How Can We Embody Prophetic Character for Eternal Success?
Answered by Shaykh Anas al-Musa
Question
How can we embody the Prophetic character in our lives to seek the pleasure of Allah and achieve eternal success?
Answer
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, and his Family and Companions.
Practicing Noble Traits of the Prophet
Embodying the prophetic character in the life of a Muslim entails practicing the noble traits exemplified by the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), especially those he encouraged and commanded while avoiding their opposites. Among these characteristics, to mention just a few, are:
- Integrity (Amana)
- Truthfulness in speech
- Gentleness and kindness
- Humility
- Forbearance
- Generosity
- Compassion
- Keeping promises
- Avoiding treachery
- Abstaining from falsehood and false testimony
Relevant Sayings of the Prophet
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) was truthful and trustworthy in his words and deeds, merciful and empathetic, humble, generous, and patient. He did not reciprocate harm with harm but pardoned those who wronged him.
Indeed, he (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“The signs of a hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies; when he promises, he breaks it; and when he is entrusted, he betrays.” [Bukhari]
He (Allah bless him and give him peace) also said:
“Shall I not tell you of the greatest of the major sins? Associating partners with Allah, disobedience to one’s parents, and false testimony or false speech.” He was reclining when he said this, then sat up and kept repeating it until we wished he would stop. [Ibid.]
Moreover, he (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“O ‘Aisha, Allah is gentle and loves gentleness in all matters.” [Ibid.]
Strengthening the Bond with the Prophet
Finally, the more a Muslim’s heart is attached to the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) through love, reverence, and veneration for his Sunnah, words, and actions, the more this attachment will manifest in their life.
One way to strengthen this bond is by frequently sending salawat upon him (Allah bless him and give him peace).
May Allah bless the Prophet Muhammad and give him peace, and his Family and Companions.
[Shaykh] Anas al-Musa
Shaykh Anas al-Musa, born in Hama, Syria, in 1974, is an erudite scholar of notable repute. He graduated from the Engineering Institute in Damascus, where he specialized in General Construction, and Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Usul al-Din, where he specialized in Hadith.
He studied under prominent scholars in Damascus, including Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri and Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, among others. Shaykh Anas has memorized the Quran and is proficient in the ten Mutawatir recitations, having studied under Shaykh Bakri al-Tarabishi and Shaykh Mowfaq ‘Ayun. He also graduated from the Iraqi Hadith School.
He has taught numerous Islamic subjects at Shari‘a institutes in Syria and Turkey. Shaykh Anas has served as an Imam and preacher for over 15 years and is a teacher of the Quran in its various readings and narrations.
Currently, he works as a teacher at SeekersGuidance and is responsible for academic guidance there. He has completed his Master’s degree in Hadith and is now pursuing his Ph.D. in the same field. Shaykh Anas al-Musa is married and resides in Istanbul.
