Physical characteristic of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him)

Last updated: 4 October 2017 From the section Biography of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Some physical features of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh):

He was very awe inspiring when you saw him.
He was monumental, grand in nature when you saw him.
His face was like a moon on laylatul badr. It had a light coming out of it like a moon on laylatul badr.
He was taller than a moderate build but not exceedingly tall. He was of a middle stature inclining towards height because everything about him was middle.
He was not pasty white and he was not black. He was light skinned what we would call in English, a reddy complexion.
His hair was neither straight or curly. He had a full head and his hair was wavy. If he parted it, it parted. It never went past the lobe of his ears if he allowed it to grow long because sometimes he would cut it for ibadah like the umrah or hajj. It went to the lobe or in some riwayah it went to the shoulder.
He did not speak slow or fast. He spoke in a moderate tone. His words were neither too short nor excessive but they were always just right. When he spoke, people felt as it exactly the right amount of words were used. Everything about him was moderation.
He had a large forehead which is an indication of high quality. He had a vein on his forehead. If he got upset they could see the vein.
His eyebrows were full and there was a slight space between them.
The upper part of his nose was aqualine. He had a beautiful nose that had a bridge on the upper part. He had a light that came from that area of his face that was clearly discernible.
He had a full beard and his eyes were very dark.
He had high beautiful cheek.
He had a mouth that was full so when he spoke his pronunciation was perfect.
His teeth were beautiful, there was a slight space in the teeth.
He had a light hair on his chest which was manliness without having a lot of hair.
His neck was like a gazelle’s neck. He had a beautiful neck and a high neck. It had like a beautiful silvery clarity to it.
He was balanced in all of his outward aspects. He had a strong build and it was all perfectly formed.
His stomach and chest were equal. He never had a large stomach. He had no paunch. Even when he was in his sixties, his stomach was always flat. He had light hair on his stomach. He had no hair over his breasts.
He was full chested and his shoulders were broad. He had large bones.
He had hair on his arms and he was sinewy and strong.
There was a space in his trachea (windpipe).
His limbs were strong and he had full calves.
His feet were very smooth. Because they were desert people and they walked a lot, their feet would have a lot of roughness to them. His feet were smooth that water would pour off them.
When he walked, he walked softly but he was quick paced as if he was walking on an incline.
When he looked at somebody, he did not just move his head, he turned his entire body to give full attention to that person.
He looked more at the ground than he did up. His glance was generally down because of the power of his glance. When he looked at people, he did not maintain his stare. He would look then move away. As he looked at people, he never fixed his focus on people because of the effect that would have on people.

He was innocently bright and had broad countenance. His manners were fine. Neither was his belly bulging out nor was his head deprived of hair. He had black attractive eyes finely arched by continuous eyebrows. His hair glossy and black, inclined to curl, he wore long. His voice was extremely commanding.

His head was large, well formed and set on a slender neck. His expression was pensive and contemplative, serene and sublime.

The stranger was fascinated from the distance, but no sooner he became intimate with him than this fascination was changed into attachment and respect. His expression was very sweet and distinct. His speech was well set and free from the use of superfluous words, as if it were a rosary of beads. His stature was neither too high nor too small to look repulsive. He was a twig amongst the two, singularly bright and fresh. He was always surrounded by his Companions.

Whenever he uttered something, the listeners would hear him with rapt attention and whenever he issued any command, they vied with each other in carrying it out. He was a master and a commander. His utterances were marked by truth and sincerity, free from all kinds of falsehoods and lies.

Umm Ma‘bad Al-Khuza‘iyah, Za'd Al-Ma'ad 2/45

The Messenger of Allâh (pbuh) was neither excessively tall nor extremely short. He was medium height among his friends. His hair was neither curly nor wavy. It was in between. It was not too curly nor was it plain straight. It was both curly and wavy combined. His face was not swollen or meaty-compact. It was fairly round. His mouth was white. He had black and large eyes with long haired eyelids. His joints (limbs) and shoulder joints were rather big. He had a rod-like little hair extending from his chest down to his navel, but the rest of his body was almost hairless. He had thick hand palms and thick fingers and toes.

At walking, he lifted his feet off the ground as if he had been walking in a muddy remainder of water. When he turned, he turned all. The Prophethood Seal was between his shoulders. He is the Seal of Prophets, the most generous and the bravest of all. His speech was the most reliable. He was the keenest and the most attentive to people’s trust and was very careful to pay people’s due in full.

