Page 5 of 10
HIS HUMOUR
Our beloved Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam enjoyed humour. On some occasions he himself would make humorous remarks however, even in humour, he always spoke the truth. He smiled often but it was not his habit to laugh out loud. His Companions followed his example and refrained from bursting into laughter in an amusing situation. His remarks cheered the audience but never made the meeting a place of fun and frolic. His assembly always remained a place of learning, understanding and spiritual fulfilment.
A wonderful example of this is the amusing episode of Zaahir, a bedoin tribsman. He was a close companion of the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam. Once, while he was selling his wares in the market of Madinah, Rasulullaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam passed by. He saw Zaahir so absorbed in his work that he was unaware of his surroundings. Rasulullaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam sneaked up from behind and hoisted him aloft.
"Who is it?" cried Zaahir, twisting and turning in the strong grasp, in vain to see who it was that held him. Then he heard Rasulullaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam shout, "Here is a young boy for sale! A young boy for sale! Who wants him?" At this, Zaahir laughed and replied, "O Rasulullaah, whoever buys a slave like me will end up a loser!"
HIS RENUNCIATION OF THE WORLD
Rasulullaah's sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam renunciation and rejection of the world was not in any way imposed upon him in that he had no option. In reality it was by choice. The following Ahadith indicate that Allah Ta'ala had offered Rasulullaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam all the wealth one may desire yet the master of both the worlds sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam preferred to remain without it to the extent that Anas radhiyallaahu 'anhu states, "Nabi sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam departed from this world while his armour remained pawned by a Jew and he did not possess sufficient wealth to release it."
Abu Umamah radhiyallaahu 'anhu relates that Rasulullaah sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam said, "I swear by that Divine Personality in whose control is my life, if I desired, the mountains of Madinah would have turned into gold and followed me. But I do not like being so wealthy."
Ibn Abbas radhiyallaahu 'anhu relates, "The Quraish said to Rasulullaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam, "Beseech your Lord to turn Mount Safa into gold for us. Should it become gold we will follow you. Nabi sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam submitted to Allah. Jibraeel appeared saying, "Allah conveys Salaam to you and said, "If you so desire, Mount Safa will turn into gold then I will punish those who commit Kufr [thereafter] with a penalty as I have not inflicted on any one among all the people; and if you desire I will open for them the doors of repentance and Mercy." Rasullullaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam replied, "Nay, I desire the doors of repentance and mercy."
'Aa'isha radhiyallaahu 'anhaa relates, "Never did Rasulullaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam eat to his fill and never did he complain of his starvation. He loved destitution more than affluence. On certain occasions hunger would ward away his sleep yet this would not prevent him from fasting the following day. If Rasulullaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam desired he could have asked Allah Ta'ala for all the treasures and fruit of this world and all the comforts of life this world has to offer. I would cry when I would see him in this condition and I would rub my hand on his stomach because of the pangs of his hunger. I would say "May I be sacrificed for you, if only you would accept that much that would give you strength." He would reply, "O 'Aa'isha, what relationship do I have with the world? My brothers of the resolute Messengers persevered in more severe conditions than this; they departed from this world in that condition and appeared in the presence of Allah Ta'ala. Allah Ta'ala honoured them and increased their reward manifold. I find myself bashful to desire affluence and become inferior to them tomorrow [in the Hereafter]. There is nothing more beloved to me than meeting my brothers and bosom friends."
