Chapter on the Noble Features of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)

[ummtaalib]

Chapter on the Noble Features of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)

 

The author has quoted in this chapter those Ahaadith that have been narrated on the noble features of Sayyiduna Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). It is impossible to accurately describe the actual beauty and elegance of Sayyiduna Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). To capture and describe in words his appearance is beyond one’s capability, but the Sahaabah (Radiyallahu Anhum) have endeavoured, according to their capabilities, to preserve what little they could, of which some is written here. Qurtubi (Rahmatullahi Alaihi) writes: “The full beauty and elegance of Sayyiduna Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has not been made manifest to the people of this world, otherwise it would not have been possible for man to look at him.” The Sahaabah (Radiyallahu Anhum) have one the ummah an immense favour by conveying to them the perfect attributes, qualities and knowledge of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), as well as explained to them his apparent beauty and grandeur. When an unfulfilled lover is deprived of meeting the beloved, then he stands in front of the beloved’s house remembering the features of his beloved, in an attempt to gain some solace. It is from habits and features that the heart is appeased.

Imaam Tirmizi (Rahmatullahi Alaihi) has collected about 400 Ahaadith and divided them into 55 chapters. In the first chapter, 14 Ahaadith are quoted.

عن أنس رضي الله عنه قال: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم ليس بالطويل البائن ولا بالقصير ولا بالأبيض الأمهق ولا بالآدم ولا بالجعد القطط ولا بالسبط بعثه الله على رأس أربعين سنة فأقام بمكة عشر سنين وبالمدينة عشرا وتوفاه الله على رأس ستين سنة وليس في رأسه ولحيته عشرون شعرة بيضاء.  قال أبو عيسى هذا حديث حسن صحيح

 

Hadhrat Anas (Radiyallahu Anhu) reports: Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was neither very tall nor was he short (like a dwarf or midget). In complexion he was neither extremely white (like lime), nor wheat brown (or so brown inclining towards a dark complexion). Rather Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)’s mubaarak countenance and body was full of noor (illumination), even more than the noor of the 14^th moon). The hair of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was neither very straight nor very curly (but slightly curly and wavy). When he reached the age of forty, Allah Ta’ala granted him nubuwwah. He lived in Makkah Mukarramah for ten years (the complete explanation will be given in the commentary), and in Madinah Munawwarah for ten years. He passed away at the age of sixty. At that time there was not even twenty strands of white hair on his mubaarak hair and beard.

Commentary

Sayyiduna Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was of a medium stature, but slightly taller than the medium height. This has been clearly reported in a narration from Sayyidina Hind bin Abi Haalah (Radiyallahu Anhu) and others. An objection may arise concerning these two Ahaadith, that it is stated in one hadith that when Sayyiduna Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) used to stand up in a group, he appeared to be the tallest amongst them. However, this was not due to his height, but was a result of a mu’jizah (miracle). This miracle was in order that no one could be seen greater than Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) in his outward, external beauty as no one was equal to him in his inward splendour and beauty.

It is stated in the above-mentioned hadith that Sayyiduna Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) lived after nubuwwah in Makkah Mukarramah for ten years. For this reason it is stated that he attained the age of sixty years. However this is contrary to what has been reported in the other Ahaadith, where it is stated that Sayyiduna Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) lived there for thirteen years and attained the age of sixty three years. In some Ahaadith it is stated that Sayyiduna Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) attained the age of sixty five years. At the end of this kitaab (Shamaail Tirmizi), Imaam Tirmizi will mention all three ahaadith with the chain of narrators. Imaam Bukhaari (Rahmatullahi Alaih) says: ‘Most narrations show that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) lived for sixty three years.’

The ulama have presented two explanations in order to reconcile these Ahaadith:

The first explanation is that Sayyiduna Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) received Nubuwwah at the age of forty and Risaalah three years later, and thereafter he lived for ten years in Makkah Mukarramah. According to this, the three years between the time he received Nubuwwah and Risaalah have been omitted in the Hadith under discussion.

