Morals in the life and da‘awah of the prophets – I
The Prophet, 
was commanded to maintain the same methodology that had been adopted by all the previous prophets and messengers, may Allah exalt their mention, as Allah, the Almighty Says (what means): {Those are the ones whom Allah has guided, so from their guidance take an example} [Quran 6:90] Allah, the Almighty granted the prophets perfection of morals and character so that people would not turn away from them with the excuse that they were repulsive or ill-natured. All prophets, may Allah exalt their mention, only spoke what was revealed to them by Allah, the Almighty. Their message was not something that they fabricated or that was due to the surrounding social conditions of their age. Their message was a revelation from Allah, the Almighty, as each and every prophet testified: {I only follow what is revealed to me}[Quran 6:50] The prophets, may Allah exalt their mention, did not have the right to change, replace, add, or cancel anything that had been revealed to them. Concerning Prophet Muhammad, Allah, the Almighty Says (what means):
- {Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination. It is not but a revelation revealed} [Quran 53:3,4]
- {Say, [O Muhammad]: “It is not for me to change it on my own accord. I only follow what is revealed to me. Indeed, I fear, if I should disobey my Lord, the punishment of a tremendous Day”} [Quran 10:15]
In their mission, the prophets, may Allah exalt their mention, did not ask for a reward from their people, as they only sought the reward of Allah, the Almighty. Prophet Houd 
said to his people (what means): {O my people, I do not ask you for it any reward. My reward is only from The One who created me. Then will you not reason?} [Quran 11:51] Prophet Muhammad, , confirmed the same meaning by saying (what means): {Say, [O Muhammad]: “I do not ask you for the Quran any payment, and I am not of the pretentious”} [Quran 38:86]
said to his people (what means): {O my people, I do not ask you for it any reward. My reward is only from The One who created me. Then will you not reason?} [Quran 11:51] Prophet Muhammad, , confirmed the same meaning by saying (what means): {Say, [O Muhammad]: “I do not ask you for the Quran any payment, and I am not of the pretentious”} [Quran 38:86]The aim of all the prophets, may Allah exalt their mention, was for people to have sincerity in religion and to turn them towards worshipping the Lord of all creation instead of worshipping His creatures. The prophets, may Allah exalt their mention, also aimed at saving disobedient people from the adversity of life to the comfort of both the worldly life and the Hereafter and from the oppression of the distorted and false relighions to the justice of Islam. In the Quran, Allah, the Almighty clarifies the true religion that He Commands all people to follow: Allah Says (what means): {And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give Zakah. And that is the correct religion} [Quran 98:5]
Every prophet was sent speaking the language of his own people in order to communicate clearly with them. The prophets, may Allah exalt their mention, followed their Fitrah (innate disposition) and talked to people in a way that suited their mentality without pretend, declamation or exaggeration. Allah, the Almighty Says (what means): {And I am not of the pretentious} [Quran 38:86]
Allah, the Almighty made the method of Da‘awah (call to Islam) clear to His prophets, as He gave an order to His Prophet, ; Allah Says (what means): {Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most Knowing of who is [rightly] guided} [Quran 16:125]
; Allah Says (what means): {Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most Knowing of who is [rightly] guided} [Quran 16:125]The methodology of the prophets, may Allah exalt their mention, and their Da‘awah are clear. The best way to make Da‘awah is the clear and simple way of the noble Quran, with which one does not need any philosophical or scholastic methodology.
