CONTENTS………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2
ABOUT THIS BOOK……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 7
FOREWORD……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 10
CHAPTER ONE……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 12
AN EXCELLENT EXEMPLAR: IN CONVEYING HIS MESSAGE AND IN HIS CALLING………………………………………. 12
I. The Prophet’s Sensitivity in Conveying His Message and in His Call……………………………………………… 18
II. The Prophet’s Manner and Method in His Call to Islam…………………………………………………………….. 30
A. Starting From the Closest Relatives………………………………………………………………………………………. 32
B. Paying Attention to Time and Place………………………………………………………………………………………. 37
C. Observing the Circumstances of the Audience……………………………………………………………………….. 40
D. Observing Gradualism……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 45
E. Seizing every Opportunity………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 51
F. Facilitating things and not making them difficult……………………………………………………………………… 56
G. Giving people good tidings and not making them run away………………………………………………………. 61
H. Warning about the Divine Punishment…………………………………………………………………………………. 65
III. THE PROPHET’S MEANS IN HIS CALL AND IN CONVEYING HIS MESSAGE…………………………………… 69
A. The Holy Qur’an……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 70
B. The Prophet’s Miracles………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 81
C. His Exemplary Life…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 87
D. Teachers and Missionaries Trained by the Prophet (pbuh)……………………………………………………….. 91
E. Letters and Envoys……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 97
F. Guest Delegations…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 104
G. Donations, Gifts, Feasts, and Gatherings…………………………………………………………………………….. 109
IV. THE PROPHET’S EFFORTS TO REMOVE THE OBSTACLES BEFORE HIS CALL…………………………………. 113
A. A Period of Patience and Perseverance………………………………………………………………………………. 114
B. The Period of Battles……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 117
C. The Period of Peace………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 127
CHAPTER TWO………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 131
AN EXCELLENT EXEMPLAR: IN EDUCATION, DISCIPLINE AND PURIFYING THE SOUL………………………………… 131
I. The Prophet’s Esteem for Knowledge……………………………………………………………………………………. 131
II. The Prophet (pbuh) as a Teacher………………………………………………………………………………………….. 136
III. The Prophet’s Duty to Discipline and Purifying the Souls…………………………………………………………… 138
A. Correcting False Beliefs……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 139
B. Teaching the acts of worship………………………………………………………………………………………………… 151
C. The Prophet’s Method of Training the Hearts………………………………………………………………………….. 160
1. Protecting the heart from Spiritual Diseases…………………………………………………………………………. 161
a. Disbelief…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 166
b. Hypocrisy………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 170
c. Vanity…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 173
d. Heedlessness…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 177
f. Grudges………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 182
g. Jealousy………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 185
2. Adorning the Heart with Spiritual Beauties…………………………………………………………………………… 189
a. Faith………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 191
b. Piety………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 194
c. Fear from Allah………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 200
d. Love………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 204
e. Mercy…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 208
f. Repentance and Remembrance………………………………………………………………………………….. 212
g. Supplication for the Betterment of the Heart…………………………………………………………………. 220
D. The Prophet’s (pbuh) Methods of Teaching and Training…………………………………………………………… 223
1. Teaching through Actions………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 225
2. Advancing From Easy to Difficult…………………………………………………………………………………………. 228
3. The Significance of Moderation and Avoiding Dullness……………………………………………………………. 230
4. Paying Attention to the Audience………………………………………………………………………………………. 232
a. Paying an Interest and Paying Complements…………………………………………………………………. 234
b. Paying Attention to the Level of the Audience……………………………………………………………….. 238
c. Being Beneficent and Doing Good……………………………………………………………………………….. 241
