Life-of-Muhammad

Life of Muhammad sa 231you in the way of food, and clothe her with that whichGod bestows upon you in the way of clothes and do notchastise her nor abuse her nor put her out of yourhouse." He was so careful of the feelings and sentimentsof women that he always exhorted those who had to goupon a journey to finish their errands quickly andreturn home as soon as possible so that their wives andchildren should not suffer separation longer than wasnecessary. Whenever he returned from a journey healways came home during the day-time. If he foundnight approaching towards the end of his journey, hewould camp outside Medina for the night and enter itnext morning. He also told his Companions that whenthey returned from a journey they should not comehome suddenly without notice of their return (Bukhariand Muslim). In giving this direction he had in mind thefact that the relations between the sexes are largelygoverned by sentiment. In the absence of the husband awife may often neglect the care of her body and of herdress and if the husband were to return homeunexpectedly the finer sentiments of the wife or thehusband might be upset. By giving the direction thatwhen a man returns from a journey he should contriveto arrive home during the day-time and after intimationto the members of his family of his return, he ensuredthat the members of his family would be ready to receivethe returning member in a befitting manner.ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE DEADHe enjoined that every person should make a willconcerning the regulation of his affairs after his death sothat those connected with him should suffer theminimum of inconvenience after his demise.He laid down that no man should speak ill of aperson who was dead but that whatever of good he hadpossessed should be emphasized, for no benefit couldresult to anybody from mentioning the weaknesses orvices of the deceased but by emphasizing his virtues