Attributes of the Complexion of the Messenger of Allah

Reported to us by Abu al-Husayn Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Bishran, who said: I was informed by Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Muhammad al-Misri, who said: We were told by Ruh ibn al-Faraj, who said: We were informed by Yahya ibn Bukayr, who said: Al-Laith narrated to me, from Khalid ibn Yazid, from Sa'id ibn Abi Hilal, from Rabia'ah ibn Abi 'Abd al-Rahman, who said: I heard Anas ibn Malik describing the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, saying:

He was of medium height, neither tall nor short, with a radiant complexion, clear-skinned, neither too white nor too dark, not curly-haired nor completely straight, a man who received revelation while being forty years old. He stayed in Makkah for ten years, during which revelations came to him, and in Al-Madinah for ten years. Then he passed away at the age of sixty, with not more than twenty white hairs in his head and beard.

[515] In (ص): "Reported to us."
[516] (Al-Rubba'): of medium height.
[517] (Al-umhaq): meaning extremely white.
[518] (Al-Adam): meaning not too dark either, with a mixture of some redness with his whiteness.
[519] (Al-Sabt): meaning a balanced and moderate texture, not too curly and not too straight.

Rabīʻah recounts a peculiar incident

Rabīʻah narrates: "I saw a strand of the Prophet's hair – it appeared to have turned red. Upon inquiring, I was informed that it was due to the fragrance."

This hadith is reported by Imam al-Bukhārī in his Sahih from Yaḥyā ibn Bukayr.

It was related to us by Abū ʻAbd Allāh al-Ḥāfiẓ, who said: Ali ibn Hamshādh, the just, informed us that Muḥammad ibn Nuʻaym reported to him, who in turn said that Qutaybah ibn Saʻīd narrated it.

It is also narrated by Abū al-Ḥasan: ʻAlī ibn Muḥammad al-Muqriʼ informed us, stating that al-Ḥasan ibn Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq reported to him, who then narrated from Yūsuf ibn Yaʻqūb al-Qāḍī.

This narration can be found in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī under the chapters of "virtues" and "clothing," as well as in Sahih Muslim under the chapter discussing the qualities of the Prophet Muhammad and his mission and traditions.

The hadith is also recorded in Muwaṭṭaʼ Mālik in the section regarding the Prophet's qualities and in Sunan al-Tirmidhi under the chapters of the Prophet's mission and age when he was sent, with both sources confirming its authenticity.

Prophet Muhammad's Physical Appearance

Reported by Anas ibn Malik

Abu al-Rabi' narrated to us that Isma'il ibn Ja'far said that Rabī‘ah told them that he heard Anas ibn Mālik saying:

"The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, had hair that was not too curly or too straight, and was neither too curly like a ram's horn, nor completely straight. He had a handsome complexion that was neither too white nor too dark. He was of moderate height, neither tall nor short. He was sent as a Prophet at the age of forty. He lived in Madinah for ten years and in Makkah for ten years. He passed away at the age of sixty, having no more than twenty white hairs in his head or beard."

This narration is reported by Imam Muslim in his Sahih, on the authority of Qutaybah ibn Sa'id and others, with another chain of narration from Rabī‘ah ibn Abī ‘Abd al-Raḥmān. Thabit reported from Anas, saying, "He had a handsome complexion."

Humayd al-Tawiil also reported this, as Abu al-Ḥasan ibn Bishrān informed us on the authority of Isma'il al-Ṣaffār, who narrated from Aḥmad ibn Mansur al-Ramadī, who reported from Abu Sa'id al-Ḥaddād, who narrated from Khalid al-Wāsitī.

Abu al-Ḥusayn ibn al-Faḍl informed us, saying that 'Abdullah ibn Ja'far narrated, who heard Ya'qub ibn Sufyān saying that 'Amr ibn 'Awn and Sa'id ibn Mansur stated that Khalid ibn 'Abdullah reported from Humayd al-Tawiil from Anas ibn Malik, saying, "The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was of a brownish complexion."

Hadith Describing the Prophet's Appearance

First Narration:

Reporter: Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him)

He said: "I heard Anas ibn Malik saying that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was white with a brown complexion."

Second Narration:

Reporter: Abu Abdillah al-Husayn ibn al-Hasan al-Ghadayiri

He narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was described as handsome, purposeful.

Third Narration:

Reporter: Abu 'Abdillah Husayn ibn al-Fadl

He reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was described as a fine handsome man, not having a stout or tall body.

This hadith is reported by various scholars, including Imam Ahmad in his Musnad, and Imam al-Tirmidhi in his book on clothing, with references to other sources as well.

The Prophet Muhammad's Appearance

In a narration reported by Muslim, it was said: "Describe the Messenger of Allah, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him." They replied: "He was fair-skinned with a beautiful face."

Additional Narrations

In another narration also reported by Muslim, Abu Juhaifa said: "I saw the Messenger of Allah, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him, fair-skinned and with a touch of gray, resembling Al-Hasan ibn Ali."

Important Hadith References

This hadith is found in Sahih Muslim, Book 43,Chapter 28, Hadith 98, narrated by Said bin Mansur, through Khalid bin Abdullah from Al-Jurayri from Abu At-Tufail. Imam Muslim mentioned that Abu At-Tufail passed away in the year one hundred.

Abu Dawood narrated in his book of etiquette, Hadith 4864, from Abu At-Tufail with the addition, "When he walked, it seemed as though he was descending down a slope." Imam Ahmad also included this in his Musnad from a different narrator with the addition of the word "intending."

