When sharing my understanding of the Prophet, it is usually one of the easiest things for me to write, as the bulk of what I say is just taken from the words that informed me in my coming to learn of the nature of the man. And those words have themselves been drawn from the words of generations that preceded them, back through 1400 years of history, words describing a character at the heart of every muslim culture that exists, or ever existed, in the world. 

[Qur'an, from the chapter called the Heights vv. 156-158]

My mercy embraces all things, and I shall prescribe it for those who are conscious of Me and spend in charity, and believe in Our signs, those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find described in the Torah and the Gospel, bidding them to honour and forbidding them dishonour, making lawful for them the good things and prohibiting for them corrupt things, and relieving them of their burdens and the shackles that were upon them. Those who believe in him and honour him and help him, and follow the light that has been sent down with him - it is they who will be the prosperers.

Say: "O mankind, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of God, to Whom belongs the kingdom of the heavens and of the earth. There is no god but He. He gives life, and makes to die. Believe then in God, and in His Messenger, the unlettered Prophet who believes in God and His words, and follow him; haply so you will be guided."

People have a tendency to argue a case by first defining the argument against it, saying "your trouble is that you believe this" and then demolishing that argument. That's O.K. if you got the argument right in the first place. Christians and muslims have been arguing their case for many centuries now, but the Crusades cast a shadow through history right up to the present day. War requires much misunderstanding and misinterpretation. Pseudo-translations of Qur'an were made and the Prophet was grotesquely misrepresented, but in war words often turn into propaganda. Unfortunately this mediaeval disinformation is still the basis for many people's view of Islam today.

Fortunately the University of Glasgow has a rather more enlightened view, and recognises that even to communicate, let alone argue, you also have to listen. So I talk to prospective Christian ministers about Islam, fully recognising that their calling makes it almost impossible for them to accept what I believe. Their view of the Prophet may be very different from mine, but what is most important for communication is not that they accept that my beliefs are objective truth, indeed they may agree with the mediaeval propaganda, but that they understand my viewpoint and the way it shapes my life.

Everybody wants to be loved, more than power and achievements it is the thing that gives satisfaction to our beings. Wouldn't we all like to feel that everyone we knew loved us, that they would give up their  possessions for us, and die to protect us. Surrounded by friends like that would we not be satisfied and happy. So whose example can we take as an example of this kind of life. The example that muslims take was patient, honest, just and chaste. He was the most generous of men, never asked for anything but that he gave it to the asker. He would prefer the seeker to himself and his family, and often went hungry because of it. He patched his own sandals and clothing, and did household chores. He was shy and would not stare into peoples faces.

He attended feasts and funerals, visited the sick, and walked among enemies without a guard. He was the humblest of men. He sat and ate with the poor. He tyrannized nobody and accepted the excuse of anyone who begged his pardon. He was always joyful and never awed by the affairs of this world. He joked, but only spoke the truth. He did not eat better food than his servants.

He refused to curse his enemies, saying "I was sent to forgive, not to curse". When asked to wish evil on anyone he blessed them instead. If there was a bed he slept on it, if not he reclined on the earth. One did not argue in his presence. He spoke only the truth. He was the most smiling and laughing of men.

His companion Ali said "Of all men he was the most generous, the most open-hearted, the most truthful, the most fulfilling of promise, the gentlest of temper, and the noblest towards his family. Whoever saw him unexpectedly was awed by him, and whoever knew him intimately loved him." His answer to his name was "At your service". His name was Muhammad.