Islam - Its Meaning for Modern Man — Page 109
109 said: “Ayesha, God has been so profuse in bestowing His bounties upon me that it behoves me to be the most grateful of His servants. ” The character of his domestic life may be gathered from one of his own well-known sayings: “The best among you is he who treats the members of his family best. ” He constantly exhorted his people toward moderation in all respects. Noticing that some were inclined to carry austerity to the extreme, and to occupy themselves so much with prayer and fasting that they were apt to neglect their normal obligations, and to injure their health, he admonished them thus: “I fear God more than any of you fear Him, yet I fast and I eat; I pray and I discharge all my obligations toward my family and my people. It is not right to carry any matter to the extreme. God loves best those acts of worship and piety which, though moderate, are carried out without being felt a burden. Having performed what is prescribed, pray and fast and worship God while you may do so cheerfully; stop when your spirit or your body begins to feel the strain. ” He did not disdain humour and with all his grave preoccupations did not altogether neglect the lighter side of life. On one occasion when he was sitting at home with Ayesha, an old woman came to visit her. Thinking that it was a good opportunity to ask a favour of the Prophet, the visitor begged him to