The Prophetic Example in Worldly Matters

Whenever he advised his Companions concerning matters related to food, drink, or medicine, he would take into consideration the extent of their knowledge and experience. When you order people to oppose the customs and traditions of their time, then it becomes a case of mandating upon people that which they would be incapable of. An example of this type is the ḥadīth which was questioned about, which was related by Bukhārī and Muslim from Saʿd b. Abī Waqāṣ that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “Whoever eats seven ʿajwah dates of Madīnah, no magic or poison shall harm him.”
This ḥadīth does not mean that people should eat these dates followed by drinking poison, while believing that it would not harm them. That would be a faulty understanding and a case of implicating the ḥadīth with a meaning it does not contain. The meaning is that the Prophet, peace be upon him, intended to lift the spirits of his Companions, who were greatly worried about their enemies’ efforts to harm them by means of magic and poisoning. The Prophet, peace be upon him, did not want them to waste their time endlessly discussing the intrigues of the Jews and others, for God was enough to put an end to their intrigues. So he suggested to them the best types of dates of Madīnah because of the healthy nourishment they contained. He was essentially combining religious medicine (worship and reliance on God) and physical medicine (the best nourishment available for them).

There is no doubt that beliefs have a powerful effect upon treatment, such that many doctors, who are neither Prophetic nor pious, can prescribe medications for diseases without possessing any evidence for their effects, and yet they still manage to benefit others. This is well-known by experience. Then what about the prescriptions of the Prophet, peace be upon him, whom people believed in and recognized as a trusted adviser? In fact, they loved him more than their own-selves, parents, children or anyone else for that matter.
This ḥadīth contains two matters concerning the Prophetic sunnah of guidance: to advise people truthfully and sincerely, and to guide them to that which was most suitable for their time and place. It was not to advocate ʿajwah dates except for the people of Madīnah of that specific time. As for people in other places and eras, it is not for them to treat themselves with ʿajwah dates. Rather, they are to pursue those medicines and treatments that which is most appropriate for their time and place. Only when they do that are they following the example of the Prophet, peace be upon him.

The Prophetic Example in Worldly Matters

It should be entirely clear, without any misgivings, that the Prophet, peace be upon him, was distinguished by his absolute sincerity to God and sincere counsel towards his people. No doubt this also included his guidance and instructions concerning worldly matters. He treated people with the most refined character and best conduct, a lofty status which could not be reached by anyone else. He represented a true model for scholars and wise persons, in that when they counsel people in their worldly matters, they should follow his practice of sincerity of purpose, good counsel, character and conduct.

Love for the Prophet

Because of his being adorned with great sincerity to His Lord, genuine care for his ummah, elevated character and virtuous conduct in his interactions with people, the ummah in return loved him in a way that was unparalleled. Surely love for him is a part of faith. Therefore, people honored him and respected all of his instructions, even those that touched on worldly matters. As for those of his instructions which they could not completely comprehend, they still strove to place them in a position that was appropriate to his noble status (i.e. they treated his worldly instructions like his religious instructions). This was a lofty position that God does not grant save to the believer, the one with an abundant share (i.e. the Prophet).