الأسوة الحسنة
al-Uswa al-Ḥasana
Topic
The good example of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), which Muslims follow in worship, conduct and character.
What it means
The Quran says, “You have in the Messenger of God a good example for whoever hopes for God and the Last Day and remembers God often” (33:21). Uswa means a model to be followed, and ḥasana means good. The example of Muhammad (peace be upon him) is preserved in the hadith and in the biography, and it forms the Sunnah. Aisha, his wife, is reported to have said that his character was the Quran (Sahih Muslim). Muslims look to his example in devotion, justice, patience and kindness.
Often misunderstood as
The example is sometimes reduced to dress and appearance, yet the Quranic model covers conduct and character as well.
Term and Arabic as listed in Ismail al Faruqi, Toward Islamic English (International Institute of Islamic Thought, 1995), p. 64, listed as AL USWAH AL ḤASANAH. The definition is restated here.