Recreation within bounds is an essential element of well-balanced life in order to remove its monotony and scheme of life which has no place for diversion and cannot be tolerated for long by any society. Rasulullahﷺ also occasionally liked to enjoy some permissible diversion. Rasulullahﷺ liked to go to the gardens sometimes alone and sometimes in company and discussions on various topics were often held there.
Sometimes swimming exercises were also held in which pairs of two competed with one another. Saiyidina Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه was once the partner of Rasulullahﷺ in this. When it rained after a long break Rasulullahﷺ bathed in the shower wearing a long cloth. Rasulullahﷺ took a keen interest in all running and archery exercises and wrestling bouts and heartily laughed there along with others. On joyous occasions, he liked playing of drum open from one side and singing by young girls.
Once on the day of Eid two girls were singing near Saidatuna Aiysah رضي الله عنه when Saiyidina Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه came and snubbed them; Rasulullahﷺ intervened and allowed them to continue. On occasions of marriage also allowed the beating of such drums. At the wedding of an Ansar girl who lived with Saidatuna Ayesha رضي الله, Rasulullahﷺ said that the Ansar were fond of music and so a singing girl should be sent with the bride who should sing:
We have come to you. We have come to you. So you live long and we live longer.
On one such occasion, some girls were singing when Amir bin Sa'ad رضي الله عنه came and snubbed them upon which those present said, "If you want to listen, sit down, otherwise go away. We have Rasulullahﷺ's permission for it." Rasulullahﷺ had also a taste for poetry that somewhat differed from the prevailing style.
The stream of revelation did not give him time to indulge in poetry but his taste in it was polished and he appreciated a good couplet. In fact, he gave a new trend to poetry. Jabir bin Samrah رضي الله عنه says that he attended more than a hundred meetings of Rasulullahﷺ at which tales of pre-Islamic days were told and the companions recited poems. Once Rasulullahﷺ greatly appreciated a line of poet Labid which said:
Beware, everything besides God is mortal. Its other line was:
"And all pleasures are bound to fade".
Once Rasulullahﷺ heard one hundred verses of Umayya bin Abi Salt رضي الله عنه, recited by Sharid رضي الله عنه and said at the end that this man had reached very near Islam. Sometimes, especially on the battlefield, Rasulullahﷺ unintentionally talked poetically. Rasulullahﷺ asked Hassan and Ka'ab bin Malik رضي الله عنه to compose verses in reply to abusive verses of the enemies of Islam and often asked Hassan to recite verses from the pulpit and remarked that these verses were more effective against the enemies than daggers. Rasulullahﷺ also once said, "A Muslim performs Jihad with the swords as well as with his words."
Some Special Traits
Rasulullahﷺ used his right hand in taking or giving anything. In dictating letters he asked the writer to begin with the name of Allah and then put the names of the sender and the addressee. The text then followed and the seal was affixed at the end. Rasulullahﷺ was free from all superstitions and never consulted omens. Nevertheless, he appreciated good names and disliked bad ones.
While camping on the way during a journey he selected places whose names indicated happiness or blessing or success. Similarly, he did not entrust any work to a person whose name was smacked of quarrel or loss. Rasulullahﷺ gave work to such men whose names meant joy or success. He also changed some names for better ones. In the use of conveyance, he preferred the horse and used to say that in the hair of the horse's neck, there was blessing till the Day of Judgement. Rasulullahﷺ cleaned the eyes, nose, and mouth of the horse with his own hands.
Rasulullahﷺ did not like noise and turmoil and preferred calm, dignity, and order in everything. Even for going to prayers, he prohibited running and undue haste. He used to say "Calmness and dignity are for you." Once at the time of Hajj, there was much noise and confusion and Rasulullahﷺ restored order by raising his whip and said, "Undue hurry is no virtue."
A description of Rasulullahﷺ's good manners needs a separate volume as his whole life was a portrayal of elegance in manners. Saidatina Aiysah رضي الله عنه, said, "His etiquette is the Qur'an." What Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه said about him was most comprehensive. He said, "He was the best of men, most generous of men, and the bravest of men." Never in his life did he hurt anyone except under the Divine law and never took revenge for any injury from others. He forgave everyone to the extent that he even forgave his most cruel persecutors of Makkah and Taif.
Rasulullahﷺ never refused anyone's request for help and even borrowed to help others if he could not arrange it himself or asked the person to come some other time or kept silent. The proof of his courage is that he stood up single-handedly to proclaim the truth and bravely faced all troubles and tribulations, never giving way to fear even in the most dangerous situations nor did he ever show any weakness. In the most critical times of his stay at the cave of Thaur and in the Battles of Uhud and Hunain, his faith remained unflinching and his steadfastness unparalleled.
