The Prophet was also the most generous of people

The
Prophet was also the most generous of people

The
Prophet was also the most generous of people. He liked to
distribute whatever he had. After Prophethood he and his
wealthy wife Khadija spent everything they had in the way
of God. When Khadija, may God be pleased with her, died,
they had no money to buy a shroud, and God’s Messenger,
upon him be peace and blessings, had to borrow money in
order to bury the first person to embrace Islam and his
first supporter.

According
to the Prophet, the world is like a tree under which
people sit to be shaded during a long journey. No one can
live forever in the world, so people must make in the
world the necessary preparation for the second part of the
journey which will end either in Paradise or Hell. The
mission of God’s Messenger, upon him be peace and
blessings, was to guide people to truth, so he would spend
whatever he had, his life, and his possessions, to this
end. Once ‘Umar, upon him be peace and blessings, saw
him lying on a rough mat and wept, saying: ‘O Messenger
of God! While kings sleep in soft weather beds, you are
lying on a rough mat. You are the Messenger of God and
therefore deserve more than any other people an easy
life.’ The Messenger answered him: Do you not agree that
[the luxuries of] the world be theirs but those of the
Hereafter ours?
Islam
does not approve of monastic life. It came to secure
justice and the well-being of mankind, but warns people
against over-indulgence. It is for this reason that many
Muslims have chosen an ascetic life. Although the Muslims
generally became rich after the death of the Messenger,
upon him be peace and blessings, some like the Caliphs Abu
Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Ali preferred an austere life. This
was partly because they felt to live as the poorest of
their people and partly because they chose to strictly
follow the Prophet’s example