Description of the Prophet (SAW)
Contributor: Translated by Abu Rumaysah
Creator: Imâm Abû ‘Isâ at-Tirmidhî
Date: 2007-06-20
Format: text
Identifier: http://www.islaam.net/display/display.php?id=582&category=6
Language: en
Subject: seerah
Title: Description of the Prophet (SAW)
Created on: Wed Jun 20 23:27:15 -0400 2007
Updated on: Wed Jun 20 23:27:15 -0400 2007
Version: 1
Abstract: ... strongest opinion is that he was sixty-three and it is said sixty-five. These ages are reconciled by stating that those who stated sixty-five included the year of his birth and death. Those who mentioned sixty-three did not and those who mentioned sixty rounded down. «M»This point is not contradicted by the statement ‘turn of his sixtieth year’ because what is meant here is the beginning of his sixties. and there were not to be found [as much as] twenty white hairs on his head and beard «M»Rather there were less as proven by the narration of ibn Sa’d [from Anas (RA)], ‘there were only seventeen white hairs on his head and beard.’ There is no contradiction between this and the report of ibn ‘Umar (RAA), ‘he had approximately twenty white hairs’ because this just talks about an approximation. In the report of ibn Hibbân and al-Bayhaqî from ibn ‘Umar (RAA) there occurs, ‘his white hairs were approximately twenty all towards the front.’ As for the hadîth of ‘Abdullâh bin Busr, ‘his white hairs did not exceed ten’, he was talking about the hairs on the front of his beard, and hence the remainder is understood to be on his temples. «Q»As for what is mentioned in one narration by way of negating white hairs for him (SAW), what is meant is a negation of plentitude not a negation in totality. A more detailed discussion concerning his (SAW) age and white hairs follows in the relevant chapters if Allâh wills. §2. Humayd bin Mas’adah al-Basrî nararted to us; ‘Abdu-l-Wahhâb ath-Thaqafî narrated to us; from Humayd; from Anas bin Mâlik (RA) that he said, The Messenger of Allâh (SAW) was of medium stature, neither tall nor short, of a goodly build. His hair was neither curly nor completely straight. He had a brownish complexion and when he walked he leant forward [walking briskly]. He had a brownish complexion «Q»This does not contradict the previous description of his skin as has already been explained. However it is said that this contradicts the ensuing description that he ‘was white skinned as if moulded of silver.’ Some have reconciled this by saying that the brownish complexion applied to that part of the skin that was exposed to the sun and that that part of his skin which was concealed by his garments was white. However this reconciliation has been refuted because of the narration that mentions his neck being white as if it was made of silver, the neck is normally exposed to the sun. It is possible that this comparison hold true when considering the luster and sheen of his skin under the light of the sun and the smoothness of his skin. §3. Muhammad bin Bashshâr – al-’Abdî - narrated to us; Muhammad bin Ja’far narrated to us; Shu’bah narrated to us; from Abû Is`hâq; that he heard al-Barâ’a bin ‘Azib (RA) saying, The Messenger of Allâh (SAW) had slightly curly hair and was of medium stature (rajil marbû’) with broad shoulders. His hair was thick, reaching his earlobes and he wore a red hulla. I have never seen anything more beautiful than he. reaching his earlobes «Q»Some reports mention that his hair reached below his ears and above his shoulders, others mention half way down his ears, others mention to his ears, others mention to his shoulders and others mention to his shoulder blades. Qâdî ‘Ayâd reconciled these by saying that these descriptions all related to different times. Therefore when he (SAW) delayed cutting his hair, it would grow to his shoulders, when he cut his hair, it would reach his ears, or half way down his ears or to his earlobes. and he wore a red hulla A detailed discussion follows in the chapter dealing with his (SAW) clothes. I have never seen anything more beautiful than he. «M»This statement, along with proving the great beauty of the Messenger of Allâh (SAW), also goes to show al-Barâ’a’s complete faith because believing him (SAW) to be so is one of the branches of having complete love for him. §4. Mahmûd bin Ghaylân narrated to us; Wakî’ narrated to us; Sufyân ath-Thawrî narrated to us; from Abû Is`hâq; from al-Barâ’a bin ‘Azib (RA) that he said, I have never seen a person having a full head of hair, wearing a red hulla, who looked better than the Messenger of Allâh (SAW). He had hair that reached his shoulders and his shoulders were broad. He was neither short nor tall. §5. Muhammad bin Ismâ’îl narrated to us; Abû Nu’aym narrated to us; al-Mas’ûdî narrated to us; from ‘Uthmân bin Muslim bin Hurmuz; from Nâfi’ bin Jubair bin Mut’im; from ‘Alî bin Abû Tâlib (RA) that he said, The Prophet (SAW) was neither tall nor short. His hands and feet were heavy and thick [but not calloused]. He had a large head, large bones and a long line of fine hair extending from his chest to navel. When he walked, he leant forward as if descending a slope. I have not seen anyone, before him or after him, who was comparable to him. §6. Sufyân bin Wakî’ narrated to us; my father narrated to us; from al-Mas’ûdî the likes of this with this isnâd. §7. Ahmad bin ‘Abdah ad-Dabbî al-Basrî narrated to us, as did ‘Alî bin Hujr and Abû Ja’far Muhammad bin al-Husayn – i.e. ibn Abî Halîmah; ‘Isâ bin Yûnus narrated to us; from ‘Umar bin ‘Abdullâh the servant of Ghufrah; Ibrâhîm bin Muhammad – one of the sons of ‘Alî bin Abû Tâlib (RA) – narrated to me that when ‘Alî (RA) described the Messenger of Allâh (SAW) he would say, The Messenger of Allâh (SAW) was neither extremely tall nor extremely short, rather he was of a medium stature amongst the people. His hair was neither curly nor completely straight, rather inbetween. He did not have a very fleshy face, neither was it completely round, rather it was only slightly so. He was white skinned, having a reddish tinge. His eyes were large with jet black pupils and his lashes, long. His joints were large as was his upper back. He did not have hair all over his body but had a line of fine hair extending from his chest to his navel. When he walked, he would walk briskly as if descending a slope. When he turned, he would turn his whole body and between his two shoulders was the Seal of Prophethood. He was the Seal of the Prophets, the most giving of hearts, the most truthful of them, the best of them in temperament and the most sociable of them. Whoever unexpectedly saw him would stand in awe of him and whoever accompanied him and got to know him would love him. Those who described him would say, ‘I have never seen anyone, before him or after him, who was comparable to him.’ He did not have hair all over his body «Q»This description also holds true for someone who has h... [Full Article...]
