The Prophet Described

The Prophet Described is an Islamic picture book for children aged 4 to 9 in which a mother describes the appearance and character of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to her son, until he guesses who she means.

"One day you'll meet a special man," the mother tells her son. He asks her to describe him, and each time she does, he asks for more. She tells him of a face more beautiful than the full moon, a scent finer than musk, and hands softer than silk that would not let go of yours first. She describes his height, his hair, his eyes and the seal of prophethood between his shoulders, and then his patience, his courage, and the dua he saved for his followers on the Day of Judgement. At last, the boy knows: it can only be Muhammad ﷺ, the Messenger of Allah.

Told in flowing rhyme as a conversation between mother and son, the book weaves together the classical descriptions of the Prophet ﷺ from those who knew him. It helps children picture him through words, not pictures, and grow in love for him. It ends by looking ahead to meeting him at his pond, the subject of its companion book, The Prophet's Pond.

The book closes with the hadith that those nearest to the Prophet ﷺ on the Day of Resurrection will be those who send the most blessings on him. Its subtitle is My First Meeting with Muhammad ﷺ. It is written by Zaheer Khatri and illustrated by the Learning Roots Design Studio, and it is music-free.

A special man

"My son," said his mummy one day, "one day you will meet a special man, the best soul you will ever see. The more you get to know him, the greater your love will be."

"Masha'Allah," said the boy. "Please describe him to me. Tell me all about him, so I can guess who he could be."

His face and his kindness

He was the most handsome man, said Mummy, more beautiful than the full moon. You would treasure every moment with him and wish your meeting would come soon. You would see him with a smiling face, cheerful and bright, speaking words of peace and filling your life with light.

"Amazing," said the boy. "Please describe him more to me."

His smell was sweet, even from his sweat: a scent finer than musk, which greeted you long before you met. When you spoke to him, his time was all yours. He would turn to face you fully and make you feel so happy.

He would give you his hand to shake so that the love between you would grow, and he would keep hold of it until you let go. His palms were softer than silk. He understood all your feelings, and he cared for you with all his attention.

Every word he said was like treasure. Each one was full of wisdom and spoken clearly, so that you would understand. He saw the blessings around him and never looked for things to complain about.

How he looked

"How positive that man must be," said the boy. "Please keep going."

He was neither tall nor short, said Mummy, but a little more than medium height. His colour was neither dark nor light, and his skin glowed bright. His hair was neither curly nor straight, but flowed to his shoulders in waves, and it stayed rich and black for most of his days.

His eyelashes were long, below fine eyebrows, and his eyes had a powerful look, with dark pupils that rarely stared. His mouth was wide and his teeth were bright, with a tiny gap between them from which a light seemed to glow. His nose had a gentle bridge, and his beard was full. His arms and legs were strong, and his hands and feet were smooth.

He walked softly and with grace, but with quick steps, as if he were walking downhill, and you could barely keep up with him. Between his wide shoulders was a seal, a mark of raised skin and hair: the sign that he was a prophet.

His heart

"How blessed that man must be," said the boy. "I don't want this to end."

He was patient, said Mummy, with a strong trust in his Lord, and he healed so many hearts. He was braver than a hero, and he feared no one but Allah. If you were ever missing, he would notice and ask about you. Every messenger has used up his special prayer, but he kept his dua for you, to comfort you on a day of fear.

"Subhan'Allah," said the boy. "I wish to be with him."

There has never been anyone like him, before him or after him, said Mummy. Allah chose him. He had the best of manners and every good quality, and Allah sent him as a mercy to all.

Who could he be?

"I could describe him so much more," said Mummy. "But can you guess who he is?"

"There is only one man whose beauty reaches so far," said the boy. "He must be Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, the Messenger of Allah. We'll do our best to follow his wonderful way. But where will we find him, Mummy? It will be so crowded on that day."

"We'll find him by a special pond," said Mummy. "Together we'll learn about it. But that will be for another time."

• Jami at-Tirmidhi 484: The people nearest to me on the Day of Resurrection will be those who send the most blessings on me.
• Sahih al-Bukhari 6304: Every prophet has a dua that is answered, and I want to keep my dua as intercession for my ummah in the Hereafter.