Now I will turn to another aspect of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sas), as a father, as a husband, and as a man in relation to his other relatives. Hazrat Aishah (ra) reports that whenever the Holy Prophet’s (sas) daughter Fatimah (ra) visited him, he always stood up showing respect for her, kissed her hand and had her seated where he himself had been seated.
He always treated with kindness and respect the relatives of his late wife Khadijah (ra), extending the same to her friends. Likewise he treated the relatives of his wet-nurse Halimah. Once a close relative of hers visited the Prophet (sas). He stood up and spread a sheet for her to sit upon. When enquired about her, she was introduced by him as a close relative to his wet-nurse whom he respected like he would respect his own mother.
In relation to his wives, although there are reports of Aishah (ra) and his other wives losing their temper with him, never once is he reported to have retorted in the same way. He is never known to have addressed them harshly.
Aishah (ra) narrates that he helped her in the daily household chores, all this over and above his duties to the whole of mankind as a Prophet of God. He mended his own clothes and shoes, went himself to fetch water for his use and would never seek help in these matters. This aspect of his character impressed his companions immensely.
Aishah (ra) describes his bedding as a sack of hide filled with leaves. She says: “We never ate bread made of wheat for three consecutive days. There were times when months would pass and we did not eat meat or bread, instead filled our bellies with dates and some milk, except for an odd present when someone would slaughter a sheep and send us a piece of meat.” Umar narrates: “I went into a small room which was occupied by the Holy Founder (sas) of Islam. He was lying on a straw bedding so rough in nature that on the side he was leaning, I saw straw marks all over his body. I scanned the room and it was empty, there was nothing except for a small bucket for water and one or two odd things. I knew him to be the most beloved of God, a person who had reached the summit of humanity. This contrast so overwhelmed me with sorrow that I started to cry.” The Holy Prophet (sas) turned to me and said: “Umar, what has ailed thee?” I said: “O Messenger of God, God loves you so much, you are the best ever created by Him, yet I see you in this state of extreme austerity. You don’t have proper bedding, you don’t have any articles to decorate your house, there is nothing.” The Holy Prophet (sas) smiled and said: “Umar, would you prefer worldly things of this life to what is in store for us by God in the life to come?’’ Umarra replied: “Surely the things to come will be better”.
This is a small incident, but could an impostor do this? Why do people concoct lies? For what purpose? Is it to live such lives of austerity and pain, and for sharing miseries of their time with their devoted servants? If that is a lie, then there is no sense in truth itself; everything in man has to be false.