It was the practice of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
"The people who came near him (peace and blessings be upon him) were neither pushed away nor beaten."
Hadith Referenceصحیح الجامع الصغیر / حرف الكاف / 4850
Hadith Gradingالألبانی:صحيح
Hadith Takhrij[طب] عن ابن عباس. الصحيحة ٢١٠٧: حم، د.