Hadeeth on the simplicity of prophet Muhammad SAW

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By Ustadha Fahmina

Lessons to be Learnt from the hadeeth on the Simplicity of Prophet Muhammad Sallalahu alaihe wa sallam

I was Reading the biography of Rasul Allah Sallalahu alaihe wa sallam and was forced to Reflect on Our Present Day Life.The Growing Competition in terms of Wealth and good Living , the Zeal to Acquire the Most Wealth, the competition to look the Best, to Wear the Best Brands and to acquire all sorts of Worldly Charms is taking us to a Path which is not the Way of Sunnah. These Distractions of Life is making us Forget our Simplicity and Modesty. Our prophet -“Muhammad Sallalahu alaihe wa sallam was a very simple person and he spent all his life in simplicity. He was very unceremonious and informal in his habits. May Allah give us a Taufeeq to Walk the Path of Sunnah.  

“‏ الْبَذَاذَةُ مِنَ الإِيمَانِ

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Simplicity is part of faith.’”(Ibn Majah-4118)

Abu Umamah bin Tha’labah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Companions of Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) mentioned the life of the world before him. He (ﷺ) said, “Do you not hear? Do you not hear? Simplicity (in life) is part of Faith, simplicity is part of Faith.”[Abu Dawud].

Prophet Muhammad sallalahu alaihe wa sallam was very simple and adviced simplicity

Here I am Sharing Some Hadeeth on the Simplicity of  Prophet Muhammad Sallalahu alaihe wa sallam 

Rasul Allah Sallalahu alaihe wa sallam was the Best of Mankind. If You Read the Biography of Prophet Muhammad SAW, You will realise How Amazing Man was He! Let us Look into the Life of Prophet Muhammad Sallalahu alaihe wa sallam

Prophet Muhammad Sallalahu alaihe wa sallam  was simple and Modest.

• He ate whatever he was given.
• He wore very thick and coarse cloth, even when he was the ruler of a state and an undisputed leader of the people.
• He sat on the floor, bare ground or a mat without any hesitation, alone or in the company of other people.
• He ate bread made from coarse flour and even spent days on mere dates.
• He wore simple clothes and did not like display or show. He was by nature simple and liked simplicity and informality in everything.
• Owing to his great modesty, he normally preferred riding a mule while moving around, using a saddle made of date-palm fibre. Sometimes he also rode his she-camel. If he was riding and somebody wished to accompany him on foot, he would ask him either to mount behind, and if the man declined out of respect, he would ask him to go ahead and await him at the fixed place, because he did not like the sight of people following him on foot, while he himself was mounted.
• His food was simple like that of the poor, consisting mostly of barley bread. There were occasions when he might skip that meagre meal too.
• So modest was he that he hated to see people rising to their feet when he entered an assembly. And on entering he used to sit at the nearest vacant spot, so that his companions might not think that he was sporting an air of superiority over them.
• Once a man came to the Messenger of Allah but on entering his presence, started trembling with fear. Prophet Muhammad (S) seeing the visitor terribly shaken and nervous, smiled and comforted him with utmost tenderness, saying: “Be at ease. I am no king but the son of a Quraishite woman who used to eat dried meat”

Hadeeths on the Simplicity of Prophet Muhammad Sallalahu alaihe wa sallam

Miracles of Prophet Muhammad

Our Dear Prophet SAW slept on Reed Mat which left Marks on his body

• Ibn Masud (radi Allahu anhu) said that God’s Messenger slept on a reed mat and got up with the mark of it on his body. He said, “O God’s Messenger! I wish you would order us to spread something out for you and make something.” The Prophet replied, “What have I to do with the world, I am like a rider who rests for a while under the shade of a tree, then goes off and leaves it.” Ubaid-Allah bin Muhsin reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone among you is secure in mind in the morning, healthy in body and has food for the day, it is as though the whole world has been brought into his Possession.”

Our Dear Prophet Would Tie Stones on his stomach due to Hunger

• Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) reported God’s Messenger Sallalahu alaihe wa sallam as saying, “Look at those who are inferior to you and do not look at those who are superior to you, for that is more likely to keep you from despising God’s Favour on you.” Abu Talha (radi Allahu anhu)  said, “When we complained to God’s Messenger of hunger and raised our clothes to show we were each carrying a stone over our belly, he raised his clothes and showed that he had two stones on his belly.”

On Seeing the mere resources of RasulAllah Sallalahu alaihe wa sallam , the Sahaba used to Cry for Him .

