The Prophet's Attributes and Manners

The Prophet's Attributes and Manners

by Shaykh Safi ur-Rahmân al-Mubarakpoori
From "The Sealed Nectar"
Credit to Islam's Youth Voice

Translation: In the Name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful

The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam combined both perfection of creation and perfection of manners.

Men's dignity, devotion and estimation of the Messenger of Allâh sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam were unique and matchless. No other man in the whole world has been so honoured and beloved. Those who knew him well, were fascinated and enchanted by him. They were ready to sacrifice their lives for the sake of saving a nail of his, from hurt or injury.

BEAUTY OF CREATION

Describing the Messenger of Allâh sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam who passed by her tent on his journey of migration, Umm Ma'bad Al-Khuza'iyah radiallaahu 'anhaa said to her husband :

"He was innocently bright and had broad countenance. His manners were fine. Neither was his belly bulging out nor was his head deprived of hair. He had black attractive eyes finely arched by continuous eyebrows. His hair glossy and black, inclined to curl, he wore long. His voice was extremely commanding. His head was large, well formed and set on a slender neck. His expression was pensive and contemplative, serene and sublime.

The stranger was fascinated from the distance, but no sooner he became intimate with him, than this fascination was changed into attachment and respect.

His expression was very sweet and distinct. His speech was well set and free from the use of superfluous words, as if it were rosary of beads.

His stature was neither too high nor too small to look repulsive. He was a twig amongst the two, singularly bright and fresh.

He was always surrounded by his Companions. Whenever he uttered something, the listeners would hear him with rapt attention and whenever he issued a commandment, they vied with each other in carrying it out. He was a master and a commander.

His utterances were marked by Truth and sincerity, free from all kinds of falsehoods and lies."

'Ali bin Abi Talib radiallaahu 'anhu describing him sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said :

"The Messenger of Allâh sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam was neither excessively tall nor extremely short. He was medium height among his friends. His hair was neither curly nor wavy. It was in between. His face was not swollen or meaty-compact. It was fairly round. His mouth was white. He had black and large eyes with long haired eyelids. His joints (limbs) and shoulder joints were rather big. He had rod-like little hair extending from his chest down to his navel, but the rest of his body was almost hairless. He had thick hand palms and thick fingers and toes.

At walking, he lifted his feet off the ground as if he had been walking in a muddy remainder of water.

When he turned, he turned all. The Prophethood Seal was between his shoulders. He is the Seal of Prophets, the most generous and the bravest of all."

Abu Huraira radiallaahu 'anhu said :

"I have never seen a thing nicer than the Messenger of Allâh sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam. It seems as if the sunlight were moving within his face. I have never seen one who is faster in pace than the Messenger of Allâh sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam. It seems as if the earth had folded up to shorten the distance for him. For we use to wear ourselves out while he was at full ease."

Whenever Abu Bakr radiallaahu 'anhu saw him he would say :

"He is faithful, chosen (by Allâh), and calls for forgiveness. He shines like a full moon light when it is far from dark (clouds)."

Umar radiallaahu 'anhu said :

"When he got angry his face would go so red that you think it were an inflected red skin-spot with pomegranate grains on both cheeks."

Ibn al-'Abbas radiallaahu 'anhu said :

"His two front teeth were split, so whenever he speaks, light goes through them. His neck was as pure and silvery as a neck of doll. His eyelids were long haired, but his beard was thick. His nose was high-tipped, middle- cambered with narrow nostrils. His legs were plain, straight and stretching down. His other limbs were straight too. The two hollows of his soles hardly touch the ground. When he walks away he vanishes soon; but he walks at ease. The way he walks seems similar to one who is leaning forwards and is about to fall down."

Anas radiallaahu 'anhu said :

"I have never touched silk, or a silky garment softer than the palm of the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam; nor have I smelt a perfume or any scent nicer than his. His sweat was pearl-like."

The heart of every Muslim is filled with the love of the Last Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam and this love of the Messenger of Allâh isan asset him. Love and respect of a person depends on the benefits, we get from him. As the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam is the greatest benefactor of humanity, every Muslim has deepest love for him. Every deed of his life is to be followed by every individual of Muslim Ummah. Highest love for the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam is made a test of our faith.

Allâh (Subhannah wa Ta'aala) has described and explained the status of Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam in the Qur'ân:

"Say [O Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam to mankind]: If you (really) love Allâh then follow me ( i.e accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Qur'ân and the Sunnah), Allâh will love you...." (3:31)

From the hadeeth of the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, he said :

"None of you has faith unless I am dearer to him than his father, his son and all mankind."

His speech was the most reliable. He was the keenest and the most attentive to people's trust and was very careful to pay people's due in full.

The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam was the most tractable and the most yielding companion, seeing him unexpectedly, you fear him and venerate him. He who has acquaintance with him will like him. He who describes him says:

"I have never seen such a person before, nor after seeing him."