In the past two decades or so, many western artists and movie makers tried to depict Prophet Muhammad in cartoons, movies, etc. They have all given their people a false image for the prophet P.B.U.H. No need to say that this was all part of their campaign against a man they obviously know nothing about. Just for the sake of it, this is a full description for Prophet Muhammad’s appearance as was given by those who actually lived with him.
Abu-Hurayrah, one of the prophet’s most famous companions. He reported the maximum number of traditions from the prophet’s teachings. He witnessed all the incidents in the last 4 years of the prophet’s life; during which, he never left the prophet’s side except when he slept at night. He described the prophet saying:
“I never saw anyone more handsome than the prophet P.B.U.H.; [he glowed] as if the sun ran in his face. And I never saw anyone faster in his walk than the prophet P.B.U.H., [he was so fast] as if the earth was rolled up for him.” [Recorded by Ahmad and Tirmidhī].
“Whenever the prophet’s garment fell off his shoulders, they shone as if he was created from silver.” [Recorded by Ibn-Asāker].
“The prophet P.B.U.H. had smooth plain cheeks, whenever he smiled, sparkles almost reflected on to the walls.” [Recorded by Abd Al-Razzāq in Al-Musannaf].
“The prophet P.B.U.H. had extremely black hair.”
Anas Ibn Mālek, the prophet’s famous servant and companion. He earned the honour of serving the prophet for ten years. His mother entrusted him to the prophet when he was 10 years old. Because of his long stay with the prophet, he was among the companions who reported many prophetic traditions. Anas described the prophet saying:
“I never touched any silk fabric softer than the prophet’s hands, and I never smelled a scent more sweet-smelling than the prophet’s.”
“When the prophet passed away, there weren’t more than 20 grey hairs in his hair and beard.” [Recorded by Bukhari].
“The prophet’s hair was neither straight nor curly, and his forelock’s hair reached his earlobes.” [Recorded by Tirmidhī].
“One day, while the prophet was resting in our house, he fell asleep and his sweat-soaked the bed’s sheet. My mother came with a vial and started squeezing the sheet into the vial (before the sweat evaporates). This alarmed the prophet and woke him up. He asked my mother: ‘what are you doing Um-Saleem?’ She said: ‘This is your sweat prophet, we put it in our perfumes for it is the sweetest smelling of all scents.’ ”
“The prophet was the best in conduct, the most generous, and most courageous among all people.” [Recorded by Muslim].
‘Ali Ibn Abi-Tālib, the prophet’s cousin, fourth successor, and one of the closest companions described the prophet P.B.U.H. saying:
“The prophet was neither tall nor short, but of moderate height among the people. His hair was neither straight nor curly. His body wasn’t fat nor skinny. His face was a little rounded, white with a red tinge. He had big eyes, dark-coloured iris, and long dense eyelashes. He had a wide bone structure with broad shoulders. He had thick palms and feet. His walk was very fast as if he were coming down a hill. When he pays attention to anyone, he would turn to face him with all his body. On his back, between his shoulders, was the Prophethood’s seal which all prophets had. He was the most generous among all people, most auspicious boding well, most truthful, most easy going, best companion. He who sees him for the first time would fear his solemnity but loves him when he gets to know him. Anyone who would describe him would say: ‘I’ve never seen anyone like him, neither before him nor after him.’ ” [Recorded by Tirmidhī].
“The prophet’s face was white imbibed with redness. The sweat drops on his face shone like pearls. I never saw anyone like him, neither before him nor after him.” “The prophet’s neck shone like a silver jug.” [Recorded by Ibn sa‘d and Baihaqy].
“The prophet’s hair was bushy and wavy.”
“The prophet had great eyes with long eye lashes. The white of his eyes was pervaded with a pale red colour.” [Recorded by Ahmad].
Lady ‘Āʾishah, the youngest of the prophet’s wives, and the one who lived about 48 years after the prophet’s departure narrating his speeches and teachings. She described him by saying:
“The prophet had a bright face that shone like the moon, he was the most handsome among all people with the most shining cuticle. Never did I hear anyone describing him except by comparing him to the full moon amidst the dark night. People would say: ‘We would admire the full moon’s beauty, but still find the prophet far more beautiful in our eyes.’ You can notice his anger or content from his face. When he was pleased with something, his cuticle shone like a mirror reflecting light on your face, but when he was angry at something, the colour of his face changed, and his eyes reddened.”
“The prophet P.B.U.H. had smooth plain cheeks.” [Recorded by Abu-Na‘eem in Dala’el Al-Nobowwa].
