Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) The moderate

The
Prophet always avoided the extremes in life and followed the middle of
the road. He was temperate in conduct and expression, following the
Golden Mean between the two extremes, neither tending to this way nor to
that way but maintaining a moderate course of action under all
circumstances. The Prophet taught moderation to his people, both in
deeds and words. It is reported that the Prophet said: “Those people who
went to extremes (in practicing their religion) were destroyed”
(Muslim). He said this because he was there to promote extreme
following. Extreme practices were only detrimental to the person
practicing it and the society where it is being practiced.
Thus
he was for moderation. Once three persons came to inquire from the
household of the Prophet about his prayer. One of them said: “I shall
continuously fast without interruption.” Another said: “I shall, in
future, spend the whole night in praying.” And the third one said: “I
shall abstain from women and shall never marry.”
Later, the Prophet came and asked them about what they had said. He then replied:
Listen,
I fear Allah more than all of you do, and l am more conscious of my
duties to Him than all of you are. I observe a fast, but then I break
it. I offer prayers at night, but sleep as well, and I marry women. This
is my way of living. One who turns away from my practice (Sunnah) does
not belong to me. (Bukhari, 5063)
The Prophet also said: “Be
moderate. Practice religion commensurate with your physical strength.
Offer prayers in the morning and evening and in some parts of the
evening and in some parts of the night. Follow the middle course; you
will reach the goal”
(Bukhari). It is also reported that the Prophet was very moderate in
all his actions. Both his prayers and sermons were of moderate duration.
In fact, the whole of his life was an example of perfect moderation.
The basic principle of the ‘Golden Mean’ was seen in its perfection in
the life of the Prophet, in word and deed. The Prophet stressed the
great merit and importance of a balanced life on the basis of the
‘Golden Mean’ between the two extreme ways of life in these words:
Do
not impose austerities on yourselves so that Allah might impose
austerities on you; for people have imposed austerities on themselves
and Allah has also imposed austerities on them. Their survivors are to
be found in cells and monasteries” (Abu Dawud). The Qur’an explicitly states: “But monasticism, which they invented for themselves, We did not prescribe for them” (Qur’an, 57:27).
It
is true that Allah certainly desires that people should not indulge in
idle pleasures of this world, and that they should follow a decent life
of goodness, piety, and justice to win the pleasure of their Lord. But
He does not want them to lead gloomy lives, nor engage in perpetual
worship in isolation. He requires them to lead normal lives in a family
relationship on a social level, practicing goodness and righteousness in
their affairs, private, public, national, and international. The only
way for them to achieve this righteousness was for them to be moderate,
modest and also be polite in their speeches. He demonstrated the values
of politeness everywhere he went.
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source: Prophet Muhammad Leadership

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» Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) The Kind
» Last Sermon of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
» Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as a Political Leader
» Description of the Prophet (pbuh)