🌟 The Character of the Prophet ﷺ: Portrait of an Exceptional Man

---

📜 Introduction: Why This Lesson?

After following the life of the Prophet ﷺ from birth to death, it's time to explore who he truly was — not just what he did, but how he appeared, his character, and his relationships.

﴾ And indeed, you are of a great moral character ﴿
— [Al-Qalam: 4]

The Companions preserved every detail about him with extraordinary precision — because loving him begins with knowing him.

---

👤 Physical Description of the Prophet ﷺ

The Testimony of Ali ibn Abi Talib

📜 Scene:

Ali was asked to describe the Prophet ﷺ. He said:

"He was neither very tall nor short, but of medium height.

His hair was neither very curly nor completely straight, but wavy.

His face was not too fleshy nor too thin, but slightly round.

He was white with a reddish tinge, deep black eyes with long eyelashes.

He was broad-shouldered with strong joints, hairless except for a fine line of hair.

Between his shoulders was the Seal of Prophethood.

He walked with a firm gait, as if descending from a height.

I have never seen anyone like him before or after."

— Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi (Al-Shama'il)

The Testimony of Jabir ibn Samura

📜 Scene:

Jabir said:

"I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on a bright moonlit night.

I kept looking at the moon and looking at the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

To me, he was more beautiful than the moon!"

— Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi

Table: Complete Physical Description

The Beautiful Fragrance of the Prophet ﷺ

📜 Scene:

Anas ibn Malik said:

"I never touched any silk or brocade softer than the palm of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

And I never smelled any musk or perfume more fragrant than the scent of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ."

— Source: Sahih al-Bukhari

---

💎 Moral Qualities of the Prophet ﷺ

Truthfulness (Al-Sidq)

Before prophethood, he was nicknamed "The Truthful One" (Al-Sadiq).

📜 Scene:

When the Prophet ﷺ climbed Mount Safa and called the Quraysh, he asked them:

"If I told you that an army was emerging from behind this mountain, would you believe me?"

They said: "Yes! We have never known you to lie!"

— Source: Sahih al-Bukhari

Generosity (Al-Karam)

📜 Scene:

Ibn Abbas said:

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was the most generous of people.

He was most generous in Ramadan when he met Jibril.

He was more generous than the blowing wind!"

— Source: Sahih al-Bukhari

📜 Scene:

A man came asking the Prophet ﷺ. He gave him sheep filling a valley between two mountains!

The man returned to his people and said:

"O my people, accept Islam! By Allah, Muhammad gives like one who has no fear of poverty!"

— Source: Sahih Muslim

Courage (Al-Shaja'a)

📜 Scene:

Ali — the lion of battles — said:

"When battle grew fierce and eyes turned red, we would take refuge behind the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

No one was ever closer to the enemy than him."

— Source: Musnad Ahmad

📜 Scene:

At Hunayn, when the army fled, the Prophet ﷺ stood alone, riding his mule toward the enemy, saying:

"I am the Prophet, no lie, I am the son of Abd al-Muttalib"

— Source: Sahih al-Bukhari

Humility (Al-Tawadu')

📜 Scene:

Anas said:

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would visit the sick, attend funerals, accept the invitation of slaves, and ride donkeys.

On the day of Khaybar and the conquest of Mecca, he was riding a donkey with a rope halter."

— Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi

📜 Scene:

A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and began trembling with awe.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

"Take it easy! I am not a king. I am just the son of a woman from Quraysh who used to eat dried meat."

— Source: Sunan Ibn Majah

Mercy (Al-Rahma)

📜 Scene:

The Prophet ﷺ said:

"I am but a mercy bestowed [upon mankind]"

— Source: Al-Hakim

﴾ And We have not sent you except as a mercy to the worlds ﴿
— [Al-Anbiya: 107]

📜 Scene:

A bedouin urinated in the mosque!

The Companions wanted to beat him.

The Prophet ﷺ stopped them and said:

"Leave him, and pour a bucket of water over his urine. You were sent to make things easy, not difficult."

— Source: Sahih al-Bukhari

Modesty (Al-Haya')

📜 Scene:

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said:

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was more modest than a virgin in her chamber.

When he saw something he disliked, we would know it from his face."

— Source: Sahih al-Bukhari

---

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The Prophet ﷺ at Home

With His Wives

📜 Scene:

Aisha said:

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would be in the service of his family, and when the time for prayer came, he would go out to pray."

— Source: Sahih al-Bukhari

📜 Scene:

Aisha was asked: "What did the Prophet ﷺ do at home?"

She said:

"He would mend his clothes, repair his sandals, and do what men do in their homes."

— Source: Musnad Ahmad

📜 Scene:

The Prophet ﷺ said:

"The best of you is the best to his family, and I am the best of you to my family."

— Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi

With His Children and Grandchildren

📜 Scene:

The Prophet ﷺ kissed al-Hasan and al-Husayn.