“He had the most beautiful neck among all people, it was neither tall nor short, what appears to the sun from his neck looked like a silver jug with golden gangue sparkling with the whites of silver and the redness of gold, and what’s hidden beneath his clothes shone like the moon in its full night.”
“The prophet P.B.U.H. had a broad hairless chest, like the mirror in its sternness and flatness. None of his flesh was flabby, and it was as shiny as the moon in its full night. His navel was joined to the upper part of his chest with hair led like a rod, besides which he hadn’t any more hair neither in his belly nor in his chest.”
“The prophet’s eyes were big and beautiful with black coloured iris. His eye lashes were long and dense that they almost merged.” [Recorded by Baihaqy and Ibn Asaker].
“I never saw the prophet P.B.U.H. laughing till his uvula showed, but he always smiled.”
“The prophet never spoke in rapid narrations like that of yours, but his speech was always plain and clear with separate sentences that could be memorised by anyone who listens to it.” [Recorded by Bukhari and Muslim].
Jābir Ibn Sumra the companion, and one of the prophet’s blood relatives said:
“One full-moon night, I was sitting outside appreciating the beautiful sight of the moon amidst the sky. I saw the prophet P.B.U.H. [passing by] wearing a red garment, I looked at him and at the moon, and he was far more beautiful in my eyes than the moon’s view.”
“If you looked at him, you would think that he had kohl in his eyes, but actually he didn’t.” [Recorded by Tirmidhī]
Jabir also recalled from his childhood the following: “I once followed the prophet home after one of the prayers. He was stopped by some kids in the street, so he greeted them, and patted their cheeks one by one. When he patted mine, his hands were cold with the sweetest smell, as if he just took them out of a perfumery’s vat.”
Al-Barā’ Ibn ‘Āzeb the companion said: “The prophet was the most handsome of all people, and the best in conduct. His built was neither extremely tall nor short, but to the tall ones closer.” [Recorded by Bukhari and Muslim]
He also said: “The prophet P.B.U.H. had a wide bone structure with broad shoulders. His forelock’s hair reached his earlobe.” [Recorded by Tirmidhī].
‘Abdullah Ibn Al-Hāreth the companion said: “I never saw anyone more cheerful than the prophet P.B.U.H.; he never talked to anyone except smiling in his face. He was the most pleasant and simple-hearted among all people.” [Recorded by Tirmidhī]
Abi-Obaida Ibn Muhammad Ibn Ammār, the follower, asked Lady Robai’ Bint Mo’aueth about the prophet’s appearance, she said: “Oh my son, if you had seen him, it’s as if you see the sunrise (in his face).” [Recorded by Al-Darmy].
‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbās, the famous companion and the prophet’s cousin said: “Whenever the prophet P.B.U.H. spoke, it was as if light shone from between his front teeth.” [Recorded by Tirmidhī and Al-Darmy].
Ka‘b Ibn Mālek, the companion said: “Whenever the prophet was pleased with something, his face shone as if it was part of the full moon.” [Recorded by Bukhari and Muslim].
On his deathbed, ‘Amr Ibn Al-‘Ās the companion and famous general of the Muslims’ army was weeping; he said to his son: “There had been a time when I hated no one more than the prophet P.B.U.H., and there was nothing more beloved to me than to capture him and kill him. If I had died in such condition, I would have been among the dwellers of the hellfire. But then Allah opened my heart to Islam, so I travelled to the prophet and said: ‘Open your hand so that I may swear allegiance to you.’ When he stretched his hand, I closed my palm, so he said, ‘What is it ‘Amr?’ I answered, ‘I have one condition.’ He said, ‘What is that?’ So I said, ‘That Allah forgives all the sins which I have done before.’ He said, ‘Don’t you know that Islam erases all of the sins committed before embracing it, and immigration [to Muslims’ land] erases all preceding sins, and performing pilgrimage erases all preceding sins.’ Ever since that day, no one ever became more beloved to me, or more revered in my eyes than the prophet P.B.U.H. I couldn’t bear to fill my eyes with his face out of reverence for him. If I’m ever asked to describe him, I will fail to do so, for I never bore to fill my eyes with the beauty of his face.” [Recorded by Muslim].
May Allah guide us and all people to the truth, Amen.
IMME, ISBN:9789779027395
Written By: Ehab Shawky
For a complete understanding, read my relevant posts:
Muhammad The Paragon, The Exceptional Human,
Prophet Muhammad’s Manners & Attitude, Locating Paran,
The Prophecy of Isaiah, The Prophecy of Habakkuk,
The Man In the “Song of Songs” & The Final Testament.
Islamic Methodologies Made Easy 