Excellent Qualities and Description of the Prophet

`A'isha said God's messenger was not unseemly or lewd in his language, nor was he loud-voiced in the streets, nor did he return evil for evil, but he would forgive and pardon. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Anas used to tell of the Prophet that he would visit the sick, attend funerals, accept a slave's invitation, and ride on a donkey. He said he had seen him on a donkey at the battle for Khaibar using a rein of palm-fibres. Ibn Majah and Baihaqi, in Shu'ab al Iman, transmitted it.

God's messenger used to patch his sandals, sew his garment and conduct himself at home as anyone of you does in his house. He was a human being, searching his garment for lice, milking his sheep, and doing his own chores.Tirmidhi transmitted it.

I was his neighbour, and when the inspiration descended on him, he sent for me and I went to him and wrote it down for him. When we talked about this world, he did so along with us, when we talked about the next world, he did so along with us, and when we talked about food, he did so along with us. All this I tell you about God's messenger. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Anas told that when God's messenger shook hands with a man, he did not withdraw his hand till the other did so, he did not turn his face away till the other did so, and he was not seen to put forward his knees in front of one with whom he was sitting. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

He said that God's messenger did not store up anything for the next day. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Jabir b. Samura said God's messenger was far from talkative[*]. *This is free translation expressing the meaning of the Arabic which is literally `long of silence'. The idea that he spoke only when he had good reason for doing so. Cf. Mirqat, 5:394. It is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna.

Jabir[*] said God's messenger spoke in a distinct and leisurely manner. *Jabir b. Abdallah. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

God's messenger did not go on talking rapidly as you do, but spaced out his words so that those who sat with him could remember them. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

`Abdallah b. al-Harith b. Jaz' said he had seen no one more given to smiling than God's messenger. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

`Abdallah b. Salam said that when God's messenger sat talking he would often raise his eyes to the sky. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

I never saw anyone more kindly towards children than God's messenger. His son Ibrahim was being suckled in the `Awali of Medina[1], and he would go accompanied by us and enter the house which was full of smoke, the boy's foster-father[2] being a blacksmith. He would take him and kiss him and then go back. `Amr told that when Ibrahim died God's messenger said, "Ibrahim is my son who has died while being suckled, but he has two foster-mothers who will complete his suckling in paradise." 1. A village in Madina province. 2. He was Abu Samin al Bara b. Aus Al-Ansari.Muslim transmitted it.

`Muhammad b. 'Abdallah whose birthplace is in Mecca, whose place of emigration is in Taiba, and whose kingdom is in Syria; he is not harsh or rough, or loud-voiced in the streets, and he is not characterised by coarseness or lewd speech.' I testify that there is no god but God, and I testify that you are God's messenger. Give a decision about this property of mine according to what God has shown you." Now the Jew was very rich. Baihaqi transmitted it in Dala'il an-nubuwa.

God's messenger was often given to making mention of God, seldom given to idle talk, he would pray at length, deliver short sermons, not disdain to walk with a widow or a humble person, and he would accomplish for him what he needed. Nasai and Darimi transmitted it.

`Ali told that Abu Jahl said to the Prophet, "We do not call you a liar, but we say that what you have brought is false." God most high then sent down concerning them, "They do not call you a liar, but the evildoers deny God's signs[*]." *Quran; 6:33.Tirmidhi transmitted it.

`A'isha reported God's messenger as saying, "If I wished, `A'isha, mountains of gold would go with me. An angel whose waist was as high as the Ka'ba came to me and told me that my Lord sent me a greeting and said that if I wished I could be a prophet and a servant, or if I wished I could be a prophet and a king. I looked at Gabriel and he gave me a sign to humble myself. (In the version by Ibn `Abbas it says that God's messenger turned to Gabriel as one asking his advice and Gabriel made a gesture with his hand indicating that he should be humble.) I then said that I would be a prophet and a servant." `A'isha said that after that God's messenger did not eat reclining, saying he would eat like a slave and sit like a slave. It is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna.

Ibn `Abbas said God's messenger was commissioned at the age of forty, he remained in Mecca thirteen years receiving revelations, after which he was ordered to emigrate, he was an emigrant for ten years and died at the age of sixty-three. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He said God's messenger stayed in Mecca fifteen years hearing the voice and seeing the light for seven years, but seeing nothing along with it, and eight years during which revelations were given to him. He stayed in Medina ten years and died at the age of sixty-five. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas said God took him when he was just sixty years old. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He said the Prophet was taken at the age of sixty-three, Abu Bakr at the age of sixty-three, and `Umar at the age of sixty-three. Muslim transmitted it.