Complexion

CHAPTER EIGHT

The Prophet’s Complexion

O Allah (The Exalted) widen for Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) his place in Your Eden and reward him doubly with the goodness of Your Favour granting him untarnished felicitations from the victory of Your Reward, which is plentiful and fitting and from Your Lofty Gift.

Hasan bin ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “I enquired to Hind bin Abi Haalah about the noble features of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). He had often described the noble features of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) in detail. I felt that I should hear from him personally, some of the noble features of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) so that I could make his description a proof and testimony for myself and also memorise them, and if possible, try to emulate and adopt them. The uncle described the noble features by saying, “He had great qualities and attributes in him, and others also held him in high esteem. His blessed face shone like the full moon. He was slightly taller than a man of middle height, but shorter than a tall person. His blessed head was moderately large. His blessed hair was slightly curled. If his hair became parted naturally in the middle he left it so, otherwise he did not habitually make an effort to part his hair in the middle.” i

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reports, “The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was of a medium stature, he was neither very tall nor short. He was very handsome, of medium built and his hair was neither very curly nor very straight. He had a wheat coloured complexion. When he walked, he leaned forward slightly.” ii

Baraa bin ‘Aazib (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that “The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was a man of medium build, he had broad shoulders, he had dense hair which reached his ear-lobes, he wore a red stripped lower garment and shawl. I never saw anybody or anything more handsome than him.” iii

Blessed Face

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) states, “I have not seen anyone more beautiful than the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) and on whose blessed face, it seemed as if the sun was moving.” iv

Abu Ish-haq (may Allah be pleased with him) says “A person once asked Baraa bin ‘Aazib (may Allah be pleased with him), ‘Was the blessed face of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) shining like a sword?’ He replied: ‘No, but like a full-moon with its roundness.’” v

Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) says: “The blessed front teeth of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) were a bit wide. They were spaced and were not close together. When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) talked, a light emitting from his blessed teeth could be seen.” vi

Jaabir bin Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) says: “The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) had a wide mouth. There were red lines in the whiteness of his eyes. He had little flesh on his heels.” vii

Blessed Body

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) says, “The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was so clean, clear, beautiful and handsome as thought his body was covered and moulded in silver. His blessed hair was slightly curled.” viii

Blessed Hands

A Companion states, “I have not felt anything cooler and more beautifully scented than the blessed hands of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace).” ix 2 www.GardensOfSunnah.co.uk

i Shamail-e-Tirmidhi. p. 13

ii ibid p. 9

iii ibid p. 10

iv Mishkat

v Shamail-e-Tirmidhi. p.16

vi ibid p. 18

vii ibid p. 15

viii ibid p. 17

ix Tabarani

x Surah Maida, Surah No: 5, Verse: 3

xi Surah Qalam, Surah No: 68, Verse: 4

Perfect Human Nature

The noble person of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) stands pre-eminent, dignified, and mighty in all qualities, habits, and manners. To comprehend and to describe all these noble qualities and merits, is beyond human capacity, since all those excellencies which can be imagined to be as attainable are possessed by the beloved Messenger (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). All the Messengers and Prophets are only reflections of his light1. So praise be to Allah (The Exalted) the Cherisher of the worlds for He is the owner of all goodness. May Allah bless him and his family in measure of his beauty, sublimity, and perfection, and greet him.

1 Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) states that the day in which the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) arrived in Madinatul Munawwarah, everything in Madinatul Munawwarah became bright through his Noor. (Tirmidh and Ibn Majah)

In short, Allah (The Most High) sent the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) as an example for this Ummah. Islam is meant for all human beings who are to be born till the Last Day and it will lead the Ummah on every front, for Allah (The Exalted) has openly declared:

“This day I have perfected your religion for you and completed My favour upon you and have chosen Islam as religion for you.” x

“And undoubtedly, you possess excellent manners.” xi