Fiqh & Benefits from
‘Mukhtasir Shama’il al-Muhammadeeyah’
Characteristics & Descriptions of the Prophet Muhammad
–sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam–
By
Al-Hafidh Al-Imam Abu Isa at-Tirmidhi
Abridged by Shaykh Muhammad Nasir uddeen al-Albaani
Part One
The Physical Description of the Messenger of Allaah
–sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam–
Translated & Compiled By Abbas Abu Yahya
Translator’s Introduction
This translation -which Allaah has blessed us with- is of an amazing collection of Ahadeeth of the description of the best of creation, the leader of Prophets, the Messenger of Allaah, Muhammad ibn Abdullaah ibn AbdulMuttalib -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam. It also contains his exemplary manners and his impeccable behaviour.
The way the book is arranged is a subject heading followed by the Ahadeeth or Athar, sometimes these are repetitive with the same wording but with different chains or with extra wording.
This translation is of the summarised version by the Shaykh Muhhadith Muhammad Nasir uddeen Al-Albaani -Rahimuhullaah. He firstly brings a grading of the Ahadeeth, whether they were authentic or not. He also removed the chains of narrations and explained some of the unfamiliar words.
The translator added a content’s page and the Hadeeth titles extracted from the Hadeeth and added some extra Fiqh benefits from various sources.
Translator & Compiler
The one in need of Allaah’s forgiveness
Abbas Abu Yahya
Biography of Imam Tirmidhi -Rahimuhullaah-
Name:
Al-Hafidh Al-Imam Abu Isa Muhammad bin Isa bin Sowrah bin Musa ad-Dihaak as-Sulami at-Tirmidhi
Born: Around 210 A.H.
Died: 279 A.H
He travelled and collected Hadeeth in Khurasan, Iraq, Makkah and Madinah.
He became blind in the later stages of his life.
He narrated a lot of Hadeeth from Bukhari.
Abu Sa’eed al-Idreesi said:
‘Abu Isa was seen as a scale to judge memorisation with.’
Al-Hakim said: I heard Umar bin Alak saying: ‘Bukhari died and no one was left behind in Khurasan from the like of Abu Isa in knowledge, memorisation, cautious of his religion and in abstinence from attachment to the Duniya. He cried until he became blind and remained blind for years.’
His books:
1 – His most famous work was ‘Sunnan at-Tirmidhi’ which is also known as ‘Jamia at-Tirmidhi’.
2 – ‘al-ilal al-Kabeer’
This book is a master piece specialising in the science of hadeeth and narrators and defects in chains of narrations.
It has an amazing explanation by al-Hafidh Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali.
And many other works.
Abu Isa said regarding the book ‘Sunnan at-Tirmidhi’:
‘I collected this book and presented it to the scholars of al-Hijaaz and they were pleased with it.
I presented it to the scholars of Iraq and they were pleased with it.
I presented it to the scholars of Khurasan and they were pleased with it.
Whoever has this book in his house then it is as if he has a Prophet in his house speaking.’[1]
Shaykh Al-Albaani’s Introduction
Shaykh al-Muhhadith Muhammad Nasir- Deen Al-Albaani (d.1420A.H) -Rahimuhullaah- said:
‘Indeed, I sincerely hope that this book is a guide for all the Muslims to get acquainted with what our Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- was upon of noble manners. With what he was beautified with of noble characteristics and this would cause them to be guided with his guidance, to have the behaviour of his manners and to acquire from his light all this in time where many of the Muslims have about to forget the saying of Allaah Tabaraka wa Ta’ala about the Prophet:
لَّقَدۡ كَانَ لَكُمۡ فِي رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسۡوَةٌ حَسَنَةٞ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرۡجُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلۡيَوۡمَ ٱلۡأٓخِرَ وَذَكَرَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرٗا
《Indeed, in the Messenger of Allaah you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allaah and the Last Day and remembers Allaah much. [Ahzab:21]
There are amongst the Muslims some of the specific ones from some of the callers etc who abstain from taking the example of the Messenger -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- in much of his guidance and his manners. For example, being humble with his clothing, his guidance with regards to his food, his drink, his sleep, his prayer and his worship of Allaah, to the extent that it is found that there are amongst them who try to make those who follow the Messenger’s Sunnah to dislike following him -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- in some of his Sunnah, like eating and drinking sitting down, shortening the Thobe (men’s clothing) to be above the ankle. They regard that as being too strict and pushing the non-Muslims away from Islaam.[2]
Shaykh AbdurRazzaq bin AbdulMuhsin al-Abbad said:
‘Indeed, Allaah was the most Generous to our Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- and gave him the most perfect and most beautiful physical characteristics, just as He was the most Generous to him -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- with the best characteristics of manners.
