IN A few days’ time, Muslims will celebrate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him – pbuh) on the 12th day of Rabi al-Awwal, the third month of the Islamic calendar, which falls on the September 16, 2024.

For Muslims, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is uswatun hasanah, as he is described in the Qur’an in Surah Al-Ahzab (Chapter 33), verse 21:

“Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an uswatun hasanah for whoever has hope in Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah often.”

In simple terms, uswatun hasanah means “good role model”, “excellent example”, or “best example of conduct”.

The Prophet (pbuh) was the best example of forgiveness and kindness as ordained by his Creator, the Most Merciful and Forgiving.

In Surah Al-A’raf (Chapter 7), verse 199, the Qur’an says: “Keep to forgiveness (Muhammad), and enjoin kindness, and turn away from the ignorant.”

In another Surah, Al-Fussilat (Chapter 41), verse 34, the Qur’an says: “(Muhammad) Good and evil are not alike. Repel evil with what is better. Then, the one you are in a feud with will be like a close friend.”

The Prophet (pbuh) always repelled evil with the good of forgiveness and kind behaviour. For him, love could foil hatred, and aggression could be won over by forgiveness. He is also the best example of conduct in how to treat and address others, whoever they may be.

For a period of 13 years while he was in Makkah, the Prophet (pbuh) was taunted, mocked, beaten, and abused, both physically and mentally. There were multiple plots and attempts to kill him. Wars were waged against him and his followers after they migrated to Madinah.

Yet, when he entered the city of Makkah – his birthplace – victorious, the Prophet (pbuh) did not take revenge on anyone. He did not demean the citizens. He did not call them names. He did not call them “the disbelievers” or “the non-believers”. He addressed them by their noblest name – “people of Quraish”.

In one of the many sessions the Prophet (pbuh) held with the citizens, a veiled woman spoke to him. When he recognised the voice behind the veil, he asked: “Are you Hind binti Utbah?”

Hind binti Utbah was a proud Quraish woman and the wife of Abu Sufyan – one of the deadliest enemies of the Prophet (pbuh) and Islam, who led numerous battles against the Muslims. Hind mutilated Hamzah bin Abdul Muttalib, the Prophet’s uncle. During the Battle of Uhud, after the killing of Hamzah by Wahshi bin Harb, Hind cut open Hamzah’s abdomen, took out his liver, and attempted to chew it.

The killing of Hamzah devastated the Prophet (pbuh) so much that a great companion, Ibn Mas‘ud (ra), reported: “Never did we see the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) weep as intensely as he wept for Hamzah.”

Yet, the Prophet (pbuh) did not demean Hind by calling her names, such as “old woman” or “the woman who mutilated Hamzah’s body”. He called Hind by her name.

While in Madinah, the Prophet (pbuh) had to deal with the treacherous Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul – dubbed the chief of the hypocrites.

In one narration by Usamah bin Zayd, it was reported that the Prophet (pbuh) once arrived at a gathering riding a donkey. The gathering included Abdullah bin Ubayy, before he had become a Muslim. When dust raised by the donkey covered the gathering, Abdullah covered his nose with his upper garment and said, “Do not trouble us with dust.”

The Prophet (pbuh) greeted the gathering, stopped, and dismounted. He recited to them some verses of the Qur’an. Abdullah responded: “Do not bother us in our gathering; return to your house, and if somebody comes to you, teach him there.”

The Prophet (pbuh) then mounted his donkey and went to Sa’d ibn Ubadah. He said to Sa’d: “Did you not hear what Abu Hubab said?”

Despite the rudeness, the Prophet (pbuh) did not call Abdullah bin Ubayy by derogatory names. He addressed him as an Arab would address another Arab respectfully: Abu Hubab (Abu means ‘father’; Hubab is the name of Abdullah’s eldest son).

The Prophet (pbuh) never resorted to name-calling. If he is uswatun hasanah for Muslims, let no Muslim resort to name-calling. – September 12, 2024.

* Hafiz Hassan reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.