Prophet Muhammad was literally addicted to Fasting, Praying and Prostrating (bowing down) to GOD Almighty!
The sections of this article are:
1- Prophet Muhammad constantly Praying.
2- Prophet Muhammad Fasting more than the Month of Ramadan.
3- Prophet Muhammad's Generosity.
One would wonder, how can a false prophet spend most of his time Fasting (not eating nor
drinking from sun rise to sun set) and Praying (doing physical prostration and reciting
the Noble Quran to GOD Almighty)? If he was false, he would be spending most of his
time enjoying life and its pleasures and slowly and surely expose himself. Not only
was Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, addicted to Praying and Fasting,
but he also was very generous and was big on giving almost everything he had to the poor
and needy.
Let us look at the following narrations:
1- Prophet Muhammad constantly Praying:
Narrated 'Aisha: "(the wife of the Prophet) Allah's Apostle used to get up at night and pray while I used to lie across between him and the Qibla on his family's bed. (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 9, Number 494)"
Narrated Abu Murra: "(the freed slave of Um Hani) Um Hani, the daughter of Abi Talib said, "I went to Allah's Apostle in the year of the conquest of Mecca and found him taking a bath and his daughter Fatima was screening him. I greeted him. He asked, 'Who is she?' I replied, 'I am Um Hani bint Abi Talib.' He said, 'Welcome! O Um Hani.' When he finished his bath he stood up and prayed eight Rakat at while wearing a single garment wrapped round his body and when he finished I said, 'O Allah's Apostle ! My brother has told me that he will kill a person whom I gave shelter and that person is so and so the son of Hubaira.' The Prophet said, 'We shelter the person whom you have sheltered.' " Um Ham added, "And that was before noon (Duha)." (Translation of Sahih Bukhar, Volume 1, Book 8, Number 353)"
Narrated Said bin Al-Harith: "I asked Jabir bin 'Abdullah about praying in a single garment. He said, "I travelled with the Prophet during some of his journeys, and I came to him at night for some purpose and I found him praying. At that time, I was wearing a single garment with which I covered my shoulders and prayed by his side. When he finished the prayer, he asked, 'O Jabir! What has brought you here?' I told him what I wanted. When I finished, he asked, 'O Jabir! What is this garment which I have seen and with which you covered your shoulders?' I replied, 'It is a (tight) garment.' He said, 'If the garment is large enough, wrap it round the body (covering the shoulders) and if it is tight (too short) then use it as an Izar (tie it around your waist only.)' " (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 8, Number 357)"
Narrated Mughira bin Shu'ba: "Once I was traveling with the Prophet and he said, "O Mughira! take this container of water." I took it and Allah's Apostle went far away till he disappeared. He answered the call of nature and was wearing a Syrian cloak. He tried to take out his hands from its sleeve but it was very tight so he took out his hands from under it. I poured water and he performed ablution like that for prayers and passed his wet hands over his Khuff (leather socks) and then prayed. (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 8, Number 359)"
Narrated Anas bin Malik: "Once Allah's Apostle fell off a horse and his leg or shoulder got injured. He swore that he would not go to his wives for one month and he stayed in a Mashruba (attic room) having stairs made of date palm trunks. So his companions came to visit him, and he led them in prayer sitting, whereas his companions were standing. When he finished the prayer, he said, "Imam is meant to be followed, so when he says 'Allahu Akbar,' say 'Allahu Akbar' and when he bows, bow and when he prostrates, prostrate and if he prays standing pray, standing. After the 29th day the Prophet came down (from the attic room) and the people asked him, "O Allah's Apostle! You swore that you will not go to your wives for one month." He said, "The month is 29 days." (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 8, Number 375)"
Two side points to elaborate on:
1- At one point, the Prophet, peace be upon him, had an issue with all of his wives, because they played dirty plot on him by making him eat food that caused offensive odor to come out of his body. For this Allah Almighty Sent a Warning to his wives:
"It may be, if he divorced you (all), that God will give him in exchange consorts better than you,- who submit (their wills), who believe, who are devout, who turn to God in repentance, who worship (in humility), who travel (for Faith) and fast,- previously married or virgins. (The Noble Quran, 66:5)"
For more details, please visit: What does Islam say about bad breath and body smell? Read section #5.
