– Asma Farheen Shaik
Guntur, Andhra Pradesh
Allah, the Almighty and Majesty, with his infinite mercy, sent Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to mankind as His final messenger, and the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was born with the divine light of Allah in human form, the mercy to all of Creation.
The entire life of the Prophet ﷺ is a living example and lesson for humanity, for he lived according to the teachings of the Qur’an. Once, when someone asked Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) about the character of the Prophet ﷺ, she replied, “His character was the Qur’an.” From this, we understand that the Prophet’s ﷺ life was a perfect reflection of the Qur’an’s guidance.
He ﷺ was famous for his honesty and trustworthiness. So, the people of Makkah referred to him as As-Sadiq and Al-Amin before prophethood.
The Qur’an: A Divine Guidance Through the Prophet ﷺ
Allah, the Almighty, blessed humanity with the Qur’an as a book of Guidance, teaching mankind how to live a life pleasing to Allah, with justice, mercy, counselling, and wisdom. In the Qur’an, Allah says: “This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those who are conscious of Allah.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:2)
The Qur’an is also a miracle, unmatched in its language and message. Allah declares in the Qur’an: “Say, O Prophet, ‘If all humans and jinn were to come together to produce the equivalent of this Qur’an, they could not produce its equal, no matter how they supported each other’.” (Surah Al-Isra 17:88)
Allah Himself has promised to protect His revelation from corruption: “Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur’an and indeed, We will be its guardian.” (Surah Al-Hijr 15:9)
The Prophet Muhammad, as the Messenger of Allah, was not the author of the Qur’an. His duty was to receive, memorise, and convey the Divine Message faithfully. He neither altered nor added to what was revealed. In the Qur’an, Allah commanded him, “O Messenger, convey that which has been revealed to you from your Lord.” (Surah Al-Maidah 5:67)
Thus, through the Prophet ﷺ, Allah provided both the message of the Qur’an and the living example of how to apply it in daily life. The Prophet Muhammad is the Messenger who demonstrates the teachings of the Qur’an through his actions, words, and character, guiding people toward faith and compassion. Also, the finest example of leadership grounded in mercy and justice. His leadership was never based on power or authority, but rather on compassion, humility, and service to others.
He led by example, earning the love and respect of his followers through his gentle nature and sincerity. His entire life served as a perfect model for all believers who seek to live in accordance with the will of Allah.
Allah, the Almighty, described Himself in the Qur’an about the Prophet, “And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds”. (Surah Al-Ambiya, 21:107)
These beautiful Qur’anic words reflect the divine purpose for which Allah sent him as a mercy to all creation, and the Prophet Muhammad received these commands, fulfilled and implemented, making mercy the foundation of his character and leadership.
Exactly, as Allah the Almighty described in the Qur’an, “Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example for whoever has hope in Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah often”. (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:21).
And again Allah, the Almighty, mentions in the Qur’an, “And indeed you are upon a tremendous character”. (Surah Al-Qalam 68:4)
Most Forgiving and Merciful in Leadership
Looking into the real-life experience of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, his mercy in leading family, companions, friends, to every person he passes, and even during battles, but his mercy did not end there, his immense compassion also for enemies who harmed and injured him reflects the true meaning of mercy, kindness in leadership.
Allah, the Almighty, mentions in the Qur’an, “It is by the mercy of Allah that you dealt gently with them (O Muhammad), and if you had been rude and harsh-hearted, they would have dispersed from around you. So, pardon them and ask forgiveness for them.” (Surah Al-Imran 3:159)
This ayah reflects Allah’s mercy for mankind and highlights the role of the Messenger of Allah, who follows and implements Allah’s commands, teaching us to be merciful and forgiving.
The Messenger of Allah said: “He is not one of us who does not have mercy upon our young, nor knows the honour of our elders.” (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1920)
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ’s Leadership with Mercy: He did not only speak with words, but his actions spoke even louder, teaching us the highest morals. His gentle and kind nature shows an impactful guidance for mankind. His mercy and forgiveness melt the hearts.
In the Battle of Uhud, the Prophet ﷺ was injured and bled, but he still asked for forgiveness for his enemies.
Narrated Abdullah: “As if I saw the Prophet ﷺ talking about one of the prophets whose nation had beaten him and caused him to bleed, while he was cleaning the blood off his face and saying, ‘O Allah! Forgive my nation, for they do not know.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 3477)
The deep pain in his heart and the words full of mercy show his immense care for his nation.
The Event at Taif: A Day of Pain and Forgiveness
Throughout his blessed life, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ faced many hardships, injustices, and painful moments while spreading the message of Islam. Even in the very hardest time, He shows mercy, kindness, and forgiveness for His Nation.
Narrated mother Aishah (Razi-allah anha), “That she asked the Prophet ﷺ, ‘‘O Messenger of Allah, have you encountered a day harder than the day of the Battle of Uhud?”
At Taif, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ replied, “Your tribes have troubled me a lot, and the worst trouble was the trouble on the Day of Aqaba when I presented myself to the people at Taif and to the chief (Ibn Abd-Yalail bin Abd-Kulal), and he did not respond to my demand. I faced rejection.
They mocked me and rejected my words. And they sent street boys and slaves upon me, throwing stones until my feet were wounded, and I was forced to leave the city. So, I departed, overwhelmed with excessive sorrow, and proceeded on, and could not relax till I found myself at Qarnath-Tha-alib (a hilly area), where I lifted my head towards the sky to see a cloud shading me unexpectedly.
I looked up and saw Gabriel in the cloud that is shading me. He called me saying, ‘Allah has heard your people’s saying to you, and what they have replied to you, Allah has sent the Angel of the Mountains to you so that you may order him to do whatever you wish to these people.’