Ibn Taymeeyah -Rahimuhullaah- said in his book ‘al-Jawab as-Saheeh’ 5/438: ‘His physical form and appearance was the most perfect, most complete and most collective of beauty which indicate to his completeness.’[3]
In the Name of Allaah the Most Kind the Most Merciful
Al-Hafidh Abu Isa Muhammad bin Isa bin Sawrah Tirmidhi said:
Chapter 1 What has been mentioned about the physical description of the Messenger of Allaah
–sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam–
Contents Chapter 1
What has been mentioned about the physical description of the. 7
Hadeeth No. 1 – neither extremely tall nor short 9
Other Hadeeth about the Prophet’s Height 10
Other Ahadeeth with the Description of the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- 12
2 – The fragrance of the Prophet. 12
Hadeeth No. 2 – He had a good figure. 14
Hadeeth No. 3 – I never ever saw anything more beautiful than him.. 15
Hadeeth No. 4 – Never did I see the likes of him.. 17
Hadeeth No.5 – Weak Narration. 18
Hadeeth No. 6 – Weak Narration. 18
Hadeeth No. 7 – large mouth. 20
Hadeeth No. 8 – more beautiful than the moon. 22
Hadeeth No.9 – like the moon. 24
Explanation of the resemblance of the moon with the Prophet. 24
A Description of the Prophet’s Beard. 25
Hadeeth No. 10 – he had been fashioned from silver. 27
Hadeeth no. 11 – The Prophets were shown to me. 28
Those of the Companions who resembled the Prophet. 31
Hadeeth no. 12 – He was white, good looking. 32
Hadeeth No. 13 – Weak Narration. 33
The Prophet was Physical Light 33
Hadeeth No. 1 – neither extremely tall nor short
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَهُ يَقُولُ: (كَانَ رسول الله صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم َ لَيْسَ بِالطَّوِيلِ الْبَائِنِ وَلَا بِالْقَصِيرِ وَلَا بِالْأَبْيَضِ الْأَمْهَقِ وَلَا بِالْآدَمِ وَلَا بِالْجَعْدِ الْقَطَطِ وَلَا بِالسَّبْطِ بَعَثَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَلَى رَأْسِ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً فَأَقَامَ بِمَكَّةَ عَشْرَ سِنِينَ وَبِالْمَدِينَةِ عَشْرَ سِنِينَ وَتَوَفَّاهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى رَأْسِ سِتِّينَ سَنَةً وَلَيْسَ فِي رَأْسِهِ وَلِحْيَتِهِ عِشْرُونَ شَعْرَةً بَيْضَاءَ)
From Rabeah bin Abi AbduRahman that he heard Anas bin Maalik -RadhiAllaahu anhu- saying:
“The Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– was neither extremely tall nor short. He was not very white nor very dark. His hair was not completely curly and neither was it absolutely straight. Allaah Ta’ala sent him as a Prophet when he reached 40 years of age.
So, he –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– stayed in Makkah for 10 years and in Madinah for 10 years. Then Allaah caused him to pass away when he reached 60 years of age and at that time he did not have 20 white hairs on his head or his beard.”
