His Mercy with his Family

his mercy with his family was manifest in his concern to save them from the punishment of allaah the almighty and thus, he would advise and admonish them.

• it was narrated that umm salamah (the wife of the prophet), may allaah be pleased with her, said, “the messenger of allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, woke up one night in a state of terror and said: ‘subhaanallaah (glory be to allaah), how many treasures allaah has sent down! how many afflictions have been sent down! who will go and awaken the ladies of these rooms (meaning his wives) so that they might pray?’ he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, added:

‘a well-dressed (soul) in this world may be naked in the hereafter.’” [al-bukhaari]

• he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would guide them to every variety of beneficial matter.

juwayriyyah bint al-haarith, wife of the prophet, may allah be pleased with her, said that the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, left her house one morning when he prayed fajr, and she was in her prayer-place, then he came back after the forenoon had come, and she was still sitting there. he said: “are you still as you were when i left you?” she said, “yes.” the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “after i left you, i said four words three times which, if they were weighed against all that you said today, they would outweigh it: subhaanallaah wa bi hamdih ‘adada khalqihi, wa ridha nafsihi, wazinata ‘arshihi, wa midaada kalimaatih (glory and praise be to allaah, as much as the number of his creation, as much as pleases him, as much as the weight of his throne and as much as the ink of his words).” [muslim]

the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, advised and instructed his wives and the women of the believers in many and varied ways, on different occasions and in different situations. he always urged them to do more righteous deeds and give charity and to obey their husbands in all that is lawful and permissible.

in doing so, the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was carrying out the instructions and directions of the noble quran in which allaah the almighty says (what means):

• {and enjoin prayer upon your family [and people] and be steadfast therein.} [quran 20:132]

• {o you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey allaah in what he commands them but do what they are commanded.} [quran 66:6]

the mercy of the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was also evident in helping them to do the household work. the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would serve and help them in different matters of the house such as stitching his own clothes and mending his own sandals despite his noble and esteemed status.

it was narrated that ‘aa’ishah, may allaah be pleased with her, was asked about what the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to do at home, she replied, "he would keep himself busy serving his family and when it was the time for prayer he would perform ablution and go out to pray." [al-bukhaari]

it was also narrated that ‘aa’ishah, may allaah be pleased with her, said, “he used to stitch his own clothes, mend his own sandals and do what men do in their houses.” [ahmad; al-albaani: saheeh (authentic)]

additionally, it was also narrated that ‘aa’ishah, may allaah be pleased with her, was asked about what the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would do in his house, and she said, “he was a human being like any other human being. he would search his garment for fleas, milk his goat, and serve himself.” [ahmad; al-albaani : saheeh (authentic)]