Ubayd bin Khaalid (ra) reports that
"I was once going to Madina. I heard a person from behind me say: 'Wear your lungi (loose dress) higher because it avoids physical and spiritual impurities.' (The lungi will remain cleaner and will not become dirty by being dragged on the ground.) When I turned to see who was talking I saw that it was Rasulullah (saas)."106
Salamah bin Akwa (ra) informs us that:
"Uthmaan (ra) wore his lungi till the middle of his shin and said: 'This is how my master Rasulullah (saas) wore his lungi.'"107
The Prophet (saas)'s ring and seal
The seal of the Prophet (saas) is available in the Topkapi Palace.
Anas bin Malik (ra) says:
"Rasulullah (saas) had a ring made of silver and its (inlaid) gem was also of silver."108
When the Prophet (saas) wanted to write to the leaders of foreign states, he ordered a seal-ring to be made.
"Rasullullah (saas) therefore had a ring made, the whiteness of which is still before my eyes."109
"The inscription engraved on the ring of Rasulullah (saas) was 'Muhammad Rasulullah,' of which in the first line was engraved 'Muhammad,' in the second line 'Rasul,' and in the third line 'Allah'."110
The Prophet (saas)'s manner of walking
Abu Huraira (ra) reports:
"I did not see anyone more handsome than Rasulullah (saas). It was as if the brightness of the sun had shone from his blessed face. I did not see anyone walk faster than him, as is the earth folded for him. A few moments ago he would be here, and then there. We found it difficult to keep pace when we walked with him and he walked at his normal pace."111
One of Ali (ra)'s grandchildren, Ibrahim bin Muhammad (ra), says that the Prophet (saas) had an easy manner of walking:
When 'Ali (ra) described Rasulullah (saas), he used to say: 'When he walked, because of the speed and force of the legs, it seemed as if he was descending from a high place'."112
Hassan (ra) describes how:
"When he walked, he lifted his legs with vigour, leaned, slightly forward and placed his feet softly on the ground. He walked at a quick pace and took a rather long step. He did not take small steps. When he walked it seemed as if he was descending to a lower place. When he looked at something, he turned his whole body towards it. He always looked down. His blessed glance was focused more to the ground than towards the sky. His noble habit was to look at something with a slight glance. He made salaam (greeted) first to whomsoever he met."113
(Left)Painting called Lilium Auratum. 1871. (Right) The City of Fayoum by Gérome.
The Prophet (saas)'s manner of sitting
Qaylah bint Makhramah (ra) reports:
"I saw Rasulullah (saas) in the masjid (in a very humble posture) sitting. Due to his awe-inspiring personality, I began shivering."114
Jaabir bin Samurah (ra) says:
"I observed Rasulullah (saas) lean on a pillow, which was on his left side."115
Who could do greater wrong than someone who invents a lie against Allah when he has been called to Islam? Allah does not guide wrongdoing people.
(Surat as-Saff: 7)
The Prophet (saas)'s way of speaking
The Prophet (saas) was a man known for his effective, wise and concise manner of speaking. His messages had a great effect on people, and everyone took great pleasure in talking with him. A number of accounts that have come down from his companions also confirm that fact. These are some of them:
"The Prophet (saas) was the greatest of the Arabs in oratory and beauty of speech. He said: 'I am the greatest orator among the Arabs'."116
The Mosque of Sultan Hassan (right) by David Roberts.