The Prophet (pbuh) was the most tractable and the most yielding companion, seeing him unexpectedly you fear him and venerate him. He who has acquaintance with him will like him. He who describes him says: ‘I have never seen such a person neither before nor after seeing him.’

Ali bin Abi Talib,Ibn Hisham 1/401; Jami' At-Tirmidhi 4/303

He had unfolded hands and was pink-coloured. He was neither white nor brown. He was rather whitish. In both his head and beard there were as many as twenty grey hairs, besides some grey hairs at his temples." In another version: "and some scattered white hairs in his head.

Anas bin Malik, Sahih Al-Bukhari 1/502

I have seen some grey colour under his lower lip." Al-Bara’ said: "He was of medium height, broad-shouldered, his hair went up to his earlobes. I saw him dressed in a red garment and I (assure you) I have never seen someone more handsome. At first he used to let his hair loose so as to be in
compliance with the people of the Book; but later on he used to part it.

Abu Juhaifa, Sahih Al-Bukhari 1/503

I have never seen a thing nicer than the Messenger of Allâh (pbuh). It seems as if the sunlight were moving within his face. I have never seen one who is faster in pace than the Messenger of Allâh (pbuh). It seemed as if the earth had folded itself up to shorten the distance for him. For we used to
wear ourselves out while he was at full ease.

Abu Huraira, Mishkat Al-Masabeeh 2/518

When he was pleased, his face would shine with so bright light that you would believe that it was a moon-piece.

Ka‘b bin Malik, Sahih Al-Bukhari 1/502

When he got angry his face would go so red that you would think it were "an inflected red skin-spot with pomegranate grains on both cheeks.

Mishkat Al-Masabeeh 1/22

His legs were gentle, delicate and in conformity. His laughter is no more than smiling. Looking at him will make you say ‘He is black-eyed though he is not so.’

Jabir bin Samurah, Jami' At-Tirmidhi 4/306

His two front teeth were splitted so whenever he speaks, light goes through them. His neck was as pure and silvery as a neck of doll. His eyelids were long haired but his beard was thick. His forehead was broad; but his eyebrows were like the metal piece attached to a lance, but they were unhorned.

His nose was high-tipped, middle-cambered with narrow nostrils. His cheeks were plain, but he had (little hair) running down like a rod from his throat to his navel. He had hair neither on his abdomen nor on his chest except some on his arms and shoulders. His chest was broad and flatted. He had long forearms with expansive palms of the hand. His legs were plain straight and stretching down. His other limbs were straight too.

The two hollows of his soles hardly touch the ground. When he walks away he vanishes soon; but he walks at ease (when he is not in a hurry). The way he walks seems similar to one who is leaning forwards and is about to fall down.

Ibn Al-‘Abbas, Khulasa As -Siyar p.19,20

I have never touched silk or a silky garment softer than the palm of the Prophet’s (pbuh); nor have I smelt a perfume or any scent nicer than his.

(In another version) I have never smelt ambergris nor musk nor any other thing sweeter than the scent and the smell of the Messenger of Allâh (pbuh).

Anas

The Perfection of Soul and Nobility

Some emotional & social characteristic of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh):

