with a slight forward lean. He walked calmly and with dignity, yet his stride was ample; when he moved it was as though he were descending a slope. When he turned, he turned completely. He kept his gaze lowered, looking to the ground more often than to the sky; most of his glances were but brief sidelong looks. He would let his Companions walk ahead of him, and he was the first to greet whoever met him with peace.

I said, “Describe for me his speech.” He replied: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was continually sorrowful, ever reflective; he had no respite. He was slow to speak, never talking without need. He began and ended his words with full, clear articulation. He spoke in concise, comprehensive phrases—speech that was decisive, neither excessive nor deficient. He was gentle, neither harsh nor contemptible. He esteemed every blessing, even the smallest. He never disparaged anything; as for food, he would neither criticize it nor lavish praise upon it. The affairs of this world never angered him, but when the truth was violated none could recognize him, and nothing could withstand his wrath until he had vindicated it. He never became angry for himself or sought retribution on his own behalf.

When he gestured, he did so with his whole hand; when he was amazed, he turned it over; when he spoke, he would strike the palm of his right hand against the inside of his left. When he became angry he turned away and averted his face; when he was joyful he lowered his gaze. Most of his laughter was a smile, and when he smiled his teeth shone like glistening hailstones.

Al-Hasan said: I concealed this from al-Husayn for a time, then told him, only to find that he had already met Hind ibn Abī Hālah and asked him the same questions I had. I also discovered that he had questioned his father about the Prophet’s way of entering and leaving his home and his general manner, leaving out nothing.

Al-Husayn said: I asked my father about the Messenger of Allah’s ﷺ manner of entering his house. He replied: “His entrance was reserved to himself. When he sought repose in his home he divided his time into three portions: one for Allah, one for his family, and one for himself. Then he would divide the portion allotted to himself between himself and the people, making the private part open to the public, withholding nothing from them. In the time he devoted to the ummah he would give precedence, by permission, to those of excellence, distributing his attention according to their rank in religion. Among them were some with a single need, others with two, and others with many. He would occupy himself with them and engage them in whatever would benefit them—and the community—regarding their requests.”