His behavior (Akhlaq)
How the Prophet ﷺ behaved daily with his family, children, the poor and even his enemies.
Aisha was asked about the character of the Prophet ﷺ. She replied: «His character was the Quran.»
— Reported by Muslim — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.
His behavior with his family
The Prophet ﷺ was the best of husbands and fathers, participating in household chores and treating his family with gentleness.
Aisha was asked what the Prophet ﷺ did at home. She replied: «He was at the service of his family. When the time for prayer came, he would go out to pray.»
Reported by Al-Bukhari — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.
He helped milk the ewes, patched his clothes and repaired his sandals himself.
Reported by Ahmad — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.
He raced with Aisha and joked with his wives with gentleness and respect.
Reported by Abu Dawud — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.
« The best of you is the one who is best to his family, and I am the best of you to my family. »
Reported by At-Tirmidhi — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.
His behavior with children
He deeply loved children, played with them and treated them with great tenderness.
He carried his grandchildren Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn on his shoulders and prolonged his prostration when one of them climbed on his back.
Reported by An-Nasa'i — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.
He kissed his grandchildren in front of a Bedouin who said: «I have ten children and I have never kissed any of them.» The Prophet ﷺ replied: «What can I do for you if Allah has removed mercy from your heart?»
Reported by Al-Bukhari — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.
When he heard a child crying during prayer, he would shorten it so as not to trouble the mother.
Reported by Al-Bukhari — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.
« Whoever is not merciful to people, Allah will not be merciful to them. »
Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.
His behavior with the poor
He sat with the poor, ate with them and never looked down upon them.
He sat on the ground with the poor to eat and said: «I am only a servant, I eat as a servant eats and I sit as a servant sits.»
Reported by Al-Bayhaqi — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.
When a poor person came to speak to him, he would give them his full attention until they left on their own accord.
Reported by Abu Dawud — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.
He visited the sick, attended the funerals of the poor and accepted their invitations even for a simple meal.
Reported by Al-Bukhari — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.
« Seek me among the weak, for you are only helped and provided for through the weak among you. »
Reported by Abu Dawud — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.
His behavior with enemies
Even toward his worst enemies, he showed extraordinary clemency and forgiveness.
The saying «Go, you are free» is associated with the conquest of Mecca. This wording is graded weak by Al-Albani (al-Silsilah al-Da’ifah, 1163); it is not an authenticated quotation.
Al-Albani · al-Silsilah al-Da’ifah 1163 — weak wording.
At Ta'if, after being driven away and wounded, he refused to curse his attackers and said: «Perhaps Allah will bring out from their descendants people who will worship Him.»
Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.
He treated prisoners of war with dignity and ordered that they be fed before eating himself.
Reported by At-Tabarani — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.
« O Allah, guide my people for they do not know. »
Reported by Al-Bukhari — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.
His behavior in the mosque
The mosque was for him a place of prayer, teaching and counsel.
He made the prayer light when leading in congregation, out of consideration for the weak, sick and elderly.
Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.
When a Bedouin urinated in the mosque, the Companions wanted to beat him. The Prophet ﷺ stopped them, let the man finish, then had it cleaned with water and explained kindly.
Reported by Al-Bukhari — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.
He sat in a circle with his Companions, with no privileged seat, so a newcomer could not distinguish him from the others.
Reported by Abu Dawud — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.
« Make things easy and do not make them difficult, give good tidings and do not drive people away. »
Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.
His manner of speaking
His speech was clear, measured and always benevolent.
He spoke clearly and calmly, sometimes repeating three times so that people understood well.
Reported by Al-Bukhari — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.
He never spoke unnecessarily and kept silent when he had nothing useful to say.
Reported by At-Tirmidhi — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.
He never interrupted anyone and listened attentively to the end.
Reported by At-Tirmidhi — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.
« The believer is not one who insults, curses, is rude or obscene. »
Reported by At-Tirmidhi — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.
His smile
He often smiled at his Companions, making each one feel special through his attention.
Jarir ibn Abdillah said: «The Prophet ﷺ has never seen me without smiling at me.»
Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.
His laughter was generally a smile. When he laughed loudly, one could see his molars.
Reported by At-Tirmidhi — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.
He welcomed every Companion with a radiant face, shaking their hand and never being the first to withdraw it.
Reported by At-Tirmidhi — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.
« Your smile to your brother is charity. »
Reported by At-Tirmidhi — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.
His manner of forgiving
He easily forgave personal offenses and never held grudges.
Anas ibn Malik served him for 10 years and said: «He never said 'Ugh!' to me, nor 'Why did you do this?' or 'You shouldn't have done that.'»
Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.
A Bedouin pulled his cloak violently until it left a mark on his neck and demanded money rudely. The Prophet ﷺ smiled and ordered that he be given it.
Reported by Al-Bukhari — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.
He never took revenge for himself. He only became angry when Allah's limits were transgressed.
Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.
« Let forgiveness and indulgence be your habit. »
Reported by Al-Bukhari — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.
« I was sent to perfect noble character. »
Reported by Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad — Exact reference and attribution to be confirmed.