It is impossible to turn a blind eye to the fact that Beloved Prophet Muhammad (Praise and Peace be upon Him) is by far the most worthy and the greatest of all mankind, and that he is the most perfect of all, adorned with the most excellent virtues and qualities.
وأحسن منك لم تر قط عيني
I haven’t seen the lovely personality like youوأجمل منك لم تلد النساء
And no mother have given birth to such a wonderful personalityخُلِقْتَ مبرءاً من كل عيب
You are created free from every faultكأنك قد خُلِقْتَ كما تشاء
You were created, as you wanted to be
His physical description and character have been reported by many of his Companions and we are told that he was the most handsome man ever created, surpassing Prophet Yousuf Alaihis Salam for whom the women of the city cut their hands,
فلما سمعت بمكرهن ارسلت اليهن واعتدت لهن متكا واتت كل واحدة منهن سكينا وقالت اخرج عليهن فلما راينه اكبرنه وقطعن ايديهن وقلن حاش لله ما هذا بشرا ان هذا الا ملك كريم
And when she heard of their secret talk, she sent for them and prepared cushioned mattresses for them and gave a knife to each one of them and said to Yusuf, “Come out before them!” When the women saw him they praised him and cut their hands, and said, “Purity is to Allah – this is no human being; this is not but an honorable angel!” [Surah al-Yousuf, Verse 31]
Sayyiduna wa Mawlana Rasoolullah Sallallaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam
- His complexion was radiant.
- His eyes were black… deep… widely set and naturally mascaraed with a slight tinge of pink… accentuated by long eyelashes.
- His nose was distinctive.
- His teeth evenly spaced.
- His face was round with a broad forehead.
- His beard was thick and reached his chest.
- As for his chest and abdomen they were equal in size.
- His shoulders were broad as was his chest.
- His bones were large as were his arms.
- The palms of his hands were thick as were the soles of his feet.
- His fingers were long and his skin tone fair.
- The hair between his chest and navel was fine.
- He was of medium stature… however, when a tall person walked by his side the Prophet (Praise and Peace be upon Him) appeared to be the taller.
- As for his hair it was neither curly nor straight.
- When he laughed his teeth were visible like a flash of lightning or they have been described as white as hailstones.
- His neck was balanced, neither broad nor fat, as for his body it was firm and did not lack firmness.
Sayings of the N0ble Companions
about the beloved Prophet’s blessed Physic
The following sayings are but a fraction of the multi narrations of the Companion’s description of the Prophet (Praise and Peace be upon Him) although they are but a sampling, they are sufficient to convey the perception of his handsomeness. Everyone who met him said they had never seen anyone like him.
When the Companion Sayyiduna Bar’a Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho saw a lock of the Prophet’s hair resting on his red robe he commented,
ما رأيت من ذي لمة في حلة حمراء أحسن من رسول
“I have never seen anyone with a more beautiful lock of hair than his resting on a red robe.”
Sunan Darimi, Vol. 1, Page 35
Dalail an-Nabuwwah lil Bayhaqi, Vol. 1, Page 315
Shamail Tirmidhi, Page 3
Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho said,
ما رأيت شيئا أحسن من رسول الله ، كأن الشمس تجري في وجهه ، وإذا ضحك يتلألأ في الجدر
“I have never seen anyone more handsome than the Messenger of Allah, it was as though the sun was shining upon his face and when he laughed it reflected from the wall.”
Musnad Imam Ahmad, Vol. 2, Page 350
Ibne Hibban, Vol. 8, Page 74
Muwahib al Laduniyah, Vol. 1, Page 271
Anwaarul Muhammadiyah, Page 133
Hashia Shamail Tirmidhi, Page 16
Sharha Shifa Mula Ali Qari, Hashia Naeemur Riyadh. Vol. 1 Page 338
Madarijun Nabuwwah (Persian) Page 12
Hujatullahi Ala al-Alameen, Page 689
The beloved companion of the Prophet (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) Hadrat Anas (Radi Allahu Anhu) states,
لما كان اليوم الذى دخل فيه رسول الله المدينة أضاء منها كل شىء
“The day on which Prophet (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) arrived in Madinatul Munawwara. It was His Noor through which every thing in Madinatul Munawwara became bright.”