Once Umar (radi Allahu anhu) entered Muhammad Sallalahu alaihe wa sallam’s  house and noticed the state of the furniture in it. Muhammad himself had only one sheet of cloth around him to cover the lower part of his body. There was one simple bed, with one pillow filled with nut fiber; on one side of the room was some barley and in one corner near his feet was an animal skin. There were some water-bag skins hanging beside his bed. Umar (radi Allahu anhu)  said that on seeing this tears came into his eyes.

God’s Messenger asked the reason for his tears. He replied, “O God’s Messenger! Why shouldn’t I cry! The strings of the bed have left marks on your body. This is a small room with all your furniture;I can see what there is. The Kaiser of Rome and Kisra of Persia enjoy luxurious living while you, God’s Messenger, and the Chosen One, live like this.” He said, “Ibn Khattab! Don’t you like that they choose this world and we choose the Hereafter?”.

Rasul Allah Sallalahu alaihe wa sallam never had Wheat Bread Continuously for 3 Days . 

• The life of ease was rejected by God’s Messenger not only for his own self but also for his dependents as well. He was heard praying, “O God, make the provision of Muhammad’s family sufficient only to sustain life.” Abu Huraira says, “By Him in whose hands is Abu Huraira’s life, the Apostle of God and his family never had the wheat bread continuously for three days until he departed from this world.”

Rasul Allah Sallalahu alaihe wa sallam  never expressed Disapproval of Food.

• Abu Huraira (radi Allahu anhu)  said that the Prophet never expressed disapproval of any food, if he desired he ate it, and if he disliked he left it alone.”
• Zaid ibn Talya (radi Allahu anhu) reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Every religion has a character and the character of Islam is modesty.” Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) reported, “God’s Messenger never criticized any food (presented to him) but would eat it if he liked it; otherwise, he would leave it (without expressing dislike )

Rasul Allah Sallalahu alaihe wa sallam the ruler of the Islamic State had only One Bed and Water Bag of Skin and nothing except Barley for Food when he died.

• He liked simple living and wanted his family to lead a simple life and abstain from ostentatious living. He often wore thick clothes. His bed was sometimes of rough blanket sometimes of skin filled with palm fibers and sometimes of ordinary coarse cloth.. In the ninth year of Al-Hijrah, when the Islamic state had extended from Yemen to Syria, its ruler had only one bed and one dry water-bag of skin. A’isha (radi Allahu anhu)  reported that when he died, there was nothing in the house to eat except some barley

The Saddle of his dromedary was outworn when he Left for Hajj

The Prophet proceeded to perform the Farewell Pilgrimage followed by a huge crowd which obscured the horizon-at a time when the entire Arabian Peninsula had acknowledged his spiritual and temporal supremacy. Yet, the saddle of his dromedary was outworn covered in, a sheet which was worth not more than four dirhams.

The prayer he then sent up to God was, “O Allah, make it a haj devoid of all pretensions and show.” Abu Dharr (radi Allahu anhu)  reports the Apostle telling him on an occasion, “I would hate to possess as much gold as Mount Uhad and then to allow three days to pass with a single dinar remaining with me except that which I may hold back for the cause of religion; rather, I would give it away to God’s servants this way and that, on my right and left and in the hack.

He Was Keen on giving to Others

“Jabir b. Abdullah (radi Allahu anhu)  says that it never happened that the God’s Messenger was requested to give anything and he said ‘No’ in reply. Ibn Abbas  (radi Allahu anhu) testifies that in generosity and bountifulness the Apostle of God was swifter than the wings of the wind. ” Anas says that once when a man asked the Apostle to give him something he gave him a flock of sheep enough to fill the space between two hillocks.

The man returned to his people and said to them, “O ye people, embrace Islam. Muhammad peace be upon him gives so open-handedly as if he fears not poverty. ” Another time, ninety thousand dirhams were presented to the Prophet. He asked to heap them up on a mat and then started giving it away. Nobody who asked for it was denied until the entire heap of money disappeared.

Rasul Allah Sallalahu alaihe wa sallam helped in the Household Work

• The Apostle of God occupied himself at his home like a common man. As ‘Aisha relates, he used to clean his clothes, milch the sheep and himself do his odd jobs. She also says that he would mend his clothes, repair his shoes and do similar other works. When asked how the Prophet occupied himself at home, she replied, “He used to keep himself busy in household chores and went out when the time for prayer came.”
• The Apostle used to tidy up his house, tether the camels, feed animals, take food with his servants, and help them in kneading flour and bringing provisions from the market.

