Chapter on the Description of the Hands, Feet, Armpits, Arms, Legs, and Chest of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)

Abu 'Abdullah Al-Hafiz reported to us, saying: Abu Bakr, Ahmad ibn Salman Al-Faqih in Baghdad, narrated to us that Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn 'Isa informed him that Muslim ibn Ibrahim told him that Jarir narrated from Qatadah from Anas, who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) had large hands, like I have never seen before, and the Prophet's hair was straight, with no curls or locks.

Reported by Al-Bukhari in Sahih (610) from Muslim ibn Ibrahim.

Abu Al-Hassan, 'Ali ibn Ahmad ibn 'Abdan, reported to us, saying: Ahmad ibn 'Ubayd As-Saffar narrated to us that Abu Muslim Al-Khajji informed us that Sulayman and Abu An-Nu'man told us that Jarir narrated from Qatadah from Anas, who said: The Prophet (peace be upon him) had large hands, feet, and was always sweating.

Reported by Al-Bukhari (611) from Abu An-Nu'man, except he said: "The head was large." The hadith from Anas was also narrated by Al-Bukhari in Book 77, Chapter of Curls (5906), and in Fath Al-Bari (10:357) (611) Fath Al-Bari, page (10:357).

The Physical Appearance of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was described as having large and beautiful eyes, feet, and hands.

Authentic Narrations

It was narrated that Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) had large feet and hands, a handsome face, and was unique in his appearance.

Imam Al-Bukhari reported this hadith in his Sahih collection through various narrators to emphasize the distinct physical attributes of the Prophet (PBUH).

Varying Narrations

Other narrators, like Hisham ibn Ma'mar, mentioned that the Prophet (PBUH) had thick feet and hands, indicating a strong grip and physical strength.

Prophet Muhammad's Physical Attributes

Narrated by al-Bukhari and Abu Hilal

Qatada reported that 'Ali ibn Ahmad ibn 'Abdan mentioned to us the meaning of what 'Ali ibn Ahmad ibn 'Abdan informed us. He said, "Ahmad ibn 'Ubayd told us that Muhammad ibn Ishaq al-Bagawi narrated to us, saying Abu Salama informed us, from Musa ibn Ismail al-Minqari, from Abu Hilal, from Qatada, from Anas - or Ja'bir ibn 'Abdullah - thus said Abu Salama - that the Messenger of Allah had large feet, large hands, and there was no one resembling him."

Narrated by Abu al-Husayn ibn al-Fadl al-Qattan

Abdullah ibn Ja'far mentioned that Ya'qub ibn Sufyan reported to us that Adam and 'Asim ibn 'Ali narrated to us that Ibn Abi Dhi'b mentioned to us that Salih, the freed slave of al-Taw'amah, reported to us that Abu Huraira described the Prophet, salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam, saying, "He had long forearms between the shoulders, curved eyelashes."

Narrated by Abu Bakr: Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn Furak

Abdullah ibn Ja'far al-Asbahani reported to us that Yunus ibn Habib told us that Abu Dawud narrated to us that al-Mus'udi reported to us from 'Uthman ibn 'Abdullah ibn Hurmuz, from Nafi' ibn Jubayr, from 'Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, who said that the Messenger of Allah, salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam, had wide palms and soles, large joints, and a long line of hair running from his chest to navel.

Hadith Describing the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

First Narration:

It was narrated to us by Abu Al-Husayn ibn Al-Fadl, who said: It was narrated to us by Abdullah ibn Ja'far Al-Nahwi, who said: Ya'qub ibn Sufyan narrated to us, who said: Ibn Al-Asbahani narrated to us, who said: Shareek narrated to us, from Abd al-Malik ibn Umair, from Nafi' ibn Jubair, who said: He described to us the Prophet (PBUH) and mentioned his features.

Second Narration:

It was narrated to me by Abu Abdullah Al-Hafiz, who said: Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Al-Hashimi narrated to us, who said: Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad ibn Ziyad narrated to us, who said: Amr ibn Ali, Muhammad ibn Al-Muthanna, and Muhammad ibn Bashshar all said: Muhammad ibn Ja'far narrated to us, who said: Shu'bah narrated to us, from Simak ibn Harb, from Jabir ibn Samurah who said: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) had a broad mouth, large eyes, and lean calves.

Interpretation:

I asked Simak, "What does 'broad mouth' mean?" He said, "A large mouth." I asked, "What does 'large eyes' mean?" He said, "Elongated eye openings." I asked, "What does 'lean calves' mean?" He said, "Thin calves." This hadith was narrated by Muslim from Muhammad ibn Muthanna and Muhammad ibn Bashshar.