5. Approaching with Love and Compassion………………………………………………………………………………. 242
6. Approaching Problems Positively……………………………………………………………………………………….. 245
7. Discovering and Improving Special Talents……………………………………………………………………………. 248
8. Employing the Question and Answer Method………………………………………………………………………. 251
a. The Prophet Responding to Questions………………………………………………………………………….. 251
b. Asking Questions for Elaboration…………………………………………………………………………………. 255
c. Guiding the Inquirer in another Direction………………………………………………………………………. 258
9. Using Metaphors and Examples and Making Comparisons………………………………………………………. 259
10. Using Gestures and Facial Expressions While Talking…………………………………………………………….. 265
11. Drawing Diagrams and Models to Elaborate a Matter……………………………………………………………. 268
12. Attracting Attention to the Significance of Speech……………………………………………………………….. 270
13. Advising and Telling Anecdotes………………………………………………………………………………………… 276
a. Advising………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 276
b. Telling Anecdotes……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 278
14. Using Targib (Encouragement) and Tarhib (Fear) Simultaneaously………………………………………….. 281
15. The Place of Writing in Teaching and Training………………………………………………………………………. 284
IV. THE PROPHET’S METHOD OF CORRECTING MISTAKES…………………………………………………………….. 287
A. Gentleness and Mildness…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 288
B. Showing Patience and Forbearance towards Mistakes………………………………………………………………. 293
C. Not offending sinners in front of others…………………………………………………………………………………. 296
D. Convincing the Spoken Person by Rational and Logical Explanations…………………………………………….. 298
E. Presenting Alternatives……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 299
F. Reproaching when Necessary……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 302
G. Forgiving the Mistakes………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 305
H. Correcting Significant Mistakes Immediately……………………………………………………………………………. 312
I. Saying Supplications for the Purification and Good Manners of the Companions……………………………… 316
CHAPTER THREE………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 320
AN EXCELLENT EXEMPLAR: IN DEALING WITH THE PEOPLE………………………………………………………………… 320
I. THE WAY THE PROPHET DEALT WITH HIS FAMILY…………………………………………………………………………… 320
A. Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) as Head of the Family………………………………………………………………………. 323
1. His Love for His Wives………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 324
2. His Respect for His Wives………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 329
3. His Education to His Wives…………………………………………………………………………………………………. 334
4. His Consultation of His Wives…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 342
5. Helping His Wives……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 346
6. Taking care of His Family’s Needs……………………………………………………………………………………….. 349
7. The Wisdom behind the Prophet’s Polygamy……………………………………………………………………….. 352
B. Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) as a Father…………………………………………………………………………………….. 364
1. His Love and Affection to His Children and Grandchildren……………………………………………………….. 365
2. His Attention to Their Discipline………………………………………………………………………………………….. 371
3. Preparing them for the Eternal Life…………………………………………………………………………………….. 380
II. THE PROPHET’S DEALINGS WITH HIS SERVANTS…………………………………………………………………………… 386
III. PROPHET’S DEALING WITH HIS RELATIVES…………………………………………………………………………………. 389
IV. THE PROPHET’S DEALING WITH HIS NEIGHBORS…………………………………………………………………………. 398
V. THE PROPHET’ TREATMENT OF HIS GUESTS……………………………………………………………………………….. 404
VI. THE PROPHET’S TREATMENT OF SOME MISTREATED PEOPLE………………………………………………………… 407
A. The Prophet’s Treatment of Children…………………………………………………………………………………….. 408
B. The Prophet’s Treatment of the Old………………………………………………………………………………………. 421
C. Prophet’s Treatment to Women…………………………………………………………………………………………… 424
D. The Prophet’s Treatment to the Poor…………………………………………………………………………………….. 435
E. The Prophet’s Treatment of Orphans and the Families of the Martyrs………………………………………….. 446
F. The Prophet’s Treatment of the Disabled……………………………………………………………………………….. 452
G. The Prophet’s Treatment of Male and Female Slaves……………………………………………………………….. 457
VII. THE PROPHET’S TREATMENT OF ANIMALS………………………………………………………………………………… 463
EPILOGUE……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 473
BIBLIOGRAPHY…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 476