•  In another report related on her authority, she is reported to have said, “The Prophet of God  SAW used to repair his shoes, mend his clothes and occupied himself at home even as any of you occupy yourself.” Aisha RA relates, “God’s Messenger Sallalahu alaihe wa sallam was very softhearted, the kindliest of all. He laughed often and smiled much.” Anas says that he had not seen a man who was more clement and nice to his household members than the Apostle of God.”
• It is related on the authority of ‘Aisha that the Prophet said, “The best of you is one who is most nice to his wife and children and I am the nicest among you.”Aisha RA relates, “God’s Messenger Sallalahu alaihe wa sallam was very softhearted, the kindliest of all. He laughed often and smiled much.” Anas RA says that he had not seen a man who was more clement and nice to his household members than the Apostle of God.” It is related on the authority of ‘Aisha that the Prophet said, “The best of you is one who is most nice to his wife and children and I am the nicest among you.”

When Rasul Allah Sallalahu alaihe wa sallam  became the Head of State, it did not bring any Change in his state of Living

• Rasul Allah Sallalahu alaihe wa sallam  lived a simple and modest life both in Makkah, as a trader and a Messenger, and in Medinah, as the head of the state and Messenger of God. The change in his social status from that of a trader in Makkah to the head of the state of Medinah did not bring any change in his modest living. Umar RA reported the Prophet as saying, “Do not exalt me as the Christians have exalted Jesus son of Mary. I am just His servant, so call me God’s servant and Messenger.”
• Anas RA reported that the Apostle of God used to visit the sick, attend funerals, ride on a donkey and accept a slave’s invitation for a meal. Jabir states that the Prophet used to slow- down his pace for the sake of the weak and also prayed for them.
• Anas said: The Prophet accepted an invitation even if he was presented a barley bread and soup whose taste had changed. ” He also reports the Prophet as saying, “I am God’s servant, I eat like a servant and sit like a servant.” Abdullah b. ‘Amr b. al-‘As says: “Once when the Messenger of God came to my house, I gave him a cushion filled with bark, but he sat down on the floor placing the cushion between me and him.” The Apostle used to tidy up his house, tether the camels, feed animals, take food with his servants, and help them in kneading flour and bringing provisions from the market.

Rasul Sallalahu alaihe wa sallam never refused an invitation

• Anas (radi Allahu anhu)  said: The Prophet accepted an invitation even if he was presented a barley bread and soup whose taste had changed. ” He also reports the Prophet as saying, “I am God’s servant, I eat like a servant and sit like a servant.” Abdullah b. Amr b. al-As says: “Once when the Messenger of God came to my house, I gave him a cushion filled with bark, but he sat down on the floor placing the cushion between me and him.”

Rasul Allah Sallalahu alaihe wa sallam was Simple and Modest .He had no Pride in his Character .

Anas  (radi Allahu anhu)  said: The Prophet accepted an invitation even if he was presented a barley bread and soup whose taste had changed. ” He also reports the Prophet as saying, “I am God’s servant, I eat like a servant and sit like a servant.” Abdullah b. ‘Amr b. al-‘As says: “Once when the Messenger of God came to my house, I gave him a cushion filled with bark, but he sat down on the floor placing the cushion between me and him.” The Apostle used to tidy up his house, tether the camels, feed animals, take food with his servants, and help them in kneading flour and bringing provisions from the market.

A Golden Rule on How to Develop Modesty and Simplicity 

Rasul Sallalahu alaihe wa sallam  is the Best of all Creations. We should Try to learn about the Life and Character of Prophet Muhammad,Our Dear Prophet . You Can Download a Free Book on the Biography of Prophet Muhammad SAW from our Website through this Link- Download Biography of Rasul Allah SAW- The Sealed Nectar   or Read his Biography in a Short Article through this Link .

Rasul Allah SAW also showed us  a golden rule of moderation between the two extremes of lavish expenditure and miserliness; neither to be extravagant in ordinary spending as well as in charity, nor to be niggardly. The people who practice this rule in their lives are praised with these words in Quran

Buy Sealed Nectar- Biography Of Prophet Muhammad Sallalahu alaihe wa sallam Hard Copy

“Who are neither extravagant nor miserly in their spending, but keep a just balance between the two extremes.”

 [Qur’aan 25:67]

Download 40 hadith on look of Prophet Muhammad sallalahu alaihe wa sallam pdf

Written by

Ustadha Fahmina

Founder and Senior Editor

Ustadha Fahmina holds the Alimah sanad from two prestigious institutes and is a certified Optometrist Doctor. She teaches Tafsir, Hadith, Fiqh, Seerah to Women and Kids and is passionate about spreading authentic information about the religion of Islam. Connect with her to keep updated about her recent ebooks and projects.

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