Quran Verses about The Prophet as an example
The Quran states that the Messenger of Allah is an excellent example for whoever hopes in Allah and the Last Day, and that he is of a great moral character. The verses describe his gentleness toward his companions, how heavily his people's hardship weighed on him, his grief when his people would not believe, and his being sent as a mercy to all the worlds. The believers are commanded to follow and obey the Messenger, accept his judgement and honour him, for whoever obeys the Messenger obeys Allah.
An excellent example and a great character
لَّقَدۡ كَانَ لَكُمۡ فِي رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسۡوَةٌ حَسَنَةٞ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرۡجُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلۡيَوۡمَ ٱلۡأٓخِرَ وَذَكَرَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرٗا ٢١
Laqad kāna lakum fī rasūlillāhi uswatun ḥasanatul liman kāna yarjullāha wal-yawmal-ākhira wa dhakarallāha kathīrā.
There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allāh an excellent pattern1 for anyone whose hope is in Allāh and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allāh often.
Footnotes (1)
- An example to be followed.
وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٖ ٤
Wa innaka laʿalā khuluqin ʿaẓīm.
And indeed, you are of a great moral character.
The Prophet's gentleness and compassion for his people
فَبِمَا رَحۡمَةٖ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ لِنتَ لَهُمۡۖ وَلَوۡ كُنتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ ٱلۡقَلۡبِ لَٱنفَضُّواْ مِنۡ حَوۡلِكَۖ فَٱعۡفُ عَنۡهُمۡ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لَهُمۡ وَشَاوِرۡهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡأَمۡرِۖ فَإِذَا عَزَمۡتَ فَتَوَكَّلۡ عَلَى ٱللَّهِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُتَوَكِّلِينَ ١٥٩
Fabimā raḥmatim minallāhi linta lahum, wa law kunta faẓẓan ghalīẓal-qalbi lanfaḍḍū min ḥawlik, faʿfu ʿanhum wastaghfir lahum wa shāwirhum fil-amr, fa idhā ʿazamta fatawakkal ʿalallāh, innallāha yuḥibbul-mutawakkilīn.
So by mercy from Allāh, [O Muḥammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allāh. Indeed, Allāh loves those who rely [upon Him].
لَقَدۡ جَآءَكُمۡ رَسُولٞ مِّنۡ أَنفُسِكُمۡ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيۡهِ مَا عَنِتُّمۡ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيۡكُم بِٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ رَءُوفٞ رَّحِيمٞ ١٢٨
Laqad jāʾakum rasūlum min anfusikum ʿazīzun ʿalayhi mā ʿanittum ḥarīṣun ʿalaykum bil-muʾminīna raʾūfur raḥīm.
There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you [i.e., your guidance] and to the believers is kind and merciful.
فَإِن تَوَلَّوۡاْ فَقُلۡ حَسۡبِيَ ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَۖ عَلَيۡهِ تَوَكَّلۡتُۖ وَهُوَ رَبُّ ٱلۡعَرۡشِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ ١٢٩
Fa in tawallaw faqul ḥasbiyallāhu lā ilāha illā huw, ʿalayhi tawakkalt, wa huwa rabbul-ʿarshil-ʿaẓīm.
But if they turn away, [O Muḥammad], say, "Sufficient for me is Allāh; there is no deity except Him. On Him I have relied, and He is the Lord of the Great Throne."
لَا تَمُدَّنَّ عَيۡنَيۡكَ إِلَىٰ مَا مَتَّعۡنَا بِهِۦٓ أَزۡوَٰجٗا مِّنۡهُمۡ وَلَا تَحۡزَنۡ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَٱخۡفِضۡ جَنَاحَكَ لِلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ٨٨
Lā tamuddanna ʿaynayka ilā mā mattaʿnā bihī azwājam minhum wa lā taḥzan ʿalayhim wakhfiḍ janāḥaka lil-muʾminīn.
Do not extend your eyes toward that by which We have given enjoyment to [certain] categories of them [i.e., the disbelievers], and do not grieve over them. And lower your wing [i.e., show kindness] to the believers.
فَلَعَلَّكَ بَٰخِعٞ نَّفۡسَكَ عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَٰرِهِمۡ إِن لَّمۡ يُؤۡمِنُواْ بِهَٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِ أَسَفًا ٦
Falaʿallaka bākhiʿun nafsaka ʿalā āthārihim il lam yuʾminū bihādhal-ḥadīthi asafā.
Then perhaps you would kill yourself through grief over them, [O Muḥammad], if they do not believe in this message, [and] out of sorrow.
وَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَٰكَ إِلَّا رَحۡمَةٗ لِّلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ١٠٧
Wa mā arsalnāka illā raḥmatal lil-ʿālamīn.
And We have not sent you, [O Muḥammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.
لَعَلَّكَ بَٰخِعٞ نَّفۡسَكَ أَلَّا يَكُونُواْ مُؤۡمِنِينَ ٣
Laʿallaka bākhiʿun nafsaka allā yakūnū muʾminīn.
Perhaps, [O Muḥammad], you would kill yourself with grief that they will not be believers.
وَٱخۡفِضۡ جَنَاحَكَ لِمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ٢١٥
Wakhfiḍ janāḥaka limanittabaʿaka minal-muʾminīn.
And lower your wing [i.e., show kindness] to those who follow you of the believers.
The command to follow and obey the Messenger
قُلۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ تُحِبُّونَ ٱللَّهَ فَٱتَّبِعُونِي يُحۡبِبۡكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَغۡفِرۡ لَكُمۡ ذُنُوبَكُمۡۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٞ رَّحِيمٞ ٣١
Qul in kuntum tuḥibbūnallāha fattabiʿūnī yuḥbibkumullāhu wa yaghfir lakum dhunūbakum, wallāhu ghafūrur raḥīm.
Say, [O Muḥammad], "If you should love Allāh, then follow me, [so] Allāh will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful."
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَأُوْلِي ٱلۡأَمۡرِ مِنكُمۡۖ فَإِن تَنَٰزَعۡتُمۡ فِي شَيۡءٖ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَٱلرَّسُولِ إِن كُنتُمۡ تُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأٓخِرِۚ ذَٰلِكَ خَيۡرٞ وَأَحۡسَنُ تَأۡوِيلًا ٥٩
Yāʾayyuhal-ladhīna āmanū aṭīʿullāha wa aṭīʿur-rasūla wa ulil-amri minkum, fa in tanāzaʿtum fī shayʾin faruddūhu ilallāhi war-rasūli in kuntum tuʾminūna billāhi wal-yawmil-ākhir, dhālika khayruw wa aḥsanu taʾwīlā.
O you who have believed, obey Allāh and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allāh and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allāh and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.
فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ حَتَّىٰ يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيۡنَهُمۡ ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُواْ فِيٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ حَرَجٗا مِّمَّا قَضَيۡتَ وَيُسَلِّمُواْ تَسۡلِيمٗا ٦٥
Falā wa rabbika lā yuʾminūna ḥattā yuḥakkimūka fīmā shajara baynahum thumma lā yajidū fī anfusihim ḥarajam mimmā qaḍayta wa yusallimū taslīmā.
But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muḥammad], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission.
مَّن يُطِعِ ٱلرَّسُولَ فَقَدۡ أَطَاعَ ٱللَّهَۖ وَمَن تَوَلَّىٰ فَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَٰكَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ حَفِيظٗا ٨٠
May yuṭiʿir-rasūla faqad aṭāʿallāh, wa man tawallā famā arsalnāka ʿalayhim ḥafīẓā.
He who obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allāh; but those who turn away - We have not sent you over them as a guardian.
ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ ٱلرَّسُولَ ٱلنَّبِيَّ ٱلۡأُمِّيَّ ٱلَّذِي يَجِدُونَهُۥ مَكۡتُوبًا عِندَهُمۡ فِي ٱلتَّوۡرَىٰةِ وَٱلۡإِنجِيلِ يَأۡمُرُهُم بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِ وَيَنۡهَىٰهُمۡ عَنِ ٱلۡمُنكَرِ وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ ٱلطَّيِّبَٰتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلۡخَبَٰٓئِثَ وَيَضَعُ عَنۡهُمۡ إِصۡرَهُمۡ وَٱلۡأَغۡلَٰلَ ٱلَّتِي كَانَتۡ عَلَيۡهِمۡۚ فَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ بِهِۦ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَٱتَّبَعُواْ ٱلنُّورَ ٱلَّذِيٓ أُنزِلَ مَعَهُۥٓ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡلِحُونَ ١٥٧
Al-ladhīna yattabiʿūnar-rasūlan-nabiyyal-ummiyyal-ladhī yajidūnahū maktūban ʿindahum fit-tawrāti wal-injīli yaʾmuruhum bil-maʿrūfi wa yanhāhum ʿanil-munkari wa yuḥillu lahumuṭ-ṭayyibāti wa yuḥarrimu ʿalayhimul-khabāʾitha wa yaḍaʿu ʿanhum iṣrahum wal-aghlālal-latī kānat ʿalayhim, fal-ladhīna āmanū bihī wa ʿazzarūhu wa naṣarūhu wattabaʿun-nūral-ladhī unzila maʿahū ulāʾika humul-mufliḥūn.
Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written [i.e., described] in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel, who enjoins upon them what is right and prohibits them from what is wrong and makes lawful for them what is good and forbids them from what is evil and relieves them of their burden1 and the shackles which were upon them.2 So they who have believed in him, honored him, supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him - it is those who will be the successful.
Footnotes (2)
- Difficulties in religious practice.
- i.e., extreme measures previously required for repentance, and retribution without recourse to compensation.
قُلۡ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنِّي رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ إِلَيۡكُمۡ جَمِيعًا ٱلَّذِي لَهُۥ مُلۡكُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ يُحۡيِۦ وَيُمِيتُۖ فَـَٔامِنُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ٱلنَّبِيِّ ٱلۡأُمِّيِّ ٱلَّذِي يُؤۡمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَكَلِمَٰتِهِۦ وَٱتَّبِعُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَهۡتَدُونَ ١٥٨
Qul yāʾayyuhan-nāsu innī rasūlullāhi ilaykum jamīʿanil-ladhī lahū mulkus-samāwāti wal-arḍ, lā ilāha illā huwa yuḥyī wa yumīt, fa āminū billāhi wa rasūlihin-nabiyyil-ummiyyil-ladhī yuʾminu billāhi wa kalimātihī wattabiʿūhu laʿallakum tahtadūn.
Say, [O Muḥammad], "O mankind, indeed I am the Messenger of Allāh to you all, [from Him] to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. There is no deity except Him; He gives life and causes death." So believe in Allāh and His Messenger, the unlettered prophet, who believes in Allāh and His words, and follow him that you may be guided.
قُلۡ أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱلرَّسُولَۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوۡاْ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيۡهِ مَا حُمِّلَ وَعَلَيۡكُم مَّا حُمِّلۡتُمۡۖ وَإِن تُطِيعُوهُ تَهۡتَدُواْۚ وَمَا عَلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ إِلَّا ٱلۡبَلَٰغُ ٱلۡمُبِينُ ٥٤
Qul aṭīʿullāha wa aṭīʿur-rasūl, fa in tawallaw fa innamā ʿalayhi mā ḥummila wa ʿalaykum mā ḥummiltum, wa in tuṭīʿūhu tahtadū, wa mā ʿalar-rasūli illal-balāghul-mubīn.
Say, "Obey Allāh and obey the Messenger; but if you turn away - then upon him is only that [duty] with which he has been charged, and upon you is that with which you have been charged. And if you obey him, you will be [rightly] guided. And there is not upon the Messenger except the [responsibility for] clear notification."
لَّا تَجۡعَلُواْ دُعَآءَ ٱلرَّسُولِ بَيۡنَكُمۡ كَدُعَآءِ بَعۡضِكُم بَعۡضٗاۚ قَدۡ يَعۡلَمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَسَلَّلُونَ مِنكُمۡ لِوَاذٗاۚ فَلۡيَحۡذَرِ ٱلَّذِينَ يُخَالِفُونَ عَنۡ أَمۡرِهِۦٓ أَن تُصِيبَهُمۡ فِتۡنَةٌ أَوۡ يُصِيبَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ٦٣
Lā tajʿalū duʿāʾar-rasūli baynakum kaduʿāʾi baʿḍikum baʿḍā, qad yaʿlamullāhul-ladhīna yatasallalūna minkum liwādhā, falyaḥdharil-ladhīna yukhālifūna ʿan amrihī an tuṣībahum fitnatun aw yuṣībahum ʿadhābun alīm.
Do not make [your] calling of the Messenger among yourselves as the call of one of you to another. Already Allāh knows those of you who slip away, concealed by others. So let those beware who dissent from his [i.e., the Prophet's] order,1 lest fitnah2 strike them or a painful punishment.
Footnotes (2)
- Meaning also his way or his sunnah.
- Trials, affliction, dissension, strife, etc.
وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤۡمِنٖ وَلَا مُؤۡمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥٓ أَمۡرًا أَن يَكُونَ لَهُمُ ٱلۡخِيَرَةُ مِنۡ أَمۡرِهِمۡۗ وَمَن يَعۡصِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ فَقَدۡ ضَلَّ ضَلَٰلٗا مُّبِينٗا ٣٦
Wa mā kāna limuʾminiw wa lā muʾminatin idhā qaḍallāhu wa rasūluhū amran ay yakūna lahumul-khiyaratu min amrihim, wa may yaʿṣillāha wa rasūlahū faqad ḍalla ḍalālam mubīnā.