[Collected by Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi & Malik. Albaani declared it to Saheeh]
[neither extremely tall]
AbdurRazzaq al-Abbad said:
‘The Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– was nearer to being tall than he was to being short as has been clearly mentioned in some narrations.’[4]
Other Hadeeth about the Prophet’s Height
1 – From Sa’eed bin al-Musayyib that he heard Abu Hurairah describe the Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam–:
‘He was of a medium build, he was nearer to being tall, he had extremely clear skin, a black beard, beautiful front teeth, long eyelashes, wide shoulders and soft cheeks. When he would step he would place his whole foot on the ground and he was flatfooted. He would turn his whole body whilst facing someone and turn away fully as well. I have never seen anyone like him before or after him.’[5]
2 – From Abu Hurairah:
‘The Prophet had shaped arms, long eyelashes, wide shoulders, he would turn his whole body whilst facing someone and turn away fully, he did not have vulgar speech or an indecent character, nor was he noisy in the market places.’[6]
[Makkah for 10 years]
Muhammad Nasiruddeen Albaani said:
‘And in another narration: ‘He stayed there for thirteen years.’ So the narration which mentions ten years is understood in that the narrator rounded off the time to the nearest ten.’[7]
[60 years of age]
Muhammad Nasiruddeen Albaani said:
‘And in a narration: ‘When he reached sixty-three years of age’ this is more widely known and more authentic. The narration which mentions sixty years of age is understood that the narrator rounded off the time to the nearest ten.’[8]
Other Ahadeeth with the Description of the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam–
1 – Soft Touch
In Saheeh Muslim in the: ‘Chapter the perfumed fragrance of the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– and his soft touch and seeking blessings from his touch.’
From Anas who said that the Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– was:
أزهر اللون كأن عرقه اللؤلؤ
Rosy and illuminated in colour and it was as if his perspiration was like pearls.
When he used to walk he would lean forward. I did not feel velvet nor silk softer than the palm of the Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam–. Nor did I smell musk or Amber better than the fragrance of the Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam.’[9]
2 – The fragrance of the Prophet
From Anas bin Malik -RadiAllaahu anhu- who said:
‘The Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- visited us and took a nap and began perspiring. My mother came with a bottle and began to wipe the perspiration into the bottle. The Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- suddenly woke up and said:
‘O Umm Sulaym what is this that you are doing? !’
She said: ‘This is your perspiration which we put in our perfume and it is the best of perfumes.[10]
Hadeeth No. 2 – He had a good figure
وعنه قال: (كان رسول الله صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم َ رَبْعَةً لَيْسَ بِالطَّوِيلِ وَلَا بِالْقَصِيرِ حَسَنَ الْجِسْمِ وَكَانَ شَعْرُهُ لَيْسَ بِجَعْدٍ وَلَا سَبْطٍ أَسْمَرَ اللَّوْنِ إِذَا مشى يتكفأ)
Also from Anas bin Maalik who said:
“The Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– was of medium height, neither tall nor short. He had a good figure. His hair was neither curly nor straight. He had a slightly brownish complexion and when he walked he would lean forward or look down slightly.”
[Collected by Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi Nisa’ee & Malik. Declared Saheeh by Albaani]
[Lean forward]
Muhammad Nasiruddeen Albaani said:
‘He would lean forward like a ship pushed forward due to the waves. There is an extra wording in the hadeeth of Ali (No.4): ‘As if he was leaning forward due to going up a slope.’[11]
Hadeeth No. 3 – I never ever saw anything more beautiful than him
الْبَرَاءَ بْنَ عَازِبٍ يَقُولُ: (كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم َ رَجُلًا مَرْبُوعًا بَعِيدَ مَا بَيْنَ الْمَنْكِبَيْنِ عَظِيمَ الْجُمَّةِ إلى شحمة أذنيه عَلَيْهِ حُلَّةٌ حَمْرَاءُ مَا رَأَيْتُ شَيْئًا قَطُّ أَحْسَنَ منه وفي رواية عنه قَالَ: (مَا رَأَيْتُ مِنْ ذِي لِمَّةٍ فِي حُلَّةٍ حَمْرَاءَ أَحْسَنَ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم َ لَهُ شَعْرٌ يَضْرِبُ مَنْكِبَيْهِ بَعِيدُ مَا بَيْنَ الْمَنْكِبَيْنِ لَمْ يَكُنْ بِالْقَصِيرِ ولا بالطويل)
Al-Baraa ibn ‘Aazib said:
“The Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- was a man who had much hair and he was of medium build. He had fairly wide shoulders and he had a lot of hair that reached his earlobes. He was wearing a red cloak garment made up of an upper garment and a lower waist wrap. I never ever saw anything more beautiful than him.”
