The Prophet’s forbearance, modesty and integrity

Despite the fact that Allah (SWT) offered him the keys to the treasures of the entire world, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) lived a modest life. He would seldom partake in the delight and pastime of this world; even when he did, he would only take a little. Imam Nawawe said in his Tahdheb al-Asma wa lughaat […]

Despite the fact that Allah (SWT) offered him the keys to the treasures of the entire world, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) lived a modest life. He would seldom partake in the delight and pastime of this world; even when he did, he would only take a little.
Imam Nawawe said in his Tahdheb al-Asma wa lughaat that it was established in the hadith that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) would sometimes feel the pangs of hunger so much that he would tie a rock firmly on his stomach. And many nights would pass without a cooking fire being lit in his house because there was nothing to cook.
But despite this, he would wear a smiling face most of the times. He would sometimes laugh such that his molar teeth showed. He joked, but would not say anything but the truth.  
He loved scents and hated distasteful smells, and he would accept perfume as gift from people.
His censuring would consist of his alluding and hinting at something or someone, without mentioning the name of the person in public. For example, he used to say: “what is the matter with people that they set conditions that are not in the Book of Allah, the Exalted?”(Bukhari and Muslim)
He would command with gentleness and he would also encourage gentleness while prohibiting rudeness and harshness. He would encourage forgiveness, clemency and all virtuous morals and manners.
Anas bin Malik (AS) narrated: “While we were in the masjid with the Messenger of Allah, a Bedouin came; he then urinated in the masjid.
“The Companions of the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Mah Mah (an expression used to severely scold someone, to indicate the graveness of a matter).’
“The Messenger of Allah said, ‘Do not put a halt to his urinating, but instead leave him.”
“They left him alone until he finished urinating.
The Messenger of Allah called him over and said to him, ‘Any kind of urine or filth is not suitable for these mosques. Instead they are only [appropriate] for the remembrance of Allah, the Prayer, and the recitation of the Qur’an,’ or this is near to what the Messenger of Allah said.
He (SAW) then issued an order to a man from the people, who then came with a bucket of water, which he poured over the [effected] area [of the masjid]. Muslim]
In another narration related by Abu Hurairah, a Bedouin once entered in the masjid, while the Prophet was seated inside. The Bedouin prayed, and when he finished he said, “O Allah, have mercy on me and on Muhammad, and do not have mercy on anyone other than us.”
The Prophet turned to him and said, “You have indeed constricted that which is vast.”
Then not too much time passed before the Bedouin urinated in the masjid. The sahabah rushed towards him, and the Prophet (SAW) said, “Pour a bucketful of water on it (i.e., on the affected area).” He (SAW) then said, “Verily, you were sent only to make matters easy, and you were not sent to make matters difficult.”[Tirmidhi, Ahmad. Tirmidhi said, “This hadith is Hasan Sahih”. Ahmad Shaakir (7254) said, “Its chain is authentic.”]
And the following is in another narration: After he understood [the wrong which he had done], the Bedouin said, “The Prophet (SAW) stood before me – may my mother and father be ransom for him – and he (SAW) neither cursed nor scolded nor hit [me]”[Related by Ahmad 2/503. Ahmad Shaakir (10540) said, “Its chain is authentic.”]