THE MOST ADMIRED MAN

THE MOST ADMIRED MAN

 

No cartoon or comic can blemish the noble Prophet of Islam, Hadhrat Muhammad (SallAllaho ‘Alaihe WaSallam). He is dear to millions of Muslims around the world who strive to emulate his perfect example in every way. He was a man of beauty and perfection, one of his companions, Hadhrat Hassaan bin Thaabit describes him with the following couplets:

وَأَحسَنُ مِنكَ لَم تَرَ قَطُّ عَيني
وَأَجمَلُ مِنكَ لَم تَلِدِ النِساءُ
خُلِقتَ مُبَرَّءً مِن كُلِّ عَيبٍ
كَأَنَّكَ قَد خُلِقتَ كَما تَشاءُ

My eyes have never seen anyone more perfect than you
No woman has given birth to anyone more handsome than you
You have been created free from all defects
As if you were created the way you wished

Here are 5 narrations from the companions of the Prophet describing his beauty:

1. Molded in silver
Hadhrat Abu Hurairah says:

كان رسولُ اللهِ أبيضَ ، كأنما صِيغَ من فضةٍ ، رَجِلَ الشَّعرِ

“The messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was so clean, clear, beautiful and handsome, as though his body was covered and molded in silver. His hair was slightly curled.”

Commentary:
In a Hadeeth quoted later at point # 3 mentioned by Hadhrat Anas bin Maalik, it is said that the Prophet (SallAllaho ‘Alaihe WaSallam) was not very white. From the above Hadeeth, it appears that he had a white and reddish complexion, in which the beauty and brightness was overwhelming.

2. More beautiful than the full moon
It is related from Hadhrat Jaabir that he said:

رأيتُ النبيَّ صلَّى اللهُ عليهِ وسلَّمَ في ليلةِ إِضْحِيَانٍ فجعلتُ أنظرُ إلى رسولِ اللهِ صلَّى اللهُ عليهِ وسلَّمَ وإلى القمرِ وعليهِ حُلَّةٌ حمراءُ فإذا هو عندي أحسنُ من القمرِ

“I once saw the messenger of Allah on the night of a full moon. On that night he wore red (striped) clothing. At times I looked at the full moon and at times at the messenger of Allah. Ultimately I came to the conclusion that the messenger of Allah was more handsome, beautiful and more radiant than the full moon.”

Commentary:
If the illumination in the temple and sanctuary is through the sun and moon, so what.

I desire you, what should I do with my sight.

3. Perfect in every way
Hadhrat Anas bin Maalik reports:

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : ” لَيْسَ بِالطَّوِيلِ البَائِنِ ، وَلاَ بِالقَصِير، وَلاَ بِالأَبْيَضِ الأَمْهَقِ ، وَلَيْسَ بِالْآدَمِ

“The messenger of Allah was neither tall nor was he short. In complexion, he was he was neither very white like lime, nor very dark, nor brown which results in darkness (he was illuminant, more luminous than even the full-moon on the 14th night).

Commentary:
The Prophet Hadhrat Muhammad (SallAllaho ‘Alaihe WaSallam) was of a medium stature, but slightly taller. This has been reported in a narration from Hadhrat Hind bin Abi Haalah and others. It is stated in one Hadeeth that when Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho ‘Alaihe Wasallam) used to stand up in a group, he appeared to be the tallest among them. This was not due to his height, but was a result of a Mu’jizah (Miracle). In the manner that no one had reached a higher status than the Prophet (SallAllaho ‘Alaihe WaSallam) in `Kamalaate Ma’nawiyyah’, (super intellectual status) likewise in the `Soorah Zaahiri’ (outward appearance) no one could excel him.

4. ‘I never saw anyone more handsome than him’
Hadhrat Baraa bin Aazib relates that:

انَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عليه وَسَلَّمَ رَجُلًا مَرْبُوعًا، بَعِيدَ ما بيْنَ المَنْكِبَيْنِ، عَظِيمَ الجُمَّةِ إلى شَحْمَةِ أُذُنَيْهِ، عليه حُلَّةٌ حَمْرَاءُ، ما رَأَيْتُ شيئًا قَطُّ أَحْسَنَ منه صَلَّى اللَّهُ عليه وَسَلَّمَ

“The messenger of Allah was a man of a medium build, (slightly tall); he had broad shoulders; he had dense hair which reached his ear-lobes; he wore a red striped lower garment and a shawl. I never saw anybody or anything more handsome than him”

Commentary:
In this Hadeeth the word `Rajulun Marbu’un’ is used, which if the letter `Jeem’ has a dammah (pesh), means a man. This could be correct. This type of word is used in the Arabic language for connecting words, but because no special quality or attribute is derived, some Muhadditheen (Scholars of Hadeeth) are of the opinion that if the letter `Jeem’ has a fatah (zabar) on it, it means something that is between straight and bent. It may also be possible that in this case it refers to the description of the hair of the Prophet (SallAllaho ‘Alaihe WaSallam), and as described before, his Mubaarak (Blessed) hair had a slight curl in it. From this Hadeeth, some scholars are of the opinion that it is permissible for men to wear red colored clothing. According to the Hanafis, there is a detailed explanation on this subject. Before selecting red clothing, the scholars should be consulted regarding its permissibility.

The scholars have written that in this Hadeeth the Sahabi (Companion) of the Prophet (SallAllaho ‘Alaihe WaSallam) did not see `anything’ more handsome and beautiful than Hadhrat Muhammad (SallAllaho ‘Alaihe WaSallam). This is said because besides human beings, the moon, sun, etc. are also included.

5. ‘As if the Sun shone from his face’
Hadhrat Abu Hurairah says:

ما رأيْتُ شيئًا أحسنَ من رسولِ اللهِ ، كأنَّ الشمسَ تَجري في وجهِهِ ، وما رأيْتُ أحدًا أسرعَ في مِشيتِهِ من رسولِ اللهِ ، كأنَّما الأرضُ تُطوى لهُ، إنَّا لنُجهدُ أنفسَنا وإنَّهُ لغيرُ مُكتَرِثٍ

“I did not see anyone more handsome as the messenger of Allah. It was as if the brightness of the sun had shone from his auspicious face. I did not see anyone walk faster than him, as if the earth folded for him. A few moments ago he would be here, and then there. We found it difficult to keep pace when we walked with him, and he walked at his normal pace.”

Commentary:
That means we could only with effort keep up with his normal pace walking.

The above narrations have been mentioned in the Shamaail by Imam Tirmizi. The commentary extracted from the book’s translation and explanation by Shaikhul Hadeeth Maulna Zakariyya Kandhlawi.