The Prophet’s Conduct With His Companions (Part 1)

Our Prophet’s Way

The Prophet’s conduct with his Companions (Part:01)

Nasir Jamaal Attari Madani

The excellences of the final Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم are innumerable. Beholding him is what brings peace to a believer’s heart. To love him is a sign of complete faith. Following his way is the path to success. In this article, we will look at his exemplary conduct towards his Companions.

Some of the Prophet’s Companions

1.   Anas b. Mālik رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ served the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  for 10 years.

2.   AslaꜤ b. Sharīk رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ  used to load the Prophet’s صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم camel.

3.   Ayman b. ꜤUbayd رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ was responsible for the utensils used for washing. He would bring them to the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم whenever required.

4.   Bilāl رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ not only called azan, but was also in charge of expenses regarding the Prophet’s صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم family.

5.   Ḥisān Aslamī رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ used to escort the Prophet’s صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم conveyance.

6.   King Najjāshī of Abyssinia رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه sent his nephew Dhū Mikhmar رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ in place of himself to serve the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.

7.   RabīꜤah Aslamī رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ had the duty of looking after and presenting utensils used for wudu to the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.

8.   Abdullah b. Rawāḥah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ escorted the Prophet’s camel, when the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم went to perform qaḍāˈ ʿumrah.

9.   ꜤAbdullah b. MasꜤūd رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ had the honour of putting the Prophet’s صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم sacred shoes upon his blessed feet.

10.   ꜤUqbah b. ꜤĀmir رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ was an accomplished poet well-versed in Quranic sciences and obligatory rulings. Considering it an honour, he escorted the Prophet’s صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم mule during journeys.

11.   Mughīrah b. ShuꜤbah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ was responsible for carrying the Prophet’s صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم weaponry. [1]

In all the tasks we have just described, it is common for people like us to display shortcomings in carrying them out. Harsh reactions are often seen in response.

May we be sacrificed upon the final Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم,  who displayed the highest echelons of compassion and kindness to those around him. Here are some examples of this:

1.   It is common for people to perceive those who serve them as lowly. Yet, the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم granted greatness to those who love him by keeping them close to himself.

When his devotees in Madinah came to him after fajr salah with their utensils full of water, he would dip his hand into all containers presented before him. At times, said containers were brought forth on cold mornings, and he would still dip his hand into them.[2] If any young girl or maid of Madinah needed anything, they would take the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم with them. No doubt, this was indicative of his perfect humility and freedom from all forms of arrogance.[3]

2.   Some consider it their right to shout at or berate those working for them. Either verbally or physically, they inflict harm on others and seek to humiliate them. Our Prophet’s immaculate conduct was free from such flaws. Lady ꜤĀishah رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا explains, “The Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم never struck a servant or a woman.”[4]

Anas b. Mālik رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ had the honour of serving the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم from a young age. Speaking of his experience, he explained, “I always served the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. He never asked, ‘Why did you do this?’, regarding anything I did.  As for anything I did not do, he never asked, ‘Why did you not do this?’”.[5]

Commenting on the Prophet’s manner of requesting a task, he states:

The Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم had the best character of all people. One day, he sent me to carry out a task, to which I replied, “By Allah, I will not go.”  In my heart however, I was actually fully prepared to carry out any task he asked of me.

I went out to fulfil said task and came across children playing in the marketplace. Suddenly, the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم held me from the nape of my neck. I looked towards him and found him smiling. He stated, “Little Anas, are you going to where I have told you to?”

“Yes, Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم”, I replied, “I am heading there.”[6]

(To be continued)