He was always reflecting. He did not take rest like other people. He was concerned about his ummah.
He never spoke about anything that was unnecessary. He had long periods of silence. He used to open his words and close them with a full expression when he spoke. He spoke with comprehensive words. He never had excess. He was never at a loss for words. If he spoke, he would put his right thumb into his left palm.
He had soft and gentle character. He was not harsh. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was not harsh. “If you were harsh hearted they would have fled from around you”. He was not gruff or harsh ever.
He always elevated the blessing even if it was a minute blessing.
He never found fault in anything even in a small amount of food. Any type of food that was given to eat he did not find fault in it nor did he excessively praise it.
If he got upset, it never put him in a state of agitation. He never got upset for himself nor did he ever seek any redress wrong done to him.
There was never a time when a right was presented to him that he would go to fulfill that right.
He did not point with his finger, he pointed with his whole hand.
He never spoke except with what concerned him.
He always brought people together and never separated them.
He would honour the dignatories of every people and put him over those people.
He guarded himself with people and he was vigilant because of the makar of those people.
The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) knew human nature and he knew what people were upto but never by being rude. He would still always smile.
He would seek out his companions.
He would consider what was beautiful beautiful and he would show people it was a good thing. What was foul, he would show it to be foul. He would make it look insignificant to them, not worth doing.
He was always moderate and never departed from that quality.
He would never be weary of a people when people were speaking he would never lose his attention out of fear that they would lose their attention and get bored. He was always present with them.
He was ready for anything and everything.
The best people for him were the ones who benefited and were the most sincere. The ones he had the highest estimation for were the ones who served the most, helped others and consoled others. Those were the people who he looked at not those sitting around and doing nothing.
He gave all of the people who sat with him full attention so that each one of them thought thy were the most important person in the majlis (council). “I was sent to perfect noble character”.
If somebody got angry in his presence or had some need and was forceful, he would be patient with him and he would do that to the point where that man would end up being calm or forgetting about what he wanted because he was so patient.
If anybody asked him anything he never refused. If they did not get specifically what they wanted they went out with words of wisdom and consolation from him. He encompassed all of these people with his character. He was like a father to them and they were all the same as far as he was concerned in rights. Only he saw differences in taqwa.
His majlis was a majlis of clemency, modesty, sabr (patience), trustworthiness, never were voices raised, never were anything that was holy and sacred in any way desacrilised, all of them were humbled in his presence.
Always he honoured the older and had mercy on the younger. They would help those in need and they had special compassion for strangers and guests.
He was always smiling, he had gentle character. He was always kind and gentle with people. He was not harsh or coarse.
He never shouted. He did not use foul language.
He rarely found fault, if he did it was to point out something that was harmful.
He was not excessively praiseworthy, it does not mean he did not praise, he did not do praise that was not warranted.
He would tell people to encourage them and speak highly of people to encourage. He did not flatter.
If he did not like something, he would act as if he did not notice it. No one ever despaired of him.

Well-spoken

The Prophet (pbuh) was noted for superb eloquence and fluency in Arabic. He was remarkable in position and rank. He was an accurate, unpretending straightforward speaker. He was well-versed in Arabic and quite familiar with the dialects and accents of every tribe. He spoke with his entertainers using their own accents and dialects.

He mastered and was quite eloquent at both bedouin and town speech. So he had the strength and eloquence of bedouin language as well as the clarity and the decorated splendid speech of town. Above all, there was the assistance of Allâh embodied in the revealed verses of the Qur’ân.

His stamina, endurance and forgiveness — out of a commanding position — his patience and standing what he detested — these were all talents, attributes and qualities Allâh Himself had brought him on. Even wise men have their flaws, but the Messenger of Allâh (pbuh), unlike everybody, the more he was hurt or injured, the more clement and patient he became. The more insolence an ignorant anybody exercised against him the more enduring he became.

Stayed away from idol worship

He shunned superstitious practices but took an active part in constructive and useful dealings, otherwise, he would have recourse to his self-consecrated solitude. He kept himself aloof from drinking wine, eating meat slaughtered on stone altars, or attending idolatrous festivals. He held the idols in extreme aversion and most abhorrence. He could never tolerate someone swearing by Al-Lat and Al- ‘Uzza.

Al-Ameen

He was the most truthful and the best to keep covenant. His fellow-citizens, by common consent, gave him the title of Al-‘Ameen (trustworthy).

He unites uterine relations, he helps the poor and the needy, he entertains the guests and endures hardships in the path of truthfulness.

Mother of believers, Khadijah (RAH) (Bukhari 1/3)

Simple & hospitable

The Messenger of Allâh (pbuh), whenever he is given the opportunity to choose between two affairs, he always chooses the easiest and the most convenient. But if he is certain that it is sinful, he will be as far as he could from it.

He has never avenged himself; but when the sanctity of Allâh is violated he would. That would be for Allâh’s not for himself. He is the last one to get angry and the first to be satisfied.

His hospitality and generosity were matchless. His gifts and endowments manifest a man who does not fear poverty.

‘Aishah, Sahih Al-Bukhari 1/503

The Prophet (pbuh) would never deny anything he was asked for.

Jabir, Sahih Al-Bukhari 1/503

Most courageous

His courage, his succour and his might are distinguishable. He was the most courageous. He witnessed awkward and difficult times and stoodfast at them. More than once brave men and daring ones fled away leaving him alone; yet he stood with full composure facing the enemy without turning his back.

