A man in Mecca narrated to me, through a son of Abū Hālah al-Tamīmī, from al-Ḥasan b. ʿAlī, who said:

“I asked my uncle, Hind b. Abī Hālah—renowned for his gift of description—about the outward appearance of the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ, for I longed that he depict something of it to which I might cling.

He said:

‘The Messenger of Allah, ﷺ, was majestic and held in veneration (1). His face gleamed like the full moon on its brightest night. He was taller than the man of medium height, yet shorter than one who is conspicuously tall (2). His head was large, his hair wavy. When his locks parted naturally he would leave them parted; otherwise, when he let it grow, his hair did not fall beyond the lobes of his ears. His complexion was luminous, his forehead broad. His eyebrows were long and arched, but did not meet (4); between them ran a vein that swelled when he was angered (5). His nose was fine and slightly curved (6), graced by a light upon it—one who did not look closely might think it aquiline. He had a thick beard, large dark eyes, smooth cheeks, a wide mouth, teeth that shone, and incisors slightly set apart. A delicate line of hair ran from his chest to his navel. His neck was like a statue’s, gleaming as though wrought from silver.

He was perfectly proportioned, solid in build without being bulky; his chest and stomach were level. His chest was broad, the space between his shoulders wide, his joints full. Whenever his skin was exposed it radiated brightness. A single line of hair ran from the upper chest to the navel like a fine thread; other than that, the chest and belly were free of hair. His forearms, shoulders, and the upper part of his chest bore hair. His forearms were long, his palms broad, his sinews strong yet smooth. His hands and feet were thick-set, his fingers and toes extended, the arches of his feet high. His feet were smooth so that water would run off them.

When he moved, he did so resolutely (7); he stepped lightly and walked with serenity (8), covering ground with ease (9). It was as though he were descending from a height (10). When he turned, he turned altogether. He kept his gaze lowered; his look to the ground was longer than his look to the sky, and most of his glances were mere observations. He walked behind his Companions and was the first to greet whomever he met with peace.

I said, ‘Describe for me his manner of speaking.’

He replied:

‘The Messenger of Allah, ﷺ, was continually saddened, ever thoughtful; he knew no ease. He would not speak without need, and he was often silent. When he opened or concluded a statement, he articulated it fully. He spoke in concise, all-embracing phrases—clear, with no excess and no deficiency,