The second explanation is that among the Arabs, generally when counting and calculating, they used to omit the fractions and round off the number. For this reason, Sayyiduna Anas (Radiyallahu Anhu) has only calculated in tens in his narration and omitted the units.

 In the hadith where the age of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is shown as sixty five, then the reason is that the years of birth and death have been counted separately. In short, the content of all the Ahaadith is the same. According to most authentic Ahaaadith, the age of Sayyiduna Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was sixty three years, therefore all the other Ahaadith will corroborate this.  (Ihyaauddeen.co.za)

يَا رَبِّ صَلِّ وَ سَلِّمْ دَائِمًا أَبَدًا عَلَى حَبِيبِكَ خَيرِ الخَلْقِ كُلِّهِمِ

[ummtaalib]

Shamaail – Hadith 2

 

عن أنس بن مالك رضي الله عنه قال: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ربعة ، ليس بالطويل ولا بالقصير ، حسن الجسم ، وكان شعره ليس بجعد ولا سبط أسمر اللون ، إذا مشى يتكفأ.

 

Hadhrat Anas (Radiyallahu Anhu) reports: “Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) 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 (but slightly curly and wavy). He had a wheat-coloured complexion. When he walked, he leaned forward slightly.

 

Commentary

In this Hadith, Hadhrat Anas (Radiyallahu Anhu) states that the complexion of Sayyiduna Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was wheat coloured. In the previous hadith, also narrated by Hadhrat Anas (Radiyallahu Anhu), he states that Sayyiduna Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) did not have a wheat-coloured complexion (as explained in the translation of the previous Hadith). In reality there is no contradiction between these two Ahaadith. Instead, the essence of both Ahaadith is that Sayyiduna Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)’s complexion did not contain within it a deep wheat-colour which is inclining towards darkness and which would cause the beauty and fairness to decrease. Rather, he was extremely fair in complexion with extraordinary beauty with a slight tinge of wheat-colour within it.

 

In this Hadith, the word   يتكفأ is used in describing the mubaarak manner in which Sayyiduna Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) walked. The ulama translate this word in several ways. Some say it means to walk in a fast pace. Others are of the opinion that it means to lean a bit forward while walking. Yet others say that it means to lift up one’s legs while walking (and not drag it). All three translations are correct because the mubaarak walk of Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) contained all three descriptions and the word يتكفأ also conveys these three meanings. Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) walked quickly and not like some men who adopt the walk of women. It was also the noble habit of Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) to walk in a way of humility with his head and shoulders leaning slightly forward. He did not walk with his chest pushed out in pride. He lifted his legs as men do while walking and did not drag his legs on the ground. (ihyaauddeen) 

 

يَا رَبِّ صَلِّ وَ سَلِّمْ دَائِمًا أَبَدًا عَلَى حَبِيبِكَ خَيرِ الخَلْقِ كُلِّهِمِ

[ummtaalib]

Shamaail – Hadith 3

عن البراء بن عازب قال : كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم رجلا مربوعا بعيد ما بين المنكبين ، عظيم الجمة إلى شحمة أذنيه ، عليه حلة حمراء ، ما رأيت شيئا قط أحسن منه

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Hadhrat Baraa’ bin Aazib (Radiyallahu Anhu) relates: “Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was a man of medium height (however slightly taller than medium height as was explained before), he had broad shoulders (from which we understand that he had a broad chest), he had dense hair which reached his mubaarak ear-lobes. He wore a red-striped pair of clothes (i.e. red-striped lungi and shawl). I never saw anything more handsome than him (i.e. Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam).”

