Seerah of the Prophet ﷺ - (Specialities of the Prophet ﷺ)

Allah has chosen our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ above the entire creation and raised his remembrance for all times to come. 

And (We have) raised high for you your esteem. (94:4)


And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds (21:107)


Wherever the name of Allah SWT is mentioned, the name of our beloved Muhammad ﷺ is mentioned along with it e.g. in the kalimah, salaah, azaan, and at multiple places in the Qur'an

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had been given many names and titles, from Allah SWT and from the people. The primary names are those that were given by Allah Himself, and they have the most profound meanings.

Jubayr bin Mut'im Radiyallahu 'Anhu narrates:

قَالَ‏:‏ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ إِنَّ لِي أَسْمَاءً، أَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، وَأَنَا أَحْمَدُ، وَأَنَا الْمَاحِي الَّذِي يَمْحُو اللَّهُ بِيَ الْكُفْرَ، وَأَنَا الْحَاشِرُ الَّذِي يُحْشَرُ النَّاسُ عَلَى قَدَمِي، وَأَنَا الْعَاقِبُ الَّذِي لَيْسَ بَعْدَهُ نَبِيٌّ‏.‏

"Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam said: 'I have many names, I am Muhammad, I am Ahmad, I am Maahi (the one who erases or effaces) through whom Allah has eradicated kufr. I am Haashir, whom Allah will raise first on the day of qiyaamah, the whole ummah will be judged before my feet on the day of qiyaamah. I am 'Aaqib (the one who comes last), and that 'Aaqib, after whom there shall be no other nabi'". (Sahih Muslim)

The Quran mentions many adjectives for Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, but only two proper nouns have been used for him: محمدMuhammad (4 times) and احمد Ahmad (2-3 times). 
Ahmad and Muhammad are both derived from حمد. Hamd is higher than شكر as it is not a praise in return of a favour. Hamd is praise and gratitude due to the inherent characteristics present in someone, which make him worthy of حمد.  Muhammad refers to the one who is praised continuously at every point in time and in great quantity, while Ahmad refers to the best or highest kind of praise. 

It is interesting that in the Qur'an, Musa AS predicted the final prophethood of Prophet ﷺ by using the name "Muhammad" while Isa AS predicted by using the name "Ahmad". One reason is that Musa AS's people, Bani Israel, were one of the largest ummahs and great in quantity. Isa AS's followers were very few in number but devoted and righteous, so the name Ahmad is more befitting. 

Allah, angels, prophets and all of humanity praise Muhammad ﷺ. Even the disbelievers were forced to do hamd of the beautiful qualities and character he possessed, although they denied his prophethood because of their arrogance. Muhammad ﷺ was known as Saadiq and Ameen! He has been praised by all the ummahs, in the heavens and the Earth, and in the dunya and the akhirah. No second goes by but he ﷺ is praised around the globe by millions of people.

But, the ultimate praise will be given to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ on the Day of judgement as he will have the right to intercede for the ummah on that day. No other Prophet will have the rank of our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. He will be given Maqam al Mahmud (the rank/station that is praise) because he will be praised by every single being in existence. 

Narrated Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "I am the chief of the children of Adam on the Day of Judgement and I am not boasting, and in my hand is the banner of praise and I am not boasting, and there has been no Prophet since Adam or other than him, except that he is under my banner. And I am the first for whom the earth will split open, and I am not boasting." He said: "The people will be frightened by three frights. So they will come to Adam saying: 'You are our father Adam, so intercede for us with your Lord.' So he says: 'I committed a sin for which I was expelled to the earth, so go to Nuh.' So they will come to Nuh and he will say: 'I supplicated against the people of the earth, so they were destroyed. So go to Ibrahim.' So they will go to Ibrahim, and he says: 'I lied three times.'" Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "He did not lie except defending Allah's religion." "So go to Musa.' So they will come to Musa, and he will say: 'I took a life. So go to 'Eisa. So they go to 'Eisa and he says: 'I was worshiped besides Allah. So go to Muhammad (ﷺ).'" He said: "So they will come to me, and I will go to them." And it will be said: 'Who is there?' It will be said: 'Muhammad.' They will open it for me, and welcome me saying, 'Welcome.' I will fall prostrate and Allah will inspire me with statements of gratitude and praise and it will be said to me: 'Raise your head, ask and you shall be given, intercede, and your intercession shall be accepted, speak, and your saying shall be heard.' And that is Al-Maqam Al-Mahmud about which Allah said: It may be that your Lord will raise you to Maqaman-Mahmud (17:79)." (Tirmidhi)