The Angel of the Mountains called and greeted me, and then said, “O Muhammad! Order what you wish. If you like, I will let Al-Akh-Shabain (i.e., two mountains) fall on them.”
The Prophet ﷺ said, “No but I hope that Allah will let them beget children who will worship Allah Alone, and will worship None besides Him.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 3231)
Even in heavy pain and harm, the Prophet ﷺ showed patience and mercy. He never sought revenge; instead, he prayed for the guidance of those who hurt him. This shows real Leadership with mercy and forgiveness. His focus was always on the future of humanity, not on his personal suffering.
Years later, the people of Taif and the tribe of Thaqīf did accept Islam. His patience and mercy eventually won their hearts, not force.
The Counsellor Seeker to Teach Mankind
The continuation of the ayah in Surah Al-Imran (3:159), “So, pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult with them upon the conduct of affairs. Then when you have decided, rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him].”
In this ayah, Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, commands our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to pardon others for their mistakes and to seek forgiveness for them. This represents true leadership is characterised by gentleness and kindness. And conduct consultations on matters. And if one decides, believe in Allah’s will.
Abu Hurairah said: “None was more apt to seek counsel of his Companions than the Messenger of Allah ﷺ”. (Jami at-Tirmidhi 1714)
And this happened on the Day of Badr when the captives were gathered; in this gathering, only the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ asked for consultation while making decisions, not because the Prophet ﷺ didn’t know, but as He is Allah’s Messenger, to teach mankind to have a mutual discussion while performing important matters.
As He is the leader, this consultation does not end in leading the communities and companions, but He follows consultation from family members, too.
Once the Prophet ﷺ accepted his wife’s advice and did it and it worked beautifully, when the prophet ﷺ passed an order to the companions. When the writing of the peace treaty was concluded, Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said to his companions, “Get up and slaughter your sacrifices and get your head shaved.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 2731, 2732)
By Allah, none of them got up, not out of disobedience, but out of emotional pain because of the Al-Hudaibiyah agreement, and the Prophet repeated his order thrice. When none of them got up, he left them out of emotional intelligence and went to Umme Salama and told her of the people’s attitudes towards him. Then, Umme Salama advised him, “O the Prophet of Allah! Do you want your order to be carried out? Go out and don’t say a word to anybody till you have slaughtered your sacrifice and call your barber to shave your head.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 2731, 2732)
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ didn’t speak any word and did it as advised, and it worked; the companions started following. It shows immense leadership led by the actions of the leader. It represents softness in leadership, shows great emotional intelligence instead of loudness or pressure. He valued seeking consultation on important affairs, understanding that leadership involves gathering input not just from communities, but also from family members.
Virtuous and Visionary Leader
His Confidence in the young showed an extreme level of encouragement for young people. He gave them responsibility and guided them with wisdom, showing that young people can serve in the path of Allah and lead humanity. And those young people are the ones who become capable of leading the future generation.
Once Abdullah bin Umar said: He (the Prophet ﷺ) appointed Usamah ibn Zayd (RA) as the commander of an army, while he was only 17 or 18 years old. (Sahih al-Bukhari 3730)
This shows the Prophet’s immense belief and confidence in the young people, which He assigned them an important task to lead an army. At that time, some people criticised his leadership. The Prophet ﷺ said, “If you are criticising Usama’s leadership, you used to criticise his father’s leadership before. By Allah! He was worthy of leadership and was one of the dearest persons to me, and (now) this (i.e., Usama) is one of the dearest to me after him (i.e., Zaid).
And finally, his strong belief did not fail. Usama showed remarkable leadership. His strategic thinking and ability to unite his group of soldiers earned him deep respect and admiration. He completed his assigned mission with great success.
Reflection and Lessons for Today’s Ummah
The character of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was the Qur’an itself. Every action, word, and decision in his life reflected the divine guidance and mercy that Allah revealed in the Qur’an. He did not merely recite the words of Allah, but he lived them. His life was a living lesson of the Qur’an, showing humanity what it truly means to submit to Allah with sincerity, patience, and love.
His Leadership with mercy, through every trial, in the moments of rejection, hardship, and pain, even he stood strong in faith. Weather in times of peace and battle, where he gets injured and harmed, but his heart remained full of mercy and forgiveness. This moment reflects his unshakable belief in Allah’s wisdom and his deep care for the future of humanity.
His mercy was not limited to his companions or supporters, but it extended even to those who opposed him. His patience, his reliance on Allah, and his commitment to justice and compassion are timeless lessons for all people. It deeply inspires us to improve ourselves and shape our character, desires, thoughts, and nature, and to be socially responsible.
In today’s world, it is difficult to find people who show patience, kindness, and love toward others. Instead, many have adopted leading their families and groups with a loud voice, harsh behaviour, and blaming each other, which is not in accordance with the teachings of our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ’s whole life is a living lesson for mankind. By seeking to follow the Seerat of Prophet Muhammad, one learns to speak gently and show mercy in all matters. Forgiving others’ mistakes, while also asking forgiveness for one’s own and praying for the other’s guidance, His noble behaviour towards people, regardless of age and gender are great teaching for us all, bring immense peace, positivity, and barakah to our lives. Whoever obeys Allah’s Messenger will enter the Paradise.
May Allah, the Almighty and Most Majestic, bless our entire Ummah with unshakable faith (Iman), a deep love for modesty (Haya), and a firm commitment to what is Halal. May He fill our hearts with such love for Him and for His beloved Prophet ﷺ that our lives revolve around that love. May Allah grant us the strength and guidance to follow the noble Seerah of the Prophet ﷺ, and bless us with the ability to lead the Ummah and future generations according to his teachings.
