Friday, February 17, 2006

An Image of the Prophet Muhammad

P E A C E B E U P O N H I M

Here is a very precise lifelike image of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) by somebody who saw him for the first time and didnt know him before at all. Its not an image of him drawn on canvas depicting some artist's imagination, but a vivid description by a lady called Umm e Ma'bad.

She was an old Arab lady, very hospitable and kind and the Prophet was travelling from Makkah to Madinah with his companion Abu Bakr (ra) and two others, and was thirsty. When they stopped by her house she offered her hospitality.

Later when her husband came home and she told him about the travellers. He became very keen to hear more from her about the young man she was describing, as he thought he had heard about him before.

This is what she told him about the manners and looks of the Prophet Muhammad [peace be upon him], of all what she saw.

Pious in habit; smart in appearance; appealing in etiquette; proportionate in physique; luxurious in hair; handsome in countenance.

Eyes black and wide; hair long and full; voice deep and rich; neck long and strong; forehead wide and brilliant; eyes filled with modesty; eyebrows thin and long; hair black and slightly curled; with a silent dignity that makes a place in the heart.

Appears very attractive from afar; but is ever more so handsome from close; sweet, enchanting, manner of speaking; speaks clearly, without excess or deficiency of words - as if pearls have been joined into a necklace.

Medium in height, so that appears neither short nor too tall - like the fresh stem of a fresh tree; impressive and magnetic presence; cynosure of his companions; he speaks, and they listen with intent silence; he orders, and they hurry to obey; stately, regal, neither reticent nor talkative!"

On hearing this, her husband exclaimed," This was the man from Quraysh that I have been hearing about. If I ever have the opportunity, I will join his followers."

That is how the Prohpet was, and there are a lot many authentic accounts by his companions about the way he looked and acted. He was of the finest manners.

A companion of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) described him by saying:

Anyone who saw him suddenly stood in awe of him, and anyone who made his acquaintance loved him. Those who described him said they had never seen anyone like him before or since." [Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1524]

But why is this that in Islam any depiction or drawings or statues of the Prophet Muhammad [pbuh], and for that matter any prophet or God, are not allowed?


One simple reason is that, all those drawn images would be mere imaginations of the people who draw them, and not real representation as those noble personalities were [And even more so for God].


Second and the more important reason is that, becaue of the reverence for those personalities, and honor and love given to them, it has the danger of people eventually ending up worshipping their images or statues, i.e practicing idolatory, the very same thing that all those prophets were sent to banish, i.e worshipping false dieties besides God.


In Islam only God is worthy of worship, and He sent the prophets, from Adam till Jesus and Muhammad [peace be upon them all], so as to be taken as perfect role models by the people. And this is what they are given honor for.


More on What the Prophet looked like ,

Manners of the Prophet [Beautiful Flash presentations]


&
The Teacher [A beautiful islamic song in praise of the Prophet pbuh]


Also: Why we Muslims are angry


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