Army Public School for International Studies
SRM Islamiyat for Class VIII
Week 5
Strand 3: Biography of the Prophet (PBUH)
Topic: Appearance and Specialities of the Prophet (PBUH)
The word used for appearance in Arabic is ‘Shumail’ taken from ‘Shameelah’. It means biography,
hobbies and nature.
Hazrat Bara ibn Aazib (RA) explains about the appearance of the Prophet (PBUH) that “his face
was the most beautiful and his manners were better among all of us. His face was like a bright
moon”. Hazrat Ayesha was asked about the etiquettes of the Prophet (PBUH). She replied that
“His etiquettes were as same as the Quran”
The Prophet (PBUH) was pure and full of qualities. Some of the companions mentioned a detailed
appearance of the prophet (PBUH) ۔Hazrat Ali (RA) explains that the prophet (PBUH) was not too
tall or short. He was of medium height among people. His hairs were not too curly or straight but
they were between them. He was not fat. His face was not too round. His skin colour was white
with redness in it. His eyes were black with long eyelashes. His body joints were wide and his
shoulders were broad. There was not much hair on his body but only a line of hair from his chest
to his belly button. His hands and feet were filled and not skinny. He walked with firm steps. He
used to turn his whole body towards a person he is talking with, not just his face. He had a stamp
of his prophethood on his back between the shoulders. He was the Last Prophet. He was the most
generous and the most big-hearted. He was the most truthful. He was soft when he used to talk.
Whoever saw him for the first time would fear him. The people who knew him loved him. If anyone
would have described him would say that I have never seen anyone like him. (Link)
Hazrat Ali (RA) explained the appearance of the Prophet (PBUH) in a very comprehensive way.
The Prophet (PBUH) was given some specialities which were not given to any previous prophet.
End of the Prophethood:
The Prophet (PBUH) is a seal for all previous prophets. He is the Last Prophet (PBUH) and no
prophet will come after him.
The Status of Mahmud:
He will be given the status of Mahmud. Prophet (PBUH) explains that:
َّ ُون أَنَا ه َُو ف ََم ْن َسأ َ َل لِي ال َْوسِي َل َة َح َّل ْت َله
الشفَا َع ُة َ َسلُوا اهَّللَ ل ِ َي ال َْوسِي َل َة َفإِن َّ َها َمنْز ِ َل ٌة فِي ا ْل َج َّنةِ الَ َتنْ َبغِي إِالَّ ل َِعبْ ٍد ِم ْن ع َِباد ِاهَّللِ َوأَ ْر ُجو أَ ْن أَ ُك
َ
beg from Allah al-Wasila for me, which is a rank in Paradise fitting for only one of
Allah's servants, and I hope that I may be that one. If anyone who asks that I be
given the Wasila, he will be assured of my intercession.
The Biggest Intercession:
He will be given the opportunity of the biggest intercession. He will praise Allah in prostration on
the Day of Judgement and Allah will reply to him that: O Muhammad! Raise your head, you will be
heard, you will be given whatever you want to ask and intercede, your intercession will be
accepted.
َيا ُم َح َّم ُد ْار َف ْع َرأْ َسكَ ُق ْل ُت ْس َم ْع َس ْل ُت ْع َط ْه ا ْش َف ْع ُتشَ َّف ْع
O Muhammad, raise your head, say and you would be heard; ask and it would be
granted; intercede and intercession would be accepted.
The Generality of the Prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH):
All the previous prophets were sent for a specific region, city or village. Whenever a prophet died
another came after him. Prophet (PBUH) was sent after a gap of more than 500 years after Hazrat
Isa (AS). He was sent as a Prophet for the whole world till the doomsday.