It is also mentioned in Tirmidhi's Book 44 in the chapter on mourning, Hadith 2826 and 2827, and in Ahmad's Musnad in two places with one chain of narration. Tirmidhi mentioned that the same narration was reported by different people from Isma'il bin Abi Khalid.

Additionally, Tirmidhi included this hadith in his Book 50, Chapter 31 regarding the virtues of Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn. He stated that this hadith is considered good and authentic and is also reported concerning Abu Bakr.

Imam Al-Bukhari recorded this in the Book of Virtues, in the section about the Prophet's appearance, while Muslim included it in Book 43, Chapter on the Prophet's graying hair.

Hadith Reports on the Physical Appearance of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Report 1:

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was reported to have a bright skin complexion by Muhammad ibn Ali.

Report 2:

Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA) described the Prophet (PBUH) as having a reddish face complexion while drinking.

Report 3:

Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA) also described the Prophet's (PBUH) skin as white and his cheeks as rosy.

Summary:

Various narrators provided descriptions of the Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) physical appearance, highlighting his bright and reddish skin tones.

Translation of Classical Islamic Arabic Text

Story of Meeting the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Yaqub reported:
Ahmed ibn Abduljabbar narrated to us that Yunus ibn Bukayr reported from Ibn Ishaq who said: Muhammad ibn Muslim narrated to me from Abdulrahman ibn Malik ibn Ju'shum, from his uncle Suraqah ibn Ju'shum, who said:

"I came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. When I approached him while he was on his she-camel, I looked at his leg as if it was a branch."

In another narration by Yunus: "By Allah, his leg looked like a branch embedded in the saddle."

Prophet's Appearance During Umrah

Muhammad ibn Hussain reported:
Abdulah ibn Ja'far narrated to us that Yaqub ibn Sufyan reported from Abu Bakr Al-Humaydi, who reported from Sufyan, who reported from Ismail ibn Umayyah, from Muzahim ibn Abi Muzahim, from Abdul Aziz ibn Abdullah ibn Khalid ibn Asid, from Muhrish al-Ka'bi:

"The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, performed Umrah from Jirana at night, and I saw his back as if it were a silver vessel."

Passage Translation:

First Chain of Narration:

Abu Al-Husayn ibn Al-Fadl informed us, saying: Abdulah ibn Ja'far informed us, saying: Ya'qub ibn Sufyan told us, saying: Ishaq ibn Ibrahim ibn Al-Ala informed us, saying: Amr ibn Al-Harith narrated to me, saying: Abdullah ibn Salim reported from Al-Zubaydi, who said Muhammad ibn Muslim narrated to me from Sa'id ibn Al-Musayyib that he heard Abu Huraira describing the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, as follows: "He was extremely white in complexion."

Second Chain of Narration:

Abu Abdur-Rahman Al-Sulami told us, saying: Abu Al-Hasan Al-Mahmoudi informed us, saying: Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Hafizh said: Muhammad ibn Al-Muthanna narrated to us, saying: Ya'mar ibn Bishr told us, saying: Ibn Al-Mubarak informed me that from the collection of narrations, it is evident that the intention behind 'as-Sammara' (whiteness) is the redness that mixes with whiteness, and 'al-Bayad' (whiteness) refers to what is mixed with redness. Ibn Abi Khaythamah stated: "The complexion of the Prophet, peace be upon him, was undoubtedly radiant white, which is tinged with redness and slightly tanned, due to exposure to the sun and wind. What is beneath his clothes - is gleaming white. Some scholars mentioned that Anas was so aware of the Prophet's features that he described him differently, deviating from the typical description due to his close proximity to him. The Prophet was not constantly exposed to the sun. If some later narrators who met him at times when the sun had darkened his complexion had described him as such, it is possible that 'the redness mixed with whiteness' in this narration refers to the redness blending with whiteness."

Anas described him, peace be upon him, as having a glowing complexion that was not ruddy, a more authentic narration than many others. The Iraqi Hafiz stated: In the wording of 'brownish in color', this wording was specifically mentioned by Hamid from Anas, while others narrated it as 'radiant white'. Upon examining reports of his complexion mentioned by conveyors other than Anas, all have depicted him, peace be upon him, as white without mentioning the reddish tinge, including fifteen Companions."

The Salahi in 'Al-Sirah Al-Shamiyah (2: 18-19)' further added: In Al-Kashf [the book of qualities], they were listed, such as Abu Bakr, Umar, Ali, Abu Juhayfah, Ibn Umar, Ibn Abbas, Hind bint Abi Hala, Al-Hasan ibn Ali, Abu Al-Tufayl, Mukhrish Al-Ka'bi, Ibn Mas'ud, Al-Bara' ibn Azib, Sa'd ibn Abu Waqqas, Aisha, Abu Huraira, and mentioned their hadiths and chains of narrators."

Rashid ibn Saad narrates

Rashid ibn Saad said: "Amr ibn Al-Harith informed me, from Abu Yunus, the servant of Abu Huraira, that he heard Abu Huraira saying: 'I have not seen anyone more handsome than the Prophet, peace be upon him. It was as if the sun was moving across his face. And I have not seen anyone walk faster than him. It was as if the earth folded for him. We would strive and he was not concerned.'"

This hadith was reported by Al-Tirmidhi in his book Al-Manaqib (12) under the chapter describing the characteristics of the Prophet, peace be upon him (3648). It is also found in the Musnad of Imam Ahmad (2:258, 295, 350, 380).