The Physical Appearance of the Prophet

Al-Qastallani devotes this chapter to the physical description of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), drawing from the most authentic narrations transmitted by his Companions. The blessed physical form of the Prophet is a subject that occupied the attention of the early Muslims deeply, both as a matter of love and as a means of recognizing him. The scholars of hadith preserved these descriptions with meticulous care, and they were compiled separately in works known as the Shamail — of which the most famous is that of Imam al-Tirmidhi.

The narrations describe the Prophet as being of medium height — neither too tall nor too short — with a broad chest, wide shoulders, and a complexion that was luminous and fair with a reddish hue. His face was described as round like the full moon, radiant and beautiful, with large dark eyes fringed with long lashes, a prominent forehead, and a neat beard. His hair was neither tightly curled nor perfectly straight, reaching between his earlobes and his shoulders. When he walked, he walked with a forward lean as if descending a slope, and his movement was described as purposeful and dignified.

Al-Qastallani weaves together the principal narrations on the topic — from Hind ibn Abi Halah, Ali ibn Abi Talib, Abu Hurayrah, and others — and comments on apparent differences between accounts, harmonizing them through careful analysis. The chapter serves both a biographical function and a spiritual one: to allow the reader, through these vivid descriptions, to cultivate a living image of the Prophet in the heart, thereby deepening love and connection to him.