And in another narration from al-Baraa who said:
‘I never saw someone with hair up to his earlobes in a red cloak garment more better than the Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam. His hair would fall on his shoulders, he had wide shoulders, he was not short or tall.’
[Collected by Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi, Nisa’ee, Ibn Majah. Albaani declared it to be Saheeh p.14]
The Prophet’s Beauty
1 – From al-Bara:
” كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَحْسَنَ النَّاسِ وَجْهًا ، وَأَحْسَنَهُ خَلْقًا
‘The Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- had the most beautiful of faces and the best physical form.’[12]
2 – From Anas bin Malik who said:
كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَحْسَنَ النَّاسِ، وَكَانَ أَجْوَدَ النَّاسِ، وَكَانَ أَشْجَعَ النَّاسِ، ….
‘The Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam was the best of the people, he was the most generous of the people and he was the bravest of the people.’[13]
Imam Nawawi said:
فيه بيان ما أكرمه الله تعالى به من جميل الصفات ، وأن هذه صفات كمال .
‘This is an explanation of what Allaah Ta’ala honoured him with of beautiful attributes and they are characteristics of perfection.’
3 – From Ka’ab bin Malik -radiAllaahu anhu- who said:
كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا سُرَّ اسْتَنَارَ وَجْهُهُ ، حَتَّى كَأَنَّهُ قِطْعَةُ قَمَرٍ، وَكُنَّا نَعْرِفُ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ
‘When the Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- would become happy his face would become illuminated so much so that it was as if it was a piece of the moon and we would recognise when he would be happy.’[14]
Hadeeth No. 4 – Never did I see the likes of him
عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ قَالَ: (لَمْ يَكُنِ النبي صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم َ بِالطَّوِيلِ وَلَا بِالْقَصِيرِ شَثْنُ الْكَفَّيْنِ وَالْقَدَمَيْنِ ضَخْمُ الرَّأْسِ ضَخْمُ الْكَرَادِيسِ طَوِيلُ الْمَسْرُبَةِ إِذَا مَشَى تَكَفَّأَ تَكَفُّؤًا كَأَنَّمَا يَنْحَطُّ مِنْ صَبَبٍ لَمْ أَرَ قَبْلَهُ وَلَا بعده مثله صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم َ)
From ‘Ali bin Abi Talib who said:
“The Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– was neither tall nor short. He had fairly heavy hands and feet, a good size head and large joints. He had a long fine run of hair from the chest to the navel. When he walked, he leaned forward slightly as though he was going down a slope or going down an incline. Never did I see the likes of him neither before him nor after him –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam.”
[Collected by Tirmidhi & Albaani declared it to be Saheeh p.15]
Hadeeth No.5 – Weak Narration
Ibraheem bin Muhammad from the son of Ali bin Abi Talib -RadiAllaahu anhu- that when Ali would describe the Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– he would say:
‘The Messenger of Allaah was not very tall…….’
[Collected by Tirmidhi who said ‘Its Isnaad is not connected.’ & Albaani graded it Da’eef in Mukhtasir Shama’il al-Muhammadeeyah p. 16]
Hadeeth No. 6 – Weak Narration
From al-Hasan bin Ali -RadiAllaahu anhumma- who said I asked my uncle Hind bin Abi Halah and he was describing the beauty of the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam. I desired that he would describe some of that which is connected to the Prophet. So, he said:
‘The Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– was large……’
[Collected by Tirmidhi, Tabrani, al-Bayhaqi, & Albaani graded it Da’eef Jiddan in Mukhtasir Shama’il al-Muhammadeeyah p. 18]
Shaykh AbdurRazzaq said:
‘Imam Mizzi -RahimuhuAllaah- quoted the whole Hadeeth in the introduction to his book, ‘Tahdheeb al-Kamaal’ and said: ‘in this hadeeth of his are some narrators who are not known.’
