Actually we look both to Jesus' teachings and to his practice. He was flawless in both. He was a carpenter, he earned His own living. That is something to be followed.
Also, my understanding of the koran and the rest of the islamic writings is that every aspect of mohammed's life was to be emulated.
And this is as metaphoric in Islam as is in Christianty. You are not expected to live exactly like Mohammed just as not all Christian is expected to live exactly like Jesus by being carpenter and living in desert and dying as martyr and whatnot. You cannot impose flexibility in analysis of your own religion while holder stricter scruples to others.