Islamic History
The Appearance and Features of Our Prophet
According to Hazrat Ali, our Prophet (PBUH) was neither very tall nor short; he was of a height just above the average. His hands and feet were fleshy. His head was in proportion with his body. He had broad shoulders, knees, and wrists. His hair was neither curly nor straight. His beard was thick. His face was oval. His neck was long, white, and shiny. His skin was fair with a reddish tinge. His eyes were large. The black of his eyes was very intense. There was a slight redness in the white of his eyes. His eyelashes were long and thick. His body was neither lean nor fat. He had wide shoulders.
There was the seal of prophethood between his shoulder blades. Those who saw our Prophet (PBUH) for the first time would be struck by his dignity and spiritual grandeur, and those who knew him closely would attach themselves to him with the deepest love and respect. Anyone who tried to describe his noble qualities would say: ‘I have never seen anyone like him before or since!’220 Dineverî, s. 19, Ebu Nuaym, Delâil, 1/53, Beyhakî, Delâil, 1/388, İbn Cevzî, 2/730, İbn Arabî, Muhâdarât, 1/102, Zehebî, Târîh, s. 530, İbn Kesîr, Tefsîr, 2/252, Suyutî, Hasâis, 2/128, Aliyyü’l-Müttakî, Kenzu’l-ummâl, 12/469. Dineverî, s. 19.
According to Hind b. Ebi Hâle, the adopted son of our Prophet (PBUH): The face of Resûlullah (PBUH) was as bright as the full moon. His hair would naturally fall into two parts and he would not tie them together. When they were tied, he would not untie them; he left them as they were. When his hair grew long, it reached below his earlobes. His forehead was broad and open. His eyebrows were long and arched. The ends of his eyebrows were fine, and the inner parts were close together but not joined. Between his eyebrows, there was a vein that would become visible when he was angry. The bridge of his nose was high, and the tip was thin.
The proportion and balance of his nose were noticeable to observers. There was a special brightness in his nose. According to other companions: The cheeks of our Prophet (PBUH) were not round but flat. His teeth were like pearls. All his limbs were in proportion. His abdomen and chest were level; he did not have a potbelly. His body was almost hairless, except for some hair on his shoulders and shins. His wrist bones were long, and his palms were wide. The soles of his feet were arched. His feet were fleshy.
When water was poured over his feet, it would spread around.221 The face and voice of Resûlullah were very beautiful.222 It was as if the sun shone on his face.223 According to Ümmü Ma’bed: The eyes of our Prophet (PBUH) were anointed by power. When he was silent, there was a dignity about him; when he spoke, he was smiling. The words of the Meccan companions, during their migration to Medina 651, flowed from his mouth like pearls strung together. His speech was clear and distinguished right from wrong; it was neither too little to be considered insufficient nor too much to be considered superfluous.
