Physical Features of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam

Allah had endowed His prophet with an impressive personality. His features displayed a harmonious blending of elegance, grace and sublime splendour.

Bara Ibn Azib Radhi Allahu Anhu relates : "Allah's Messenger was of medium height. I had seen him once wearing a red robe and had never seen anyone more beautiful than he." (1)

Abu Huraira Radhi Allahu Anhu says: "The Prophet was of a moderate size, more tall than short, his complexion was very fair, his beard was black, his mouth was of moderate size and pretty, his eye-lashes were long and his shoulders were broad. I have never seen a man like him either before or after him." (2)

Anas Radhi Allahu Anhu reports: "I have not touched any brocade or silk which was softer than the palm of Allah's Messenger, nor smelt anything sweeter than the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam's natural odour." (3)

Love of Allah

The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam was the chosen messenger of Allah. He was protected from any form of sin. Despite this he used to worship Allah with complete devotion and sacrifice. His Sahabah relate that whenever he had any trouble he used to prostrate in supplication to Allah.

Mughira Ibn Shu'ba Radhi Allahu Anhu reported that the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam once got up at night and stood praying for such a long time that his feet became swollen. On being asked why he did this, when all of his past and future sins had been forgiven, he replied : "Should I not be a grateful servant of Allah?" (4)

Aisha Radhi Allahu Anha relates that the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam once kept awake throughout the night till morning reciting only one verse :

"If You punish them, verily, they are Your slaves and if You forgive them, verily, only You are the Mighty, the Wise."

Aisha Radhi Allahu Anha says: "The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam used to fast to such an extent that we thought he would never give it up and when he would go without fasting we thought that he would never fast again."

Abdullah Ibn Asshikkhir Radhi Allahu Anhu says that once he went to see the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. He was then offering prayers and sobbing, the sound emitting from his chest was like that of a boiling pot. (5)

Abu Darda Radhi Allahu Anhu says : "Whenever the wind blew at night the Prophet of Allah took shelter in the masjid until it became calm. Whenever there was a solar or lunar eclipse, the Prophet of Allah got up in fear seeking refuge from Allah until it was over and the sky was clear." (6)

Indifference to the World

The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam regarded wealth and property as insignificant. Even his Sahabah never regarded fortunes and treasures as important. Their pure and pious lives, their indifference to wealth and worldly possessions, the way they spent, their preference to others over themselves, their satisfaction with the barest minimum and their selflessness was amazing.

Two of the well-known sayings of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam which sum up his attitude towards the worldly life are: "0 Allah, life is truly the life of the hereafter", and "What have I to do with the world! My only business with it is like that of a rider who shades himself under a tree and then goes off and leaves it."

Umar Radhi Allahu Anhu once saw the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam lying on a reed mat that had left marks on his body. Umar Radhi Allahu Anhu began to cry at the simple living of his leader. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam asked him : "What is the matter, Umar? " He replied: "0 Messenger of Allah, of all the creatures of Allah, you are the chosen one of Allah but it is Caesar and Chosroes who are living in luxury." Umar's Radhi Allahu Anhu reply made the Prophet's Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam blood boil in anger and his face became red. He said: ''Umar, have you any doubt about it?'' and added: "These are the men who have been given all the pleasures of life in advance here in this world." (7)

Allah's Messenger not only rejected a life of ease for his own self but also for his family. He was heard praying: "0 Allah, make the provision of Muhammad's family sufficient only to sustain life." (8)

Abu Huraira Radhi Allahu Anhu says: "By Him in whose hands is Abu Huraira's life, the Prophet of Allah and his family never had wheat bread continuously for three days until he departed from this world." (9)

Aisha Radhi Allahu Anha relates : "We, the members of the Prophet's household, saw one moon and then the next but no fire was lit in our home. We had to live only on dates and water."

The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam proceeded to perform the Farewell Pilgrimage followed by a huge crowd at a time when the entire Arabian Peninsula had acknowledged his supremacy. Yet, the saddle of his camel was worn out and covered by a sheet that was worth little. (10)

Patience

The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam had borne the shock of Hamza's Radhi Allahu Anhu death. Hamza Radhi Allahu Anhu had been his loving uncle and foster brother and had parted with his life fighting valiantly for the cause of Islam. He remained calm and composed when he saw Hamza's Radhi Allahu Anhu mutilated body. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam learnt from Wahshi, after he had accepted Islam, how he had killed Hamza Radhi Allahu Anhu. It was but natural that the he was grieved to know about the ghastly crime but he did not allow his irritation to get the better of his responsibility as a prophet of Allah. He neither refused to admit Wahshi to the fold of Islam nor had him slain for his crime. All he said to Wahshi was: "0 man, hide your face from me and never let me see you again." (11)

The enemies of Islam regarded the conquest of Makkah by the Muslims as the darkest hour of their lives. A number of them found it difficult to remain in Makkah and decided to migrate to Syria, Yemen or some other place for fear of their lives. Their friends, however, told them: "Muhammad does not kill anyone who enters his religion." Almost all of these former enemies returned and embraced Islam. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam did not say a word to cast any doubt on their sincerity or to terrify them.