al-Tarif bi-Nabi al-Rahma
- Author died
- -
- Editions
- al-Tarif bi-Nabi al-Rahma
al-Tarif bi-Nabi al-Rahma (Introducing the Prophet of Mercy) is a treatise by Abu Malik Thaer Salama detailing the physical description (shama'il) and demeanor of the Prophet Muhammad . The work was written as an introductory section (fasl) to Salama's comprehensive Quranic commentary, titled al-Bayan wa-l-Tibyan fi Tafsir Kitab al-Ra'uf al-Rahman .
Purpose and Scope
Salama composed the treatise as an introduction before the exegesis to provide the reader with a vivid portrayal of the Prophet as though one could see him . The author specifically focuses on the Prophet's physical appearance, bodily features, and personal demeanor, while deferring detailed treatments of his moral character, leadership qualities, jurisprudence, campaigns, and interactions to their relevant contextual passages within the exegesis .
Sources and Methodology
The author drew material from classical Hadith collections and their commentaries, biographical works (siyar), prophetic portrait treatises (shama'il), Arabic dictionaries, and history books . Rather than presenting narrations separately, Salama rearranged the transmitted descriptions topically into a composite narrative, organizing reports feature by feature to present a coherent depiction to the reader .
In the footnotes, Salama provides linguistic explanations of uncommon vocabulary (gharib) using classical dictionaries such as Ibn Manzur's Lisan al-Arab and al-Jawhari's al-Sihah . He also engages in reconciling seemingly contradictory reports—such as differing narrations regarding whether the Prophet's hair reached his earlobes or shoulders, variations between reports describing his facial shape as round or supple, and differing descriptions of his height—citing classical authorities such as al-Nawawi, Ibn Battal, al-Zamakhshari, al-Bayhaqi, and al-Qadi Iyad .
Contents
The treatise progresses through specific aspects of the Prophet's appearance and daily life:
- Physical description: An extensive anatomical compilation covering the Prophet's complexion, facial features, eyes, eyebrows, nose, mouth, teeth, beard, hair, neck, chest, hands, feet, gait, stature, and the seal of prophethood between his shoulders .
- Demeanor and speech: Narrations outlining the Prophet's manner of speaking, his eloquence, his emotional restraint, and his reactions of pleasure or disapproval .
- Conduct at home and in public: Detailed reports, primarily through narrations attributed to Hind ibn Abi Hala and Ali ibn Abi Talib, describing how he divided his time at home into portions for God, his family, and his people; his etiquette when going out; and his comportment within his assemblies (majalis) .
- Virtues and asceticism: Passages on his patience, forbearance, reasons for silence, generosity, ascetic attitude toward worldly life, seeing him in dreams, and his age at death .
Answer updated