On the blessed day of birth of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), I am posting some of his sayings as we know them through Hadith. The reason why I like the selection was that these words evoke his humanity – as a counterpoint to the deification done by some Muslims and vilification done by those who think that Crusades are not over.

I have always adhered to the belief that the Prophet was sent as a Blessing for all Mankind – Rehmat ul lil Alimeen -and therefore no distinction could be made between one individual and another on the basis of religion, caste, colour and creed. The Prophet never made a distinction and nor should we. I am reminded of his prayer: Oh God! I bear witness that all Thy creatures are brothers (quoted in the Sunnan-i-Abu Da’ud).

And now the list (courtesy A Khatta) –

People, beware of injustice, for injustice shall be darkness on the Day of Judgment. Mosnad Ahmad, #5798,

Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able
to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded.
Sahih Bukhari 1:2:38

Sometimes I enter prayer and I intend to prolong it, but then I hear a child crying, and I
shorten my prayer thinking of the distress of the child’s mother. Fiqh us-Sunnah, Volume 2, Number 51b

The best among you are those who are best to their wives. Ibn Majah, #1978, and Al-Tirmizi, #3895.

Allah will not be merciful to those who are not merciful to people. Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol. 9, #473

Avoid cruelty and injustice for, on the Day of Judgment, the same will turn into several
darknesses; and guard yourselves against miserliness; for this has ruined nations who lived before you. Riyadh-us-Salaheen, Hadith 203

Image above depict the Prophet Mohammed (figure without face) at the Kaaba in Mecca. This is an Ottoman miniature painting from the Siyer-i Nebi, kept at the Topkapı Sarayı Müzesi, Istanbul (Hazine 1222, folio 151b)