All the prophets, may Allah exalt their mention, gave precedence to the eternal life of the Hereafter over the worldly life that would ultimately come to an end. Their predominant characteristic was to renounce the pleasures of this worldly life and seek the reward of the Hereafter, as they were certain that: {what is with Allah is better and more lasting} [Quran 28:60] and: {that which is with Allah is best for the righteous} [Quran 3:198]
Allah, the Almighty Says to His Prophet, , (what means): {And do not extend your eyes toward that by which We have given enjoyment to [some] categories of them, [its being but] the splendor of worldly life by which We test them. And the provision of your Lord is better and more enduring} [Quran 20:131]
, (what means): {And do not extend your eyes toward that by which We have given enjoyment to [some] categories of them, [its being but] the splendor of worldly life by which We test them. And the provision of your Lord is better and more enduring} [Quran 20:131]The prophets, may Allah exalt their mention, were the most perfect, most honest and had the noblest lineage of all mankind. Allah, the Almighty chose them by his Knowledge over everyone and everything else to bear the greatest trust, which is conveying His message. Therefore, they must be a model for all people. Regarding the merits of the prophets, Allah, the Almighty Says (what means):
- {And remember Our servants, Ibraheem, Ishaq and Ya‘qoob – those of strength and [religious] vision. Indeed, We chose them for an exclusive quality: remembrance of the home [of the Hereafter]. And indeed they are, to Us, among the chosen and outstanding. And remember Isma‘eel, Al-Yas‘ and Dhul-Kifl, and all are among the outstanding} [Quran 38:45-48]
- {[Allah] Said: “O Moosa, I have chosen you over the people with My messages and My words [to you]. So take what I have given you and be among the grateful”}[Quran 7:144]
Throughout their Da‘awah, the prophets, may Allah exalt their mention, not only confirmed the idea of servitude to Allah by telling their people (what means): {worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him} [Quran 7:59] but they also treated the faults that were widespread during their time and urged their people to be virtuous. For instance, Prophet Shu‘ayb tried to reform the faults of his people, the people of Madyan (at present located in Saudi Arabia), and advised them not to give less in measure and weight and decrease the rights of others. Also, Prophet Looth said to his people: {“Do you approach males among the worlds. And leave what your Lord has created for you as mates? But you are a people transgressing”} [Quran 26:165-166] He also criticized them for obstructing roads and committing every evil in their meetings. The biography of the Prophet, , also proves that he continuously tried to treat the faults of his people, as will be clarified later.
tried to reform the faults of his people, the people of Madyan (at present located in Saudi Arabia), and advised them not to give less in measure and weight and decrease the rights of others. Also, Prophet Looth said to his people: {“Do you approach males among the worlds. And leave what your Lord has created for you as mates? But you are a people transgressing”} [Quran 26:165-166] He also criticized them for obstructing roads and committing every evil in their meetings. The biography of the Prophet, , also proves that he continuously tried to treat the faults of his people, as will be clarified later.Adhering to Tawheed (monotheism) and legislation: A shield for morality
1- Adhering to Tawheed: Tawheed is purity as it is acknowledgement of the truth, while shirk (polytheism) is an impurity as Allah, the Almighty Says (what means): {indeed the polytheists are unclean} [Quran 9:28] This is because shirk is the denial of truth, and even if the polytheists superficially bathed, adorned and perfumed themselves their inner impurity would still not be removed. Sins and evil deeds are considered impurities, as the Prophet, , said: “Whoever commits any of these sins should conceal them and make use of the concealment granted to him by Allah. Whoever openly admits to his sins [to other people] will be punished with what is prescribed in the Quran.”
, said: “Whoever commits any of these sins should conceal them and make use of the concealment granted to him by Allah. Whoever openly admits to his sins [to other people] will be punished with what is prescribed in the Quran.”In order to perfect morality and obtain the desired objectives, we should be careful in matters pertaining to Tawheed and legislation and follow the Sunnah of the Prophet, , in this regard. The Prophet, , implanted two crucial principles in his Companions 
:
, in this regard. The Prophet, , implanted two crucial principles in his Companions :- The first principle was to worship Allah, the Almighty without associating any other deity with Him
- The second principle was to worship Allah, the Almighty according to His Legislation and no other
The Prophet, , did not allow any of his Companions to break either of these two principles stated above. Once the Prophet, , saw ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattab 
holding a piece of paper from the Torah (Tawrat) as he had admired what was written on it. Thereupon, the Prophet, , was very angry and said to him: “You do this while I am amongst you? I have conveyed to you the message white and pure. By Allah, if Moosa [Moses] had been alive now, he would have had no choice but to follow me.” [Imam Ahmad, and Al-Albani noted it good] This Hadeeth shows the universal nature of the Da‘awah of the Prophet, , and that it is impermissible to follow anything except the Quran and Sunnah. Therefore, how can people leave these protected principles and seek guidance in things that have been distorted and changed?