The great scholar Ibn al-Qayyim said in his book ‘al-Mudarij’: ‘As for the Hadeeth of Hind bin Abi Hala regarding the description of the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– then this Hadeeth is not affirmed and in its Isnaad there are those who are unknown.’[15]
Hadeeth No. 7 – large mouth
جَابِرَ بْنَ سَمُرَةَ يَقُولُ:
(كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم َ ضَلِيعَ الْفَمِ أَشْكَلَ الْعَيْنِ مَنْهُوسَ الْعَقِبِ) . قَالَ شُعْبَةُ: قُلْتُ لِسِمَاكٍ: مَا (ضَلِيعُ الْفَمِ) ؟ قَالَ: عَظِيمُ الْفَمِ. قُلْتُ: مَا (أَشْكَلُ الْعَيْنِ) ؟ قَالَ: طَوِيلُ شِقِّ الْعَيْنِ. قُلْتُ: مَا (مَنْهُوسُ الْعَقِبِ) ؟ قَالَ: قَلِيلُ لَحْمِ الْعَقِبِ
Jabir bin Samrah said:
“The Messenger of Allah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– had a large mouth, large eyes or the slits of his eyes were long and he had little flesh on his heels.”
Shu’bah (the narrator of this hadeeth) said I asked Simaak (another narrator of this hadeeth): “What is the meaning of the word Dalee’ul-fum?” He replied “It means he had a large mouth i.e. large lips in proportion to the rest of his face.”
I asked: “What is the meaning of the word Ashkal al-’Ayn?”
He replied: “It means the shape/size of the eyes was large and long.”
I asked him: “What is the meaning of Manhoos al-Aqib?”
He said: “It means having little flesh on the heel.”
[Collected by Muslim, Tirmidhi. Albaani declared it Saheeh Sham p.26]
[Large mouth]
Nawawi said:
‘The Arabs used to praise having a large mouth and used to dispraise having a small mouth.’[16]
Hadeeth No. 8 – more beautiful than the moon
وعنه قَالَ: (رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم َ في ليلة إضحيان (مضيئة مقمرة) وَعَلَيْهِ حُلَّةٌ حَمْرَاءُ فَجَعَلْتُ أَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ وَإِلَى الْقَمَرِ فَلَهُوَ عِنْدِي أَحْسَنُ مِنَ القمر)
Also from Jabir bin Samrah who said:
“I saw the Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– on a moon lit night wearing a red upper and lower garment. I looked at him and at the moon and to me he was more beautiful than the moon.”
[Collected by Tirmidhi – Saheeh Albaani Sham p.27]
[I looked at him and at the moon]
AbdurRazzaq al-Abbad said:
‘ meaning he looked at the beauty of the face of the Messenger -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- and the beauty of the moon and then compared the two beauties.’[17]
[and to me he was more beautiful than the moon]
AbdurRazzaq al-Abbad said:
‘Meaning that he found the beauty of the Messenger -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- far superior than the beauty of the moon.’[18]
AbdurRazzaq al-Abbad said:
‘The similitude here is one which brings closer the meaning and clarity except that Allaah Azza wa Jal – had indeed clothed the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- with a face of great beauty. Amazing beauty far greater than the beauty of the moon.’[19]
Hadeeth No.9 – like the moon
عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ قَالَ: سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ الْبَرَاءَ بْنَ عَازِبٍ:
أَكَانَ وَجْهُ رَسُولِ الله صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم َ مِثْلَ السَّيْفِ؟ قَالَ: (لَا بَلْ مِثْلَ الْقَمَرِ)
From Abu Ishaaq who said:
“Al-Baraa ibn ‘Aazib was asked by a man: “Was the face of the Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– like a sword?”
He replied: “No rather it was like the moon.”
