All Muslims understand that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) provides the perfect role model for them. They are indeed required to follow his example in all that relates to religion, and they will be well advised if they do the same in their own social relations and family matters. His example was the best in every respect. It is God who has set him in this light of role model. He says: “In God’s Messenger, you have a good example to follow for those who hope to please God and to fare well on the Last Day.” (33: 21)

The Prophet’s companions realized that this verse gives them clear instructions to follow the Prophet’s example. They did not limit this to matters of faith and religion, but extended it to all aspects of life. Thus we read in a Hadith that Anas ibn Malik, who served the Prophet for the entire length of his stay in Madinah, which was over 10 years, “passed by some children and he greeted them. He explained that he saw the Prophet greeting some children when he passed by them.” (Related by Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawood and Al-Tirmidhi.)

In this Hadith, Anas highlights the fact that the Prophet greeted the children when they were playing, as he passed them by. Anas does exactly as the Prophet did and mentions it verbally to provide the necessary emphasis. Hence, we should look at the Prophet’s action in the proper perspective. The fact that the children were playing did not stop the Prophet from greeting them. In fact, by doing so he approved what they were doing, realizing that such play was most suitable for their age. However, the fact that he, as the head of state and God’s Messenger, stops to greet them was bound to greatly please them, as it indicated his kindness to them. His gesture was one of love and respect.

Numerous are the Hadiths that speak of the Prophet offering greetings to children. Anas reports: “The Prophet used to visit the Ansar and greet their young, rubbing their heads.” (Related by Al-Nassaie, Al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Hibban.) Each clan of the Ansar lived in its own quarters around Madinah. The Prophet used to visit them from time to time. Here we are told by Anas, who belonged to the Ansar, that when the Prophet visited any of their clans, he was sure to greet their children and show that he cared for them.

Another Hadith, also reported by Anas, states: “The Prophet passed by us when I was with some children, and he greeted us. He then took me by the hand and sent me to deliver a message.” (Related by Muslim and Abu Dawood.) Apparently Anas, who had just turned ten years when he was assigned to the Prophet’s service, was still very young when this incident occurred. Otherwise, he would not be playing with children in the street. He speaks of the Prophet taking him aside to give him a message to deliver. Had the Prophet disapproved of the children’s play, Anas would have reported this, because the incident was very clear in his mind when he reported it. Another version of this Hadith mentions that when Anas’s stepfather learned from him that he was sent to deliver such a message, he counseled him: “Do not mention the Prophet’s secret to anyone.” (Related by Al-Baghawi.)

In these Hadiths, the Arabic word referring to children is the equivalent of “boys”, but in fact it means children of both sexes, because the Prophet did not favor boys in any way. Some people who take a very restrictive view concerning women and how Islam treats them try to limit certain actions by the Prophet to men or boys, but this cannot be true unless there is a clear indication in the Hadith or the incident it relates to support such restriction. Indeed, a number of Hadiths mention that the Prophet also greeted women. Asma bint Yazeed, a companion of the Prophet, reports: “The Prophet passed by a group of women and he greeted them.” (Related by Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, Ahmad, Abu Dawood, Al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah.) When we relate this Hadith to the concept with which we started, that the Prophet’s actions provide an example for us to follow, we realize that the Prophet did not impose the strict segregation that some people advocate. However, he indicated the standard of propriety that should be followed.

With men, the Prophet was also most kind. Anas ibn Malik reports: “When the Prophet went on an expedition or traveled, he would every day take behind him on his mount a different man from among his companions.” (Related by Ibn Hibban.) This Hadith tells of the Prophet’s kindness to his companions. Although they were strongly and physically able so as to join an army on an expedition, or to travel with the Prophet, he would take a man behind him on his camel. Not only so, but he would take a different person every day. Thus, none of them is made to feel out of the Prophet’s favor. Anyone who had the chance to be so close to the Prophet as to ride with him on the same mount would cherish this, as he could talk to the Prophet privately on any subject he wished. At the same time, none would be conspicuously too favored by the Prophet.

When the Prophet was with his companions, he always tried to appear as one of them, indistinguishable by appearances. Thus, he did not seek to wear fine clothes, or to have a carriage or procession, like heads of state always do. He simply appeared as an ordinary person. When the Prophet traveled for his pilgrimage, he was approaching the end of his mission. Indeed, he lived only a few months after finishing his pilgrimage. By that time, he was the undisputed master of the entire Arabian Peninsula and its recognized head of state. How did he appear when he traveled with his companions, leading a procession of more than 100,000 people? Anas reports: “The Prophet traveled on his pilgrimage, riding a camel with a worn out saddle, wearing an old garment not worth four dirhams. He prayed: ‘My Lord! Make it a pilgrimage free of pretence, showing off or hypocrisy.’” (Related by Al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah.)

Needless to say, no one could be further from hypocrisy or showing off than the Prophet. Yet he prayed that his pilgrimage, offered after 23 years of full dedication to the message of Islam and its advocacy, should be free of any such feelings. He did not wish the fact that so many people were following his lead could be allowed to give him any feeling of elation at his achievement. Hence, he was keen to appear most modest, choosing to travel in the way described in the Hadith.