All brave men must have experienced fleeing once or have been driven off the battlefield at a round at a time except the Prophet (pbuh).

Whenever the fight grew fierce and the eyes of fighters went red, we used to resort to the Prophet (pbuh) for succour. He was always the closest to the enemy.

‘Ali, As-Shifa 1/89

One night the people of Madinah felt alarmed. People went out hurriedly towards the source of sound, but the Prophet (pbuh) had already gone ahead of them. He was on the horseback of Abu Talhah which had no saddle over it, and a sword was slung round his neck, and said to them: ‘There was nothing to be afraid for.’

Anas, Sahih Al-Bukhari 1/407; Sahih Muslim 2/252

Shy & sociable

His way of living is the simplest one. Ill-manners and indecency are two qualities completely alien to him. He was decent, and did not call anybody names. He was not the sort of person who cursed or made noise in the streets. He did not exchange offences with others.

He pushed back an offence or an error by forgiveness and overlooking. Nobody was allowed to walk behind him (i.e. as a bodyguard). He did not feel himself superior to others not even to his slaves (men or women) as far as food or clothes were concerned.

He was shier than a virgin in her boudoir.

When he hates a thing we read it on his face. He does not stare at anybody’s face. He always casts his eyes down. He looks at the ground more than he looks sky-wards. His utmost looks at people are glances.

He is willingly and modestly obeyed by everybody. He would never name a person whom he had heard ill-news about — which he hated. Instead he would say: ‘Why do certain people do so....’

Abu Sa‘îd Al-Khudri, Sahih Al-Bukhari 1/504

The Messenger of Allâh (pbuh) was always cheerful, easy, pleasant-tempered and lenient. He was never rude or rough nor clamorous or indecent. He was neither a reproacher nor a praiser. He overlooked what he did not desire, yet you would never despair of him. Three qualities he disposed of: hypocrisy, excessiveness, and what was none of his concern. People did not fear him in three areas: — for they were not qualities or habits of his —: He never disparaged, or reproached nor did he seek the defects or shortages of others. He only spoke things whose reward was Divinely desirable. When he spoke, his listeners would attentively listen casting down their heads. They only spoke when he was silent. They did not have disputes or arguments about who was to talk. He who talked in his presence would be listened to by everybody till he finished his talk. Their talk would be about the topic discussed or delivered by their first speaker. The Messenger of Allâh (pbuh) used to laugh at what they laughed at and admired what they used to admire. He would always show patience with a stranger’s harshness at talk.

The Messenger of Allâh (pbuh) was continually sad, thinking perpetually. He had no rest (i.e. for long). He only spoke when it was necessary. He would remain silent for a long time and whenever he spoke, he would end his talk with his jawbone but not out of the corners of his mouth, i.e. (snobbishly).

His speech was inclusive. He spoke inclusively and decisively. It was not excessive nor was it short of meaning. It was amiable. It was in no way hard discoroning.

He glorified the bounty of Allâh; even if it were little. If he had no liking for someone’s food, he would neither praise nor criticize.

Hind bin Abi Halah

When you see a person seeking an object earnestly, assist him to get his need. And never ask for a reward except from the reward- Giver, i.e. Allâh.

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Ash-Shifa 1/126

Most honest

The Prophet (pbuh) is the most just, the most decent, the most truthful at speech, and the honestest of all. Those who have exchanged speech with him, and even his enemies, acknowledge his noble qualities. Even before the Prophethood he was nicknamed Al-Ameen (i.e. the truthful, the truthworthy). Even then — in Al- Jahiliyah — they used to turn to him for judgement and consultation.

In a version by At-Tirmidhi, he says that ‘Ali had said that he had been told by Abu Jahl that he (Abu Jahl) said to the Messenger of Allâh (pbuh): "We do not call you a liar; but we do not have faith in what you have brought."

, Mishkat Al-Masabeeh 2/521

It is not you that they deny, but it is the Verses (the Qur’ân) of Allâh that the Zalimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers) deny.

Al-Qur'an 6:33

Even when Heraclius asked Abu Sufyan: "Have you ever accused him of lying before the ministry of Prophethood?" Abu Sufyan said: "No." He was most modest and far from being arrogant or proud. He forbade people to stand up at his presence as other people usually do for their kings. Visiting the poor, the needy and entertaining them are some of his habits.

If a slave invited him, he would accept the invitation. He always sat among his friends as if he were an ordinary person of them.

