He taught kindness to all: parents, neighbours, the poor, orphans, animals and even strangers. He said, 'The best of you are those who are best in character,' and that none of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.
The fuller answer
He taught that a believer does not hurt his neighbour, that smiling at another is charity, that a person was forgiven for giving water to a thirsty dog, and that another was punished for locking up a cat. He said that Gabriel kept advising him about the neighbour so much that he thought the neighbour would become an heir.
He told Muslims to feed the hungry, spread peace, treat servants as brothers and sisters, never to cheat in trade and to speak good words or stay silent. When he conquered Mecca, the city that had persecuted him for years, he said: 'Go, you are free', and forgave. Muslims try to follow this example in their daily lives.
Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and to parents do good, and to relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbor, the neighbor farther away, the companion at your side, the traveler, and those whom your right hands possess. Indeed, Allah does not like those who are self-deluding and boastful.
And do not turn your cheek [in contempt] toward people and do not walk through the earth exultantly. Indeed, Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful.
Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.
This answer follows the mainstream Sunni understanding and is general learning, not a fatwa. Where Muslims differ, the answer says so. Have a question of your own? Write to us.
