An Incomparable and Matchless Embodiment of Beauty and Grace

O brothers in Islam! Mustafa, the essence of mercy (ﷺ), was from head to toe, a manifested light and an embodiment of beauty and grace. Just as the Master of the Universe (ﷺ) was unique and unparalleled in the perfection of his character, he was also matchless and incomparable in his external beauty and grace. Allah Almighty granted him everlasting beauty and grace. In all of creation, there is no one as beautiful and graceful as the Master of the Universe (ﷺ). If this mention of his beauty were to be summarized briefly, it would suffice to say that there is not a single complete intellect in the entire world that can fully comprehend the beauty, grace, and radiance of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)!

Allah, the Lord of all the worlds, mentions an oath regarding the beauty of the Prophet (ﷺ) in the Holy Quran, saying:

“By the star when it descends, Your companion [Muhammad] has not strayed, nor has he erred, Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination. It is not but a revelation revealed.” (An-Najm 53:1-4)

In another place, He says:

“By the morning brightness, And by the night when it covers with darkness.” (Ad-Duha 93:1-2)

The esteemed commentators (Mufassireen) explain that “the morning brightness” refers to the light of the beauty of Mustafa (ﷺ), and “the night” is used as a metaphor for the Prophet’s (ﷺ) musk-scented locks. Thus, in these blessed verses, the Creator of the Universe has mentioned an oath by the blessed, radiant face of His Noble Beloved (ﷺ) and by his deep black locks, darker than the night, and in this way, described the beauty of His Beloved (ﷺ).

The Beauty of Mustafa and the Noble Companions

Respected beloved ones! The noble Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) are those fortunate and pure souls who witnessed the world-adorning beauty of the Noble Prophet (ﷺ) with their own eyes and attained the pinnacle of good fortune. In numerous narrations, they described the beauty of the Master of the Two Worlds (ﷺ) with such similes, metaphors, and beautiful expressions that reading them makes one envy the fortune of the Companions! The heart involuntarily yearns, “If only we were present in that blessed era and had the honor of beholding Mustafa with our sinful eyes!”

There is no second to the son of Amina!

Describing the unparalleled beauty of the Noble Prophet (ﷺ), Sayyiduna Ali al-Murtadha (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“I have never seen anyone like him, before him or after him.”

More Beautiful Than the Moon

Respected esteemed ones! Describing the beauty of the Mercy to the Worlds (ﷺ), Sayyiduna Jabir bin Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on a moonlit night. I kept looking at the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and at the moon. He was wearing a red garment. To me, he was more beautiful than the moon!”

Salutations in millions upon the luminous, shining radiance of that face!
Salutations in millions upon that captivating beauty!

An Awe-Inspiring and Dignified Persona

Sayyiduna Hind bin Abi Halah (may Allah be pleased with him) said, comparing the unmatched beauty of the Master of the Universe (ﷺ) to the full moon:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was majestic and awe-inspiring. His face would shine like the moon on the night of the full moon.”

A Beautiful Complexion Like Molded Silver

My dear ones! Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) compared the physical beauty of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to silver, saying:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was white (complexioned), as if he were cast from silver, and his hair was slightly wavy.”

‘Kaaf Ha Ya Ain Saad’ – His face is of light!

The Most Beautiful

Sayyiduna Amr bin Al-Aas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“No one was more beloved to me than the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and no one was greater in my eyes than him. I could not bear to fill my eyes with looking at him out of awe and reverence for him. If I were asked to describe him, I could not, because I never filled my eyes with looking at him.”

A Piece of the Moon

Sayyiduna Ka’b bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was pleased, his face would light up, as if it were a piece of the moon, and we would recognize that from him.”

May the dark hearts begin to sparkle!
Salutations in millions upon that radiant complexion!

The Face of Mustafa (ﷺ)

Esteemed respected ones! The radiant face of Mustafa, the essence of mercy (ﷺ), was very bright, handsome, and round like the moon. Sayyiduna Ali al-Murtadha (may Allah be pleased with him) said about the blessed appearance of the Master of the Universe (ﷺ):

“There was a roundness to his face. He was white with a reddish tinge.”

