—nor when his enemies multiplied and the peoples of the earth joined forces to fight him; on the contrary, he was the strongest of all creation, the calmest in nerve, and the most fearless in heart. On the Day of Uḥud, when his Companions were killed and wounded, he neither weakened nor yielded. Instead, the very next day, despite the severity of his own wounds, he went out in pursuit of the enemy, striking such dread into them that they retreated in disgrace, though their men and materiel were many and his Companions few. The same happened at Ḥunayn: he was left apart from the people with only a handful—fewer than ten—while thousands upon thousands surrounded him. He began to bound toward the enemy and proclaim:

I am the Prophet—no lie!
I am the son of ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib!

He advanced upon them, then took a handful of earth and hurled it at their faces, whereupon they turned and fled in rout. (1)(2)

Whoever studies his life and his battles will know that no one more courageous, more steadfast, or more patient has ever walked the earth. His Companions—though they were themselves the bravest of nations—would take cover behind him when the clash intensified and the battle grew fierce; he was always the one nearest to the enemy, and the bravest among them was the one who could stand closest to him. (3)

As for the phrase, “nor does he incline to frivolity,” so it was with him: he was the furthest of people from idle amusement or play. All of his affairs were seriousness, resolve, and determination; his gatherings were gatherings of modesty, generosity, knowledge, faith, dignity, and serenity.