A look back at the amazing features, appearance, characteristics, habits, and personality of our most amazing Nabi ﷺ, to help us understand how special he was.
Jibreel Alayhis Salam has said:
قَلَّبْتُ مَشَارِقَ الْأَرْضِ ، وَمَغَارِبَهَا فَلَمْ أَرَ رَجُلًا أَفْضَلَ مِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ
“I searched the east and the west, I left no stone unturned, but I did not find anyone like our beloved Rasul ﷺ.” (Mujamul Awsat-Tabraani)
His poetry ﷺ
Listen to ” “ by Mawlana Junayd Makda Sahib
Our beloved Nabi ﷺ had a keen interest in poetry. He would often say phrases of poetry to inspire the Sahabah or would ask his companions to share poetic couplets with him.
Sayyiduna Jundub رضي الله عنه narrates that in one battle our beloved Nabi ﷺ’s finger was wounded. Our beloved Nabi ﷺ recited the following couplets whilst addressing his blessed finger:
‘ You are but a finger that has become bloodied and you have sustained this for the sake of Allah’ (Bukhari)
It is important to remember that our beloved Nabi ﷺ was not a poet but at times the words he would utter would rhyme and have a poetic feel to them while on other occasions he would repeat the words of other poets.
On one occasion a person from the tribe of Qays asked Sayyiduna Baraa رضي الله عنه regarding our beloved Nabi ﷺ during the battle of Hunayn. He says our beloved Nabi ﷺ was seated on his mule and was reciting the following couplets:
‘I am the messenger of Allah and there is no lie about that; I am the son of Abdul Muttalib.’ (Tirmidhi)
Requesting Sahabah to recite poetry
Our beloved Nabi ﷺ appreciated the poetry of Sayyiduna Hassaan Ibn Thabit, Abdullah Ibn Rawahah and Ka’b Ibn Malik رضي الله عنهم.
Sayyiduna Hassan ibn Thabit رضي الله عنه was personally appointed by our beloved Nabi ﷺ to respond to derogatory poetry composed by the enemies of our beloved Nabi ﷺ.
We also find incidents of Sayyiduna Hassan رضي الله عنه reciting poetry from the pulpit of the Masjid an-Nabawi in the presence of our beloved Nabi ﷺ (Tahawi)
Sayyiduna Ka’b Ibn Malik رضي الله عنه would prepare poetry on the topic of war and defeating the enemy. This instilled terror in the hearts of the enemy. (Sirat)
Our beloved Nabi’s ﷺ favourite couplet
Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه says that our beloved Nabi ﷺ liked the couplets of Sayyiduna Labeed رضي الله عنه in which he said:
‘Beware; everything other than Allah is futile.’ our beloved Nabi ﷺ described these couplets as most true. (Shama’il)
Note: Sayyiduna Labeed رضي الله عنه was a renowned poet who accepted Islam after the Muslims migrated to Madeenah. He left poetry shortly after accepting Islam saying ‘The Qur’an is sufficient for me ‘
Listening to poetry
Sayyiduna Shareed رضي الله عنه says that once our beloved Nabi ﷺ seated him behind him on a conveyance and asked him to recite the poetry of Jahiliyyah. Sayyiduna Shareed رضي الله عنه says he recited a hundred couplets of poetry composed by Umayyah Ibn Abi as-Salt. (Muslim)
Note: Umayyah was a renowned poet of the era of Jahilyyah who did not accept Islam, but his thoughts were compatible with Islamic ideals as he believed in the oneness of Allah and the Last day. (Jam’ul Wasa’il)
Poetry in our beloved Nabi’s ﷺ gatherings
Sayyiduna Jabir رضي الله عنه was fortunate to witness a hundred gatherings of our beloved Nabi ﷺ. He says the companions would recite poetry in his blessed presence, and they were reminiscences about the days of Jahilyyah [ignorance]. Our beloved Nabi ﷺ would remain silent and occasionally smile at them (Shama’il)
يَارَبِّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ دَائِماً اَبَداً عَلٰى حَبِيْبِكَ خَيْرِ الْخَلْقِ كُلِّهِمِ