humankind. For all his habitual actions produce numerous things beneficial for life, and furthermore, by following them, such conduct and actions become worship.
Yes, since as both friend and foe agree, the person of Muhammad (UWBP) manifested the highest degrees of moral virtues; and since as all are agreed, he is the most famous and excellent member of the human race; and since as is indicated by his thousands of miracles, and testified to by the World of Islam that he founded and its achievements, and is affirmed by the truths of the Qur’an, which he heralded and interpreted, he was the most excellent Perfect Man and most excellent guide; and since as the fruit of following him, millions of the people of perfection have advanced through the degrees of attainment and reached the happiness of both worlds; for sure his practices and actions are the finest examples to be followed, and the safest guides, and the soundest laws to be adopted as principles. Happy the person who has a large share of following the Prophet’s (UWBP) practices. While those who are lazy and do not follow them suffer vast loss, and those who consider them to be unimportant commit a great crime, while if they criticize them, which infers denying them, it is serious misguidance.1
S e c o n d M a t t e r : Almighty God decrees in the All-Wise Qur’an,
And you [stand] on an exalted standard of character.(68:4)
According to sound narrations, when the distinguished Companion ‘A’isha the Veracious (May God be pleased with her) described the Messenger (Upon whom be blessings and peace), she would say: “His character is the Qur’an.”2 That is to say, Muhammad (Upon whom be blessings and peace) is the exemplar of the fine moral qualities described by the Qur’an. He conforms to them more than anyone, and his nature was created in accordance with them.
So even lunatics would understand how unfortunate are those heedless members of his community who believe in him yet give no importance to his practices or want to change them, despite each of his deeds, states, words, and actions being worthy of emulation by mankind.
T h i r d M a t t e r : Since the Noble Messenger (Upon whom be blessings and peace) was created with the most moderate character in the most perfect form, his actions and rest all proceeded on moderation and
See, Bukhari, I‘tisam, 2; Ahkam, 1; Jihad, 109; Muslim, ‘Imara, 33; Nasa’i, Bay’at; 27; Musnad, ii, 361.
Muslim, Salat al-Musafirin, 139; Abu Da’ud, Tatawwu‘, 26; Nasa’i, Tatawwu‘, 2; Musnad, vi, 54, 91, 163, 188, 216; al-Munawi, Fayd al-Qadir, v, 170; Ibn Hibban, Sahih, i, 345; iv, 112.