[Bukhari, Tirmidhi, Darmi, Tayyalisi, Ahmad, Saheehah no. 3004]
Explanation of the resemblance of the moon with the Prophet
Al-Hafidh Ibn Hajr said:
‘It is as if the questioner meant like a sword in length, (meaning a longish face), so al-Bara responded with: ‘rather like the moon’ meaning in its being rounded. It is possible that he meant: ‘Do you mean like a sword in its radiance and shine?’ He answered: ‘rather more than that, and he equated that to a moon to combine the two characteristics of roundness and radiance.’[20]
A Description of the Prophet’s Beard
The Length of the Prophet’s Beard
From Abdullaah bin Jafar who said:
” ثُمَّ ذَهَبَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فِي الْحَائِطِ فَقَضَى حَاجَتَهُ، ثُمَّ تَوَضَّأَ، ثُمَّ جَاءَ وَالْمَاءُ يَقْطُرُ مِنْ لِحْيَتِهِ عَلَى صَدْرِهِ، فَأَسَرَّ إِلَيَّ شَيْئًا لَا أُحَدِّثُ بِهِ أَحَدًا، فَحَرَّجْنَا عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يُحَدِّثَنَا، فَقَالَ: لَا أُفْشِي عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ سِرَّهُ حَتَّى أَلْقَى اللهَ
‘…..Then the Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– went into the garden and relieved himself, then he performed Wudu, then he came and water was dripping from his beard on to his chest, and he whispered something to me which I will not tell anyone.’
We tried hard to get him to inform us, but he said: ‘I will not spread the secret of the Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– until I meet Allaah.’
[Collected by Imam Ahmad in his ‘Musnad’ No. 1754. The researchers said: ‘Its Isnaad is Saheeh upon the conditions of Muslim, its narrators are trustworthy and are the narrators of Bukhari and Muslim except al-Hasan bin Sa’ad then he is from the narrators of Muslim. Albaani brings the origin of this Hadeeth in Saheehah No.20]
Thick Beard
From Jabir bin Samraa who said:
The front part of the hair and beard of the Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– had become grey, when he applied oil to it the grey would not show, and when his hair was ruffled it would show and he had a thick beard.’[21]
Hadeeth No. 10 – he had been fashioned from silver
عن أبي هريرة رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْه قال:
(كان رسول الله صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم َ أَبْيَضَ كَأَنَّمَا صِيغَ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ رَجِلَ الشَّعْرِ)
From Abu Hurairah -RadhiAllaahu anhu- who said:
“The Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– was white skinned, as if he had been fashioned from silver and he had a slightly wavy good head of hair.
[Only narrated in Shamail – Albaani – Saheeh p. 27 & researched in Silsilah Saheehah no. 2053]
Hadeeth no. 11 – The Prophets were shown to me
عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم َ قَالَ:
(عُرِضَ عَلَيَّ الْأَنْبِيَاءُ فَإِذَا مُوسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ ضَرْبٌ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ كَأَنَّهُ مِنْ رِجَالِ شَنُوءَةَ وَرَأَيْتُ عيسى بن مَرْيَمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَإِذَا أَقْرَبُ مَنْ رَأَيْتُ بِهِ شَبَهًا عُرْوَةُ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ وَرَأَيْتُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَإِذَا أَقْرَبُ مَنْ رَأَيْتُ بِهِ شَبَهًا صَاحِبُكُمْ (يَعْنِي نَفْسَهُ) وَرَأَيْتُ جِبْرِيلَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَإِذَا أَقْرَبُ مَنْ رَأَيْتُ بِهِ شَبَهًا دِحْيَةُ)
From Jabir ibn Abdullah that the Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– said:
“The Prophets were shown to me, I saw Musa -‘alayhis salaam, he was a man of medium build, as if he was one of the men of Shanu’ah.
I saw ‘Isa ibn Maryum -‘alayhis salaam- and the closest resemblance to him whom I have seen is ‘Urwah ibn Mas’ood.
I saw Ibraheem -‘alayhis salaam- and the closest in resemblance to him whom I have seen is your companion (i.e. myself).
I saw Jibraeel -alayhis salaam- and the closest in resemblance to him whom I have seen is Dihyah.”
