In the Footsteps of Muhammad (PBUH) - (10)

His Figure and Form

     The Messenger of Allah B was neither too tall nor too short. He was neither too black nor too white. He was white without yellowness or redness. His uncle Abu Talib described him in a rhyme saying:

And he is white; and invokes Allah for rain

Who takes care of the orphans and the widows.

     Some described him as white with slight redness. They justified this as saying that the exposed parts to the sunlight were mixed with redness and what was covered was purely white. His sweat appeared like pearls on his face. It had a fragrance more pleasant than musk.

     His hair was wavy. It was said that it reached his shoulders. There are some narrations indicating that it reached his earlobes. He would braid it in four braids. He had seventeen gray hairs in his head and beard.

     He had the most handsome and beaming face. No one described him except that he likened his face to the full moon. His anger and satisfaction used to be seen on his face. He had a wide forehead with thick eyebrows. He was wide-eyed with an even nose and parting teeth that seemed like pearls whenever he smiled and he had the nicest lips.

     He had a thick beard. He used to let it grow and trim his moustache. He had the nicest neck. It was neither long nor short. What was uncovered of his neck was like a glittering gold jar. He had a wide chest like a mirror in its evenness and the full moon in its glittering. He had a column of hair between his navel and his chest. He had no chest or umbilical hair. He had a broad back and broad and hairy shoulders with the seal of Prophethood. He had a yellow mole encircled with some hair like a horse's mane.

     His palms were smoother than silk emitting a pleasant smell. The one who shook hands with him would find that fragrance the whole day. If he put his hand on a child's head, he would be distinguished with that fragrance the whole day. He was smart and fleshy but he got fleshier when he got older. He did not get flabby.

     He used to walk moderately. He never walked in a way that showed boastfulness.

Reference:

Selected Writings on Purifying the Soul, by Sa'eed Hawwa, page 539-540. (a non Ibadhi Book)