Ash-Shama'il Al-Muhammadiyah 350

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Sufyan ibn Waki‘ narrated to us: Jumay‘ ibn ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman al-‘Ijli said: A man from Banu Tamim, a descendant of Abu Halah—the husband of Khadijah—whose kunya was Abu ‘Abd Allah, informed us, from a son of Abu Halah, from al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali, who said: al-Husayn said: I asked my father about the Prophet’s conduct among those sitting with him. He said: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was always cheerful, easy in character, gentle in manner, neither rude nor harsh, neither loud nor obscene, neither fault-finding nor miserly. He would overlook what he disliked, and he did not make one who hoped in him despair or disappoint him. He kept himself from three things: disputation, excessive talk, and what did not concern him. He spared people three things: he did not disparage anyone, find fault with anyone, or seek out anyone’s vulnerabilities. He spoke only about that for which he hoped for reward.

When he spoke, those sitting with him lowered their heads as though birds were perched upon them. When he fell silent, they spoke. They did not compete with one another to speak in his presence, and whoever spoke in his presence was listened to until he finished. Their conversation with him was the conversation of their first speaker. He laughed at what they laughed at and expressed wonder at what they found wonderful. He patiently bore a stranger’s roughness in speech and questioning, until [the Arabic text continues: “even if his companions…”]. He would say, “When you see someone seeking a need and asking for it, support him.” He accepted praise only from one who requited it. He did not cut anyone off until that person went too far; then he would stop him with a prohibition or by standing up.