10 Prophet Muhammad Quotes: A Taste of Honey

Sufism is one of the great mystical traditions in human history, and has produced countless numbers of enlightened beings through the centuries. It is a system of self-purification and development based on the life and character of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). His was an example of how to live in perfect harmony and love with one’s Creator and His creation. In this post I would like to give an introduction to his beautiful character through a few Prophet Muhammad quotes, for the benefit of those not familiar with them, and also as a taste of honey for those who are.

Prophet Muhammad Quotes, #1

“Whoever loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to meet him.”

Prophet Muhammad Quotes, #2

There is a polish for everything that takes away rust; and the polish for the heart is the remembrance of Allah.”

Prophet Muhammad Quotes, #3

“You will not enter paradise until you have faith; and you will not complete your faith till you love one another.”

Prophet Muhammad Quotes, #4

“The worldly comforts are not for me. I am like a traveler, who takes a rest under a tree in the shade and then goes on his way.”

Prophet Muhammad Quotes, #5

“Conduct yourself in this world, as if you are here to stay forever; prepare for eternity as if you have to die tomorrow.”

Prophet Muhammad Quotes, #6

“Strive always to excel in virtue and truth.”

Prophet Muhammad Quotes, #7

“Verily, Allah is mild and is fond of mildness, and He gives to the mild what He does not give to the harsh.”

Prophet Muhammad Quotes, #8

“The best richness is the richness of the soul.”

Prophet Muhammad Quotes, #9

“Who is the most favored of Allah? He, from whom the greatest good comes to His creatures.”

Prophet Muhammad Quotes, #10

“It is better to sit alone than in company with the bad; and it is better still to sit with the good than alone. It is better to speak to a seeker of knowledge than to remain silent; but silence is better than idle words.”

The Prophet’s (saas) patience

Throughout the period of his mission, the Prophet Muhammad (saas) experienced all manner of difficulty. Deniers and polytheists, from among his own people, insulted him most terribly, even calling him a magician or a madman. Others wanted to kill him and even schemed to do so. Despite all that, the Prophet (saas) tried to teach people of all backgrounds and cultures about the Qur'an, and therefore about proper morality and good behavior.

As Allah revealed in the verses of the Qur'an, some people had not the slightest idea of the basics of good manners, for which reason it never entered their minds that they might appall someone who possessed superior morality. The Prophet (saas) displayed the greatest patience in this circumstances, turning to Allah and asking for His help in all situations and encouraging believers to patience and submission.

In many verses in the Qur'an, Allah advises the Prophet (saas) to be patient despite the words of unbelievers:

So be patient in the face of what they say and glorify your Lord with praise before the rising of the sun and before it sets. (Surah Qaf: 39)

Do not be grieved by what they say. All might belongs to Allah. He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing. (Surah Yunus: 65)

We know that your breast is constricted by what they say. (Surat al-Hijr: 97)

Perhaps you are leaving aside part of what has been revealed to you and your breast is constricted by this because they say, "Why has treasure not been sent down to him or an angel not accompanied him?" You are only a warner and Allah is Guardian over all things. (Surah Hud: 12)

Believers must remember the kind of things Allah's Messenger (saas) was patient for, and take him as a model when dealing with their own difficulties. Those who despair at the slightest problem, who are unable to bear the smallest objection, who stop preaching the religion of Allah, or who lose hope when their business dealings go wrong, must be aware that such behavior is incompatible with Allah's holy book and the sayings and deeds of the Prophet (saas). Believers must always be patient, take Allah as their helper and give thanks to Him, adopt the superior morality of the Prophet (saas), and hope for the mercy, compassion and Paradise of our Lord.