Aisha (ra) describes the Prophet (saas)'s way of speaking thus:
"The speech of Rasulullah (saas) was not quick and continuous as that of yours. He spoke clearly, word by word."117
"They said: 'The Messenger of Allah used to talk little and every thing was expressed in this brief talk. In his speech, there was no defect of excess or brevity. The words came one after another like pearls. Whoever heard them remembered them. He was the sweetest in talk among his companions. He used to keep silent for long and not talk without necessity. He used not to talk evil words and what he talked was just."118
"He did not use ornamental words…."119
"… His companions did never dispute before him."120
"He used to smile much before his companions…"121
Aisha (ra) again says:
"He spoke in such a way that the words were spaced out so that those who sat with him remembered them."122
Abdullah bin Haarith (ra) reports that:
"I have not seen anyone who makes a person more cheerful than Rasulullah (saas)."123
Anas bin Malik (ra) tells us the following:
"Rasulullah (saas) used to mingle with us and joke."124
The Prophet (saas)'s pleasing scent
The Prophet (saas) attached great importance to cleanliness. He always smelt very fresh, clean and pleasant, and recommended that Muslims do the same. Accounts that have reached us from his companions give further details of this aspect of the Prophet (saas):
Jaabir bin Samura (ra) states:
"Whenever the Holy Prophet tread on any path, when someone passed by later, that they could recognize that the prophet had passed by there because they could smell the fragrance of his body."125
From Anas bin Malik (ra):
"I never felt a silk cloth, nor pure silk, nor any other thing softer than the palm of Rasulullah (saas). Nor did I smell any musk or any other fragrance, more sweet smelling than the fragrance of Rasullullah (saas)."126
Anas bin Malik (r.a) reports:
"I never smelt ambergris or musk as fragrant as the fragrance of the body of Allah's Messenger (saas) and I never touched brocade or silk and found it as soft as the body of Allah's Messenger (saas)."127
In Qisas al-Anbiya, the Prophet (saas) was described in this way:
"His body was clean and his scent beautiful. Whether or not he had used scent, his skin always had a lovely scent to it. If someone shook hands or conversed with him, or showed his friendship or affection, he would smell that clean scent all day, and if he laid that sacred hand on a child's head, that child could be distinguished from other children by that clean scent."128
The Prophet (saas)'s favorite foods
"He used not to take any hot food."129
"Meat was his most favorite curry."130
"The Holy Prophet (saas), amongst all other foods, liked pumpkin."131
"He used to eat the meat of hunted birds."132
… they will have Gardens with rivers flowing under them. When they are given fruit there as provision, they will say, 'This is what we were given before.' But they were only given a simulation of it.
(Surat al-Baqara: 25)
"He liked dried dates among dates."133
Aisha (ra) had this to say about the food the Prophet (saas) enjoyed:
"Rasulullah (saas) loved halva and honey."134
"Among foods, he liked mutton, broth, pumpkins, sweet things, honey, dates, milk, cream, melons, grapes and cucumbers. He also liked cold water."135
She adds:
"Rasulullah (saas) ate watermelon with fresh dates."136
Garden, by Pieter Gysels (1621-1690)
"He never condemned the food. He used to eat what he liked and did not eat what he did not like."137
"Rasulullah (saas) loved the meat of the forequarter."138
These are some of the things the Prophet (saas) said about certain foods:
"What a nice curry vinegar is."139
"The Prophet (saas) said that mushroom is a good cure for the eyes, it also arrests paralysis."140
"Illnesses are cured by means of three things: (one of them) is a drink of honey."141
"Use olive oil as a food and ointment for it comes from a blessed tree."142
Still-life painting by Ibrahim Safi.
What the Prophet (saas) liked to drink
Aisha tells us that:
"The drink most liked by Rasulullah (saas) was that which was sweet and cold."143
"Nabeez was prepared from dried grapes for the Prophet (saas) and dates were, also, put in it, or it was prepared from dried dates, and grapes, too, were put in it. "144
"The best of drinks to the Messenger of Allah was sweet cold drink."145
"The Holy Prophet (saas) said; besides milk there is nothing else that serves the purpose of both milk and water."146
This is what the Prophet (saas) had to say about milk:
"When one of you eats food, he should say: 'O Allah, bless us in it, and give us food (or nourishment) better than it.' When he is given milk to drink he should say: 'O Allah! Bless us in it and give us more of it, for no food or drink satisfies like milk'."147
What the Prophet (saas) said about water
The Prophet (saas) took great care to distribute water, particularly on journeys. On one particular journey, for instance, he stopped somewhere and asked for water from those around him. After washing his hands and face, he drank from the water, and told his companions; "pour some of its water on your faces and chests."148
After drinking water, he prayed:
"All praise is due to Allah Who has made it delicious and sweet by His grace and has not made it either salty or unsavory."149
On another occasion, the Prophet (saas) said:
"Water was created pure and nothing makes it impure except that which changes its color, taste and smell."150
Some of the Prophet (saas)'s finer traits
Imam Ghazzali, known as "Hujjatul Islam," collected and set out some of the Prophet (saas)'s traits as related by such great Islamic scholars as Tirmidhi, Tabarani, Muslim, Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawood and Ibn Maja:
"The Holy Prophet (saas) was the most patient among men, the bravest, the best judge, and he who pardoned most. ... he was the most charitable man. He did not pass a single night hoarding a single dirham or dinar. Whenever any excess money came to him and if he did not then get anyone to accept it as charity, he did not return home till he gave it to the poor and the needy. He did not store up for more than a year the provision of his family members which Allah was pleased to give him. He used to take one fifth of what easily came to him out of dates and wheat. What remained in excess, he used to give in charity. He used to give away in charity to him who begged of him of anything, even out of his stored up provision.
