The Description of the Scent, Coolness, and Softness of the Hands of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)

Abu al-Fath Hilal ibn Muhammad ibn Ja'far al-Haffar, from Baghdad, narrated to us that Al-Husayn ibn Yahya ibn 'Ayyash al-Qattan told them that Abu al-Ash'ath said that Hammad ibn Zaid narrated to them from Thabit from Anas that he said, "I have never touched anything softer than the hand of the Messenger of Allah, and I have never smelled a scent sweeter than the scent of the Messenger of Allah."

Imam al-Bukhari narrated it in Sahih al-Bukhari [631], from Sulaiman ibn Harb, from Hammad ibn Zaid. Muslim also narrated it from Qutaybah ibn Sa'id, from Ja'far ibn Sulaiman, from Thabit, from Anas.

Thabit reported from Anas, "I have never smelled amber, musk, or anything more fragrant than the scent of the Messenger of Allah, and I have never touched anything softer than the hand of the Messenger of Allah."

Authentic Hadith from Sahih Muslim, Book of Virtues, Hadith 81, p. 1814-1815. Imam Ahmad also narrated it in his Musnad (3:107, 200) and other places.

Hadith Narrations on the Scent and Touch of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Narrated by Anas (May Allah be pleased with him)

On the authority of Anas, he said: “I have never smelt musk or ambergris that was more fragrant than the scent of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. Nor have I ever touched silk or brocade that was softer than the palm of the Messenger of Allah.”

This hadith is recorded by Muslim in Sahih (632) through various chains of narrators.

Additional Narration Describing the Prophet's Appearance

Narrated by Anas, he said: “The Messenger of Allah had a radiant complexion, as if his sweat was pearls, and when he walked, he would incline forward. I have never touched silk or brocade softer than the palm of the Messenger of Allah, and I have never smelled a fragrance more pleasant than the scent of the Messenger of Allah.”

Hadith about the Sweet Scent of the Prophet (PBUH)

Narrated by Jabir ibn Samurah

Jabir ibn Samurah reported: I prayed with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, the first prayer. Then he returned to his family and I went out with him. There were children facing him, so he began to wipe the cheeks of each one of them. He said: "As for me, I wiped my own cheek." I found his hand as cool as a breeze from a perfumer's balcony. This is the wording of the Hadith narrated by Al-Alawi.

Source

This Hadith was recorded by Imam Muslim in Sahih Muslim (Hadith 634) through the chain of narrators starting with Amr ibn Hammad.

Additional Narration

Abu Al-Qasim, Abdur-Rahman ibn Ubaydullah Al-Hurfi from Baghdad, reported through his chain of narrators beginning with Ahmad ibn Sulaiman Al-Faqih, that Jabir ibn Yazid narrated from his father saying: "I came to the Messenger of Allah while he was in Mina and said to him: 'O Messenger of Allah, permit me...'"

Reference: Muslim in the Book of Virtues, Chapter of the Pleasant Scent of the Prophet, Hadith 80, page 1814.

Key Points

• The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had a beautiful scent that was like a perfumer's fragrance.
• He interacted kindly with children and wiped their cheeks lovingly.
• This Hadith highlights the gentle and compassionate nature of the Prophet (PBUH).

Explanation

The term "Jounat Al-Atar" refers to a round container that holds the perfumer's belongings. Scholars have interpreted it as a curved vessel enclosed with skin.

Hadith about the Prophet's Cooling Hands

In a narration collected by Abu Nu'aym, it is reported through Ma'mar from `Abd al-Jabbar ibn Wail who said his family narrated to him from his father:

Once the Prophet, peace be upon him, was given a bucket of water. He drank from it and poured some of it into the bucket. The water smelled like musk. This tradition is also narrated from Abu al-Husain ibn al-Fadl, who reported from `Abd Allah ibn `Abd al-Rahman, from Yazid, from Dabba who narrated from Maymunah bint Kardam:

Maymunah said, "I used to accompany my father. Once I met the Prophet, and I held his leg. I have never felt anything cooler than that."

Another narration mentions that Maymunah said, "I drew near to him, and I held his foot." The most accurate is known to God.

Additionally, it is stated that Anas reported: Once the Prophet, peace be upon him, came to us and rested amongst us. My mother brought a water container. This tradition is found in Musnad Ahmad and Sunan Ibn Majah.

The Prophet's Appreciation for Perfume

One day, Umm Sulaym was distilling some essence when the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, woke up and asked her: "O Umm Sulaym, what are you doing?" She replied: "This is a fragrance we make for our use, and it is the best of scents." This hadith was reported by Muslim in Sahih.

Narration Chain

Reported by Muhammad ibn Abdullah al-Hafiz that Abu Amru al-Muqri informed him, who was informed by Al-Hasan ibn Sufyan, who was informed by Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah, who was informed by Affan, who was informed by Wuhayb, who was informed by Ayyub, who was informed by Abu Qilabah, who narrated from Anas, who narrated from Umm Sulaym about the Prophet using the essence for fragrance.

Prophet's Response

Upon smelling the fragrance on himself, the Prophet asked Umm Sulaym what it was, and she replied that it was a perfume made for him. This hadith was also reported by Muslim in Sahih and Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah.

Additional Narrations

In another narration, Isaac ibn Rahawaih mentioned that the fragrance of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was a natural scent without any added perfume. Al-Nawawi mentioned that this was a special blessing from Allah. They also stated that the Prophet, while exuding a pleasant fragrance naturally, used to apply perfume excessively for important occasions and interactions.

Lastly, Anas reported that the Prophet's natural scent was more pleasing than that of a groom.