, did not allow any of his Companions to break either of these two principles stated above. Once the Prophet, , saw ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattab holding a piece of paper from the Torah (Tawrat) as he had admired what was written on it. Thereupon, the Prophet, , was very angry and said to him: “You do this while I am amongst you? I have conveyed to you the message white and pure. By Allah, if Moosa [Moses] had been alive now, he would have had no choice but to follow me.” [Imam Ahmad, and Al-Albani noted it good] This Hadeeth shows the universal nature of the Da‘awah of the Prophet, , and that it is impermissible to follow anything except the Quran and Sunnah. Therefore, how can people leave these protected principles and seek guidance in things that have been distorted and changed?Once, the Prophet, , heard an Imam delivering a Khutbah (sermon) on the pulpit, and saying, “Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger will be rightly guided, while whoever disobeys them, will be misguided.” The Prophet, , said: “What a bad Imam you are! Say: ‘The one who disobeys Allah and His Messenger will be misguided’.” [Imam Ahmad and Imam Muslim] In the abovementioned Hadeeth, the Prophet, , criticized the Imam for saying “disobeying them” when referring to Allah and His Prophet, , as the use of this pronoun entails that both Allah, the Almighty and His Prophet, , are on the same level. The Prophet, , also saw that it was appropriate to mention and clarify this point in during the Khutbah.
, heard an Imam delivering a Khutbah (sermon) on the pulpit, and saying, “Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger will be rightly guided, while whoever disobeys them, will be misguided.” The Prophet, , said: “What a bad Imam you are! Say: ‘The one who disobeys Allah and His Messenger will be misguided’.” [Imam Ahmad and Imam Muslim] In the abovementioned Hadeeth, the Prophet, , criticized the Imam for saying “disobeying them” when referring to Allah and His Prophet, , as the use of this pronoun entails that both Allah, the Almighty and His Prophet, , are on the same level. The Prophet, , also saw that it was appropriate to mention and clarify this point in during the Khutbah.When ‘Uthman Ibn Math‘oon died, Umm Al-‘Alaa’ 
said, “O Abu As-Saa’ib! I testify that Allah has honored you.” The Prophet, , said to her: “How do you know that Allah has honored Him?” She replied, “Who would be honored if not him?” The Prophet, said to her: “By Allah, though I am the Messenger of Allah, I do not know what Allah will do with me tomorrow.” Umm Al-‘Alaa’ said, “By Allah, I will never attest the piety of anybody after this.” [Imam Ahmad and Imam Al-Bukhari]
died, Umm Al-‘Alaa’ said, “O Abu As-Saa’ib! I testify that Allah has honored you.” The Prophet, , said to her: “How do you know that Allah has honored Him?” She replied, “Who would be honored if not him?” The Prophet, said to her: “By Allah, though I am the Messenger of Allah, I do not know what Allah will do with me tomorrow.” Umm Al-‘Alaa’ said, “By Allah, I will never attest the piety of anybody after this.” [Imam Ahmad and Imam Al-Bukhari]Deeds depend on how the last of them will be, which Allah, the Almighty has concealed from people’s knowledge. This refutes what was said by the Jews and Christians as they said (what means):
- {We are the children of Allah and His beloved} [Quran 5:18]
- {None will enter Paradise except one who is a Jew or a Christian} [Quran 2:111]
Allah, the Almighty told them (what means): {That is [merely] their wishful thinking, Say: “Produce your proof, if you should be truthful”} [Quran 2:111] This also refutes what some people do, thinking that some of the dead are the allies of Allah, the Almighty and consequently, they worship these ‘allies’.
Among the examples that illustrate adherence to Tawheed is when a man came to the Prophet, , and said to him, “Allah and you willing.” The Prophet, , said: “Are you making me an equal to Allah? You should say, ‘What Allah alone, wills.” [Imam Ahmad, and Al-Albani noted as Hasan (good)]
, and said to him, “Allah and you willing.” The Prophet, , said: “Are you making me an equal to Allah? You should say, ‘What Allah alone, wills.” [Imam Ahmad, and Al-Albani noted as Hasan (good)]