This article talks in short about some of the prevailing customs, the habits and the ways of behaving of the Prophet Muhammad. How were His Manners, Gentleness and Tactfulness?

How did Muhammad repel evil?

Aisha, Muhammad wife, stated that, ‘The Prophet never used foul language and never entertained people with obscene jokes. He was well behaved when he entered the market places. His habit was not to repel evil with mutual evil. He was forgiving and could grant pardon.'

The Prophet Muhammad's conduct

Husayn the grandson of the Prophet asked his father, Imam Ali, about the Prophet's conduct.

Imam Ali replied, 'He was always cheerful, gentle and mild. There was no rigidity or coarseness in his conduct. He was neither a faultfinder nor a boisterous person and he steered away from any kind of futile engagement.'

Muhammad and the intention to dishonour and defame

Tirmidhi, one of the collectors of Muhammad's Hadiths said that the Prophet used to encourage the achievers and He never deprived anybody of hope. He abstained from boasting, hoarding wealth and involvement in matters that did not concern him as well as from using sharp reproaches and exposing people with the intention to dishonour and defame.

How does Muhammad talk and listen

In addition, Tirmidhi describes how the Prophet Muhammad talks, listens to the others and how His fellows listen to him.  Tirmidhi says,

While speaking, he addressed matters constructively with the objective of good for all. His audience remained quite as they gave him their full attention.

It is said that Birds could sit on their heads because they kept motionless during their listening to the Prophet.  None of his listeners would interrupt while he spoke. They waited until he completed his talk and the person who wanted to participate or ask a question was allowed to address the group first, followed by the second and the third and so on.  The Participants were treated with respect - each was allowed to finish his statement without objection or interference - and everybody would listen to him attentively. It happened many times that some visitors who were newly comers to Islam were harsh as they questioned the Prophet about Islam, but he was always polite and tolerant towards them. When a person spoke in his company, he would not object unless the person spoke incorrectly, and then he would either stop the speaker or stand up and leave the conversation.