There were people with varying characters and ideas that surrounded the Prophet (saas). Throughout his life, however, he showed an interest in each and every one, warned them about their mistakes and failings, and tried to educate them in all matters, from cleanliness to matters of faith. That compassionate, tolerant, understanding and patient attitude of his was the means by which many peoples' hearts warmed to Islam and developed a genuine love for the Prophet (saas). Allah describes this pleasing attitude adopted by the Prophet (saas) towards those around him in the Qur'an:

It is a mercy from Allah that you were gentle with them. If you had been rough or hard of heart, they would have scattered from around you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them… (Surah Al ‘Imran: 159)

In another verse, Allah told the Prophet (saas) how he should behave towards those around him:

We know best what they say. You are not a dictator over them. So remind, with the Qur'an, whoever fears My Threat. (Surah Qaf: 45)

The Prophet (saas) never pressured those around him to accept the religion, nor imposed conditions on them. Instead he always used the pleasantest ways to tell them about it.

He always supported the community of the faithful with his strong conscience, and was a benefactor to them at all times. On account of these traits, the Prophet (saas) is described in many verses as "your companion." (Surah Saba': 46: Surat an-Najm: 2, Surat at-Takwir: 22).

Those believers who were able to comprehend the conscientiousness of the Prophet (saas) regarded him as closer to them than all others, and humbled themselves towards him. In one verse, Allah states:

The Prophet has closer ties to the believers than their own selves, and his wives are their mothers… (Surat al-Ahzab: 6) Imam Ghazali, the great Islamic scholar, summed up the Prophet (saas)'s treatment of those around him in light of the information found in the hadiths:

"... Everyone thought that the Prophet honoured him more. Whoever came to him could see his face.
... He used to call his companions by their surnames with honour and he used to give one surname who had no surname.
... He was very affectionate and kind in dealing with the people.
... Nobody could speak loudly in his assembly." 1

The Prophet (saas)'s human love, kind thought and compassion, which turned those around him to true religion and warmed their hearts to faith, is that superior morality which all Muslims should seek to reproduce. (For further reading about the attributes of the Prophet (saas),

Source: Harun Yahya

The Prophet’s (saas) call to religion

The Prophet (saas) spent all his life, once the Qur'an had been revealed to him, calling people to the religion and guiding them to the true path. In one verse, Allah tells the Prophet (saas) how he should address people:

Say: "This is my way. I call to Allah with inner sight, I and all who follow me. Glory be to Allah! I am not one of those who associate others with Him." (Surah Yusuf: 108)

The Prophet (saas) encountered a number of difficulties when warning people and teaching them about the Qur'an and true morality. Since not everyone was on the true path, people made life difficult for the Prophet (saas), out of jealousy, hatred and envy. Some were slow to understand his words and dragged their feet when they did so, some behaved hypocritically, saying that they believed his words when they really did not. The Prophet (saas) continued to explain the religion with great determination, paying no heed to all those obstacles. Such people's attitudes are revealed in a verse:

… You believe in all the Books. When they meet you, they say, "We believe." But when they leave they bite their fingers out of rage against you. Say, "Die in your rage." Allah knows what your hearts contain. (Surah Al ‘Imran: 119)

Another verse discusses the Prophet (saas)'s determination in the face of those who opposed him:

Those to whom We gave the Book rejoice at what has been sent down to you but some of the parties refuse to acknowledge part of it. Say: "I have only been ordered to worship Allah and not to associate anything with Him. I summon to Him and to Him I will return." (Surat ar-Ra‘d: 36)

The Prophet (saas) continued to warn those who would not believe, and to use the most effective way of talking about the religion, in the hope they would find faith and abandon their hatred of him and his religion. Allah describes the attitude displayed by those people in the face of what he had to say in Surat an-Nisa':

Do you not see those who claim that they believe in what has been sent down to you and what was sent down before you, still desiring to turn to a satanic source for judgement in spite of being ordered to reject it? Satan wants to misguide them far away. When they are told, "Come to what Allah has sent down and to the Messenger," you see the hypocrites turning away from you completely. (Surat an-Nisa': 60-61)

Despite the two-faced behavior of those who opposed him, the Prophet (saas) spoke to them in terms that would enable them to see the truth and which would work on their consciences. One verse reads:

Allah knows what is in such people's hearts so turn away from them and warn them and speak to them with words that take effect. (Surat an-Nisa': 63)

It was of course a heavy responsibility to give advice to his enemies, to show them the error of their ways and to call them to the true path. Yet, for someone who, like the Prophet (saas), has put his trust in Allah, who knows that faith is a gift from Him, and fears Allah alone, and not anyone else, Allah will provide assistance and support.