Specialties of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ :

1)Muhammad ﷺ was Seal of the Prophets and there will be no Prophet after him

2)The Prophethood of Muhammad ﷺ had been destined by Allah even before the beginning of creation

3)Muhammad ﷺ was the only Prophet sent to all of humanity and even the Jinns.
Someone can claim that Adam AS and Nuh As were also sent to all of humanity. The response is that Adam AS was the first human on Earth so all humans were naturally his descendants, and Nuh AS's nation was the only settlement on earth, and there was no other civilisation

4) Muhammad ﷺ had been given the most powerful living miracle of the Qur'an. We don't have access to any of the miracles of previous Prophets but every generation can experience the miracle of Qur'an

5) The journey of Al Isra & Mairaj was one of his unique blessings. No other human being was given such an honour. Even Jibrael AS could not go beyond a certain point, and Muhammad ﷺ continued the remaining journey to heavens on his own. Musa AS was given the opportunity of speaking to Allah but on Earth

6)He is the Syed and in charge of all children of Adam AS. He is the leader of all humanity.

7) Muhammad ﷺ has been blessed with Kawthar which is the largest Haudh given in Jannah. This pool is square in shape and it is so large that its one side is from Makkah to Sana'a. 

8)The first grave that will be opened is that of Muhammad ﷺ, and he will be the first human to be clothed on the day of judgement

9)  Muhammad ﷺ will be the first to pass the bridge of Siraat. He will be the first to knock on the doors of Jannah, and the angels will open the doors of Jannah because of him, so he will enter into Jannah. If you imagine the Jannah like a pyramid, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ will be given the highest rank in Jannah (الفضيله)

10) Muhammad ﷺ said that his hope is that our Ummah will be two-thirds of inhabitants of Jannah. Imagine he said this at a time when there were only a handful of Sahaba RA on Earth.

11) Muhammad ﷺ has been blessed with Maqam e Mahmood i.e. all of humanity will praise him on the Day of judgement as he will have the right to intercede.

Appearance of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ 

Every Prophet was blessed with the best of inward and outward characteristics. There are many ahadith about the blessed appearance of Muhammad ﷺ. Even his appearance used to inspire awe and reverence among people. Nobody had seen anyone like him before. Many people accepted Islam merely after seeing his blessed face.

'Abdullah bin Salam said:

"When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) arrived- meaning in Al-Madinah – the people came out to meet him. It was said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ ) had arrived, so I went among the people to get a look at him. When I gazed upon the face of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ ), I knew that this face was not the face of a liar. The first thing that he spoke about was that he said: 'O you people! Spread the Salam, feed(others), and perform Salat while the people are sleeping; you will enter Paradise with(the greeting of) Salam.'” (Tirmidhi)

It is narrated about 'Amr bin Al-'as that he said: No one was dearer to me than Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and none was more respectable than him in my eyes. So bright was his splendour that I could not gather enough courage to look at his face for any length of time. If I were asked to describe his feature, I would not be able to do so because I have never caught a full glimpse of his face. (Sahih Muslim)



Anas b. Malik reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was neither very conspicuously tall nor short-statured, and his color was neither glaringly white nor brown; his hair was neither very curly nor very straight. (Sahih Muslim)



Al-Bara' reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had the most handsome face amongst men and he had the best disposition and he was neither very tall nor short-statured. (Sahih Muslim)

Narrated Ibrahim bin Muhammad, one of the offspring of 'Ali bin Abi Talib:

said: "When 'Ali [may Allah be pleased with him] described the Prophet (ﷺ) he would say: 'He was not extremely tall (Mummaghit), nor was he extremely short (Mutaraddid), and he was of medium height in relation to the people. The wave of his hair was not completely curly (Qatat), nor straight, but it was in between. He did not have a large head, nor a small head (Mukaltham), his face was round and a blended-white color (Mushrab), his eyes were dark black (Ad'aj), his eye-lashes were long (Ahdab). He was big-boned and broad shouldered (Al-Katad), his body hair was well-placed, and he had a Masrubah, his hands and feet were thick (Shathn). When he walked he walked briskly (Taqalla'), he leaned forward as if he was walking on a decline (Sabab). And if he turned his head, his body turned as well, between his two shoulders was the seal of Prophethood, and he was the seal of the Prophets. He was the most generous of people [in hand, and the most big-hearted of them] in breast. He was the most truthful of people in speech, the softest of them in nature, and the most noble of them in his relations ('Ishrah). Whoever saw him for the first time (Badihah) would fear him, and whoever got to know him, loved him. The one who tried to describe him would have to say: 'I have not seen before him or after him anyone who resembles him (ﷺ).'" (Tirmidhi)