Sunan Tirmidhi, Vol. 2, Page 202, Hadith 3978
Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 5, Page 201, Hadith 1700
Mishkaat al-Masabih, Page 547
Tabqaat ibn Sa’ad, Vol. 1, Page 221
Muwahibul ladaniyah, Vol. 1, Page 68
Anwaar al Muhammadiyah, Page 38
Seerate Halbia, Vol. 2, Page 234
Jawahir al Bihar, Page 60
Khasaisul Kubra, Vol. 1, Page 471
Madarijun Nabuiwah, Vol. 2, Page 81
Mustadrik, Vol. 3, Page 12
Ibn Asakir narrates from the Mother of the Believers, Sayyidah Ayeshah Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anha:
كنت أخيط في السحر فسقطت مني الابرة فطلبتها فلم أقدر عليها فدخل رسول الله فتبينت الإبرة بشعاع نور وجهه
“I was sewing when the needle fell. Despite searching, I was unable to find it. It was just then that the Messenger of Allah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) came. From the light emanating from the Prophet’s blessed face, I was able to see the needle..” [Khasais al-Kubra, Vol. 1, Page 109 | Sharha Shifa Hashiya Naseem ar-Riyadh]
Someone asked Jabir Ibn Samura Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho,
كان وجهه مثل السيف ؟ فقال : لا ، بل مثل الشمس ، والقمر ، وكان مستديرا
“Was his face like a sword?” He replied, “No, it was like the sun and the moon, and round.” [Sahih Muslim, Vol. 4, Page 1823]
Your face is as bright as the full moon
Let your grace and light fall on me soon
Umm Ma’bad Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anha, the lady from whom the description of the Prophet (Praise and Peace be upon Him) was more profuse, said,
أجمل الناس من بعيد ، وأحلاه ، وأحسنه من قريب
“Even from a distance he was the most beautiful of people, and as he drew near it was apparent that he was the most handsome.” [Dalail an-Nabuwwah lil Bayhaqi, Vol. 1, Page 279]
Abi Hala’s son said,
يتلألأ وجهه تلألؤ القمر ليلة البدر
“His face glowed like the full moon.” [Shamail Tirmidhi, Page 21]
SallAllahu Alaihi wa Aalihi wa SaHbihi wa Baraaka wa Sallam
Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu states,
إذا تكلم رئى كالنور يخرج من بين ثناياه
“When the Beloved of Allah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) used to speak then noor could be seen emerging from between his blessed teeth.”
Sunan Darimi, Vol. 1, Page 70, Hadith 59
Shamail Tirmidhi, Vol. 1, Page 16
The fourth khalifa of Islam, Hadrat Sayyiduna Mawla Ali al-Murtuda may Allah honor his face, said at the end of his description of the Prophet (Praise and Peace be upon Him)
من رآه بديهة هابه ، ومن خالطه معرفة أحبه ، يقول ناعته : لم أر قبله ، ولا بعده مثله
“Anyone who came upon him by chance became filled with timidity towards of him and those who kept company with him loved him.” [Shamail Tirmidhi, Page 21]
None like you was ever seen or created;
Authority stands in your person consummated.
May Allah illuminate my heart and yours, and increase our love for this Noble Prophet Praise and Peace be upon Him and keep us firm on the Maslak-e-Haqq Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah… Aameen!!
Excerpted from:
Al-Shifa bi Ta’rifi Huqooqil Mustafa, Part 1, Section 2
by Imam Qadhi Iyad al-Maliki Alaihir raHmah wa ar-Ridwan.