He did not take any revenge for personal wrongs but he used take it for preservation of the honor of Allah.
He used to speak the truth even though it was sometimes a cause of trouble to himself and his companions.
He was the most modest, without pride, and his tongue was most eloquent without prolongation of speech. His constitution was the most beatiful. No worldly duties could keep him busy.
He used to go even to a distant place to see the sick, loved scents and hated a stench or bad smell, sat with the poor and the destitute, ate with them, honored those possessing honor, advised them to do good and show kindness to relatives. He did not treat harshly to anybody and accepted excuses offered to him.
He accepted sports and pastimes as lawful, played with his wives and held races with them.... He did not hate the poor for their poverty nor fear the kings for their mighty power. He used to call the people, high or low towards Allah. Allah adorned him with all the qualities and good administration
At the time when the Quran was being revealed to him, he used to smile most. When something happened, he entrusted it to Allah, kept himself free from his own strength and ability and said in invocation: 'O Allah, show me truth in a true manner or give me grace to give it up. You guide to the straight path whomsoever You will.'
Allah revealed the Quran to him and through it He taught him good manners." 151
For this We sent a Messenger to you from among you to recite Our Signs to you and purify you and teach you the Book and Wisdom and teach you things you did not know before.
(Surat al-Baqara: 151)
"I was once going to Madina. I heard a person from behind me say: 'Wear your lungi (loose dress) higher because it avoids physical and spiritual impurities.' (The lungi will remain cleaner and will not become dirty by being dragged on the ground.) When I turned to see who was talking I saw that it was Rasulullah (saas)."106
Salamah bin Akwa (ra) informs us that:
"Uthmaan (ra) wore his lungi till the middle of his shin and said: 'This is how my master Rasulullah (saas) wore his lungi.'"107
The Prophet (saas)'s ring and seal
The seal of the Prophet (saas) is available in the Topkapi Palace.
Anas bin Malik (ra) says:
"Rasulullah (saas) had a ring made of silver and its (inlaid) gem was also of silver."108
When the Prophet (saas) wanted to write to the leaders of foreign states, he ordered a seal-ring to be made.
"Rasullullah (saas) therefore had a ring made, the whiteness of which is still before my eyes."109
"The inscription engraved on the ring of Rasulullah (saas) was 'Muhammad Rasulullah,' of which in the first line was engraved 'Muhammad,' in the second line 'Rasul,' and in the third line 'Allah'."110
The Prophet (saas)'s manner of walking
Abu Huraira (ra) reports:
"I did not see anyone more handsome than Rasulullah (saas). It was as if the brightness of the sun had shone from his blessed face. I did not see anyone walk faster than him, as is the earth folded for him. A few moments ago he would be here, and then there. We found it difficult to keep pace when we walked with him and he walked at his normal pace."111
One of Ali (ra)'s grandchildren, Ibrahim bin Muhammad (ra), says that the Prophet (saas) had an easy manner of walking:
When 'Ali (ra) described Rasulullah (saas), he used to say: 'When he walked, because of the speed and force of the legs, it seemed as if he was descending from a high place'."112
Hassan (ra) describes how:
"When he walked, he lifted his legs with vigour, leaned, slightly forward and placed his feet softly on the ground. He walked at a quick pace and took a rather long step. He did not take small steps. When he walked it seemed as if he was descending to a lower place. When he looked at something, he turned his whole body towards it. He always looked down. His blessed glance was focused more to the ground than towards the sky. His noble habit was to look at something with a slight glance. He made salaam (greeted) first to whomsoever he met."113
(Left)Painting called Lilium Auratum. 1871. (Right) The City of Fayoum by Gérome.