In several verses of the Qur'an, Allah reveals that He has sent messengers in order to turn those who have strayed back to the true path, to purify them, and to teach them the holy verses. As we have seen above, throughout his life, the Prophet (saas) persevered in the responsibility that Allah had laid on him with great patience, fortitude and determination. Even in the final sermon that he gave, very shortly before dying, he continued to teach and instruct Muslims.

Allah sets out these beautiful responsibilities in a number of verses:

For this We sent a Messenger to you from among you to recite Our Signs to you and purify you and teach you the Book and Wisdom and teach you things you did not know before. (Surat al-Baqara: 151)

Allah showed great kindness to the believers when He sent a Messenger to them from among themselves to recite His Signs to them and purify them and teach them the Book and Wisdom, even though before that they were clearly misguided. (Surah Al ‘Imran: 164)

In one verse, Allah describes the Prophet (saas)'s advice and warnings as "things that will bring one to life":

You who believe! Respond to Allah and to the Messenger when He calls you to what will bring you to life! Know that Allah intervenes between a man and his heart and that you will be gathered to Him. (Surat al-Anfal: 24)

That is why the Prophet (saas)'s advice and exhortations are unlike those of anyone else. Abiding by these warnings is a means of salvation in this world and the next. Each of the Prophet (saas)'s exhortations are founded on wisdom that will save people from evil, cruelty, pessimism and suffering. Since all his advice is inspired and assured by Allah, a sincere Muslim will surrender himself to them and find faith.

The words of the Prophet (saas) that have come down to us contain the excellent advice he gave to the faithful. One example is the advice he gave to his companion Muadh. It is reported that he spoke thus:

"O Muadh, I advise you: fear Allah, speak the truth, fulfil promise, pay up trust, give up breach of trust, save your neighbour, show kindness to orphans, be modest in talk, spread peace, do good deeds, stick to faith, earn knowledge about the Qur'an, love the next world, fear rendering of accounts...

O Muadh, I forbid you: Don't tell a truthful man liar, don't follow any sin, don't disobey a just judge, and don't create disorder in land.

O Muadh, I give you instruction: Fear Allah while passing by each stone, tree, and heaps of earth. Make repentance anew after committing any sin. Repent secretly for secret sin and openly for open sin." 1

That is how the Prophet (saas) educated those close to him and Muslims, and called on them to have good character. (For further reading about the attributes of the Prophet (saas)

Source: Harun Yahya

The exemplary justice of the Prophet (saas)

In the Qur'an, Allah commands believers to "Be upholders of justice, bearing witness for Allah alone, even against yourselves or your parents and relatives. Whether they are rich or poor, Allah is well able to look after them. Do not follow your own desires and deviate from the truth..." (Surat an-Nisa': 135). With the rules he imposed on Muslims, his just and tolerant attitude towards those of other religions, languages, races and tribes, and his way of not discriminating between rich and poor, but treating everybody equally, Allah's Messenger (saas) is a great example to all of mankind. Allah says this to His Prophet (saas) in one verse:

They are people who listen to lies and consume ill-gotten gains. If they come to you, you can either judge between them or turn away from them. If you turn away from them, they cannot harm you in any way. But if you do judge, judge between them justly. Allah loves the just. (Surat al-Ma'ida: 42)

The Prophet (saas) abided by Allah's commands, even with such difficult people, and never made any concessions in his implementation of justice. He became an example for all times with the words, "My Lord has commanded justice…" (Surat al-A‘raf: 29).

