By Allama Syed Sulaiman Nadwi
(Excerpts from the author's book "Muhammad, The Ideal Prophet"
"A model which can serve for every class of the people acting under different circumstances and states of human emotions will be found in the life of Muhammad peace be upon him.
If you are rich, there is the example of the tradesman of Mecca and the master of Bahrain's treasure;
if you are poor, you can follow the internees of Sh`eh Abi Talib and the emigree of Medina;
if you are a king, watch the actions of the Ruler of Arabia;
if you are a vassal, take a look at the man enduring hardships imposed by the Quraysh of Mecca;
if you are a conqueror, lay your eyes on the victor of Badr and Hunayn;
if you have suffered a defeat, take a lesson from the one discomfited at Uhad;
if you are a teacher, learn from the holy mentor of the school of Suffah,
if you are a student, look at the learner who sat before Gabriel;
if you are a sermoner, direct your eyes to the discourser delivering lectures in the mosque of Medina;
if you are charged to preach the gospel of truth and mercy to your persecutors, observe the helpless preacher explaining the message of God to the pagans of Mecca;
if you have brought your enemy to his knees, look at the conqueror of Mecca;
if you want to administer your lands and properties, discover how the lands and groves of Bani an-Nadir, Khaybar and Fadak were managed;
if you are an orphan, do not forget the child of Amina and 'Abdullah left to the tender mercy of Halima;
if you are young, see the character of Mecca's shepherd;
if you have a travelling business, cast a glance at the leader of the caravan under way to Busra ;
if you are a judge or arbiter, look at the umpire entering the holy sanctuary before the peep of dawn and installing Hajr Aswad in the K'aba, or the justice of peace in whose eyes the poor and the rich were alike;
if you are a husband, study the behaviour of the husband of Khadija and 'Aisha;
if you are a father, go through the biography of Fatima's father and the grandfather of Hasan and Husain; in short, whoever and whatever you may be, you would find a shining example in the life of the Prophet to illuminate your behaviour.
If you have the life of the Prophet before you, you can find the examples of all the prophets, Noah and Abraham, John and Jonah and Moses and Jesus. If the life and character of each prophet of God were deemed to be a shop selling the wares of one commodity, that of Muhammad (peace be upon him) would verily be a variety store where goods of every description can be had to suit the tastes and needs of all.''
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