The Blessed Forehead of the Noble Prophet (ﷺ)

Sayyiduna Hind bin Abi Halah (may Allah be pleased with him) said about the blessed forehead of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ):

“He had a broad forehead.”

That forehead which was crowned with intercession –
Salutations in millions upon that blessed brow!

The Blessed Mouth and Eyes

My dear ones! Just like his inner attributes and perfections, the external beauty of the Mercy to the Two Worlds (ﷺ) was also unmatched! Regarding his blessed mouth and eyes, Sayyiduna Jabir bin Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“The Prophet (ﷺ) had a wide mouth, eyes with long corners (or with a tinge of red), and lean heels.”

Sayyiduna Ali al-Murtadha (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“He had very black [and large] eyes, with long eyelashes.”

The Blessed Nose of the Mercy to the Worlds (ﷺ)

Respected esteemed ones! The nose of the Master of the Two Worlds (ﷺ) was very beautiful, long, high-bridged, and luminous. Sayyiduna Hind bin Abi Halah (may Allah be pleased with him) said about the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ):

“He had a high-bridged, fine nose, upon which there was a light that overshadowed it.”

Blessings upon the modesty of those downcast eyes –
Salutations in millions upon the elevation of that high-bridged nose!

The Luminous Neck of the Prophet (ﷺ)

Sayyiduna Hind bin Abi Halah (may Allah be pleased with him), describing the blessed appearance of the Noble Prophet (ﷺ), said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)… had a fine line of hair (on his chest). His neck was like the neck of a doll, in the clarity of silver.”

The Blessed Stature of the Noble Prophet (ﷺ)

The stature of the Mercy to the Worlds (ﷺ) was moderate. Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was not very tall, nor was he short.”

Salutations upon the extended shadow of mercy, the shadow of that stately stature!
Salutations upon that upright and elegant frame, around which the birds of paradise circle!

The Musk-Scented Locks of the Prophet (ﷺ)

Companions of the Islamic Ummah! The musk-scented locks (blessed hair) of Mustafa, the essence of the world (ﷺ), were very lovely. They were neither completely straight nor very curly. Sayyiduna Qatadah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: I asked Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), “How were the blessed hair of the Master of the Two Worlds (ﷺ)?” He replied:

“His hair was moderate—not very curly nor completely straight—and it reached between his ears and shoulders.”

My dear friends! There are different narrations regarding the length of the blessed locks of the Noble Prophet (ﷺ): some mention up to half the ears, some to the earlobes, and some to the shoulders. The reason for this discrepancy is that the noble Companions observed the musk-scented locks of the Seal of the Prophets (ﷺ) on different occasions. Sometimes he (ﷺ) kept his blessed hair to half his ears, sometimes to his earlobes, and sometimes to his shoulders. Therefore, there is no contradiction between these narrations.

They heard pleas up to the ears, now they reach the shoulders –
So that the homeless may find support in the locks.

The Blessed Chest of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)

The chest of Mustafa, the essence of mercy (ﷺ), was broad. Sayyiduna Al-Bara’ bin ‘Azib (may Allah be pleased with him), describing the blessed appearance of the Prophet (ﷺ), said:

“He was of medium build, with broad shoulders (i.e., his blessed chest was wide). His hair reached his earlobes.”

The highest blessings upon the elevation of his glory –
Salutations in millions upon the expansion of his paramount chest!

The Merciful Hands of the Master of the Two Worlds (ﷺ)

The hands of the Master of Prophethood (ﷺ) were soft and delicate like silk, fleshy, with long wrists, and his blessed arms were long. Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“I have never touched any silk or brocade softer than the palm of the Prophet (ﷺ).”

The Blessed Feet of the Prophet (ﷺ)

Brothers in Islam! The blessed feet of Mustafa, the essence of mercy (ﷺ), were wide, fleshy, and his blessed heels had little flesh. The soles of his blessed feet were raised and did not touch the ground flatly. Both blessed shins were clean, clear, and somewhat slender. The softness and delicacy of the blessed feet were such that water would not stay on them.