A number of incidents testify to the Prophet (saas)'s justice. He lived in a place where people of different religions, languages, races and tribes all co-existed. It was very difficult for those societies to live together in peace and security, and to check those who sought to spread dissension. One group could grow aggressive towards and even attack another over the slightest word or action. Yet, the justice of the Prophet (saas) was a source of peace and security for those other communities, just as much as it was for Muslims. During the time of the Prophet (saas), Christians, Jews and pagans were all treated equally. The Prophet (saas) abided by the verse "There is no compulsion where the religion is concerned…" (Surat al-Baqara: 256), explaining the true religion to everyone, but leaving them free to make up their own minds.

In another verse, Allah revealed to the Prophet (saas) the kind of justice and and conciliation he needed to adopt towards those of other religions:

So call and go straight as you have been ordered to. Do not follow their whims and desires but say, "I believe in a Book sent down by Allah and I am ordered to be just between you. Allah is our Lord and your Lord. We have our actions and you have your actions. There is no debate between us and you. Allah will gather us all together. He is our final destination." (Surat ash-Shura: 15)

This noble attitude of the Prophet (saas), being in total harmony with the morality of the Qur'an, should be taken as an example of how members of different religions today should be treated.

The Prophet (saas)'s justice brought about understanding between people of different races. In many of his addresses, even in his final sermon, the Prophet (saas) stated that superiority lay not in race but in godliness as Allah states in the verse:

Mankind! We created you from a male and female,and made you into peoples and tribes so that you might come to know each other. The noblest among you in Allah's sight is that one of you who best performs his duty. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware. (Surat al-Hujurat: 13)

Two hadiths report the Prophet (saas) as saying:

"You are sons of Adam, and Adam came from dust. Let the people cease to boast about their ancestors." (1)

"These genealogies of yours are not a reason to revile anyone. You are all children of Adam. No one has any superiority over another except in religion and taqwa (godliness)." (2)

During his final sermon, the Prophet (saas) called on Muslims in these terms:

"There is no superiority for an Arab over a non-Arab and for a non-Arab over an Arab; nor for white over the black nor for the black over the white except in piety. Verily the noblest among you is he who is the most pious." (3)

The agreement made with the Christians of Najran in the south of the Arabian Peninsula was another fine example of the justice of the Prophet (saas). One of the articles in the agreement reads:

"The lives of the people of Najran and its surrounding area, their religion, their land, property, cattle and those of them who are present or absent, their messengers and their places of worship are under the protection of Allah and guardianship of His Prophet." (4)

The Compact of Medina, signed by the Muslim immigrants from Mecca, the indigenous Muslims of Medina and the Jews of Medina is another important example of justice. As a result of this constitution, which established justice between communities with differing beliefs and ensured the protection of their various interests, long years of enmity were brought to an end. One of the most outstanding features of the treaty is the freedom of belief it established. The relevant article reads:

"The Jews of Banu 'Awf are one nation with the Muslims; the Jews have their religion and the Muslims have theirs…" (5)

Article 16 of the treaty reads: "The Jew who follows us is surely entitled to our support and the same equal rights as any one of us. He shall not be wronged nor his enemy be assisted." (6) The Prophet (saas)'s companions remained true to that article in the treaty, even after his death, and even practiced it with regard to Berbers, Buddhists, Brahmans and people of other beliefs.

One of the main reasons why the golden age of Islam was one of peace and security was the Prophet (saas)'s just attitude, itself a reflection of Qur'anic morality.

The justice of the Prophet (saas) also awoke feelings of confidence in non-Muslims, and many, including polytheists, asked to be taken under his protection. Allah revealed the following request from the polytheists in the Qur'an, and also told the Prophet (saas) of the attitude he should adopt towards such people:

If any of the idolators ask you for protection, give them protection until they have heard the words of Allah. Then convey them to a place where they are safe. That is because they are a people who do not know. How could any of the idolators possibly have a treaty with Allah and with His Messenger, except for those you made a treaty with at the Masjid al-Haram? As long as they are straight with you, be straight with them. Allah loves those who do their duty. (Surat at-Tawba: 6-7)

