Book 29: Excellent Qualities and Description of the Prophet

Jubair b. Mut'im told that he heard the Prophet (ﷺ) say, "I have names. I am Muhammad, I am Ahmad, I am al-Mahi (the obliterator) by whom God obliterates infidelity, I am al-Hashir (the gatherer) who will gather mankind at my feet, I am al-'Aqib (the last in succession), al- `Aqib being the one after whom there will be no prophet." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Musa al-Ash`ari told that God's messenger used to name himself to them in various ways, saying, "I am Muhammad, Ahmad, al-Muqaffi (the follower)[*], al-Hashir, the prophet of repentance and the prophet of mercy." *This title indicates that he follows other prophets, being the last. Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, `Are you not astonished at the manner in which God turns away from me the reviling and cursing of Quraish? They revile one who is blameworthy (mudhammam) and curse one who is blameworthy, whereas I am Muhammad (praiseworthy)." Bukhari transmitted it.

Jabir b. Samura told that the front of God's messenger's head and his beard had become grey, and that while this was not visible when he had had his head oiled it was visible when his head was dishevelled. He had a thick beard. When a man remarked that his face was like a sword[*] Jabir replied that that was no so, for it was like the sun and the moon, as it was round. He told that he had seen the seal on his shoulder like a pigeon's egg with the same colour as his body. *It has been suggested that this means it was bright, but does not agree with what follows. The context suggests the man meant he had a long face. Muslim transmitted it.

`Abdullah b. Sarjis told that he had seen the Prophet (ﷺ) and had eaten bread and meat along with him (or he said tharid). He had then gone round behind him and looked at the seal of prophecy between his shoulders at the end of his left shoulder-blade, a collection of moles on him like warts. Muslim transmitted it.

Umm Khalid daughter of Sa'id. told that once when the Prophet (ﷺ) was brought some garments among which was a small black cloak with a border he said, "Bring me Umm Khalid.'' Then when she was carried to him1 he took the cloak in his hand and put it on her, saying, "Wear it out and make it ragged, then wear it out and make it clear[2].'' It had a green, or a yellow, mark on it, and he said, "This is sanah, which means `beautiful' in the language of the Abyssinians." She said that she began to play with the seal of prophecy and that when her father rebuked her God's messenger said, "Leave her alone." Indicating that she was an infant at the time. Mirqat, 5:378, says this represents a prayer that she might live long. Bukhari transmitted it.

Anas said that God's messenger was neither very tall nor was he short, he was neither pure white nor dark, and his hair was neither very curly nor long. God commissioned him when he had just reached the age of forty. He stayed in Mecca ten years and in Medina ten years, and God took him when he had just reached the age of sixty; and there were not twenty white hairs in his head and beard. In a version he describes the Prophet (ﷺ) saying he was a man of average size, neither tall nor short, with a fair complexion; and he said God's messenger's hair came half-way down his ears. Another version says it came between his ears and his shoulder. (Bukhari and Muslim.) In a version by Bukhari, he said he had a large head and large feet and that he had never seen anyone like him before or since. The palms of his hands were thick[*]. In another version by him he said he had callouses on his feet and hands. * The phrase is often used as a figure of speech for generosity, but in the present context it would seem to be meant literally. Bukhari.

Al-Bara' said God's messenger was of medium height, broad. shouldered, with his hair hanging down to the lobes of his ears. He had seen him wearing a red robe and had never seen anything more beautiful than he. (Bukhari and Muslim.) In a version by Muslim, he said he had never seen anyone with a hanging lock of hair more beautiful when wearing a red robe than God's messenger. His hair reached his shoulders, he was broad-shouldered and neither tall nor short. Muslim.

Simak b. Harb quoted the authority of Jabir b. Samura for the statement that God's messenger had a dali mouth, ashkal eyes and manhush ankles. Simak was asked the meaning of a dali mouth and said it meant a large mouth. He was asked the meaning of ashkal eyes and said they were oval[*]. He was asked the meaning of manhush ankles and said there was little flesh on the ankle. *Ashkal normally means `reddish white,' here referring to redness in the white of the eye. Cf. Mirqat, 5:380. Muslim transmitted it.

Abut Tufail said he had seen God's messenger, and he was white, good-looking and of moderate size. Muslim transmitted it.

Thabit told that when Anas was asked about God's messenger's hair dye, he replied that [his hair] did not reach the stage of needing to be dyed, adding that if he (i.e., Anas) wanted he could count the number of grey hairs in his beard. A version says that if he wanted to count the grey hairs which were in his head he could do so. In a version he said the white hairs above his chin, on his temples and on his head were few. (Bukhari and Muslim,)

Anas said God's messenger had a clear complexion, his sweat was like pearls and when he walked, he bent forwards. He said he had not touched brocade or silk which was softer than the palm of God's messenger's hand, or smelt musk or ambergris sweeter than the Prophet's odour. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Umm Sulaim told that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to visit her and have a siesta in her house, and she would spread out a leather cloth on which he had his siesta. He sweated profusely, and she would collect his sweat and put it in perfume. The Prophet (ﷺ) asked, "What is this, Umm Sulaim?" and she replied, "It is your sweat which we put in our perfume, and it is a perfume of the sweetest type." In a version she said, "Messenger of God, we hope for your blessing on our children," and he replied, "You are right." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Jabir b. Samura said: I prayed the first prayer along with God's messenger, then he went out to his family and I went out with him. Some children met him and he began to stroke the cheeks of one of them one after the other. He stroked my cheeks, and I experienced a coolness, or a fragrance, in his hand as though he had-brought it out of a scent-bag. Muslim transmitted it.