Who Was He? — Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
An in-depth profile of Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ — his names, appearance, character, and his immense love for his ummah.
He is revered as the last messenger of divine guidance, the embodiment of the prophetic tradition, and a seminal figure in the history of Arabia who, through his leadership and vision, unified the diverse communities of the region into a cohesive religious entity under the banner of Islam.
He is Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
His names
Our Prophet was given many names by Allāh and by later scholars — over 250 names have been derived by one of the renowned Sīrah scholars. However, the primary names given to him by Allāh hold the deepest meaning.
According to Jubayr ibn Muṭʿim, the Prophet ﷺ stated that he had several names including:
- Muḥammad — the praised one
- Aḥmad — one who praises more
- al-Māḥī — the one who erases disbelief
- al-Ḥāshir — the one after whom people will be resurrected
- al-ʿĀqib — the last prophet
In another narration, he is referred to as Nabī al-Raḥma (Prophet of Mercy), Nabī al-Tawba (Prophet of Repentance), al-Muqaffā (the one brought at the end), and Nabī al-Malāḥim (Prophet of Battles).
The Qur’an explicitly mentions two of his names: Muḥammad (mentioned four times) and Aḥmad (mentioned once by Prophet ʿĪsā). Both names come from the root word ḥamd, meaning praise — not the praise given in anticipation of reward, but praise given purely because of the inherent qualities of the one being praised.
His appearance
The Prophet ﷺ was described as a man of medium stature with broad shoulders and thick hair that reached his earlobes. He was not excessively tall or short, and his skin tone was lightish brown. His face was not narrow, his hair was not curly or straight, and his hands were incredibly soft. He had a bushy beard and was described as very handsome. The Prophet’s sweat was described as fragrant.
Between his two shoulders was the Seal of the Prophethood — a small growth of hair of a different colour in between his shoulder blades. Most famously, Salmān al-Fārisī accepted Islam because of this Seal.
His qualities
Simplicity
The Prophet ﷺ lived a simple lifestyle, even after he became the leader of a large portion of Arabia. He had a small compartment in the mosque with only a jug of water and a bed made of date palm branches, which left a red mark on his side. He sometimes would not taste meat for 6 weeks. ʿĀʾisha described their lifestyle as living on dates and water.
Compassion
One of the many beautiful qualities of the Prophet ﷺ was his compassion. He had a special place in his heart for children and would often spend time playing with them and making them laugh. He was also known for his kindness towards animals — it is narrated that once while on a journey, the Prophet stopped to give water to a thirsty dog, and because of this act of kindness, Allah forgave all of the person’s sins.
Humility
During the Battle of Badr, the Prophet ﷺ distributed the camels amongst the people and assigned two of his companions to share a camel with him. When they offered the camel to him, he smiled and declined, saying that they were not stronger than him and that he was in no lesser need of reward. He wanted to ensure they did not feel he was doing them a favour.
Manners
Anas ibn Mālik, one of the Prophet’s companions, reported that he served the Prophet ﷺ for ten years and that the Prophet never rebuked him or expressed irritation. Even when people showed him the utmost disrespect, he maintained his dignity and composure.
Bravery
In the Battle of Badr, his companions would seek refuge around him when the fighting became severe. This shows the Prophet’s bravery and the trust that his companions had in him as a leader.
His love for his ummah
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had an immense amount of love for his ummah, as stated in the Qur’an:
“There has come to you a Messenger from amongst you, he finds it difficult to bear your hardships, he is ever eager for you; to the believers he is full of compassion and mercy.”
— al-Tawba, 128
One incident that highlights the love of the Prophet ﷺ for his ummah is narrated in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim. The Prophet ﷺ was reciting the Qur’an and came across verses of Ibrāhīm and ʿĪsā, both making duʿā for their ummah. The Prophet ﷺ then raised his hands and cried, “O Allāh, my ummah! O Allāh, my ummah!” Allāh told Jibrīl that He would please the Prophet regarding his ummah.
Every prophet was given one supplication that Allāh would never reject. The prophets used it for their people who disobeyed, but the Prophet ﷺ saved his for the Day of Judgment — where he will make the duʿā: “O Allāh, forgive my entire ummah.” And Allāh will accept this supplication, resulting in every Muslim who believes and acts upon the teachings of the Prophet to be forgiven.
