The example of the Messenger ﷺ that transforms lives

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A post I appreciated:

A few days ago, I met a bearded sheikh by chance. He was speaking passionately about the importance of growing the beard, trimming the mustache, and shortening the garment.

At first, I didn’t plan to engage. I usually avoid debating these matters. But when the conversation continued and others remained silent, I asked gently:

“Dear Sheikh, what is your evidence for saying these things are obligatory?”

He confidently replied:

لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا (الاحزاب 21)

The Messenger of God is an excellent model for anyone who puts his hope in God and the Last Day and remembers God often. (33:21)

I appreciated his sincerity, and since he quoted a verse, I felt it was worth exploring further.

I asked:

“Do you know the difference between the example of the Messenger of Allah and the example of the Prophet of Allah?”

He said: “No.”

So I explained:

“Allah said: The Messenger of God is an excellent model,’ not ‘The Prophet of Allah.’”

He was surprised.

I continued:

“The example of the Messenger refers to his role in delivering the divine message, the Qur’an. The example of the Prophet refers to his human actions and personal habits.

And Allah said: ‘for anyone who puts his hope in God and the Last Day and remembers God often.’ Here God is talking about our relationship with Him, and that can’t be defined by outward appearance.

Allah also said: ‘Except those who come to God with a sound heart.’

God is telling us that He does not look at our forms, He looks at our hearts.”

He then asked:

“So, what is the example of the Messenger of Allah that we must follow?”

I replied:

“The true example of the Messenger Muhammad ﷺ is found in the Qur’an describing his ethics and dealings, as commanded by God Himself.”

Here are just some of those divine commands that were obvious in the Messenger’s way of life:

  1. Be just – Qur’an 5:8
  2. Do not transgress – Qur’an 2:190
  3. Do not spread corruption on earth – Qur’an 2:60, 7:74
  4. Do not mix truth with falsehood – Qur’an 2:42
  5. Do not speak without knowledge – Qur’an 17:36
  6. Do not walk arrogantly – Qur’an 17:37
  7. Do not turn your cheek in disdain – Qur’an 31:18
  8. Lower your wing to the believers – Qur’an 15:88, 26:215
  9. Lower your voice – Qur’an 31:19
  10. Be moderate in your walk – Qur’an 31:19
  11. Turn away from the ignorant – Qur’an 7:199, 25:63
  12. Take what is easy and command what is right – Qur’an 7:199
  13. Repel evil with what is better – Qur’an 41:34
  14. Call to your Lord with wisdom – Qur’an 16:125
  15. Do not nullify charity with reminders or harm – Qur’an 2:264
  16. Do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly – Qur’an 4:29
  17. Do not call each other by offensive nicknames – Qur’an 49:11
  18. Let no group mock another – Qur’an 49:11
  19. Do not backbite – Qur’an 49:12
  20. Do not spy – Qur’an 49:12
  21. Avoid much suspicion – Qur’an 49:12
  22. Enter into peace completely – Qur’an 2:208
  23. Return greetings with better ones – Qur’an 4:86
  24. Show kindness to parents – Qur’an 17:23
  25. Care for relatives and orphans – Qur’an 2:83, 4:36
  26. Feed the poor and needy – Qur’an 76:8, 107:3
  27. Do not exchange the good for the bad – Qur’an 2:267
  28. Give orphans their wealth – Qur’an 4:2
  29. Spend from what God has provided – Qur’an 2:254, 57:7
  30. Speak words that are just – Qur’an 33:70
  31. Speak kindly to people – Qur’an 2:83
  32. Cooperate in righteousness and piety – Qur’an 5:2
  33. Do not cooperate in sin and aggression – Qur’an 5:2
  34. Honor your oaths – Qur’an 5:89
  35. Fulfill your covenant with God – Qur’an 16:91
  36. Give full measure – Qur’an 6:152, 83:1–3
  37. Weigh with a just balance – Qur’an 17:35
  38. Be with the truthful – Qur’an 9:119
  39. Fulfill your contracts – Qur’an 5:1
  40. Stand firmly for justice, even against yourselves – Qur’an 4:135
  41. Establish prayer and give zakat – Qur’an 2:43, 9:71
  42. Do not approach adultery – Qur’an 17:32
  43. Do not approach indecency—open or hidden – Qur’an 6:151, 7:33
  44. Fast during Ramadan – Qur’an 2:185
  45. Do not consume usury – Qur’an 2:275
  46. Reflect deeply on the Qur’an – Qur’an 38:29, 47:24
  47. Seek knowledge – Qur’an 20:114 (“My Lord, increase me in knowledge.”)

And I’ll add one more point:

The Prophet ﷺ instructed Muslims to trim their mustaches during wartime, not as a universal religious obligation, but to distinguish them from disbelievers who also had full beards and mustaches. It was a practical decision aimed at preventing mistaken identity in battle.

Final Thought:

Growing a beard and shortening the garment are beautiful acts when done with sincerity. But let us not reduce Islam to appearances. The Qur’an calls us to something deeper: justice, mercy, humility, and truthfulness. That is the example of the Messenger ﷺ that transforms lives.

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