2- The Islamic month is 29 days. That is why the Holy Month of Ramadan sometimes comes during the summer and sometimes comes during the winter, because it advances approximately 12 days every year from its previous one. The Muslims year is approximately 11 1/2 months.
For more details, please visit: What is Fasting in Islam? And what is the Wisdom behind it? What is Ramadan?
Narrated Mujahid: "Someone came to Ibn 'Umar and said,
"Here is Allah's Apostle entering the Ka'ba." Ibn 'Umar said, "I went there
but the Prophet had come out of the Ka'ba and I found Bilal standing between its two
doors. I asked Bilal, 'Did the Prophet pray in the Ka'ba?' Bilal replied, 'Yes,
he prayed two Rakat between the two pillars which are to your left on
entering the Ka'ba. Then Allah's Apostle came out and offered a two-Rak'at
prayer facing the Ka'ba.'" (Translation
of Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 8, Number 390)"
Narrated 'Abdullah: "The Prophet prayed (and the subnarrator Ibrahim said, "I do not know whether he prayed more or less than usual"), and when he had finished the prayers he was asked, "O Allah's Apostle! Has there been any change in the prayers?" He said, "What is it?' The people said, "You have prayed so much and so much." So the Prophet bent his legs, faced the Qibla and performed two prostrations (of Sahu, or correction in case a mistake was done) and finished his prayers with Tasiim (by turning his face to right and left saying: 'As-Salamu'Alaikum-Warahmat-ullah'). When he turned his face to us he said, "If there had been anything changed in the prayer, surely I would have informed you but I am a human being like you and liable to forget like you. So if I forget remind me and if anyone of you is doubtful about his prayer, he should follow what he thinks to be correct and complete his prayer accordingly and finish it and do two prostrations (of Sahu)." (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 8, Number 394)"
Narrated 'Abdullah: ""Once the Prophet offered five Rakat in Zuhr prayer. He was asked, "Is there an increase in the prayer?" The Prophet said, "And what is it?" They said, "You have prayed five Rakat.' So he bent his legs and performed two prostrations (of Sahu, or correction in case a mistake was done). (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 8, Number 398)"
Narrated 'Itban bin Malik: "The Prophet came to my house and said, "Where do you like me to pray?" I pointed to a place. The Prophet then said, "Allahu Akbar", and we aligned behind him and he offered a two-Rak'at prayer. (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 8, Number 416)"
Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah: "I went to the Prophet in the mosque (the sub-narrator Mas'ar thought that Jabir had said, "In the forenoon.") He ordered me to pray two Rakat. He owed me some money and he repaid it to me and gave more than what was due to me. (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 8, Number 434)"
Note: More on the generosity of the Prophet in the third section below.
Narrated Abu Huraira: "Allah's Apostle said, "The angels keep on asking Allah's forgiveness for anyone of you, as long as he is at his Mu,salla (praying place) and he does not pass wind (Hadath). They say, 'O Allah! Forgive him, O Allah! be Merciful to him." (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 8, Number 436)"
Narrated Abu Huraira: "A black man or a black woman used to sweep the mosque and he or she died. The Prophet asked about her (or him). He was told that she (or he) had died. He said, "Why did you not inform me? Show me his grave (or her grave)." So he went to her (his) grave and offered her (his) funeral prayer." (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 8, Number 448)"
Narrated Ubai bin Ka'b: "I asked Allah's Apostle about a man who engages in sexual intercourse with his wife but does not discharge. He replied, "He should wash the parts which comes in contact with the private parts of the woman, perform ablution and then pray." (Abu 'Abdullah said, "Taking a bath is safer and is the last order."). (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 5, Number 292)"
Note: Even after sex one should Pray!