Al-Aqra' ibn Habis said: "I have ten children and I've never kissed any of them!"

The Prophet ﷺ looked at him and said:

"Whoever does not show mercy will not be shown mercy."

— Source: Sahih al-Bukhari

📜 Scene:

The Prophet ﷺ was praying. When he prostrated, al-Hasan or al-Husayn climbed on his back.

He prolonged the prostration so long that people thought something had happened.

After the prayer, they asked him. He said ﷺ:

"My grandson mounted me, and I didn't want to hurry him until he had finished what he wanted."

— Source: Sunan al-Nasa'i

With Fatima

📜 Scene:

Aisha said:

"I have never seen anyone more similar to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in speech, manner, and sitting than Fatima.

When she entered upon him, he would stand up, take her hand, kiss her, and seat her in his place.

When he entered upon her, she would stand up, take his hand, kiss him, and seat him in her place."

— Source: Sunan Abu Dawud

---

🤝 The Prophet ﷺ with People

With His Companions

📜 Scene:

Anas — who served him for 10 years — said:

"By the One who sent him with the truth, he never said to me for anything I did: 'Why did you do this?'

And for anything I didn't do: 'Why didn't you do this?'"

— Source: Sahih al-Bukhari

📜 Scene:

Amr ibn al-As said:

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would turn his face and conversation to me until I thought I was the best of the people.

So I asked: 'O Messenger of Allah, am I better, or Abu Bakr?'

He said: 'Abu Bakr.'

'Am I better, or Umar?'

He said: 'Umar.'

'Am I better, or Uthman?'

He said: 'Uthman.'

I regretted asking him."

— Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi

With Children

📜 Scene:

Anas said:

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would pass by children and greet them."

— Source: Sahih al-Bukhari

📜 Scene:

The Prophet ﷺ visited a Jewish boy who was ill.

He sat by his head and said: "Accept Islam."

The boy looked at his father. His father said: "Obey Abu al-Qasim."

So he accepted Islam.

The Prophet ﷺ left saying: "Praise be to Allah who saved him from the Fire!"

— Source: Sahih al-Bukhari

With the Poor and Weak

📜 Scene:

There was a black woman who used to clean the mosque. She died.

The Prophet ﷺ asked about her. They said she had died and was buried without informing him.

He said: "Why didn't you tell me?"

They made light of her.

He said: "Show me her grave."

They showed him. And he prayed over her.

— Source: Sahih al-Bukhari

---

😊 The Prophet's Smile ﷺ and His Humor

His Constant Smile

📜 Scene:

Jarir ibn Abdullah said:

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ never saw me except that he smiled at me."

— Source: Sahih al-Bukhari

📜 Scene:

Abdullah ibn al-Harith said:

"I have never seen anyone who smiled more than the Messenger of Allah ﷺ."

— Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi

His Humor

📜 Scene:

An old woman said to the Prophet ﷺ: "O Messenger of Allah, pray to Allah that He admits me to Paradise!"

He said: "Paradise is not entered by old women."

She wept.

He smiled and said: "They will enter it young and virgin!"

Then he recited: ﴾ Indeed, We will have created them a [new] creation. And made them virgins ﴿ — [Al-Waqi'ah: 35-36]

— Source: Al-Shama'il al-Muhammadiyya

📜 Scene:

Zahir was a bedouin man who used to sell in the market.

The Prophet ﷺ came from behind and embraced him.

Zahir said: "Who is this? Let me go!"

When he realized it was the Prophet ﷺ, he pressed his back against the Prophet's chest.

The Prophet ﷺ jokingly said: "Who will buy this slave?"

Zahir said: "O Messenger of Allah, then you'll find me worthless!"

The Prophet ﷺ said: "But with Allah, you are not worthless!"

— Source: Musnad Ahmad

---

📊 Summary Table of Qualities

---

💎 Lessons for Us Today

Lesson One: Complete Balance

The Prophet ﷺ was brave yet humble, generous yet balanced, serious yet smiling.

Lesson Two: Importance of Family

"The best of you is the best to his family."

How do we treat our families?

Lesson Three: Humility with Everyone

He would accept the invitation of slaves, visit the sick, greet children.

Lesson Four: Smiling is Charity

"Your smile in your brother's face is charity."
— Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi

Lesson Five: Mercy First

He never took revenge for himself. His anger was only for Allah's sake.

---

💡 Lesson Summary

---

📖 Sources for This Lesson

• Sahih al-Bukhari
• Sahih Muslim
• Sunan al-Tirmidhi (Al-Shama'il al-Muhammadiyya)
• Sunan Abu Dawud
• Sunan Ibn Majah
• Sunan al-Nasa'i
• Musnad Ahmad
• Al-Hakim

---

May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him, his family, and companions

And Allah is the One who grants success and guides to the right path