The Prophet (saas)'s manner of sitting
Qaylah bint Makhramah (ra) reports:
"I saw Rasulullah (saas) in the masjid (in a very humble posture) sitting. Due to his awe-inspiring personality, I began shivering."114
Jaabir bin Samurah (ra) says:
"I observed Rasulullah (saas) lean on a pillow, which was on his left side."115
Who could do greater wrong than someone who invents a lie against Allah when he has been called to Islam? Allah does not guide wrongdoing people.
(Surat as-Saff: 7)
The Prophet (saas)'s way of speaking
The Prophet (saas) was a man known for his effective, wise and concise manner of speaking. His messages had a great effect on people, and everyone took great pleasure in talking with him. A number of accounts that have come down from his companions also confirm that fact. These are some of them:
"The Prophet (saas) was the greatest of the Arabs in oratory and beauty of speech. He said: 'I am the greatest orator among the Arabs'."116
The Mosque of Sultan Hassan (right) by David Roberts.
Aisha (ra) describes the Prophet (saas)'s way of speaking thus:
"The speech of Rasulullah (saas) was not quick and continuous as that of yours. He spoke clearly, word by word."117
"They said: 'The Messenger of Allah used to talk little and every thing was expressed in this brief talk. In his speech, there was no defect of excess or brevity. The words came one after another like pearls. Whoever heard them remembered them. He was the sweetest in talk among his companions. He used to keep silent for long and not talk without necessity. He used not to talk evil words and what he talked was just."118
"He did not use ornamental words…."119
"… His companions did never dispute before him."120
"He used to smile much before his companions…"121
Aisha (ra) again says:
"He spoke in such a way that the words were spaced out so that those who sat with him remembered them."122
Abdullah bin Haarith (ra) reports that:
"I have not seen anyone who makes a person more cheerful than Rasulullah (saas)."123
Anas bin Malik (ra) tells us the following:
"Rasulullah (saas) used to mingle with us and joke."124
The Prophet (saas)'s pleasing scent
The Prophet (saas) attached great importance to cleanliness. He always smelt very fresh, clean and pleasant, and recommended that Muslims do the same. Accounts that have reached us from his companions give further details of this aspect of the Prophet (saas):
Jaabir bin Samura (ra) states:
"Whenever the Holy Prophet tread on any path, when someone passed by later, that they could recognize that the prophet had passed by there because they could smell the fragrance of his body."125
From Anas bin Malik (ra):
"I never felt a silk cloth, nor pure silk, nor any other thing softer than the palm of Rasulullah (saas). Nor did I smell any musk or any other fragrance, more sweet smelling than the fragrance of Rasullullah (saas)."126
Anas bin Malik (r.a) reports:
"I never smelt ambergris or musk as fragrant as the fragrance of the body of Allah's Messenger (saas) and I never touched brocade or silk and found it as soft as the body of Allah's Messenger (saas)."127
In Qisas al-Anbiya, the Prophet (saas) was described in this way:
"His body was clean and his scent beautiful. Whether or not he had used scent, his skin always had a lovely scent to it. If someone shook hands or conversed with him, or showed his friendship or affection, he would smell that clean scent all day, and if he laid that sacred hand on a child's head, that child could be distinguished from other children by that clean scent."128
The Prophet (saas)'s favorite foods
"He used not to take any hot food."129
"Meat was his most favorite curry."130
"The Holy Prophet (saas), amongst all other foods, liked pumpkin."131
"He used to eat the meat of hunted birds."132
… they will have Gardens with rivers flowing under them. When they are given fruit there as provision, they will say, 'This is what we were given before.' But they were only given a simulation of it.