[Muslim, Tirmidhi and Saheehah 1100 – Albaani Saheeh p.28]
[Musa -alayhi as Sallam- he was a man of medium build]
AbdurRazzaq al-Abbad said:
‘Meaning that he was of a medium height of men, in his stature and as was his body -alayhi as Sallam.’[22]
[men of Shanu’ah]
Muhammad Nasiruddeen Albaani said:
‘Shanu’ah is a tribe from Yemen. The men of this tribe are of medium build between slim and being overweight.’[23]
AbdurRazzaq al-Abbad said:
‘It is a tribe from Yemen, their bodies were well known for being firm and strong and of good stature.’[24]
[‘Urwah ibn Mas’ood]
Muhammad Nasiruddeen Albaani said:
‘Urwah bin Mas’ood ath-Thaqafi – he was the one whom the Quraish sent to the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– on the Day of Hudaybeeyah. He accepted Islaam in the year nine al-Hijra. He was one of the two men about whom the Quraish said in regards to them: << Why is not this Qur’aan sent down to some great man of the two towns (Makkah and Ta’if)? >> [Zukhruf: 31]’[25]
[Dhiyah]
Muhammad Nasiruddeen Albaani said:
‘Dhiyah al-Kalbi was a companion of the Prophet who took part in many battles alongside the Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– after the battle of Badr and he took the oath of allegiance under the tree. Jibra’eel used to come to the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– generally in Dhiyah’s form.
Dhiyah settled in Sham and remained there, he lived next to a place called al-Mizza until he died in the time of Muwaweeyah. He was the messenger of the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– sent to Heracil and he met him in a place called Hims.’[26]
AbdurRazzaq al-Abbad said:
‘Dhiyaah al-Kalbi -RadiAllaahu anhu- was from the most beautiful of the Companions.’[27]
Those of the Companions who resembled the Prophet
From Anas bin Malik -RadiAllaahu anhu- who said:
لَمْ يَكُنْ أَحَدٌ أَشْبَهَ بِالنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مِنَ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ.
‘There was none who more resembled the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- than al-Hasan bin Ali.’[28]
The Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- said to Jafar bin Abee Talib:
أَشْبَهْتَ خَلْقِي وَخُلُقِي
‘You resemble me in my appearance and my manners.’[29]
Hadeeth no. 12 – He was white, good looking
أَبَا الطُّفَيْلِ يَقُولُ: (رَأَيْتُ النبي صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم َ وَمَا بَقِيَ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْأَرْضِ أَحَدٌ رَآهُ غَيْرِي) قُلْتُ: صِفْهُ لِي. قَالَ: (كَانَ أَبْيَضَ مَلِيحًا مُقَصَّدًا)
Abu Tufail said:
“I saw the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– and there is no one left on the face of the earth who has seen him but me.”
Sa’eed ibn Jarir said: “So describe him to me.”
He replied: “He was white, good looking and of medium build.”
[Muslim, Ahmad and Saheehah no. 2052 – Albaani -Saheeh p.29]
[Abu Tufail]
Muhammad Nasiruddeen Albaani said:
‘Abu Tufail indicates that he was the last Companion to die. He died in the year 110 A.H. his name was ‘Aamir bin Wathil.[30]
Hadeeth No. 13 – Weak Narration
From Ibn Abbas who said:
‘The Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– had a gap in his front two teeth. When he spoke light could be seen emitting from between his two front teeth.’
[Collected by Tabarani, al-Bayhaqi, Jamia as-Sagheer & Albaani said: Its Isnaad is Da’eef Jiddan in Mukhtasir Shama’il al-Muhammadeeyah p. 29]
Shaykh Albaani presented his research in Silsilah Da’eefah no. 4220. Albaani quotes al-Hafidh Ibn Hajr saying about a narrator: ‘Matrook (he is left off), his books got burnt and he narrated from his memory and he made severe mistakes.[31]
The Prophet was Physical Light
AbdurRazzaq al-Abbad said:
‘The Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– was described as having light emitting from between his front two teeth and that he –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– was like the moon in radiance and shimmer etc.
Some authors have been mistaken regarding the description of the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– so they claim that he has a physical light meaning that he illuminates everything around him. Perhaps some of them say about his –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– description that he did not have a shadow in respect to this light which was a physical light.
This is a wrong understanding, there are many Ahadeeth which indicate that this is a wrong understanding.
From those Ahadeeth is the story of Aeysha -RadhiAllahu anha- as she said:
‘One night I did not find the Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– in bed, so, I started feeling around and my hand fell upon the bottom of his feet, he was in the Masjid and his feet propped up [i.e. like in Sajda] and he was saying:
( اللَّهُمَّ أَعُوذُ بِرِضَاكَ مِنْ سَخَطِكَ وَبِمُعَافَاتِكَ مِنْ عُقُوبَتِكَ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْكَ لَا أُحْصِي ثَنَاءً عَلَيْكَ أَنْتَ كَمَا أَثْنَيْتَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ ) .