Commentary

In this Hadith, the words رجلا مربوعا is mentioned, which if the letter ‘jeem’ is read with a ‘dhamma’, then it would translate as ‘a man’. This meaning could be intended. In this case the word رجل  was added for the purpose of joining. In the Arabic language there are certain similar words which don’t give any extra meaning in the sentence, however it was brought for the purpose of joining other words with it. (i.e. the word  مربوع  is an attribute describing something. Hence, when the word رجل was brought, one will understand that this quality is in reference to the mubaarak height of Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). Though the meaning would have been completely understood without adding the word رجل, however it was brought for further clarification).  Some Muhadditheen are of the opinion that this word is read with a ‘kasra’ on the ‘jeem’, and thus would translate as ‘between straight and curly’.  In this case the word will be in reference to the description of the mubaarak hair of Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), and as explained before, his mubaarak hair had a slight curl in it. From this Hadith, some ulama deduce that it is permissible for men to wear red-coloured clothing. However, according to the Hanafis, there are some details in regard to this issue (which are mentioned in the books of fiqh). Therefore before one chooses to wear red-coloured clothing, one should refer to the ulama and find out regarding its permissibility.

The ulama have written that in this Hadith the Sahaabi mentioned that he did not see ‘anything’ more handsome and beautiful than Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). The word ‘anything’ indicates towards the fact that Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)’s beauty did not only excel the human species, instead it also excelled every other creation of Allah Ta’ala e.g. the moon, sun, and every other creation.   

يَا رَبِّ صَلِّ وَ سَلِّمْ دَائِمًا أَبَدًا عَلَى حَبِيبِكَ خَيرِ الخَلْقِ كُلِّهِمِ

[ummtaalib]

Shamail

 

عن علي بن أبي طالب قال : لم يكن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم بالطويل ولا بالقصير ، شثن الكفين والقدمين ، ضخم الرأس ، ضخم الكراديس ، طويل المسربة ، إذا مشى تكفأ تكفؤا كأنما ينحط من صبب ، لم أر قبله ولا بعده مثله ، صلى الله عليه وسلم.

 Hadhrat Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu) reports: “Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was neither very tall nor short. The mubaarak hands and feet were well-built and fully fleshed. (These qualities are praiseworthy qualities in a man as it denotes strength and courage, though it is not regarded as praiseworthy qualities for a woman). He had a large head (i.e. in due proportion to his mubaarak body). The joints of the bones were also large (i.e. every aspect of his mubaarak body was developed completely). There was a thin line of hair from the mubaarak chest (moving straight down) to the mubaarak navel. When Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) walked, (on account of his humble manner of walking) it was as though he was walking down from a high place.” (i.e. he never walk with his chest out in boastfulness and pride). Hadhrat Ali (Radhiallahu Anhu) further says, “I had never seen anyone like him neither before him, nor after him.”

Commentary

Generally the intention for mentioning this type of expression ‘I did not see anyone like him’ is to exaggerate and over-emphasize the degree of the exceptional beauty possessed by a person and his beauty being unparallel. However in the case of Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), there is really no exaggeration as words can never do justice in capturing the complete beauty of the mubaarak appearance of Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). Allamah Munaawi wrote that every believer should hold the belief that Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was unique in his beauty, sterling qualities and mubaarak attributes, and that no other person can ever be compared with Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). This is not merely a belief, rather it is a reality. The books on seerah (history of Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)) and Ahaadith are replete with descriptions of his beautiful qualities. Therein it is stated that Allah Ta’ala bestowed fully on Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) all the inner kamaalaat (perfection) and zaahiri (apparent) beauty. Two verses (couplets) are narrated from Hadhrat Aayesha (Radiyallahu Anha), the meaning of which is, ‘If the friends of Zulaykha could see the blessed face of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), they would have cut their hearts instead of their hands.’ How true are the words of Hadhrat Aayesha (Radiyallahu Anha)! If you wish to read more about the love of the Sahaabah (Radiyallahu Anhum) – male and female- for Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), then read chapter 8 of my book ‘Stories of the Sahaabah’ (Radiyallahu Anhum). 

Ihyaauddeen

يَا رَبِّ صَلِّ وَ سَلِّمْ دَائِمًا أَبَدًا عَلَى حَبِيبِكَ خَيرِ الخَلْقِ كُلِّهِمِ