He was not sour-faced but smiling.224 *** The Islamic envoys, while in the palace of Caesar, recounted their memories of the images of the Prophet as follows: “Caesar opened another compartment and took out a black silk cloth. On the cloth, there was a picture of a man with a dark complexion, thick beard, deep-set eyes, pursed lips, a gloomy face, curly hair, a stern and angry expression.225 Caesar asked us: ‘Do you recognize him?’ We said: ‘No!’ Caesar said: ‘This is Musa.’230 Next to Musa (PBUH), there was a picture of a man who resembled him but had oily hair, a broad forehead, and a gleam in his black eyes running towards his nose. Caesar asked us: ‘Do you recognize him?’ We said: ‘No!’ Caesar said: ‘This is Harun b. Imran.’ Then he put it back in its place and opened another compartment, taking out a white silk cloth on which there was a picture of a man with a dark complexion, straight hair, medium height, beautiful face, and an angry expression.231232 Caesar asked us: ‘Do you recognize him?’ We said: ‘No!’ Caesar said: ‘This is Lut.’230
Then he opened another compartment and took out a white silk cloth on which there was a picture of a man with fair skin that had a reddish tinge, sparse beard, thin nose, and beautiful face. Caesar asked us: ‘Do you recognize him?’ We said: ‘No!’ Caesar said: ‘This is Ishak.’ Then he opened another compartment and took out a white silk cloth on which there was a picture of a man resembling Ishak (PBUH) but with a mole under his lower lip. Caesar asked us: ‘Do you recognize him?’ We said: ‘No!’ Caesar said: ‘This is Yakub.’230
Then he opened another compartment and took out a black silk cloth on which there was a picture of a man with fair skin that had a reddish tinge, beautiful face, thin nose, handsome build, radiant face, and evident happiness. Caesar asked us: ‘Do you recognize him?’ We said: ‘No!’ Caesar said: ‘This is your Prophet’s father, Ismail.’230 Then he opened another compartment and took out a white silk cloth on which there was a picture of a man resembling Adam (PBUH), with fair skin and a face as bright as the sun. Caesar asked us: ‘Do you recognize him?’ We said: ‘No!’ Caesar said: ‘This is Yusuf.’233
Then he opened another compartment and took out a black silk cloth on which there was a picture of a man with thick thighs, long legs, riding a horse. Caesar asked us: ‘Do you recognize him?’ We said: ‘No!’ Caesar said: ‘This is Sulaiman b. Davud.’234 Finally, he opened another compartment and took out a black silk cloth on which there was a picture of a young man with fair skin, black beard, abundant hair, beautiful eyes and face, broad and high forehead, holding a staff in his hand and wearing a green cloak over his shoulders.235236237 Caesar asked us: ‘Do you recognize him?’ We said: ‘No!’ Caesar said: ‘This is Isa b. Maryam.’238 After putting it back in its place, he ordered the chest to be closed and returned to its original position.239 To Caesar we said: ‘We recognize that the picture we saw is that of our Prophet (PBUH) whom we have seen in person. As for the other pictures, how can we know whose they are when we have not seen them?’240 We understood from these pictures, which were drawn to represent the prophets, that the one drawn for our Prophet was like him.241 ‘Where did you get these from?!’ we asked. Caesar said: ‘Adam had asked Allah to show him the prophets who would come from his offspring. Allah sent down their images to Adam.’243
These were in Adam’s treasure hidden in the place where the sun sets.244 Zulqarnayn took them from there and gave them to Daniel. Daniel drew these pictures exactly as they were, transferring them onto silk cloths. These are the pictures drawn by Daniel.248 Through transmission, these pictures passed from king to king until they reached me!’249 We then invited Caesar to Islam.250 Caesar said: ‘By Allah, if I could separate myself from my kingdom and wealth, how eagerly would I follow your religion!251252253254 Kesîr, Tefsîr, 2/253, Aliyyü’l-Müttakî, Kenzu’l-ummâl, 12/471.
- Abu Nuaym, Delâil, 1/53, Beyhaki, Delâil, 1/388, Ibn Jawzi, 2/730, Ibn Arabi, Muhadarat, 1/102, Zehebi, Tarikh, s. 530, Ibn Kathir, Tafsir, 2/252, Suyuti, Hasais, 2/128, Aliyyul-Muttaki, Kanzu’l-ummal
- 220. Ibn Sa’d, 1/410-412, Ahmed b. Hanbel, 1/89, Tirmizi, Sunan, 4/598-600, Balazuri, Ansab, 1/191-192, Tabari, Tarikh, 3/185-186, Zehebi, Tarikh, s. 534. Ibn Sa’d, 1/422, Tirmizi, Sunan, 4/5, Balazuri, Ansab, 1/386-387, Qadi Iyad, 1/117-118, Ibn Jawzi, 1/387-411, Zehebi, Tarikh, s. 444-451, Ibn Kathir, Bidaya, 6/31-32.
- 222. Ibn Sa’d, 1/376, 406.
- 223. Ibn Jawzi, 1/406.
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