It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allāh and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair. And whoever disobeys Allāh and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error.
مَّآ أَفَآءَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ مِنۡ أَهۡلِ ٱلۡقُرَىٰ فَلِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ وَلِذِي ٱلۡقُرۡبَىٰ وَٱلۡيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلۡمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱبۡنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ كَيۡ لَا يَكُونَ دُولَةَۢ بَيۡنَ ٱلۡأَغۡنِيَآءِ مِنكُمۡۚ وَمَآ ءَاتَىٰكُمُ ٱلرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَىٰكُمۡ عَنۡهُ فَٱنتَهُواْۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡعِقَابِ ٧
Mā afāʾallāhu ʿalā rasūlihī min ahlil-qurā falillāhi walir-rasūli walidhil-qurbā wal-yatāmā wal-masākīni wabnis-sabīli kay lā yakūna dūlatam baynal-aghniyāʾi minkum, wa mā ātākumur-rasūlu fakhudhūhu wa mā nahākum ʿanhu fantahū, wattaqullāh, innallāha shadīdul-ʿiqāb.
And what Allāh restored to His Messenger from the people of the towns - it is for Allāh and for the Messenger and for [his] near relatives1 and orphans and the needy and the [stranded] traveler2 - so that it will not be a perpetual distribution among the rich from among you. And whatever the Messenger has given you - take; and what he has forbidden you - refrain from. And fear Allāh; indeed, Allāh is severe in penalty.
Footnotes (2)
- Those of Banū Hāshim and Banū Muṭṭalib, whom he (ﷺ) had prohibited from accepting zakāh.
- This ruling concerning properties abandoned by an enemy without a war effort differs from that in Sūrah al-Anfāl, verse 41, which refers to spoils of war in which four fifths is distributed among those who fought in Allāh's cause.
The gift of the Messenger's sending and his mission
لَقَدۡ مَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَى ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ إِذۡ بَعَثَ فِيهِمۡ رَسُولٗا مِّنۡ أَنفُسِهِمۡ يَتۡلُواْ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ وَيُزَكِّيهِمۡ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ وَٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ وَإِن كَانُواْ مِن قَبۡلُ لَفِي ضَلَٰلٖ مُّبِينٍ ١٦٤
Laqad mannallāhu ʿalal-muʾminīna idh baʿatha fīhim rasūlam min anfusihim yatlū ʿalayhim āyātihī wa yuzakkīhim wa yuʿallimuhumul-kitāba wal-ḥikmata wa in kānū min qablu lafī ḍalālim mubīn.
Certainly did Allāh confer [great] favor upon the believers when He sent among them a Messenger from themselves, reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book [i.e., the Qur’ān] and wisdom,1 although they had been before in manifest error.
Footnotes (1)
- The Prophet's sunnah.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّ إِنَّآ أَرۡسَلۡنَٰكَ شَٰهِدٗا وَمُبَشِّرٗا وَنَذِيرٗا ٤٥
Yāʾayyuhan-nabiyyu innā arsalnāka shāhidaw wa mubashshiraw wa nadhīrā.
O Prophet, indeed We have sent you as a witness and a bringer of good tidings and a warner
وَدَاعِيًا إِلَى ٱللَّهِ بِإِذۡنِهِۦ وَسِرَاجٗا مُّنِيرٗا ٤٦
Wa dāʿiyan ilallāhi biʾidhnihī wa sirājam munīrā.
And one who invites to Allāh, by His permission, and an illuminating lamp.
هُوَ ٱلَّذِي بَعَثَ فِي ٱلۡأُمِّيِّـۧنَ رَسُولٗا مِّنۡهُمۡ يَتۡلُواْ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ وَيُزَكِّيهِمۡ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ وَٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ وَإِن كَانُواْ مِن قَبۡلُ لَفِي ضَلَٰلٖ مُّبِينٖ ٢
Huwal-ladhī baʿatha fil-ummiyyīna rasūlam minhum yatlū ʿalayhim āyātihī wa yuzakkīhim wa yuʿallimuhumul-kitāba wal-ḥikmata wa in kānū min qablu lafī ḍalālim mubīn.
It is He who has sent among the unlettered [Arabs] a Messenger from themselves reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book [i.e., the Qur’ān] and wisdom [i.e., the sunnah] - although they were before in clear error -