In our day, the only solution to the fighting and conflict going on all over the world is to adopt the morality of the Qur'an, and, like the Prophet (saas), never to depart from the path of justice, making no distinction between different religions, languages, or races. The Prophet (saas)'s human love, kind thought and compassion, which turned those around him to true religion and warmed their hearts to faith, is that superior morality which all Muslims should seek to reproduce. (For further reading about the attributes of the Prophet (saas), see “The Prophet Muhammad (saas)” by Harun Yahya)

1 Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 41, Number 5097
2 Ahmad, 158/4
3 Prophet Muhammad's Last Sermon (http://www.stanford.edu/~jamila/Sermon.html)
4 The Pact of Najran, Article 6, http://www.islamicresources.com/Pact-of-Najran.htm
5 The Constitution of Madina, http://www.islamic-study.org/jews-prophet-p.-2.htm
6 The Constitution of Madina, http://www.islamic-study.org/jews-prophet-p.-2.htm

Source: Harun Yahya

Why the Prophet honors a woman from the Children of Israel?

All praise be to Allah the Almighty, and peace be upon the Prophet Muhammad,,,

Let's suppose – for the purpose of argument only- that the enemies of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) were right in their allegations that the Holy Quran was written by him. In such case, the disbelievers will surely respond to our argument. Now, ask them: Do you doubt that Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was an Arabic man?

Irrespective of their reply; yes or no, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) – under such argument – has informed them, in very sublime manner & words, that: Maryam – Mary – the mother of Jesus (Peace be upon them both), who belongs to Children of Israel (1), is chosen above the women of the world.

Why didn’t he choose his mother (i.e. the mother of the Prophet Mohammad – Peace be upon him), his wife, his daughter, or any other Arabic woman? Why did he choose a woman from the Children of Israel!!

Can anyone give any clarification to this? Everyone prefers his mother, wife and daughter more than other women.

So, why the Prophet of Islam – Peace be upon him – calls Muslims to respect a woman from the opponents or contestants?! Especially from the Children of Israel?! i.e. from the people who have disregarded his people (Muhammad’s people; the Arabs) for three thousand years; exactly like their disregard to their Arab brothers nowadays.

Chapter of Maryam (Mary)

There is a chapter (Sura) in the Holy Quran bearing the name of "Maryam" (Mary). The said Sura was called "Maryam" out of respect and honor to Maryam; the mother of Jesus Christ (Peace be upon them both). Maryam (Peace be upon her) did not get such honor even in the Bible itself. There are (66) sixty six scriptures for the Protestant and (73) seventy three scriptures for the Roman Catholic, but no single scripture wherefrom bears the name of Maryam and her son (Peace be upon them). You can find scriptures bearing the names of Mathew, Mark, Luke, John and Paul and plenty of scriptures bearing ambiguous names but no one attributed to the name Jesus or Maryam (Peace be upon them).

Therefore, If Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was the author of the Holy Quran, he may include, beside the name of Maryam; the mother of Jesus (Peace be upon them), the name of his mother "Amena", his dear wife "Khadija", "Aisha" or his daughter "Fatema", May Allah be pleased with them all.

However, this is not the truth, and the Prophet (Peace be upon him) did not do that because the Holy Quran is not written by Muhammad (Peace be upon him) .

The reply is as simple as the following: The Prophet was not having any options, he has no right to express his own wishes because Quran was revealed by Allah The Almighty who said: {It is not but a revelation revealed} (An-Najm:4).

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(1) Maryam (Peace be upon her) was not Jew by religion. She was following the religion of her fathers; Ibrahim (Abraham), Isma'il (Ishmael) Ishaque (Isaac), Ya'qub (Jacob) and Zakariya (Zachariya) who were all worshipping Allah alone. She was an upright woman who had surrendered to Allah and was not of the polytheists. As for the nationality, she belongs to Israel i.e. Jacob, the Prophet of Allah – Peace be upon him. As for saying that she was Jew as per the religion of Jews in her era or saying that she was Christian; this is a groundless and incorrect statement