‘Aishah said that he used to repair his shoes, sew or mend his dress and to do what ordinary men did in their houses. After all, he was a human being like others. He used to check his dress (lest it has some insects on). Milking the she-sheep and catering for himself were some of his normal jobs.

, ibid 2/520

Helping the poor and needy

Whoever served him should be served by him too. ‘Ugh’ (an utterance of complaint) is a word that had never been said by him to his servant; nor was his servant blamed for doing a thing or leaving it undone. Loving the poor and the needy and entertaining them or participating in their funerals were things the Prophet (pbuh) always observed. He never contempted or disgraced a poor man for his poverty.

Once he was travelling with his Companions and when it was time to have food prepared, he asked them to slaughter a she-sheep. A man said: I will slaughter it, another one said: I will skin it out. A third said: I will cook it. So the Messenger of Allâh (pbuh) said: I will collect wood for fire. They said: "No. We will suffice you that work." "I know that you can do it for me, but I hate to be privileged. Allâh hates to see a slave of his privileged to others." So he went and collected fire-wood.

Khulasa As-Siyar p.22

Calm

He was always in full control of his temper and he would never get seemed angry unless it was necessary. He never got angry for himself nor did he avenge himself. It was for Allâh’s sanctity and religion that he always seemed angry. When he pointed at a thing he would do so with his full hand-palm, and he would turn it round to show surprise. If he were angry he would turn both his body and face aside. When he was pleased, he cast his eyes down. His laughter was mostly smiling. It was then that his teeth which were like hail-stones were revealed. He never spoke unless it was something closely relevant to him. He confirmed the brotherhood relationship among his Companions; and thus he made them intimate and did not separate them or implant enmity among them. Those who were honourable with their peoples, were honoured and respected by him and were assigned rulers over their own peoples. His cheerfulness was never withdrawn at anyone’s face; even at those whom he warned his people from or those whom he himself was on the alert of. He visited friends and inquired about people’s affairs. He confirmed what was right and criticized the awful and tried to undermine it. He was moderate in all affairs. He was equal to others and was not privileged. He would never act heedlessly, lest the others should get heedless. Each situation was dealt with in its proper due.

Just

His magnanimity, broad mindedness his tolerance could embrace all people and entitled him to be regarded as father for them all. In justice, all of them were almost equal. Nobody was better than another except on the criterion of Allâh fearing. A favoured one, to him, was the most Allâh fearing. His assembly was a meeting of clemency, timidness, patience and honesty. Voices were not raised in rows or riots. Inviolable things were never violable. Fearing Allâh and worship were their means to sympathy and compassion. They used to esteem the old and have mercy on the young. They assisted the needy and entertained strangers.

Righteousness was his target; so he was never short of it nor indifferent to it. People who sat next to him were the best of their people and the best of them all were — for him — those who provided common consultations. For him, the greatest ones and the highest in ranks were the best at providing comfort and co-ordination and succour. Remembrance (of Allâh) was a thing he aimed at and established whenever he sat down or stands up. No certain position was assigned for him to sit on. He sits at the end of the group, seated next to the last sitter in the place. He ordered people to do the same. He entertained his participiants in social gatherings alike so that the one addressed would think that there was no one honoured by the Prophet (pbuh) but himself. He whoever sat next to him or interrupted him in order to ask for his advice about an affair of his, would be the first to start the talk and the one to end it.

The Prophet (pbuh) would listen to him patiently till he ended his speech. He never denied a request to anyone, if unapproachable, then few gratifying words would work, instead.

The Prophet (pbuh) was the most honoured among the people with whom he sat. His limbs could hardly be seen. He was often silent and rarely talked when speech was not a necessity. He turned away from those whose speech was rude or impolite.

His laughter was no more than a smile. His speech, which was decisive, it was neither excessive nor incomplete. Out of reverence and esteem and following the example of their Prophet (pbuh), the Companions’ laughter at his presence — was smiling, as well.

Kharijah bin Zaid, As-Shifa 1/107

Those were the attributes and qualities that the Prophet (pbuh) enjoyed which made the hearts of souls of the people close to him, draw near to him and love him. Those traits made him so popular that the restraint and enmity of his people grew less and they started to embrace Islam in large crowds.

And verily, you (O Muhammad (pbuh)) are on an exalted standard of character.

Al-Qur'an 68:4