Sifat al-Nabi li Muhammad ibn Harun
- Author died
- 353 AH
- Editions
- Dār al-Ma’mūn lil-Turāth
Sifat al-Nabi (The Description of the Prophet), also known by its fuller title Dhikr Sifat al-Nabi wa-Sifat Akhlaqihi wa-Siratihi wa-Adabihi wa-Khafd Janahihi (Mention of the Prophet's Description, Moral Character, Conduct, Manners, and Humility), is a hadith monograph (juz') compiled by the Damascene hadith scholar Muhammad ibn Harun ibn Shu'ayb (266–353 AH / 880–964 CE) . The work gathers traditional reports documenting the physical features, personal demeanor, and daily habits of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ .
Contents and Structure
The treatise is structured around a sequence of fully transmitted (musnad) hadiths detailing the bodily appearance, speech, comportment, and ethics of the Prophet ﷺ :
- The narration of Hind ibn Abi Hala: Transmitted through Al-Hasan ibn Ali, this account forms the core opening of the book, covering the Prophet's physical appearance, speech, division of his private and public time at home, manner of entering and departing gatherings, behavior among his companions, and his periods of deliberate silence (sukut) .
- Narrations from Ali ibn Abi Talib: Transmitted via Ibrahim ibn Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah and Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah, these reports provide further descriptions of the Prophet's build, walking posture, and the Seal of Prophethood between his shoulders .
- A narration from Abu Hurayra: A brief physical description transmitted through Abu Salama and al-Zuhri .
- The narration of Abdullah ibn Umar: Recounts a dialogue in which Jewish interlocutors inquired of Abu Bakr and Ali about the Prophet's physical features, possessions, beasts of burden, and personal humility .
- The account of Umm Ma'bad: The concluding section details the migration (hijra) encounter at the tents of Umm Ma'bad al-Khuza'iyyah, including her renowned description of the Prophet's appearance and speech to her husband, followed by the verses of an unseen caller (hatif) in Mecca and the poetic reply attributed to Hassan ibn Thabit .
Transmission and Publication
The work was preserved within the Damascene tradition of hadith transmission through a chain passing from Muhammad ibn Harun ibn Shu'ayb to Abu Muhammad Abd al-Rahman ibn Uthman ibn Abi Nasr, down to the Asadi family in Damascus . It was also compiled by the Hanbali traditionist Diya' al-Din al-Maqdisi (d. 643 AH / 1245 CE) among selected hadith parts in his Muntaqa .
A manuscript of the treatise is held at the Al-Zahiriyyah Library in Damascus (no. 3778, majmu' 41, fols. 183–188), bearing an audition note (sama') dated 656 AH . The text was edited and commented upon by Ahmad al-Bizrah and published in a single slim volume by Dar al-Ma'mun li-al-Turath in Damascus (2nd edition, 1423 AH / 2003 CE) .
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