How to Present the Prophetic Character to Non-Muslims?

Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick

Question

What authentic examples from the Prophet’s life show his perfection in character, mercy, and conduct, and how can these be presented clearly to non-Muslims?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

To present the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) effectively, whether to Muslims or non-Muslims, one needs both a sound foundation of knowledge about who he was and a thoughtful approach to how his example is communicated. The key is to let his character speak through accessible, relatable framing rather than through claims that presuppose belief.

Building a Foundation of Knowledge

A comprehensive understanding of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) is built in four stages.

The first is to study his personality as described in the Quran — this gives a divinely attested portrait of who he was.

The second is to read his sira from traditional and authentic sources, paying close attention not only to the events of his life but also to what those closest to him and his enemies said about him. Those who loved him were exposed to his character at its best and its worst. Those who opposed him had every reason and opportunity to find fault — and yet what they reported tells its own story.

The third is to read his hadiths to understand the model of existence he put forward. A good starting point is Riyadh al-Salihin — a collection of largely authentic narrations that contain his advice, prescriptions, and descriptions of his character, covering both legal and virtuous dimensions.

The fourth is to read his Shama’il — his physical and moral characteristics — from works such as the Shama’il of Imam Tirmidhi. This gives an intimate portrait of who he was, Allah bless him and give him peace, in his daily life.

Presenting His Character to Non-Muslims

Once this foundation is established, the following qualities are among the most powerful and accessible to highlight for a non-Muslim audience:

One. His Forgiveness

The Conquest of Mecca is perhaps the clearest example. After years of persecution, exile, and the loss of loved ones, the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) stood at the height of his power and forgave the Quraysh — just as the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) forgave his brothers. The world celebrates this quality when it sees it in political leaders. It is worth pointing out that this model of forgiveness from a position of power was demonstrated by the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) in a way that was far more profound and far-reaching.

Two. His Truthfulness

Even before receiving revelation, his enemies did not call him a liar. They called him al-Sadiq al-Amin — the truthful, the trustworthy.

When his wife, Sayyida Khadija (Allah be pleased with her), spoke of why she was certain that what he received was a revelation and not something harmful, everything she said was a testament to his character. She had been married to him for fifteen years when she was forty, and he was twenty-five. She knew him intimately — at his best and in his most trying moments — and her words stand as a profound witness:

“By Allah, Allah will never humiliate you. You honor the guest, you help the poor and the needy, you are kind to those who have no one else.” [Bukhari; Muslim]

Three. His Mercy Toward the Weak

He (Allah bless him and give him peace) would shorten his prayers when he heard a child crying, out of concern for the mother. This simple detail speaks volumes about the quality of his attention and his care for those without power.

Four. His Conduct Toward Those Who Wronged Him

There is the well-known account of the woman who would regularly insult and abuse him. When she stopped, he sought her out, and upon learning she was ill, he visited her. This pattern of returning harm with concern, and hostility with compassion, runs through his life consistently.

Framing His Example in Accessible Language

When presenting the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) to non-Muslims, focus on what is universally observable rather than on religious stations that require prior belief to appreciate.

One might say: Muslims love the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) not only because he is the Messenger of Allah and the last of the Prophets, but because he was a model of moral excellence and goodness. His greatness lay not in wealth or political power — he had little of either for most of his life — but in his moral beauty and in how he transformed a people from the depths of social corruption to a civilization of extraordinary ethical achievement.

It is also essential to link his character to his mission. He (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “I have been sent to perfect the standards of noble character.” [Ahmad; Bayhaqi] This narration conveys that his teachings as a whole are designed to elevate human character and bring out the best of what human beings are capable of. That is a message with universal appeal.

And Allah knows best.

[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick

Related Answers

• How Can One Increase Love for the Prophet Muhammad (Allah Bless Him and Give Him Peace)? — Explains practical ways to deepen one’s appreciation and love for the Messenger.
• Description of the Prophet – A Reader — A curated collection of resources on the Prophet’s physical and personal characteristics (Shama’il).
• Why Study the Shama’il of the Prophet Muhammad? — Discusses the importance of studying the Prophet’s character and qualities through the Shama’il tradition.
• The Genre of Love and Beauty: al-Shama’il — Introduces the science of Shama’il and how it helps believers understand and appreciate the Prophet.
• Why Islam Is True — Part of Shaykh Hamza Karamali’s “Why Islam Is True” series, which can be useful when presenting Islam and the Prophet to non-Muslims through reasoned discussion.

Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar Shaykh Taha Karaan (Allah have mercy on him), who taught there.

Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Shaykh Muhammad Awama, Shaykh Muhammad Hasan Hitu, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.

He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has been the Director of the Discover Islam Center and, for 6 years, the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen in Mowbray, Cape Town.

Shaykh Irshaad has 15 years of teaching experience at some of Cape Town’s leading Islamic institutes. He is currently building an Islamic podcast, education, and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and has completed his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy Prophetic living and fitness.