The Initiative to Practice What He Preached and His Constant Remembrance of Allah
If we return once more to the Prophet (sws), reading reports about him and studying his influence, we find the strongest evidence of his prophecy.
All reports agreed unanimously that he was always the first practice what he preached: the first to do what he enjoined and avoid what he prohibited. Allah says in the Quran,
قُلۡ أَغَيۡرَ ٱللَّهِ أَتَّخِذُ وَلِيّٗا فَاطِرِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَهُوَ يُطۡعِمُ وَلَا يُطۡعَمُۗ قُلۡ إِنِّيٓ أُمِرۡتُ أَنۡ أَكُونَ أَوَّلَ مَنۡ أَسۡلَمَۖ وَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ *قُلۡ إِنِّيٓ أَخَافُ إِنۡ عَصَيۡتُ رَبِّي عَذَابَ يَوۡمٍ عَظِيمٖ
It means, {Say (oh Muhammad, sws)
, "Shall I take as a wali (helper, protector, lord or god) any other than Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth when it is He Who feeds but is not fed?" Say: "Verily, I am commanded to be the first of those who submit themselves to Allah (as Muslims)." And be not you (oh Muhammad, sws) of the mushrikun (polytheists, pagans, idolaters and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah). * Say: "I fear, if I disobey my Lord, the torment of a Mighty Day."}
[Al-An`aam 6: 14-15]
Indeed, the Prophet (sws) responded to his Lord. He was always the first to carry out Allah's instructions. He was the leader of Muslims in every situation: in word and in deed. Allah Almighty says,
لَّقَدۡ كَانَ لَكُمۡ فِي رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسۡوَةٌ حَسَنَةٞ
It means,
{Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad, sws) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the Meeting with) Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much.}
[Al-Ahzab 33: 21]
He was the most obedient to Allah, he always mentioned Allah in his heart, and he feared Allah more than anyone. This is not just a claim; it was a concrete fact proved to his companions and relatives in everything he did and in everything that came from him, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
According to Anas (may Allah be pleased with him)
, the Prophet (sws) said, "By Allah, I am the most fearful of Allah amongst you and the most pious towards Him." [Related by al- Bukhari and Muslim] I
n his authentic collection, Ibn Hibban reported that `Ataa asked Aisha to tell him the most surprising thing about the Prophet (sws).
She replied, "And what about him was not surprising? One night he came to me and got under the covers with me. Then he said, 'Let me go and worship my Lord.' So he went to perform ablution and began to pray. He wept until the tears were flowing onto his chest. Then he bowed at the waist and wept, and then prostrated his head to the ground and wept. He raised his head and wept. He continued to do that until Bilal came to make the call to prayer. I asked him, 'Oh Messenger of Allah, what is making you weep when Allah has forgiven you your past and future sins?' He (sws) replied, 'Shall I not then be a grateful slave? Why wouldn't I when this night He has revealed to me
:إِنَّ فِي خَلۡقِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱخۡتِلَٰفِ ٱلَّيۡلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ لَأٓيَٰتٖ لِّأُوْلِي ٱلۡأَلۡبَٰبِ *ٱلَّذِينَ يَذۡكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ قِيَٰمٗا وَقُعُودٗا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمۡ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِي خَلۡقِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقۡتَ هَٰذَا بَٰطِلٗا سُبۡحَٰنَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ
It means
, {Verily! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding. * Those who remember Allah standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth, (saying), "Our Lord! You have not created (all) this without purpose, glory be to You! Give us salvation from the torment of the Fire.}
[Al- Imran 3:190-191]
Then he said, "Woe to anyone who reads these verses and does not think about them."
The Prophet (sws) never spent a moment without mentioning Allah. He mentioned Allah in secret and openly, amongst people and when alone, in times of ease or difficulty, in good and bad situations, upon traveling and returning, day and night, in the morning and in the evening.
The Prophet (sws) sent Amr ibn al-`As to Ibn al-Jalandy, the king of Amman to call him to Islam. Al-Jalandy said, "I know that Muhammad (sws) is a prophet of Allah, because when he orders people to the good, he is the first to do so, and he does not ask anyone to avoid anything bad without being the first to do so. He wins without being arrogant and is defeated without giving up. He fulfills his covenant and keeps his promises, and I bear witness that he is a prophet."
Then he recited verses of poetry declared his acceptance of Islam and calling everyone to embrace it.
So, this is Allah's Messenger, the Seal of the Prophets, may Allah's blessing and peace be upon him—an open book to all, both before and after his mission. Anyone who would like to know more about his tremendous personality and blessed life history should read and peruse his biography to learn and grow certain that he truly was the Messenger of Allah.
