Muhammad The Great Exemplar — Page 8
Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad 8 which elevated him well above the general mass of people, the Holy Prophet sa never sought to subdue his natural emotions. From within his high rank and status, cheerful human sentiments would emanate with such felicity that those who came to see him expecting a grave and pensive leader, were astonished by his smiling countenance and joviality. Often as he sat among his companions and instructed them on his sublime teachings, the Prophet sa would lighten the mood with humorous anecdotes and even engage in harmless and playful banter. When children approached him, he would narrate to them stories of birds, and sometimes to make them laugh, he would sprinkle drops of water on them. In his domestic life, he would entertain his family members with fables popular among the Arabs. Yet he would always caution against amusement which belittles or hurts the sentiments of others; humour ought not to become a constant and inveterate habit and laughter should not be undertaken for its own sake, but rather when one is disposed to it; and stories and jokes ought to be rooted in truth, rather than falsity, so that the lesser emotions do not subdue the higher ones. Cleanliness is one of the essential requirements of human life. That is, to maintain the hygiene of the body, face and clothes and to use fragrances that are pleasing to one’s sense of smell rather than abhorrent