never uttered evil words against anyone and always spoke the truth.

Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) mannerisms were awesome as he says: ‘No father has given his child anything better than good manners’. One of his companions Abdullah bin Harith says he had never seen a person more cheerful than Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). As a man of mercy when faced with various options he always preferred leniency over hardship for the convenience of his Ummah. In short, if an extensive research is done on modern personality development theories,  Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) personality is an ideal role model in that genre. It is an exemplary personality who is still being followed by many Muslims around the globe.

Is it Possible to develop one’s pPersonality? This is a big question.  The Arabs before the Prophet were extremely aggressive, nonflexible, stubborn and barbaric. They were proud of the atrocities they committed. Modesty was the most unfamiliar term for them. That is why the Prophet not only taught but inculcated modesty in them.

He disciplined them, with his gifted personality and advices. He used that manpower to shape a society based on justice and peace. Most of the companions of the Prophet were brutal and ignorant later became leaders of a celebrated civilisation. Today they are known as the best generation the time had ever seen and a perfect example for all the future generations to follow till the end times. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) introduced them:  “The best of my people are my generation, then those who come after them, then those who come after them“.  

Regarding the Ummah of the Prophet the Holy Quran says: “You are the best of peoples ever raised for mankind, you enjoin good and forbid evil, and you believe in Allah”. (3:110)

And there is no wonder in George Bernard Shaw’s surprise, as he said:  “I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it the much needed peace and happiness: I have prophesied about the faith of Muhammad that it would be acceptable to the Europe of tomorrow as it is beginning to be acceptable to the Europe of today.”

Concluded

The peninsula