Shamaail – Hadith 5

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). 

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