This ḥadīth yields several lessons:

1. The Prophet ﷺ was celebrated for his mercy and gentleness; he was the most merciful of people toward people and the kindest of people toward people. So compassionate was he that a little girl from Madinah could take him by the hand and lead him wherever she wished so that he might attend to her need—and an elderly woman could do the same. In sum, he ﷺ surpassed everyone in mercy and kindness.

2. One should make the feelings of others one’s own and not be selfish, forgetting others once one’s own affairs are settled. Allah’s Messenger ﷺ was at ease among his family, mind tranquil and heart content. Yet those young men who had come to learn the religion naturally longed for their families. When he noticed their homesickness, asked about those they had left behind, and heard their replies, he instructed them to return to their people. You, therefore, ought to share the feelings of others and put yourself in their place, dealing with them as you would like to be dealt with yourself.

3. A person should remain with his family whenever he can; he should not estrange himself or stay away for long. Indeed, the Messenger ﷺ instructed the traveler that once he has fulfilled the purpose of his journey, he should hurry back to his family, because