Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
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.
يَا رَبِّ صَلِّ وَ سَلِّمْ دَائِمًا أَبَدًا عَلَى حَبِيبِكَ خَيرِ الخَلْقِ كُلِّهِمِ