The shank, the root of the foot, a branch of the tree of generosity –
Salutations in millions upon the candlelight of your correct path.
The Quran took an oath by the dust of the passage –
Salutations in millions upon the sanctity of those soles.

Sweat More Fragrant than Musk and Amber

The blessed sweat of the Noble Prophet (ﷺ) was more fragrant than musk and amber. Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“I have never smelled ambergris, musk, or anything more fragrant than the scent of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).”

The dew of the garden of truth, meaning the sweat of the face –
Salutations in millions upon its true brilliance.

An Engaging and Clear Manner of Speech

The manner of speech of Mustafa, the essence of mercy (ﷺ), was so sweet and comprehensible that the listener could easily hear and understand. Sayyidah Aishah as-Siddiqah at-Tayyibah at-Tahirah (may Allah be pleased with her) said regarding the Master of Prophethood’s (ﷺ) manner of speech:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not speak rapidly like you do. Rather, he would speak with clear, distinct words that those sitting with him could memorize.”

If a matter was more important, he (ﷺ) would often repeat it three times so the listeners could properly internalize it. Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) said about the speaking style of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ):

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would repeat a word three times so it could be understood from him.”

I am devoted to your speech; if one gains such a tongue, who doesn’t?
It is that speech which has no mere talk, it is that explanation which has no explanation.

The Most Handsome

Sayyiduna Abu Qirsafah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that he took the oath of allegiance with the Noble Prophet (ﷺ) along with his mother and aunt. Upon returning, his mother said to him:

“O my son! We have never seen a man more handsome than him, with purer clothes, or softer speech. We saw it as if light was emanating from his mouth.”

The Complete Beauty of the Messenger

Sayyidah Umm Ma’bad (may Allah be pleased with her), describing the blessed appearance of Mustafa, the essence of mercy (ﷺ), said: “His beauty was evident, his face handsome, his stature beautiful. There was no flaw of a large belly, nor the shortcoming of a small head. Extremely beautiful, handsome eyes, with black and long eyelashes. A resonant voice, a tall neck, a dense beard, fine and connected eyebrows. When silent, he was dignified; when he smiled, his face was blooming and full of majesty. Most magnificent in beauty, beautiful from near and far. Sweet of tongue, his speech clear and distinct, not useless nor vain. When words were uttered from his blessed mouth, it was as if pearls were scattering. Of medium height—not so tall that it seemed lanky, nor so short that it seemed demeaning.”

Such beauty I have neither seen nor heard –
So say the people of former times.

A Matchless and Incomparable Master (ﷺ)

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prohibited fasting continuously (without break). Some people said, “O Messenger of Allah, but you fast continuously!” The Master of the Two Worlds (ﷺ) said:

“Which of you is like me? Indeed, I spend the night with my Lord; He feeds me and gives me drink.”

Your character, God called great; your form, God made beautiful.
None has been like you, nor will be, O King, by the oath of your Creator of beauty and grace!
Your throne of honor is the Highest Throne; your confidant is the Trustworthy Spirit.
You alone are the master of both worlds, O King! There is none like you, by God’s oath!

The Pleasant Humor of the Prophet (ﷺ)

Respected esteemed ones! Good humor and jesting are also part of the Sunnah. However, Mustafa, the essence of mercy (ﷺ), never said anything false in jest; he always spoke the truth. It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Companions said, “O Messenger of Allah, you joke with us too?” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“I only speak the truth!”

Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that a man asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) for a ride. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “I will give you a ride on the offspring of a she-camel.” The man said, “O Messenger of Allah, what will I do with the offspring of a she-camel?” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Are camels born from anything but she-camels?”

Devoted to him, no matter how grieved one is –
When he is remembered, all sorrows are forgotten!

The Noble Character of the Master of the Two Worlds (ﷺ)

Respected beloved ones! Mustafa, the essence of mercy (ﷺ), was extremely compassionate, generous, truthful, gentle-natured, good-humored, and well-mannered. Allah, the Lord of Majesty, says about his noble character:

“And indeed, you are of a great moral character.” (Al-Qalam 68:4)

When someone asked Sayyidah Aishah as-Siddiqah (may Allah be pleased with her) about the character of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), she replied:

“His character was the Quran.”

Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said regarding the noble character and habits of the Master of Prophethood (ﷺ):

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was not obscene, nor one who cursed, nor one who abused.”

The Embodiment of Mercy

Dear members of the Islamic Ummah! Mustafa, the essence of mercy (ﷺ), was the very embodiment of mercy. The disbelievers and polytheists caused him great harm for the sacred crime of propagating Islam. Yet, despite having the power, the Mercy to the Worlds (ﷺ) did not take revenge against them; he did not even curse them. Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that it was said in the court of Prophethood, “O Messenger of Allah, curse the polytheists!” The Master of the Universe (ﷺ) said:

“I was not sent as a curser. I was sent as a mercy.”

Free from Every Defect and Possessor of the Greatest Beauty

Respected esteemed ones! The poet of the court of Prophethood, Sayyiduna Hassan bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him), in his “Hamziyah Qasidah,” describing the unparalleled status of the beauty of Prophethood, said:

“My eyes have never seen anyone more beautiful than you,
And no woman has given birth to one more handsome than you.
You were created free from every defect,
As if you were created just as you desired.”

From head to toe, the body of the Sultan of the Age is a flower –
Lips a flower, mouth a flower, chin a flower, body a flower.

Imam Al-Busiri (may Allah have mercy on him), alluding to the characteristics of Mustafa and his beauty and grace, said in the “Qasidat al-Burdah”:

“Exalted from having any partner in his beauties,
So the essence of beauty in him is undivided.”

That is the perfection of the beauty of the Prophet – that no thought of flaw exists anywhere.
This very flower is far from thorns; this very lamp is without smoke.

Statements of the Scholars of the Ummah Regarding the Beauty of Mustafa

Companions of the Islamic Ummah! The beauty of the Master of the Universe (ﷺ) is matchless and incomparable, and belief and conviction in it is a means of perfecting faith. This is why there are numerous statements and sayings from the scholars of the Ummah on this subject, a few of which are as follows:

1. Renown of Beauty: Qadi Iyad (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “O sincere seeker! Know that the Prophet (ﷺ) had no input in his lofty virtues; rather, they were innate in his nature. Divine virtues and perfections were gathered in his sacred being in a natural way, such that no perfection remained outside its scope. The authenticity of the countless narrations that speak of his beauty is unquestionable. Rather, some reports reach the level of certainty and Haqq al-Yaqeen (certain truth)… Numerous authentic and well-known reports have come describing his beauty and the proportion of his limbs.”
2. A Means of Perfecting Faith: Imam Al-Qastallani (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “From the perfection of believing in the Prophet (ﷺ) is to also believe that Allah Almighty fashioned the body of the Prophet (ﷺ) in a way that no creation before him or after him was fashioned.”
3. The Difficulty of Lifting Eyes to the Radiant Face: Allama Ali al-Qari (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “The beauty of the Noble Prophet (ﷺ) was at the peak of perfection. (He even said that) However, Allah concealed much of the world-adorning beauty of the Master of the Two Worlds (ﷺ) from the Companions. If the beauty of the Master of the Two Worlds (ﷺ) had appeared with its full brilliance, it would have been difficult to even lift one’s eyes to look at his radiant face!”
4. The Complete Beauty Was Not Fully Manifested: Allama Ali al-Qari (may Allah have mercy on him) further writes: “Imam Al-Qurtubi narrated from some scholars that the complete beauty of the Prophet (ﷺ) was not manifested to us; (because if his complete beauty had appeared) the eyes of the Companions would not have been able to bear looking at him!”
5. None Like Him in the Universe: Allama Muhammad bin Abdul Baqi Az-Zarqani (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “Master Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said that when someone describing the Prophet (ﷺ) finds no power to describe him, they ultimately say, ‘I have never seen anyone like him, before him or after him!'”
6. Consensus of the Muslim World: Regarding the beauty of the Noble Prophet (ﷺ), Imam Ibrahim al-Bajuri (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “The Muslims of the world are unanimous that it is necessary for every person to hold the belief concerning the Master of the Two Worlds (ﷺ) that the Creator of the Universe fashioned his pure body in such a manner that no one like him was created before him or after him.”

