Prophet Muhammad, may Allah grant and bless him peace, was an extremely humble person, without any iota of pride. This was despite the rank and position to which he was raised by Almighty Allah. It is reported that he was offered a choice from Allah through the Angel Israfil of being a king as a prophet or a worshipper as a prophet. He opted for the latter situation. The Angel gave him the good tiding, as the reward of this choice, which was the outcome of his humility, in the form of the master of the children of Adam on the Day of Resurrection; first to raise from the earth and first to be permitted to intercede for human beings.
Abu Umama reported that the Prophet came to them, leaning on his walking stick and they stood up to greet him. The Prophet forbade them from standing up, saying that that was the practice for showing respect prevalent in Persia. So, this need not be done in his case. He said, “I am a servant, I eat as a servantdoes and I sit like a servant.”
He visited poorest of the people without any aversion. He never said no to any invitation by any destitute, a servant as such. He ate whatever was offered to him by his invitees; be that bread made out of barley and bad quality of butter. He mixed easily with his companions like one of the friends. He rode on donkeys without any hesitation and would invite other persons to mount behind him on his ride.
He discouraged people from excessively praising him. He cited the case of Christians who praised Isa, the son of Mary, may Allah bestow peace upon them, to the extent of assigning divinity on him. As for him, the Prophet said that he is a worshipper (of Allah) and so he should be referred to as a Messenger and worshipper.
He never discouraged people from coming close to him and asking for anything they wanted. Once a lady, who was not of a sound mind, visited him for something she needed. The Prophet asked her to sit down there itself or proceed to any lane of Madinah as she preferred and express her needs, assuring that she would get what she wanted. The women sat down and then the Prophet also sat down and stayed with her until her needs were addressed.
When the Prophet visited Makkah on pilgrimage, the saddle of his mount was old and the cloth on that was worn out, worth only of four dirhams. At that time, he sacrificed one hundred camels which were fed to the inhabitants of Makkah.
The humility of the Prophet was such that when he entered Makkah as a conqueror with thousands of his followers, his head was bowing so low that it was almost touching the saddle of his mount.
It was his humility that he did not like to be compared with and preferred to earlier prophets like Musa. Once a person called him, “the best of creations.” He replied and said (in humility) ‘that was Ibrahim,’ may Allah bestow peace upon him.
His family members reported that he used to do the familial work with other members of his folks. He would mend and wash his clothes, repair his sandals, sweep the floors, hobble the camel by tying their legs and participate in other household chores. He would take his camels for grazing and go to the markets, carrying his own goods.
Once, a visitor trembled out of the awe of the Prophet. The prophet reassured him saying, “Relax! I am not a king. I am the son of a woman from Qurysh who ate dried meat.”
Abu Hurrayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported an incidence when he accompanied the Prophet to the market. The Prophet purchased clothes in market. Suddenly the man who was weighing the goods came forward to kiss the hands of the Prophet, which he pulled back, saying, “This is what the Persians do to their kings. I am not a king. I am one of you.” Afterwards, the Prophet took up the clothes he had purchased and carried it, saying, “The owner is more entitled to carry his property.”