There is such a wealth of Ahadith about this aspect of the Prophet's life that it is really difficult to chose a few examples. He said:

"Abstinence is an asset of a Mo'min."

The Prophet's (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) Dislike for gold:

The Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) said:

"My Lord offered to turn the mounts of Mecca into gold for me. But my supplication to Him was; '0, Allah! I like to eat one day and feel hungry the next, so that I may cry before Thee and remember Thee when I am hungry; and be grateful to Thee and glorify Thee when my hunger is gone!"

Thus said our Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam). We profess to follow him and are proud of being in the fold of his Ummat. Isn't it incumbent upon us to follow him in practice also?

2. The Prophet's (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) Life of Abstinence

Once, the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) decided to stay away from his wives for one month, as he was displeased with them on some account. He lived for that one month in a separate room in the upper story. A rumor that the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) had divorced his wives got afloat among the Sahabah. When 'U mar heard of this, he came running to the musjid and found the Sahabah sitting in groups, struck with grief over the Prophet's suffering. He went to his daughter Hafsah (Radhiyallaho anha), who was a wife of the Prophet, and found her weeping in her room. He said to her:

"Why are you weeping now? Have I not been warning you all these times to refrain from any act likely to cause the Prophet's displeasure?"

He returned to the musjid and found some of the Sahabah sitting near the pulpit and weeping. He sat there for some time, but could not sit for long due to his excessive grief. He went towards the room where the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) was staying.

He found Rabah (Radhiyal-laho anho), a slave, sitting on the steps. He asked him to go and inquire of the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam] if he could allow 'Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) to see him. Rabah went inside and came back to inform him that the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) held his peace and said nothing. 'Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) returned to the musjid and sat near the pulpit.

Again the anguish eating his heart would not allow him any rest, and he requested Rabah to convey his request to the Prophet a second time. The Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) did not make any answer this time too. After tarrying near the pulpit for some time more, 'Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) craved permission to see the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) for the third time.

This time, his request was acceded to. When he was ushered in, he saw the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) lying on a date leaf matting. The crossed pattern of the matting could easily be seen imprinted on his handsome body. He had a leather bag filled with the bark of the datepalm as his pillow.

Hadhrat 'Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) says:

"I greeted him with Assalamo alaikum and inquired: 'Have you divorced your wives, 0, Prophet of Allah?" He answered in the negative. Much relieved, then I made bold to remark, a bit amusingly; '0, Prophet of Allah! we the Qureysh have always been having the upper hand over our women, but in case of the Ansar of Madinah, it is the women who have the upper hand. Our women have also got influenced by the women over here'.

I said a few more similar things which made him smile. I noticed that the contents of his room consisted of only three pieces of tanned skin and a handful of barley lying in a corner. I looked about, but I failed to find anything else. I began to weep.

He said; 'Why are you weeping?' I replied: '0, Prophet of Allah! why should I not weep? I can see the mat's pattern imprinted on your body, and I am also beholding all that you have got in this room. 0, Prophet of Allah! Pray that Allah may grant ample provisions for us.

The Persians and the Romans who have no true faith and who worship not Allah but their kings—Caesar and Chosroes-presently live in gardens with streams running in their midst, but the chosen Prophet and the accepted slave of Allah does live in such a dire poverty!' The Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) was resting against his pillow, but when he heard me talk like this, he sat up and said; '0, 'Umar! are you still in doubt about this matter? Ease and comfort in the Hereafter are much better than ease and comfort in this world.

The unbelievers are enjoying their share of the good things in this very world, whereas we have all such things in store for us in the next. I implored him: '0, Prophet of Allah! Ask forgiveness for me. I was really in the wrong"

Look at the household effects of the sovereign in this world and in the hereafter, and the beloved Prophet of Allah. See how he rebukes 'Umar when he asks him to pray for some relief and comfort.

Somebody inquired of A'ishah (Radhiyallaho anha) about the bedding of the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) in her house. She said:

"It consisted of a skin filled with the bark of date-palm."

The same question was put to Hafsah (Radhiyallaho anha]; she said:

"It consisted of a piece of canvas, which I spread doublefolded under him. Once I laid it fourfold in an effort to make it more comfortable. The next morning he asked me: 'What did you spread under me last night?' I replied: 'The same canvas, but I had four-folded it instead of the customary double fold.' He said: 'Keep it as it was before. The additional softness stands in the way of getting up for Tahajjud.'"

Now let us look around and survey the furniture of our bedrooms. We, who live in so much comfort, never hesitate to complain of hard times, instead of being grateful and more obedient to Allah for his bounties.

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