Narrated Abu Huraira: "Allah's Apostle said, "The prayer of a person who does ,Hadath (passes, urine, stool or wind) is not accepted till he performs (repeats) the ablution." A person from Hadaramout asked Abu Huraira, "What is 'Hadath'?" Abu Huraira replied, " 'Hadath' means the passing of wind from the anus." (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 4, Number 137)"
There are literally tens if not hundreds or even thousands of narrations that I can
provide that further prove that Prophet Muhammad, peace, mercy and blessings be upon him,
was so big on Praying to Allah Almighty and Glorifying Him everyday, constantly and
consistently, but I believe that the above narrations are sufficient enough to prove the
point.
2- Prophet Muhammad Fasting (not eating or drinking from sun rise till sun set) more than the Month of Ramadan:
Narrated Anas: "Allah's Apostle used to leave fasting in a certain month till we thought that he would not fast in that month, and he used to fast in another month till we thought he would not stop fasting at all in that month. And if one wanted to see him praying at night, one could see him (in that condition), and if one wanted to see him sleeping at night, one could see him (in that condition) too. (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 193)"
Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'As: "Once Allah's Apostle came to me," and then he narrated the whole narration, i.e. your guest has a right on you, and your wife has a right on you. I then asked about the fasting of David. The Prophet replied, "Half of the year," (i.e. he used to fast on every alternate day). (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 195)"
Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr: "Allah's Apostle was informed that I had taken an oath to fast daily and to pray (every night) all the night throughout my life (so Allah's Apostle came to me and asked whether it was correct): I replied, "Let my parents be sacrificed for you! I said so." The Prophet said, "You can not do that. So, fast for few days and give it up for few days, r ray and sleep. Fast three days a month as the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times and that will be equal to one year of fasting." I replied, "I can do better than that." The Prophet said to me, "Fast one day and give up fasting for a day and that is the fasting of Prophet David and that is the best fasting." I said, "I have the power to fast better (more) than that." The Prophet said, "There is no better fasting than that." (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 197)"
Narrated Muslim al-Qurashi: "I asked or someone asked the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) about perpetual fasting. He replied: You have a duty to your family. Fast during Ramadan and the following month, and every Wednesday and Thursday. You will then have observed a perpetual fast. (Translation of Sahih Muslim, Book 13, Number 2426)"
Narrated Umm Salamah, Ummul Mu'minin: "Hunaydah al-Khuza'i reported on the authority of her mother who said: I entered upon Umm Salamah and asked her about fasting. She said: The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) used to command me to fast three days every month beginning with Monday or Thursday. (Translation of Sahih Muslim, Book 13, Number 2446)"
For more details on Fasting, please visit: What is Fasting in Islam? And what is the Wisdom behind it? What is Ramadan?
3- Prophet Muhammad's Generosity:
Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah: "I went to the Prophet in the mosque (the sub-narrator Mas'ar thought that Jabir had said, "In the forenoon.") He ordered me to pray two Rakat. He owed me some money and he repaid it to me and gave more than what was due to me. (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 8, Number 434)"
Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah: "The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) owed me a debt and gave me something extra when he paid it. (Translation of Sunan Abu-Dawud, Book 22, Number 3341)"
Narrated Abu Huraira: "The Prophet owed a camel of a certain age to a man who came to demand it back. The Prophet ordered his companions to give him. They looked for a camel of the same age but found nothing but a camel one year older. The Prophet told them to give it to him. The man said, "You have paid me in full, and may Allah pay you in full." The Prophet said, "The best amongst you is he who pays his debts in the most handsome manner." (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 41, Number 578)"
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported: "Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) owed (something) to a person. He behaved in an uncivil manner with him. This vexed the Companions of the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him), whereupon Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: He who has a right is entitled to speak, and said to them (his Companions): Buy a camel for him and give that to him. They said: We do not find a camel (of that age) but one with better age than that. He said: Buy that and give that to him, for best of you or best amongst you are those who are best in paying off debt. (Translation of Sahih Muslim, Book 010, Number 3898)"
(http://www.answering-christianity.com/prophet_muhammad_generosity.htm)
Allah, Islam, Quran, Muhammad questions and answers.
Prophet Muhammad's generosity.
What is Fasting in Islam? And what is the Wisdom behind it? What is Ramadan?
What does Islam say about bad breath and body smell?