Wednesday, August 5, 2026

The Miracles, Noble Character, and Blessed Appearance of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

Q:

What miracles did the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم perform?

A:

Allah granted his final Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم a vast spectrum of miracles. Here are some:

1.      The Quran, which is the greatest miracle of all.

2.      Splitting the moon in two.

3.      Mi’rāj (The night journey).

4.      Giving news of the unseen.

5.      Stones and trees greeting the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم with salām.

6.      The trunk of a date-palm tree harbouring love for him.

7.      Stones glorifying Allah whilst in his hands.

8.      Having a small amount of food contain profound blessings to the extent it sufficed for a large number of people.

9.      Water flowing from the blessed fingers of the noble Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم.

10. The sick becoming healthy.

Q:

How did the miracle of the moon being split in two (shaq al-qamar) take place?

A:

One of the most well-known miracles of the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم is the splitting of the moon, mention of which is found in Quran and hadith. The people of Makkah requested the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم to show them a miracle, so he split the moon into two segments.1

¹ Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, vol. 2, p. 511, hadith 3637

‘Abd Allah bin Mas’ūd رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ said:

During the time of the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم, the moon was split into two. One segment was above a mountain, whilst the other below it. This is when the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم said, ‘Remain witnesses.’2

² Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, vol. 3, p. 339, hadith 4864

When he split the moon into two, the disbelievers of Quraysh remarked, “Muhammad صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم has blocked our sight with magic.” Members of their group then said,

If our eyes have been affected with magic, the moon will still not appear in two segments to others. Wait for travelers passing by in caravans. If the moon was seen split into two from other locations besides here, this is truly then a miracle.

When travelers hailing from elsewhere passed by and were asked if they saw the moon split into two segments, they said, “We indeed saw the moon was split into two on this night.”1 The disbelievers could no longer deny this miracle, but they continued to ignorantly label it as magic.

¹ Jāmi’ al-Tirmidhi, vol. 5, p. 189, hadith 3300, Jami’a al-Usul Fi hadith al-Rasul, vol. 11, p. 367, hadith 8937

Q:

Mention something regarding the noble character of the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم.

A:

Regarding his beautiful character, the Creator of characters Himself states:

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَى خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ ۝

And (O Beloved), your (excellent) character is undoubtedly of a superb standard.¹

¹ [Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 29, Surah Al-Qalam, verse 4)

The beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم was a complete paragon of good character. All of its beauties, qualities, virtues and facets were embodied in him. Forbearance, forgiveness, magnanimity, mercy, compassion, justice, fairness, generosity, benevolence, sacrifice, hospitality, non-violence, peacebuilding, gentleness, courage, fulfilling promises, good conduct, patience, contentment, soft speech, welcoming nature, sociableness, friendliness, equality, providing solace to the grief-stricken, simplicity, humbleness, and every other character-related good quality were found in him to the degree of immaculate perfection.

So auspiciously august is his noble character, that Lady ‘Āishah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا described it by saying, كَانَ خُلُقُهُ الْقُرْآنَ – “The Quran was his character” (Acting in total accordance with Quranic teachings was his character itself).²

² Dalaail al-Nubuwwah, vol. 1, p. 309, Seerat-e-Mustafa, pp. 599 - 600

Q:

How many parts did the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم divide his days and nights into?

A:

He divided his days and nights into 3 parts; one for worshipping Allah, one for the matters of his family and other creations of Allah, as well as one for himself.¹

¹ Seerat-e-Mustafa, p. 586

Q:

Describe the resplendent appearance of the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم.

A:

When describing how the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم physically appeared, Anas bin Mālik رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ extolled:

“He was not overly tall nor short, but of medium height among people. His complexion was rosy, not wholly white nor deep brown. His hair was neither greatly curly nor completely straight, but moderately wavy.”²

² Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, vol. 2, p. 487, hadith 3547

“I have never touched plain or woven silk softer than the palm of the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم, nor have I smelt perfume more pleasant than his scent.”³

³ Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, vol. 2, p. 489, hadith 3561

As found in Shamāil al-Tirmidhi, al-Shifā and other works; the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم was of fair complexion, with elements of redness/rosiness. His skin was neither totally pale nor white. Hints of this rosiness could be beheld upon the fairness of his face. This colour is universally admired, but particularly by Arabians. Interestingly, the most liked of colours in Paradise shall be gold. Correlating this together, scholars mention:

Allah granted both of these colours (red and gold) to the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم in this world, in that his fair complexion had elements of rosiness therein; this combination of fair skin and hints of redness would result in a shining brilliance (in similitude to gold) emanating from his complexion.¹

¹ Al-Shamaail al-Muhammadi, p. 19, hadith 6, al-shifa, vol. 1, p. 155

When the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم became happy, his face would glow like a piece of the moon.²

² Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, vol. 2, p. 488, hadith 3556

·         Ka’b bin Mālik رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ

Drops of perspiration would shine like pearls on his luminescent face, and they contained a scent that was more fragrant than musk and ambergris.³

³ Seerat-e-Mustafa, p. 564

·         The scholar of hadīth, ‘Abd al-Mustafa A’zami رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ

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