(Surat al-Baqara: 25)
"He liked dried dates among dates."133
Aisha (ra) had this to say about the food the Prophet (saas) enjoyed:
"Rasulullah (saas) loved halva and honey."134
"Among foods, he liked mutton, broth, pumpkins, sweet things, honey, dates, milk, cream, melons, grapes and cucumbers. He also liked cold water."135
She adds:
"Rasulullah (saas) ate watermelon with fresh dates."136
Garden, by Pieter Gysels (1621-1690)
"He never condemned the food. He used to eat what he liked and did not eat what he did not like."137
"Rasulullah (saas) loved the meat of the forequarter."138
These are some of the things the Prophet (saas) said about certain foods:
"What a nice curry vinegar is."139
"The Prophet (saas) said that mushroom is a good cure for the eyes, it also arrests paralysis."140
"Illnesses are cured by means of three things: (one of them) is a drink of honey."141
"Use olive oil as a food and ointment for it comes from a blessed tree."142
Still-life painting by Ibrahim Safi.
What the Prophet (saas) liked to drink
Aisha tells us that:
"The drink most liked by Rasulullah (saas) was that which was sweet and cold."143
"Nabeez was prepared from dried grapes for the Prophet (saas) and dates were, also, put in it, or it was prepared from dried dates, and grapes, too, were put in it. "144
"The best of drinks to the Messenger of Allah was sweet cold drink."145
"The Holy Prophet (saas) said; besides milk there is nothing else that serves the purpose of both milk and water."146
This is what the Prophet (saas) had to say about milk:
"When one of you eats food, he should say: 'O Allah, bless us in it, and give us food (or nourishment) better than it.' When he is given milk to drink he should say: 'O Allah! Bless us in it and give us more of it, for no food or drink satisfies like milk'."147
What the Prophet (saas) said about water
The Prophet (saas) took great care to distribute water, particularly on journeys. On one particular journey, for instance, he stopped somewhere and asked for water from those around him. After washing his hands and face, he drank from the water, and told his companions; "pour some of its water on your faces and chests."148
After drinking water, he prayed:
"All praise is due to Allah Who has made it delicious and sweet by His grace and has not made it either salty or unsavory."149
On another occasion, the Prophet (saas) said:
"Water was created pure and nothing makes it impure except that which changes its color, taste and smell."150
Some of the Prophet (saas)'s finer traits
Imam Ghazzali, known as "Hujjatul Islam," collected and set out some of the Prophet (saas)'s traits as related by such great Islamic scholars as Tirmidhi, Tabarani, Muslim, Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawood and Ibn Maja:
"The Holy Prophet (saas) was the most patient among men, the bravest, the best judge, and he who pardoned most. ... he was the most charitable man. He did not pass a single night hoarding a single dirham or dinar. Whenever any excess money came to him and if he did not then get anyone to accept it as charity, he did not return home till he gave it to the poor and the needy. He did not store up for more than a year the provision of his family members which Allah was pleased to give him. He used to take one fifth of what easily came to him out of dates and wheat. What remained in excess, he used to give in charity. He used to give away in charity to him who begged of him of anything, even out of his stored up provision.
He did not take any revenge for personal wrongs but he used take it for preservation of the honor of Allah.
He used to speak the truth even though it was sometimes a cause of trouble to himself and his companions.
He was the most modest, without pride, and his tongue was most eloquent without prolongation of speech. His constitution was the most beatiful. No worldly duties could keep him busy.
He used to go even to a distant place to see the sick, loved scents and hated a stench or bad smell, sat with the poor and the destitute, ate with them, honored those possessing honor, advised them to do good and show kindness to relatives. He did not treat harshly to anybody and accepted excuses offered to him.
He accepted sports and pastimes as lawful, played with his wives and held races with them.... He did not hate the poor for their poverty nor fear the kings for their mighty power. He used to call the people, high or low towards Allah. Allah adorned him with all the qualities and good administration
At the time when the Quran was being revealed to him, he used to smile most. When something happened, he entrusted it to Allah, kept himself free from his own strength and ability and said in invocation: 'O Allah, show me truth in a true manner or give me grace to give it up. You guide to the straight path whomsoever You will.'
Allah revealed the Quran to him and through it He taught him good manners." 151
For this We sent a Messenger to you from among you to recite Our Signs to you and purify you and teach you the Book and Wisdom and teach you things you did not know before.
(Surat al-Baqara: 151)
Mashallah, very good Sister.
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