The Aspect of Caution in Describing the Characteristics of Mustafa (ﷺ)

My respected brothers! While describing the characteristics and beauty of the Noble Prophet (ﷺ) is a cause of mercy, blessings, and salvation in this world and the next, the slightest negligence or belittlement in it can lead to the destruction of faith and to Hellfire! Therefore, when describing the beauty of the Master of Prophethood (ﷺ), always exercise extreme caution and choose your words very carefully!

A person inquired from Sayyiduna Jabir bin Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him), “Was the face of the Prophet (ﷺ) like a sword (gleaming)?” Sayyiduna Jabir bin Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“(No), it was round, like the sun and the moon.”

Comparing the radiance of the Prophet’s (ﷺ) face to a sword carried a probability of disrespect because a sword has gleam but not luminosity; it has length but not roundness. Comparing it to the moon is correct because it has both luminosity and roundness, and its light will never fade until the Day of Judgment!

The Islamic Belief Regarding the Beauty of Mustafa

My dear friends, brothers, and elders! Believing in the unmatched beauty of the Sacred Presence (ﷺ) is part of perfecting faith. A person’s faith cannot be complete until they accept the Unparalleled Prophet (ﷺ) as the most superior and perfect in both form and character, above all creations of this existing universe! Therefore, we must always keep this matter in mind in our beliefs and faith. Wherever we find any shortcoming, deficiency, or negligence, we should correct it, better our world and hereafter, and refresh our faith.

Dua (Supplication)

O Allah! For the sake of the unmatched beauty of the Prophet (ﷺ), protect our faith, make our world and hereafter better, shower upon us Your mercies, blessings, and goodness. Make our beliefs regarding the beauty of the Noble Prophet (ﷺ) conform to the views of the noble Companions. Grant us the ability to hold fast to caution when describing the characteristics of Mustafa, to avoid any kind of belittlement or negligence, and to grant us the ability to observe the etiquette of the station of Mustafa in every matter.

O Allah! Purify our outer and inner selves from all impurities. Grant us the ability to live our lives according to the Quran and Sunnah by acting upon the guidance of Your Noble Beloved (ﷺ), filled with the true love and sincere obedience to the Master of the Two Worlds (ﷺ) and his noble Companions.

O Allah! Keep us steadfast on the religion of Islam. Make us true, firm, and practicing lovers of the Prophet. Create unity in our ranks. Make us regular in performing the five daily prayers in congregation. Save us from laziness and indolence. Grant us the wealth of sincerity in every good deed. Grant us the ability to fulfill all obligatory and necessary acts in the best manner. Protect us from miserliness and stinginess. Grant us the ability to help the poor and needy with a cheerful heart.

O Allah! Grant us the good fortune to serve and protect our country and nation. Strengthen our mutual unity, harmony, and love. Grant us the ability to act upon the commandments of the Shariah correctly. Accept our prayers in Your court of the Patronless. We ask You for Your mercy. We seek Your forgiveness. We seek safety and deliverance from every sin. We are seekers of all good. Remove our sorrows. Pay off our debts. Grant complete healing to our sick. Fulfill our needs!

O Most Generous Lord! Bless our lawful sustenance. Always protect us from the need of creation. Grant us the ability for true worship with Your love and obedience. Make our hearts soft and our chests broad for the sake of Your creation. O Divine! Make our character good and our works excellent. Accept our good deeds. Protect us from all sins. Grant freedom to our oppressed Palestinian and Kashmiri Muslim brothers and sisters suffering from the tyranny and brutality of the disbelievers. Protect the lives, wealth, honor, and dignity of Muslims all over the world. Resolve their problems for them with good and blessing. Amen, O Lord of all the worlds!

And may Allah Almighty send prayers upon the best of His creation and the light of His Throne, our master, our prophet, our beloved, and the apple of our eyes, Muhammad, and upon his family and all his companions, and may He send blessings and peace. And all praise is to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds.