I served the Prophet for ten years, and he never said to me, "Shame!" or "Why did you do such and such?" or "Why did you not do such and such?" (Bukhari And Muslim.)

God's messenger was one of the best of men in character. One day he sent me to do something, and I said, "I swear by God that I will not go." But in my heart, I felt I should go to do what God's messenger had commanded me; so, I went out and came upon some boys who were playing in the street. All of a sudden God's messenger who had come up behind caught me by the back of the neck, and when I looked at him, he was laughing. He said, "Did you go where I ordered you, little Anas?" and I replied, "Yes, I am on my way, messenger of God." Muslim transmitted it.

When I was walking with God's messenger who was wearing a Najrani cloak with a coarse fringe, a nomadic Arab caught up on him and gave his cloak a violent tug, pulling God's Prophet back against his chest, and I saw that the side of God's messenger's shoulder was marked by the fringe of the cloak because of the violence of the man's tug. He said, "Command, that I be given some of God's property which you have, Muhammad," and God's messenger turned round to him and laughed, then ordered that he be given something. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

God's messenger was the best of men, the most generous of men, the bravest of men. One night when the people of Medina were startled and went in the direction of the sound, they were met by the Prophet who had gone in the direction of the sound before them, and he was saying, "You have nothing to fear, you have nothing to fear." He was on a bare-backed horse with no saddle belonging to Abu Talha and had a sword slung on his neck. He said, "I found it could run like a great river." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Jabir said that when God's messenger was asked for anything he never said, "No[*]." *Mirqat, 5:388, explains this as meaning that he either gave what was asked or explained why he could not, and refers to Quran, 17:28. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas told that when a man had asked the Prophet for enough sheep to fill the valley between two mountains and had been given them, he went to his people and said, "Accept Islam, my people, for I swear by God that Muhammad gives gifts to such an extent that there is no fear of poverty[*]." *The translation depends on whether the verb is read as active or passive. The translation above takes it in the passive sense. If it is active, it means that the Prophet does not fear poverty. Muslim transmitted it.

Jubair b. Mut'im told that while he was travelling along with God's messenger returning from Hunain the nomadic Arabs persisted in making requests of him till they forced him up against an acacia tree and his cloak was snatched away[*]. The Prophet stopped and said, "Give me my cloak. If I had as many camels and sheep as these thorny trees I would divide them among you, then you would not find me niggardly, or untruthful, or cowardly." *This means either that it was caught by the tree, or taken by the Arabs. Bukhari transmitted it.

Anas told that when God's messenger prayed the dawn prayer the servants in Medina brought their vessels containing water and they would not bring a vessel into which he did not dip his hand. They would often bring them on a cold morning and he would dip his hand into them. Muslim transmitted it.

He told that one of the maidservants belonging to the people of Medina would hold God's messenger by the hand and take him where she wished. Bukhari transmitted it.

He told that a woman whose mind was affected said, "Messenger of God, I want something from you[*]." He replied, "Mother of so and so, consider which of the streets you wish so that I may accomplish what you want." He then went alone with her into a road till she got all she wanted. *Presumably meaning that she wished to speak to him privately about something. Muslim transmitted it.

He said that God's messenger was not unseemly in his language, or given to cursing or reviling. All he said when reproaching someone was, "What is the matter with him? May his forehead cleave to the dust!" Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Huraira told that when God's messenger was asked to invoke a curse on the polytheists, he replied, "I was not sent as one given to cursing; I was sent only as a mercy." Muslim transmitted it.

The Prophet was more modest than a virgin in her apartment, and when he saw anything of which he disapproved we could recognise the fact in his face. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

`A'isha- said she never saw the Prophet laughing so immoderately that she could see his uvula, for he used only to smile. Bukhari transmitted it.

God's messenger did not go on talking rapidly as you do, but would talk in such a way that anyone who wished to count his words would be able to do so. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Al-Aswad told that he asked `A'isha what the Prophet used to do in his house, and she replied that he used to engage in the mihna, i.e. the service, of his family, and when the time for prayer came he went out to prayer. Bukhari transmitted it.

`A'isha said God's messenger was never given his choice between two things without taking the lesser of them provided it involved no sin, for if it did, no one kept farther away from it than he. And God's messenger never took revenge on his own behalf for anything unless something God had forbidden had been transgressed, in which event he took revenge for it for God's sake. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

She said God's messenger never struck anyone with his hand, neither a woman nor a servant, unless he was striving in God's path; and nothing was ever done to him for which he took revenge on the perpetrator unless things God had forbidden were transgressed, in which event he took revenge for God's sake. Muslim transmitted it.

I served God's messenger for ten years from the time I was eight years old and he never blamed me for anything which was destroyed at my hand. If any member of his family blamed me, he said, "Leave him alone, for if anything were decreed it would happen." This is the wording in al-Masabih, and Baihaqi has a slightly different version in Shu'ab al-iman.

`A'isha said God's messenger was not unseemly or lewd in his language, nor was he loud-voiced in the streets, nor did he return evil for evil, but he would forgive and pardon. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Anas used to tell of the Prophet that he would visit the sick, attend funerals, accept a slave's invitation, and ride on a donkey. He said he had seen him on a donkey at the battle for Khaibar using a rein of palm-fibres. Ibn Majah and Baihaqi, in Shu'ab al Iman, transmitted it.

God's messenger used to patch his sandals, sew his garment and conduct himself at home as anyone of you does in his house. He was a human being, searching his garment for lice, milking his sheep, and doing his own chores. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

I was his neighbour, and when the inspiration descended on him, he sent for me and I went to him and wrote it down for him. When we talked about this world, he did so along with us, when we talked about the next world, he did so along with us, and when we talked about food, he did so along with us. All this I tell you about God's messenger. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Anas told that when God's messenger shook hands with a man, he did not withdraw his hand till the other did so, he did not turn his face away till the other did so, and he was not seen to put forward his knees in front of one with whom he was sitting. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

He said that God's messenger did not store up anything for the next day. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Jabir b. Samura said God's messenger was far from talkative[*]. *This is free translation expressing the meaning of the Arabic which is literally `long of silence'. The idea that he spoke only when he had good reason for doing so. Cf. Mirqat, 5:394. It is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna.

Jabir[*] said God's messenger spoke in a distinct and leisurely manner. *Jabir b. Abdallah. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

God's messenger did not go on talking rapidly as you do, but spaced out his words so that those who sat with him could remember them. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

`Abdallah b. al-Harith b. Jaz' said he had seen no one more given to smiling than God's messenger. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

`Abdallah b. Salam said that when God's messenger sat talking he would often raise his eyes to the sky. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

I never saw anyone more kindly towards children than God's messenger. His son Ibrahim was being suckled in the `Awali of Medina[1], and he would go accompanied by us and enter the house which was full of smoke, the boy's foster-father[2] being a blacksmith. He would take him and kiss him and then go back. `Amr told that when Ibrahim died God's messenger said, "Ibrahim is my son who has died while being suckled, but he has two foster-mothers who will complete his suckling in paradise." 1. A village in Madina province. 2. He was Abu Samin al Bara b. Aus Al-Ansari. Muslim transmitted it.

`Muhammad b. 'Abdallah whose birthplace is in Mecca, whose place of emigration is in Taiba, and whose kingdom is in Syria; he is not harsh or rough, or loud-voiced in the streets, and he is not characterised by coarseness or lewd speech.' I testify that there is no god but God, and I testify that you are God's messenger. Give a decision about this property of mine according to what God has shown you." Now the Jew was very rich. Baihaqi transmitted it in Dala'il an-nubuwa.

God's messenger was often given to making mention of God, seldom given to idle talk, he would pray at length, deliver short sermons, not disdain to walk with a widow or a humble person, and he would accomplish for him what he needed. Nasai and Darimi transmitted it.

`Ali told that Abu Jahl said to the Prophet, "We do not call you a liar, but we say that what you have brought is false." God most high then sent down concerning them, "They do not call you a liar, but the evildoers deny God's signs[*]." *Quran; 6:33. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

`A'isha reported God's messenger as saying, "If I wished, `A'isha, mountains of gold would go with me. An angel whose waist was as high as the Ka'ba came to me and told me that my Lord sent me a greeting and said that if I wished I could be a prophet and a servant, or if I wished I could be a prophet and a king. I looked at Gabriel and he gave me a sign to humble myself. (In the version by Ibn `Abbas it says that God's messenger turned to Gabriel as one asking his advice and Gabriel made a gesture with his hand indicating that he should be humble.) I then said that I would be a prophet and a servant." `A'isha said that after that God's messenger did not eat reclining, saying he would eat like a slave and sit like a slave. It is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna.

Ibn `Abbas said God's messenger was commissioned at the age of forty, he remained in Mecca thirteen years receiving revelations, after which he was ordered to emigrate, he was an emigrant for ten years and died at the age of sixty-three. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He said God's messenger stayed in Mecca fifteen years hearing the voice and seeing the light for seven years, but seeing nothing along with it, and eight years during which revelations were given to him. He stayed in Medina ten years and died at the age of sixty-five. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas said God took him when he was just sixty years old. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He said the Prophet was taken at the age of sixty-three, Abu Bakr at the age of sixty-three, and `Umar at the age of sixty-three. Muslim transmitted it.

The first revelation God's messenger received was the true vision in sleep, and every vision he saw came like the bright gleam of dawn. He then became fond of solitude and would go alone to the cave on Hira where he would engage in tahannuth, which means worship for a number of nights, before feeling a yearning for his family. He would take provisions for that purpose, then he would return to Khadija and get provisions for a like period, till the truth came to him when he was in the cave on Hira. The angel came to him and said, `Recite,'[1] to which he replied, "I am not a reciter." He said, "He then took me and squeezed me till I was distressed, after which he let me go and said, `Recite.' When I replied, `I am not a reciter,' he took me and squeezed me a second time till I was distressed, then letting me go he said, `Recite;' When I replied, "I am not a reciter,' he took me and squeezed me a third time till I was distressed. He then let me go and said, `Recite! In the name of your Lord who created, created man from a clot of blood. Recite! And your most bountiful Lord is He who taught the use of the pen, taught man what he did not know.' "[2] God's messenger came back with the verses, his heart trembling, and went in to Khadija and, said "Wrap me up, wrap me up." So, they wrapped him up till the terror had left him. He then spoke to Khadija and informed her of what had happened, saying, "I fear for myself." She replied, "By no means! I swear by God that God will never shame you. You join ties of relationship, you speak the truth, you bear people's burdens, you give to the destitute, you entertain guests, and you help against the vicissitudes which affect people's rights." Khadija then took him to Waraqa b. Naufal, her paternal cousin, and said to him, "Listen, cousin, to what your nephew has to say." Waraqa said to him, "Son of my brother, what do you see?'' God's messenger then informed him about what he had seen and Waraqa said, "It is the namus[3] which God sent down to Moses. Would that I were a young man during your prophetic career! Would that I might be alive when your people expel you!" God's messenger asked, "Will they expel me?'' and he replied, "Yes; no man has ever brought anything like what you have brought without meeting hostility. If I see your day, I shall give you strong help."Waraqa died soon afterwards, and there was an intermission ...

"While I was walking I heard a voice from the sky, and raising my eyes I saw the angel who had come to me on Hira sitting on a throne between heaven and earth. I was terror stricken on that account so that I fell to the ground. I then went to my family and said, `Wrap me up, wrap me up.' They wrapped me up, and then God most high sent down, `You who are shrouded, arise and deliver warning, your Lord magnify, your clothes cleanse, and defilement shun. * The inspiration then became hot and followed continuously." *Quran; 74:1-5 (Bukhari and Muslim.)

`A'isha told that al-Harith b. Hisham asked God's messenger, "How does the inspiration come to you, messenger of God?" to which he replied, "It comes to me at times like the clanging of a bell, and that is the type which is most severe for me; it then leaves me, I having retained of it what the angel said. At times the angel appears to me in human form and speaks to me, and I retain what he says." `A'isha said she had seen the inspiration descending on him on a very cold day, and his forehead pouring with sweat when it left him. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

`Ubada b. as-Samit said that when the inspiration descended on the Prophet, he was distressed on account of that and his face was altered to a dark hue. A version says, he lowered his head and his companions lowered their heads; then when it was removed from him, he raised his head. Muslim transmitted it.

When "And warn your nearest relations"[1] was sent down the Prophet went out, ascended as-Safa', and began to call, "B. Fihr, B. `Adi," calling clans of Quraish until they gathered; and when a man was unable to go out, he sent a messenger to see what was the matter. When Abu Lahab arid all Quraish had come he said, "Tell me; If I were to inform you that horsemen were coming forth from the side of this mountain (a version having: were coming forth in the wadi) with the intention of making a raid on you, would you believe me?" They replied, "Yes; we have experienced nothing but truth from you." He said, "Well, I am a warner to you before a severe chastisement." Abu Lahab said, "May you perish! Is it for this you have brought us together?" Then came down, "Perish the hands of Abu Lahab and may he perish!"[2] Quran; 26:214 Quran; 111 (Bukhari and Muslim.)

While God's messenger was praying at the Ka'ba and the company of Quraish were in the places where they sat, someone said, "Which of you will go to the sacrificial camel of the family of so and so, make for the contents of its stomach, its blood and the skin over the foetus then wait and put it on his shoulders when he prostrates himself?" The most wretched one among them* then went off, and when he prostrated himself put it on his shoulders; and as the Prophet remained in prostration, they laughed to such an extent that they rolled against one another. Someone went to tell Fatima who came running, and the Prophet remained in prostration till she threw it off him, faced them and reviled them. Then when God's messenger finished the prayer, he said three times, "0 God, deal with Quraish (it being his practice when he made supplication to make it three times and when he made a request to make it three times); 0 God, deal with 'Amr b. Hisham, `Utba b. Rabi'a, Shaiba b. Rabi'a, al Walid b. `Utba, Umayya b. Khalaf, `Uqba b. Abu Mu'ait, and `Umara b. al-Walid." `Abdallah said: I swear by God that I have seen them prostrate at the battle of Badr, after which they were dragged to the well, the well of Badr; and God's messenger said, "Those thrown into the well have been followed with a curse." *Mirqat, 5:409, says this was either Abu Jahl, or `Uqba b. Abu Mu'ait, adding that Nawawi said it was the latter. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

`A'isha told that she asked God's messenger whether he had experienced a day more severe than that of Uhud, and that he replied, "I have experienced things from your people, but the most severe thing I experienced from them was on the day of the `Aqaba when I offered myself to Ibn `Abd Yalil b. Kulal and he did not agree to what I wanted.1 I then went off full of care not noticing where I was going, and did not come to my senses till I was at Qarn ath-Tha'alib[2]. Raising my head, I saw a cloud which overshadowed me, and when I looked, I saw Gabriel in it. He called to me, told me God had heard the words of my people and their rejection of me, and said He had sent me the angel of the mountains for me to order him to do to them what I wanted. The angel of the mountains then called to me, saying, after giving me a salutation, `God has heard the words of your people, Muhammad, and I am the angel of the mountains whom your Lord has sent to you to order me if you wish to cover them with al-Akhshaban[3].'" God's messenger replied, "No, I hope God may bring forth from their loins people who will worship God alone, associating nothing with Him." Ibn 'Abd Yalil belonged to at-Ta'if. His father was one of the leading men, but he was 'Abd Ya`lil b. 'Amr b. `Umair (see Isti'ab, p. 410). Yaqut, Mu'jam, 4:72, sats it is a day and a night's journey from Mecca when one comes from Najd. Two hills near Mecca. Cf. Yaqut, Mu'jam, 1:163. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas told that when one of God's messenger's teeth between the front and the canine teeth was broken at the battle of Uhud and a cut was made in his head, he began to remove the blood from himself and say, "How can a people who have split the head of their prophet and broken his tooth next to his eyetooth prosper?'' Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "God is very angry with people who have done this to their prophet (pointing to the tooth next his eyetooth). God is very angry with a man who is killed by God's messenger in God's path." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

I asked Abu Salama b. `Abd ar Rahman about the first portion of the Quran to come down, and he replied that it was, "O you who are shrouded . . ."[1] I told him that people said it was, "Recite! In the name of your Lord," [2] and Abu Salama replied that he had asked Jabir about that, saying to him the. same kind of thing as I had just said, and that Jabir had replied that he would tell me only what God's messenger had told him. He had said, "I stayed in Hira for a month, and when I had finished my stay, I came down. A call was made to me and I looked to my right but saw nothing; I looked to my left but saw nothing; I looked behind me but saw nothing; then when I raised my head and saw something I went to Khadija and said, `Wrap me up.' They did so, and poured cold water over me, and then `You who are shrouded, arise and deliver warning, your Lord magnify, your clothes cleanse, and defilement shun,' came down." He said that was before the prayer was made obligatory. Quran, 74. Quran, 94. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas told that Gabriel came to God's messenger when he was playing with some other boys, seized him, threw him down, split open his heart and took out of it a clot of blood, saying, "This is the devil's portion in you." He then washed it with Zamzam water in a gold dish, repaired it, and put it back in its place. The boys went running to his mother, i.e., his foster-mother, saying, "Muhammad has been killed," so they went to him and found him looking upset. Anas said he used to see the mark of the sewing in his breast. Muslim transmitted it.