Online Newsletter Vol.01.No.7 - 05 Rabiul Awwal 1434 / 18 January 2013

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Darul Uloom Zakariyya
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NEWSLETTER VOL.01.NO.7
05  Rabiul Awwal 1434 / 18 January 2013

THE NOBLE FEATURES OF OUR BELOVED RASULULLAH SALLALLAHU ALAYHI WASALLAM


It is the desire of every true lover of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam to know what he looked like, what were his features, what was his habits, and what was his character, so that in the manner of true lovers and followers we may emulate his beloved and mubaarak ways. For this reason we begin with the description of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam’s mubaarak and illuminated features.

Barraa bin Aazib (Radhiallahu Anhu) relates that: “Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam was a man of medium build, he had broad shoulders (from which we may gather he had a wide chest); he had dense hair which reached to his ear-lobes; he wore a red-striped lungi and shawl. I never saw anybody or anything more handsome than him.”

It is related from Ebrahim bin Muhammad (Radhiallahu Anhu) who is from the sons (grandson) of Hazrat Ali (Radhiallahu Anhu), that whenever Hazrat Ali (Radhiallahu Anhu) described the noble features of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam he used to say:

“Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam was neither very tall nor short, but of a medium stature amongst people. His hair was neither very curly, nor very straight, but had a slight wave in it. He did not have a very big (extremely large) body nor a round face, but his mubaarak face was slightly round (meaning that he did not have a completely round face nor a fully elongated face, but in between the two).

The complexion of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam was white tinged with redness. The mubaarak eyes of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam were extremely black. His eye lashes were long. The joints of his body (eg. elbows and knees, etc.) were large, likewise the portion between the two shoulders was broad and fully fleshed. There was no hair (more than normal) on his body. He had a thin line of hair running from the chest to the navel.

The hands and feet of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam were fully fleshed. When he walked, he lifted his legs with vigour, as if he were descending to a low-lying place. When he addressed a person he turned his whole body towards that person. (He did not only turn his face towards the person he addressed, as this is considered impolite, and sometimes it even denotes pride. Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam faced the person he spoke to, with his chest and body).

The Seal of Prophethood was situated between his shoulders. He was the last of all prophets. He was the most generous and the most truthful. He was the most kind-hearted and came from a most noble family.

Any person who saw him suddenly would become awe-inspired. [Firstly, there is a ro’b (awe) for physical beauty, with this when other excellences and perfections are added what then could be said of the ro’b (awe) inspired by him. Besides, the other speacial attributes and qualities granted to Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam, ro’b (awe) is also one of the special qualities granted to him.]

Anyone who came into close contact with him, and knew his excellent character was smitten with the love of his excellent attributes. Anyone who described his noble features can only say: ‘I have not seen anyone like Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam neither before him nor after him’.”

Hazrat Hind bin Abi Haalah states in a lengthy Hadith : “Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam always looked down His mubaarak gaze was focussed more to the ground than to the sky….while walking he asked the Sahaba (Radhiallahu Anhum)  to walk in front, and he himself walked behind. He made Salaam (greeted) first to whomever he met.”


Sunnats of our beloved Rasullullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam published by Darul Uloom Zakariyya.


THE NOBLE CHARACTER OF NABI SALLALLAHUALAYHI WASALLAM

Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam is Allah's beloved and the best and highest of His creation. To love Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam is part of Imaan and to respect and honour him is part of Islam.

Hazrat Ayesha Radhiallahu Anhaa was asked to describe the noble character of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam, whereupon she replied: “His character was the Quraan.” [In other words our beloved Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam was the physical embodiment of the Quraan Kareem]

Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam would become extremely enraged and angry if any of the Commands of Allah Ta'ala were transgressed, and no one could then contain his anger. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam was very brave and courageous.

He was extremely generous and unsurpassable in his generosity. No one who asked him ever returned empty-handed. No day ever passed that the sun set and that he would keep a single dirham or dinaar (like cents and rands) in his home. If ever he had some money or coins as night fell and no poor person approached, he would leave his home in a worried and troubled condition and he did not return home until he found some poor, deserving person to give it to.

Whatever wealth was sent to him apart from his annual household allowance (such as some dates, barley etc) was all given away. Then too from his household necessities he would give to any needy person who asked from him, so much so that towards the end of the year he would not have any provisions in his home and this period was passed with great difficulty.

Allaama Safadi (Rahimullah Alayh) writes further: Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam was very compassionate and due to his hayaa (shame and modesty), he would not look directly into any person’s eyes.

He had an extremely humble temperament. Whoever wished to speak to him, whether rich or poor, free-person or slave, black or white could do so and Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam would listen to him with utmost attention, and then answer him accordingly.

Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam was very merciful to such an extent that even in his kindness to animals, he was unsurpassable. At times it happened that if he had something in a utensil (or water for wudhu) and a cat came then he would bend down and present it to the animal and till it did not eat or drink to its fill he would not lift it.

He had the greatest respect and consideration for his companions and associates. If there were no space in a gathering, he would make space for them.
His companions (Sahaba Radhiallahu Anhum) too were always ready to sacrifice their lives for him. If Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said anything they would immediately listen attentively and vie with each other to carry out his every command.

Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam in turn, would treat his Sahaba Radhiallahu Anhum with compassion and kindness. If anyone was not present, he would enquire about him. If he was ill, he would visit him.If anyone had done some wrong, he would seek forgiveness (Istighfaar) for him and make dua for him. If he felt anyone was in distress Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam would himself go to him and offer his assistance.

If anyone invited Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam, then he would honour him by accepting his invitation. He would treat the noble and prominent with honour. He would never meet anyone with a sourface, nor turn away or be harsh towards anyone. If a person presented some excuse then he would pleasantly accept his explanation.

He would treat the rich and poor equally. When walking with his companions, Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam would walk at the rear. He would say: "Leave the space behind me empty so that the angels can walk behind me."

When travelling he would, as far as possible let his travel-companion ride with him on his conveyance. If anyone were serving him, then Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam would do his best to make it easy for him. He would feed and clothe his servants and slaves with the same food and clothes that he ate and wore.

Hazrat Anas Radhiallahu Anhu relates that I served Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam for ten years and never once did he rebuke me. If I did something without asking, he never asked: “Why did you do this?” or if I omitted anything commanded, he never said: “Why did you not you do this!”

He would mix with his companions so freely that a stranger would not recognize him. If someone sat by him, he would not turn away until that person turned away first.When travelling, he would himself fulfil some task or other (like collecting firewood) together with his Sahaba Radhiallahu Anhum.

In his standing, sitting, reclining, walking, talking and every move he remained engaged in the Zikr (remembrance) of Allah. The majlis of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam was generally, a place of learning and teaching Deen. It would be filled with respect and dignity. In a single gathering Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam would make Istighfaar about a hundred times or more.

Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam would at times also have lighthearted
conversations and joke with his Sahaba Radhiallahu Anhum or engage in whatever topic they were discussing.

In whatever Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam did he would always start from the right. He loved fragrance (Itr) and disliked foul smell. He would always use miswaak. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam liked to use 'Ithmid' surma (kohl) and this too he would apply in an odd number to each eye. He would apply oil to his head and beard.

On journeys he would always take a bottle of oil, a container of surma (kohl), a mirror, a comb, a scissors and a sewing needle. He would wear simple clothes and eat simple food and thank Allah Ta'ala for His favours. He disliked clothes that would create pride.

He would mostly face towards the Qiblah, and remember Allah (make Zikrullah) abundantly. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam would weep in salaat out of fear of Allah Ta'ala and his chest used to sound like a boiling cauldron (pot). Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam would always give preference to the Aakhirat (hereafter) over this world.
Q & A from DARUL IFTAA
Question: How many names did Nabi (S.A.W.) have? Furthermore, can the attributes ‘Al-‘Awwal and ‘Al-Aākhir be used for Nabi (S.A.W.)?

Answer: From the books of Ḥadīth and Tafsīr we deduce that Nabi (S.A.W) has over 99 attributes, but just to confirm with the famous names of Allah-Taʿālā, 99 attributes of Nabi (S.A.W.) were chosen.

The meaning of (‘Al-‘Awwal) and ‘Al-‘Aākhir) will differ for Nabi (S.A.W.). ‘Al-‘Awwal will mean either his Rūḥ (soul) was created before all the souls or his Prophethood was announced first.

The meaning of ‘Al-Aākhir will mean that he was the last prophet to be sent into this world.

Lastly, it is preferred not to mention these two attributes of Nabi (S.A.W.), ‘Al-‘Awwal and ‘Al-Aākhir together, side by side. The reason for this is to remove doubts which could occur, because generally, when a person listens to these two words (‘Al-‘Awwal and ‘Al-‘Aākhir), his mind immediately turns towards the normal meaning, which is its use for Allah Taʿālā.

For further details, please refer to:

Fatawaa Darul Uloom Zakariyya (vol. 1, Pg 55-57; Pg 296-299)

And Almighty Allah Taʿālā knows best


طلب العلم فريضة على كل مسل
It is incumbent upon every Muslim to seek Knowledge
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