It is related from Jaabir (Radiallahu anhu) that he said:

"I once saw Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) on the night of a full moon. On that night he wore red clothing. At times I looked at the full moon and at times at Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam). Ultimately I came to the conclusion that Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) was more handsome, beautiful and more radiant than the full moon." (Tirmidhi)

Lifestyle and character of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ 

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had so many internal qualities. Of these were patience, mercy, understading, love and care. But also humility, modesty, and an extremely simple lifestyle.

HUMILITY:

Narrated `Aisha: The bed mattress of the Prophet (ﷺ) was made of a leather case stuffed with palm fibres. (Bukhari)

There is a famous Hadith by Umar ibn Al-Khattab (R). He mentions, he entered the mosque in Madina when the Prophetﷺ was lying down on his small compartment. The compartment only had a small jug of water and a bed for him to lie down. The bed was not made out of leaves of the date palm, rather it was made out of the branches of the date palm. When Umar (R) comes in, the Prophetﷺsits up to greet him and Umar (R) notices that the fiber or the branch of the date palm has left a mark on the Prophet’sﷺback.

This is an incident of the 7th or 8th year of Islamic calendar, by this time the Prophetﷺhad already become the undisputed leader of a large chunk of Arabia.

So Umar (R) could not control himself and began to cry, he said, O Messenger of Allah, how can we allow you to live like this? Look at the kings of Roman, Persia. Look at how they live. Surely O Messenger of Allah, you deserve better.

Instead of saying maybe you are right or I will think about it, the Prophetﷺrather got irritated at him. The Prophetﷺsaid, O Umar, is this why we are here for? O Umar, aren’t you happy that they have this ‘Dunia’ (this life) and we have the ‘Akhira’ (the afterlife)?

Hafsah Radiyallahu 'Anha was asked how was the bed of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam in your house? She replied: 'It was a canvas folded into two, which was spread for Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam to sleep on. On one night I thought if I folded it into four and spread it, it would become softer. I folded it and spread it that way. In the morning Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam asked: 'What did you spread for me last night? I replied: 'It was the same bed, I only folded it into four so that it may become softer'. Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam said: 'Leave it in its original form. Its softness deprived me of my prayers (tahajjud) at night'.

Aishah, the Mother of the Believers, narrated:

"The Messenger of Allah visited me one day and said: 'Do you have anything (to eat)?'" She said: "I said: 'No.' He said: 'Then I am fasting.'" (Tirmidhi)

Narrated Sahl:

A woman brought a woven Burda (sheet) having edging (border) to the Prophet, Then Sahl asked them whether they knew what is Burda, they said that Burda is a cloak and Sahl confirmed their reply. Then the woman said, "I have woven it with my own hands and I have brought it so that you may wear it." The Prophet (ﷺ) accepted it, and at that time he was in need of it. So he came out wearing it as his waist-sheet. A man praised it and said, "Will you give it to me? How nice it is!" The other people said, "You have not done the right thing as the Prophet (ﷺ) is in need of it and you have asked for it when you know that he never turns down anybody's request." The man replied, "By Allah, I have not asked for it to wear it but to make it my shroud." Later it was his shroud. (Bukhari)

KINDNESS

Anas narrated:

that "I served the Prophet for ten years. He never said Uff and never blamed me by saying: 'Why did you do so' or why did you not do so?' And the Messenger Of Allah had the best character among all of the people. (Tirmidhi)

Anas said:

the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was one of the best of men in character. One day he sent me to do something, and I said: I swore by Allah that I would not go. But in my heart I felt that I should go to do what the Prophet of Allah (ﷺ) had commanded me; so I went out and came upon some boys who were playing in the street. All of a sudden the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) who had come up behind caught me by the back of the neck, and when I looked at him he was laughing. He said: Go where I ordered you, little Anas. I replied: Yes, I am going, Apostle of Allah! Anas said: I swear by Allah, I served him for seven or nine years, and he never said to me about a thing which I had done: Why did you do such and such? Nor about a thing which I left: why did not do such and such? (Sunan Abi Dawud)

Anas reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) visited us and there was none else (in the house) but I, my mother and my mother's sister Umm Haram. My mother said to him:

Allah's Messenger, here is a small servant of yours, invoke blessings of Allah upon him. And he invoked blessings for me (that I should be bestowed upon) every good and this was what he (said) at the end of what be supplicated for me: O Allah, make an increase in his wealth, and progeny, and cqnfer blessings (upon him) in (each one) of them. (Muslim)

Sense of humour:

Hasan Basri radiyallahu anhu says that an old woman came to Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam and made a request, O Messenger of Allah make Dua that Allah grants me entrance into Jannah. Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam replied, O Mother, an old woman cannot enter Jannah. That woman started crying and began to leave. Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam said, Say to the woman that one will not enter in a state of old age, but Allah will make all the women of Jannah young virgins. (Shamaiyl)

Anas ibn Malik radiyallahu anhu reports: Zaahir radiyallahu anhu was not very handsome. Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam once approached him while he was selling his merchandise. Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam caught him in between the arms from the back in such a manner that he (Sayyidina Zaahir radiyallahu anhu) could not see him. Zaahir radiyallahu anhu said, "Who is this?, leave me." But when he saw with the corner of his eye that it was Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam, he straightened his back and began pressing it to the chest of Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam (For as long as he gained this opportunity it was better than a thousand gifts). Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam then said, "Who will purchase this slave?" Zaahir radiyallahu anhu replied, "O Rasool of Allah, if you shall sell me, you will be selling a defective thing, and will earn a very little sum." Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam said, "No, you are not defective in the sight of Allah, but very valuable." (Shamaiyl)

Abu Hurairah radiyallahu anhu reports, The Sahaabah asked, "O Messenger of Allah, you joke with us?" Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam replied, "Yes, I do not say but the truth." (Shamaiyl)

Love for Ummah:

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Every Prophet has a (special) supplication which is answered. Verily, I have reserved mine as intercession for my nation, and it shall reach, if Allah wills, those of them who die, not associating anything with Allah.” (Tirmidhi)

There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you and to the believers is kind and merciful (Quran [9:128])

'On the Day of Resurrection the people will surge with each other like waves, and then they will come to Adam and say, 'Please intercede for us with your Lord.' He will say, 'I am not fit for that but you'd better go to Abraham as he is the Khalil of the Beneficent.' They will go to Abraham and he will say, 'I am not fit for that, but you'd better go to Moses as he is the one to whom Allah spoke directly.' So they will go to Moses and he will say, 'I am not fit for that, but you'd better go to Jesus as he is a soul created by Allah and His Word.' (Be: And it was) they will go to Jesus and he will say, 'I am not fit for that, but you'd better go to Muhammad.' They would come to me and I would say, 'I am for that.' Then I will ask for my Lord's permission, and it will be given, and then He will inspire me to praise Him with such praises as I do not know now. So I will praise Him with those praises and will fall down, prostrate before Him. Then it will be said, 'O Muhammad, raise your head and speak, for you will be listened to; and ask, for your will be granted (your request); and intercede, for your intercession will be accepted.' I will say, 'O Lord, my followers! My followers!' And then it will be said, 'Go and take out of Hell (Fire) all those who have faith in their hearts, equal to the weight of a barley grain.' I will go and do so and return to praise Him with the same praises, and fall down (prostrate) before Him. Then it will be said, 'O Muhammad, raise your head and speak, for you will be listened to, and ask, for you will be granted (your request); and intercede, for your intercession will be accepted.' I will say, 'O Lord, my followers! My followers!' It will be said, 'Go and take out of it all those who have faith in their hearts equal to the weight of a small ant or a mustard seed.' I will go and do so and return to praise Him with the same praises, and fall down in prostration before Him. It will be said, 'O, Muhammad, raise your head and speak, for you will be listened to, and ask, for you will be granted (your request); and intercede, for your intercession will be accepted.' I will say, 'O Lord, my followers!' Then He will say, 'Go and take out (all those) in whose hearts there is faith even to the lightest, lightest mustard seed. (Take them) out of the Fire.' (Bukhari)

Narrated Anas bin Malik:

A man asked the Prophet (ﷺ) "When will the Hour be established O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)?" The Prophet (ﷺ) . said, "What have you prepared for it?" The man said, " I haven't prepared for it much of prayers or fast or alms, but I love Allah and His Apostle." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "You will be with those whom you love." (Bukhari)