Third Narration:

It was narrated to us by Abu Al-Husayn ibn Al-Fadl, who said: Abdullah ibn Ja'far narrated to us, who said: Ya'qub ibn Sufyan narrated to us, who said: Ishaq ibn Ibrahim narrated to us, who said: Amr ibn Al-Harith narrated to me, who said: Abdullah ibn Salim narrated to me, from Al-Zuhri who narrated from Muhammad ibn Muslim, from Sa'id ibn Al-Musayyib, that he heard Abu Huraira describe the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) saying, "He walked placing his feet flat without arches."

Additional Information:

Attested by Abu Al-Husayn Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Bishran in Baghdad.

Translation of a Hadith Narration:

First Narration:

Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Muhammad al-Misri said: Malik ibn Yahya narrated to us, who said: Yazid ibn Harun narrated to us, who said: Abdullah ibn Yazid ibn Miqsam - the son of Dabbah - narrated to me saying that my aunt Sara bint Miqsam informed me through Maymunah bint Kardam: "I saw the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, in Mecca riding a she-camel with my father. In the hand of the Messenger of Allah was a ring, the size of which was like that of a scribe's knuckle. My father approached him, took hold of his foot, and kissed it, and the Messenger of Allah accepted it. I have never forgotten the length of his big toe relative to the other toes."

Second Narration:

Abu Abdullah al-Hafiz informed us, saying: Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn Salman al-Faqih narrated to us, who said: Ja'far ibn Muhammad ibn Shakir narrated to us, who said: Muhammad ibn Sabiq narrated to us, who said: Malik ibn Miqwal said: "I heard Awn ibn Abi Juhayfah narrate from his father that he was taken to the Prophet, peace be upon him, in the Abu Bakrah of the Mosque during the Hijra. Bilal went out and called for prayer, then came back with water and the Messenger of Allah performed ablution. People gathered around him to receive some of the water. Bilal then brought a female goat, and the Messenger of Allah went outside to pray Dhuhr, offering two rak'ahs with a woman and a donkey passing between his hands."

** This hadith has been mentioned by Imam Ahmad in "Musnad" and cited by al-Haythami in "Majma al-Zawa'id" attributing it to al-Tabarani. He remarked: "Some of its narrators are unknown." **

Hadith on Prophet Muhammad's Mannerisms

Hadith 1:

It was narrated that Anas said: "I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) raising his hands in supplication until the whiteness of his armpits could be seen. This was during a plea for rain." (Reported by Muslim)

Hadith 2:

It was narrated that Jabir bin Samurah said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) never laughed loudly; instead, he would smile. He used to have fragrant sweat on his body." (Reported by Al-Bukhari)

References:

Hadith 1: Reported by Muslim in the Book of Prayer (Chapter on Seeking Rain) Hadith 7.

Hadith 2: Reported by Al-Bukhari in the Book of Virtues (Chapter on the Attributes of the Prophet) Hadith 3565.

Hadith Description of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

When describing the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), it was said:

• His eyes were the most dark and not lined with kohl.
• Jabir Ibn Samura reported that the index finger of the Prophet's hand appeared different from the rest of his fingers.
• An observer from the Bani Sulaym tribe mentioned how he approached the Prophet in Madinah and described him as being handsome with a broad forehead and a sharp nose, having full eyebrows, and his hair extending from his neck to his navel. The observer also mentioned the Prophet greeting him with "Peace be upon you".

Source and Authenticity

This narration is reported in various sources including Tirmidhi's Book of Virtues under the chapter describing the Prophet's characteristics. Abu Isa considered it an authentic and unique hadith. Ibn Kathir mentioned this hadith in Al-Bidaya wal-Nihaya. Imam Muhammad bin Yusuf Al-Salhi Ash-Shami also discussed it in his book on guidance and leadership.

Interpretation of the Prophet's Hand

Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani:

Al-Hafiz, may Allah have mercy on him, explained that 'softness' refers to the skin, while 'thickness' refers to the bones, resulting in a combination of a strong and smooth body.

Ibn Battal:

Ibn Battal, may Allah have mercy on him, described the Prophet's (peace be upon him) hand as muscular yet soft, as mentioned in a hadith. Although it was large, it retained a level of softness.

Al-Asma'i:

Al-Asma'i stated that the Prophet's hand was thick but not rough. However, Al-Khalil's interpretation aligns more with this description than Al-Asma'i's.

Al-Qadi Ibn Abi 'Ubayd:

Al-Qadi explained that 'thickness' in the context of the Prophet's hand refers to its strength and not roughness. He also highlighted the description of the Prophet's hand being rounded at the edges.

Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar:

Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar supported the idea of the Prophet's hand being soft, referencing a narration regarding the alignment of his fingers which indicates a level of softness.

The investigation concluded that the Prophet's hand was thick without being short or rough.