People search every day for the greatest man in history, the most influential person who ever lived, the best human being. For a Muslim the answer is not a matter of opinion or ranking. Allah chose one man to carry His final message to all of humanity, and described his character as great. That man is Muhammad, the son of 'Abdullah ﷺ.
Why is he the best of creation?
The scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah agree that the Prophet ﷺ is the best of all of Allah's creation and the most honoured of all the prophets and messengers. This is not something Muslims invented out of love for him. He said it himself, as a fact Allah had given him: "I will be the leader of the children of Adam on the Day of Resurrection, the first whose grave will open, the first to intercede and the first whose intercession is accepted" (reported by Muslim).
He also told his Companions that Allah chose Kinanah from the children of Isma'il, chose Quraysh from Kinanah, chose Banu Hashim from Quraysh, and chose him from Banu Hashim (reported by Muslim). He was chosen from the best of people, in the best of places, for the greatest task ever given to a human being.
Not just great, but chosen
Many people in history were brilliant, brave or generous. The Prophet ﷺ is in a different category: Allah Himself chose him, shaped him, corrected him and praised him. His greatness began with Allah's choice, and his life showed it in every detail.
What does Allah say about him?
No one could praise the Prophet ﷺ better than the One who sent him. In the Qur'an, Allah says:
- "And indeed, you are of a great moral character" (Surah Al-Qalam, verse 4). Allah calls his character great, a word He uses for very little in creation.
- "We have not sent you except as a mercy to the worlds" (Surah Al-Anbiya', verse 107). Not to one nation or one age, but to all people, and beyond them.
- "There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent example" (Surah Al-Ahzab, verse 21). His life is the pattern every believer is meant to follow.
- "The Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets" (Surah Al-Ahzab, verse 40). The chain of prophethood that began with Adam ends with him.
- "Grievous to him is what you suffer; he is concerned over you, and to the believers he is kind and merciful" (Surah At-Tawbah, verse 128).
The Prophet ﷺ described his place among the prophets with a beautiful picture. He said the prophets before him were like a man who built a fine house, complete except for one brick in a corner. People walked around it, admired it and said, "If only this brick were put in place." He said: "I am that brick, and I am the seal of the prophets" (reported by al-Bukhari).
What was his character like up close?
Anyone can look good from a distance. The real test of a person is how they treat those who live with them, work for them and see them at their weakest. The most moving descriptions of the Prophet ﷺ come from exactly those people.
When his wife 'A'ishah was asked about his character, she said: "His character was the Qur'an" (reported by Muslim). Everything the Qur'an commands, he lived. Everything it forbids, he avoided.
- Gentle with those who served him. Anas ibn Malik served him for ten years, from boyhood. He said the Prophet ﷺ never once said "uff" to him, and never asked him why he had done something or why he had not (reported by al-Bukhari).
- Never violent at home. 'A'ishah said he never struck anyone with his hand, not a woman and not a servant, except when fighting in the path of Allah (reported by Muslim).
- Helping in the house. Asked what he did at home, 'A'ishah said he would serve his family, and when the time for prayer came he would go out to pray (reported by al-Bukhari).
- Never seeking revenge for himself. Whenever he had a choice between two things he chose the easier, as long as it was not sinful, and he never took revenge for anything done to him personally (reported by al-Bukhari).
- The most generous of people. Ibn 'Abbas said he was the most generous of people, and most generous of all in Ramadan, "more generous than the blowing wind" (reported by al-Bukhari).
- Beautiful inside and out. Al-Bara' ibn 'Azib said he was the most handsome of people in face and the best of them in character (reported by al-Bukhari).
How did he show mercy to those who hurt him?
Kindness to those who love you is common. Kindness to those who hurt you is rare. In the tenth year of prophethood, after the deaths of his wife Khadijah and his uncle Abu Talib, the Prophet ﷺ went to the town of Ta'if to call its people to Allah. They rejected him, mocked him and drove him out of the town.
He later told 'A'ishah that this was the hardest treatment he had ever received from his people. On his way back, the angel Jibril came with the angel of the mountains, who offered to crush the people of Ta'if between the two mountains if he wished. He replied that he hoped Allah would bring from their descendants people who would worship Allah alone, without associating anything with Him (reported by al-Bukhari).
That answer is the meaning of "a mercy to the worlds." He had the power to destroy those who hurt him, and he chose to hope for their children instead.
What do historians say?
A Muslim's belief rests on revelation, not on the praise of others. Even so, many who did not share his faith have recognised his unique place in history. In 1978 the American author Michael H. Hart published The 100, a ranking of the most influential people in history, and placed the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ first. His reason was that he was the only person in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and the worldly level.
Within twenty-three years, he brought a people who worshipped idols to the worship of one God, ended blood feuds between tribes, raised the status of women, orphans and the poor, and left behind a Book and a way of life that more than a billion people still recite and follow today.
How do we love him and follow him?
Loving the Prophet ﷺ is part of faith itself. He said: "None of you truly believes until I am more beloved to him than his father, his child and all people" (reported by al-Bukhari). Allah made the proof of that love clear: "Say, if you love Allah, then follow me, and Allah will love you" (Surah Ali 'Imran, verse 31).
- Learn his life. Read the seerah with your family. Children can begin with our free storybook, The Story of Our Prophet.
- Send salawat upon him. Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet, and the believers are told to do the same (Surah Al-Ahzab, verse 56).
- Live one sunnah at a time. His smile, his greeting, his patience, his gentleness at home. Small habits, kept, are how love becomes visible.
- Learn the Book he brought. His character was the Qur'an. Reading it correctly, understanding it and memorising it is the closest way to know him. Our guide to Tajweed for beginners is a good place to start.
The Qur'an we recite today has reached us through teachers who learned it from their teachers, back to the Prophet ﷺ himself. You can see our own chain of narration here.
Sources
- Sahih Muslim 2278: "I will be the leader of the children of Adam on the Day of Resurrection…"
- Sahih Muslim 2276: Allah chose Kinanah, then Quraysh, then Banu Hashim, then the Prophet ﷺ.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 3535: the parable of the house and the last brick, "I am the seal of the prophets."
- Sahih Muslim 746: 'A'ishah, "His character was the Qur'an."
- Sahih al-Bukhari 6038: Anas ibn Malik served him for ten years and never heard "uff".
- Sahih Muslim 2328: he never struck a woman or a servant.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 676: he served his family at home.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 3560: he chose the easier of two matters and never took revenge for himself.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 6: the most generous of people, most of all in Ramadan.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 3549: the most handsome of people and the best in character.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 3231: the day of Ta'if and the angel of the mountains.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 15: "None of you truly believes until I am more beloved to him…"
- Sahih al-Bukhari 2411: "Do not prefer me over Musa."
- The Qur'an: Al-Qalam (68):4, Al-Anbiya' (21):107, Al-Ahzab (33):21, 40 and 56, At-Tawbah (9):128, Ali 'Imran (3):31.
- Michael H. Hart, The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History (1978).