‘O Allaah I seek refuge with Your Being Pleased away from Your displeasure, with Your pardoning away from Your punishment, and I seek refuge with You.
I cannot count the amount of praise for You, You are as You have praised Yourself.’[32]
Therefore, if the Prophet was of light as these people have understood then ‘Aeysha -RadhiAllahu anha- was not in need of – when she entered the Masjid searching for the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– walking in the dark, feeling with her hand until it fell upon the bottom of the Messenger’s foot –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– while he was in Sajda!
So, this hadeeth -and there are many the like of it- clarify the mistake of those who understood from the Ahadeeth which mention his –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– light, that it is a physical light which illuminates what is around him.’[33]
The Prophet’s Shadow
The Lajna Daimma lil-Iftaa was asked:
Here in Pakistan the scholars of the Barielawi sect believe that the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– did not have a shadow and this proves that the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– was not human. Is this hadeeth Saheeh that the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– did not have a shadow?
The Answer:
‘This statement is false, it negates the texts of the Qur’aan and the clear Sunnah which indicate that the Prophet -sallawaat Allaah wa sallamuhu alayhi- was human and him being created as a human is not different to the people and he has a shadow like any other human.
Allaah having honoured him with the message does not exit him from the human form which Allaah created him upon from a mother and a father.
Allaah Ta’ala said:
( قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوْحَى إِلَيَّ )
《Say (O Muhammad): “I am only a man like you. It has been inspired to me》[34]
Allaah Ta’ala said:
( قَالَتْ لَهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ إِنْ نَحْنُ إِلاْ بَشَرٌ مِثْلُكُمْ )
<< Their Messengers said to them: “We are no more than human beings like you.>>[35]
As for what is narrated that the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– was created from the light of Allaah, then this is a fabricated Hadeeth.’[36]
[1] [Tadhkirat ul-Hufaadh & Tahdeeb at-Tahdeeb]
[2] [Mukhtasir Shama’il al-Muhammadeeyah P.10]
[3] [Sharh Shamail an-Nabi p.17]
[4] [Sharh Shamail an-Nabi p.18]
[5] [From ‘Adab al-Mufrad’ no. 1155 graded as Hasan Li-Ghayrihi by Albaani]
[6] [From ‘Silsilah Saheehah’ no. 2095 Albaani said: Isnaad Jayyid]
[7] [Mukhtasir Shama’il al-Muhammadeeyah p.13]
[8] [Mukhtasir Shama’il al-Muhammadeeyah p.14]
[9] [Collected by Muslim, Tirmidhi brings in Shamail another wording no. 296]
[10] [Collected by Muslim]
[11] [Mukhtasir Shama’il al-Muhammadeeyah p.14]
[12] [Collected by Bukhari and Muslim]
[13] [Saheeh Muslim]
[14] [Bukhari & Muslim]
[15] [Sharh Shamail an-Nabi p.29]
[16] [Sharh Saheeh Muslim]
[17] [Sharh Shamail an-Nabi P.35]
[18] [Sharh Shamail an-Nabi P.35]
[19] [Sharh Shamail an-Nabi P.36]
[20] [Fath al-Bari 6/573]
[21] [Saheeh Muslim]
[22] [Sharh Shamail an-Nabi P.37]
[23] [Mukhtasir Shama’il al-Muhammadeeyah p.28]
[24] [Sharh Shamail an-Nabi P.37]
[25] [Mukhtasir Shama’il al-Muhammadeeyah p. 28]
[26] [Mukhtasir Shama’il al-Muhammadeeyah p. 29]
[27] [Sharh Shamail an-Nabi P.38]
[28] [Saheeh al-Bukhari]
[29] [Saheeh al-Bukhari]
[30] [Mukhtasir Shama’il al-Muhammadeeyah p.29]
[31] [Silsilah Da’eefah no. 4220]
[32] [Saheeh Muslim]
[33] [Sharh Shamail an-Nabi P.39]
[34] [Khaf:110]
[35] [Ibraheem:11]
[36] [Fatawa Lajna ad-Daimaa 1/464]