CONTENTS. 2
About the Book. 7
GUIDE FOR ETERNAL HAPPINESS, AN EXEMPLARY CHARACTER. 9
The Human Reality. 9
The Tendency to Imitate and to Take Someone as an Example. 13
Exemplary Characteristics of the Prophets. 14
Our Guide for the Eternal Salvation, Muhammad Mustafa (pbuh). 15
Uswa al-Hasanah / An Excellent Exemplar. 17
An Exemplary Character and His Good Manners. 21
Measures from the Stars. 28
Spiritual Level required in following the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). 30
Salawat al-Sharifah (Calling for Divine blessings for the Prophet (pbuh)). 31
Following the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) with Love. 42
Foreword. 46
CHAPTER ONE. 51
HIS EXEMPLARY CHARACTER IN SERVITUDE TO ALLAH.. 51
I. Prophet’s Respect, Reverence, Love and Submission to Allah the Most High. 53
1. His Reverence. 53
2. His Love. 64
3. His Submission. 69
II. Prophet’s Compliance to Divine Measures. 74
A. His Meticulousness in Following the Divine Commands. 74
B. His Sensitivity about what is Lawful and Unlawful 77
C. His Sensitivity about Other People’s Rights. 83
D. His Attention about Avoidance from Suspicious Things. 92
III. PROPHET’S LIFE OF WORSHIP. 98
A. His Ritual Prayer. 99
1. His Ablution. 99
2. His Ritual Prayer. 103
a. His Attention to Prayer. 106
b. Reverence and Tranquility in His Prayer. 110
c. Rewards for Performing Prayers. 112
3. The Significance of Congregational Prayer. 117
4. His worship at Night and Dawn-times. 122
5. His Supererogatory Prayers. 130
a. Ḍuha Prayer (Prayer before Noon). 132
b. Awwabin Prayer (Prayer after Evening Prayer). 134
c. Hajah Prayer (Prayer at the Times of Need). 134
d. Istikharah Prayer. 136
e. The Prayer of “Greeting the Mosque”. 138
f. The Prayer Performed after a Ritual Ablution. 138
g. The Prayer of Repentance. 139
h. The Prayer for Thanking a Divine Blessing. 140
i. Tarawih Prayer (Night Prayer in the Month of Ramadan). 141
l. Istisqa Prayer (Prayer for Rain). 143
m. Kusuf and Husuf Prayers (Prayers during Lunar and Solar Eclipses). 144
B. HIS FASTING.. 146
1. Supererogatory Fasting. 150
2. I’tikaf. 152
C. HIS HAJJ OR PILGRIMAGE. 153
D. HIS CHARITY AND ALMSGIVING.. 171
1. Hurrying in Giving Charity. 174
2. Rewards for Charity. 177
3. Prophet’s Manners in Giving Charity. 179
E. HIS PREOCCUPATION WITH THE HOLY QUR’AN.. 183
1. Reading the Qur’an Understandingly. 185
2. Companions’ Preoccupation with the Qur’an. 191
F. PROPHET’S CONTEMPLATION.. 193
G. HIS REMEMBRANCE OF ALLAH AND MEDITATION.. 199
H. HIS SUPPLICATIONS TO ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY. 208
IV. PROPHET’S ASCETIC LIFE STYLE. 215
A. HIS APPROACH TO THE LIFE IN THIS WORLD AND THE HEREAFTER. 217
1. The Similitude of the Life in this World. 219
2. Examples from the Companions’ Ascetic Lives. 227
B. PROPHET’S WAY OF EARNING HIS LIVELIHOOD.. 230
1. Staying Hungry for Long Period of Time. 230
2. His Simple Life at Home. 236
3. His Apparels / Clothing. 242
a. His Turban. 242
b. His Clothes. 243
c. His Socks and Shoes. 244
d. His Ring and Seal 245
e. His Cleaning Equipment and Ornaments. 246
f. His Rides. 246
g. His Armaments. 247
4. His Worldly Inheritance. 247
CHAPTER TWO THE BEST EXAMPLAR IN HIGH MORALS. 250
PROPHET’S EXCELLENCE IN MORALS. 250
A. His Modesty. 257
B. His Haya or Shyness. 264
C. His Adherence to His Promises. 271
D. His Contentment. 277
E. His Tawakkul (Trust) in Allah. 286
F. His Altruism.. 290
H. His Bravery. 304
I. His Generosity. 309
K. His Gratitude. 320
L. His Devotion and Faithfulness. 327
M. His Calmness and Dignity. 334
N. His Moderation. 336
O. His Truthfulness (Sidk) and Straightforwardness (Istiqamah). 343
P. His Contentedness. 350
CHAPTER THREE. 357
HIS EXEMPLARY CHARACTER IN MANNERS. 357
A. Manners of Eating and Drinking. 359
1. Manners of Eating. 359
2. Manners of Drinking. 368
B. Manners of Clothing. 372
C. Manners of Purification. 381
1. Purification from Hadath or Spiritual Impurity. 382
2. Purification from Material Impurity. 383
3. Cleaning the Body from Various Secretions. 386
4. Cleaning the Environment. 389
D. Manners of Knocking on Doors and Asking Permission to Enter. 390
E. Manners of Salutation. 395
F. Manners of Shaking Hands. 401
G. Manners of Speech. 403
H. Manners of Showing Respect and Reverence. 407
I. Manners of Laughing. 414
K. Manners of Making Jokes. 417
L. Manners of Yawning and Sneezing. 421
M. Manners of Making a Journey. 423
N. Manners of Lying Down and Sleeping. 430
O. Manners of Sitting. 436
1. Sitting Styles of the Prophet (pbuh). 437
2. Sitting styles which are not approved by the Prophet (pbuh). 438
3. Manners of sitting amongst people and the gathering places. 439
P. Manners of Accepting Invitations. 442
1. Accepting the Invitations to Wedding Ceremonies. 446
2. Invitations which need to be accepted. 447
R. Manners of Visiting. 448
1. Visiting the Sick. 450
2. Offering Condolences. 456
3. Funeral Preparation and Visiting Graves. 458
a. Funeral Preparation. 458
b. Visiting Cemeteries. 462
c. Manners of Visiting Cemeteries. 468
4. Manners of Visiting Relatives and Friends. 470
S. Manners of Exchanging Gifts. 474
EPILOGUE. 478
BIBLIOGRAPHY. 482