When I was in Madinah, I bought a book Enjoy Your Life “The Art of Interpersonal Relations as Exemplified in The Prophet’s Biography” hoping to deepen my understanding of the Prophet’s life and teachings. Even though I’ve been a Muslim since birth, attended numerous Islamic lectures, and listened to many podcasts about the life of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), this book offered me fresh perspectives on the Islamic practices exemplified by the Prophet.
The book, authored by Dr. Muhammad ‘Abdur-Rahman al-‘Areefy, is an English translation of his work from Arabic. Dr. al-‘Areefy is a respected scholar, da’i (preacher), and author from Saudi Arabia. In the foreword, he shares that his inspiration for writing this book came from reading Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People. He researched Islamic history and uncovered stories that showcase the art of dealing with people in Islamic ways.
Reading this book in Madinah felt particularly special. Sometimes I read it between Maghrib and Isya prayer time. It brought me closer to the Prophet (SAW) as Dr. al-‘Areefy presented a practical and systematic guide to self-improvement enriched with historical incidents from the Prophet’s time.
One chapter that resonated with me is titled “Don’t Blame Me! What Has Happened Has Happened.” It recounts an incident where one of the Prophet’s companions overslept and failed to wake the group for Fajr prayer. To my surprise, instead of showing anger, the Prophet responded with understanding and grace. This story highlights the beauty of Islam and reminds us of the hadith: “Whenever you forget the salah, pray it as soon as you remember it” (Muslim and Malik).
The book is full of such gems. It’s a reminder of how much we can learn from the life of Rasulullah (SAW) and apply his teachings in our daily lives.
