A Day in the Life of Prophet Muhammad(SAW)

Back in the Mosque

When the Prophet had visited all his wives, he would go back

to the mosque. When he entered, he would offer a short prayer as

greeting to the mosque. He normally offered this prayer near a pillar

called the al-Muhajirin Pillar, which is in the middle of the blessed

area, al-Rawdah. The Prophet often chose that spot to offer his

voluntary prayers.

He would then sit in the mosque, at al-Rawdah, with his back

to ' A'i shah's room. Hi s companions would gather around him. This

meeting was a regular one, known to all so that anyone who wanted

something from the Prophet could come and see him then at the

mosque. There may be a small or large number of his companions

with him, according to the circumstances of each one of them. If

there was only a small number, then they would form a circle

around him. If there were many, they would sit in two rows to his

right and left, so that any newcomer could come up to him, and

anyone who had a question could draw nearer to him.

When he sat with his companions, the Prophet would talk to

them. He was the most eloquent of people. Everyone loved to

listen to him, as his delivery was fine. He spoke neither too fast nor

too slow, choosing to pronounce his words clearly, so that if

anyone wanted to count the number of words he uttered, he would

find no difficulty. ' A'ishah said: "God's messenger did not speak at

length as you do. He spoke very clearly so that anyone who sat to

listen to him could memorize what he said."

He often resorted to dialogue, starting with a question. He

might pose a question so as to raise their interest in finding out the

answer, as when he said: "Shall I tell you which is the gravest of

cardinal sins?" They said: "Please do, messenger of God." He said:

"To associate partners with God, to be undutiful to parents and

perjury." He might put a question in order to draw their attention to a more important meaning that might first spring to mind.

One example was when he asked: "Do you know who is a bankrupt?"

They said: "A bankrupt is a person who has no money or property."

He said: "A bankrupt in my community is someone who

on the Day of Judgement finds himself with a good record of

prayers, fasting, zakat and charity, but during his life on earth he

also abused this person, slandered another, unlawfully took money

from a third, and might have killed someone and beaten another.

He is made to give each one some of his good deeds in

compensati on. If his good deeds are exhausted before he could pay