Throughout the period of his mission, the Prophet Muhammad (saas)
experienced all manner of difficulty. Deniers and polytheists, from
among his own people, insulted him most terribly, even calling him a
magician or a madman. Others wanted to kill him and even schemed to do
so. Despite all that, the Prophet (saas) tried to teach people of all
backgrounds and cultures about the Qur’an, and therefore about proper
morality and good behavior.

As Allah revealed in the verses of the Qur’an, some people had not
the slightest idea of the basics of good manners, for which reason it
never entered their minds that they might appall someone who possessed
superior morality. The Prophet (saas) displayed the greatest patience
in this circumstances, turning to Allah and asking for His help in all
situations and encouraging believers to patience and submission.

In many verses in the Qur’an, Allah advises the Prophet (saas) to be patient despite the words of unbelievers:

Believers must remember the kind of things Allah’s Messenger
(saas) was patient for, and take him as a model when dealing with their
own difficulties. Those who despair at the slightest problem, who are
unable to bear the smallest objection, who stop preaching the religion
of Allah, or who lose hope when their business dealings go wrong, must
be aware that such behavior is incompatible with Allah’s holy book and
the sayings and deeds of the Prophet (saas). Believers must always be
patient, take Allah as their helper and give thanks to Him, adopt the
superior morality of the Prophet (saas), and hope for the mercy,
compassion and Paradise of our Lord.

There were people with varying characters and ideas that
surrounded the Prophet (saas). Throughout his life, however, he showed
an interest in each and every one, warned them about their mistakes and
failings, and tried to educate them in all matters, from cleanliness to
matters of faith. That compassionate, tolerant, understanding and
patient attitude of his was the means by which many peoples’ hearts
warmed to Islam and developed a genuine love for the Prophet (saas).
Allah describes this pleasing attitude adopted by the Prophet (saas)
towards those around him in the Qur’an:

In another verse, Allah told the Prophet (saas) how he should behave towards those around him:

The Prophet (saas) never pressured those around him to accept the
religion, nor imposed conditions on them. Instead he always used the
pleasantest ways to tell them about it.

He always supported the community of the faithful with his strong
conscience, and was a benefactor to them at all times. On account of
these traits, the Prophet (saas) is described in many verses as “your
companion.” (Surah Saba’: 46: Surat an-Najm: 2, Surat at-Takwir: 22).

Those believers who were able to comprehend the conscientiousness
of the Prophet (saas) regarded him as closer to them than all others,
and humbled themselves towards him. In one verse, Allah states:

The Prophet has closer ties to the believers than their own
selves, and his wives are their mothers… (Surat al-Ahzab: 6) Imam
Ghazali, the great Islamic scholar, summed up the Prophet (saas)’s
treatment of those around him in light of the information found in the
hadiths:

“… Everyone thought that the Prophet honoured him more. Whoever came to him could see his face.

… He used to call his companions by their surnames with honour and he used to give one surname who had no surname.

… He was very affectionate and kind in dealing with the people.

… Nobody could speak loudly in his assembly.” ¹

The Prophet (saas)’s human love, kind thought and compassion,
which turned those around him to true religion and warmed their hearts
to faith, is that superior morality which all Muslims should seek to
reproduce.

1. Imam Ghazzali’s Ihya Ulum-Id-Din, The Book of Religious Learnings, Islamic Book Service, New Delhi, 2001, Volume II, p.240