The Virtues of the Messenger of Allah
Twenty sayings of Imam ‘Ali (peace be upon him) describing the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family)
The Great Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) and Amir al-Mu’minin ‘Ali (peace be upon him) are, as they themselves declared, a single light in creation. In the blessed month of Rabi’ al-Awwal — the month of the Prophet’s birth — it is fitting to hear him described by the one who stood closest to him of all.
What follows are twenty passages from the luminous words of Amir al-Mu’minin (peace be upon him) in description of the Noble Prophet, drawn from Nahj al-Balagha, Bihar al-Anwar of Allama Majlisi, and Makarim al-Akhlaq and Kitab al-Gharat. They move from his blessed countenance and character, to the raising of Amir al-Mu’minin in his care and the retreat of Hira, to the final farewell beside his pure body.
The Virtues of the Messenger of Allah in the Words of Amir al-Mu’minin
1. The Light of His Mission
Our master Amir al-Mu'minin (p), describing the excellences of the Great Prophet (p), said:
"Allah raised him up with a shining light, a manifest proof, a clear path, and a guiding Book."
Source: Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 161
2. The Proof and Guidance He Brought
Our master Amir al-Mu'minin (p), describing the excellences of the Great Prophet (p), said:
"He sent him with a sufficient proof, a healing admonition, and a call that redeems what was lost. Through him He made manifest the laws that had been unknown, uprooted the corrupt innovations that had crept in, and set forth the rulings that distinguish truth from falsehood."
Source: Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 161
3. “Take Him as Your Model”
Our master Amir al-Mu'minin (p), describing the excellences of the Great Prophet (p), said:
"So take as your model your Prophet, the most wholesome and the most pure (Allah bless him and his family); for in him is a pattern for whoever seeks a pattern, and a source of honour for whoever seeks honour. The most beloved of servants to Allah is the one who takes his Prophet as his model and follows closely in his footsteps."
Source: Makarim al-Akhlaq, vol. 1, p. 8; Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 160
4. A Prayer Upon the Chosen Prophet
Our master Amir al-Mu'minin (p), invoking blessings upon the Great Prophet (p), said:
"O Allah, send Your blessings upon Your chosen Prophet — the very eye of creation in his childhood, and the best of it in youth and in maturity; purest in nature among the purified, and most generous of all from whom the rain of bounty is sought."
Source: Misbah al-Za'ir, vol. 1, p. 51; Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 105
5. The Best of Families, the Best of Trees
Our master Amir al-Mu'minin (p), describing the excellences of the Great Prophet (p), said:
"His family is the best of families, and his tree the best of trees; its branches are finely balanced, and its fruits hang low within the reach of all."
Source: Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 161
6. Most Open-Handed, Noblest in Companionship
It is narrated from Amir al-Mu'minin Ali ibn Abi Talib (p) that he said:
"The Messenger of Allah (pbuh&hf) was the most open-handed of people, and the noblest of them in companionship; whoever mixed with him and came to know him, loved him."
Source: Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 16, p. 230 — quoting Makarim al-Akhlaq
7. “I Have Never Seen His Like”
In another narration, whenever Amir al-Mu'minin (p) described the Messenger of Allah (pbuh&hf), he would say:
"He was the most open-handed of people, the boldest of them in heart, the most truthful of them in speech, the most faithful of them to a covenant, the gentlest of them in temperament, and the noblest of them in companionship. Whoever saw him unexpectedly was struck with awe of him, and whoever mixed with him and came to know him, loved him. I have never seen his like, neither before him nor after him."
Source: Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 16, p. 231 — quoting Makarim al-Akhlaq
8. His Stature and His Hair
Ibrahim ibn Muhammad, of the descendants of Ali (p), narrated that whenever Amir al-Mu'minin (p) described the Prophet (pbuh&hf), he would say:
"He was neither conspicuously tall nor noticeably short; he was of middle stature among his people. His hair was neither tightly curled nor altogether straight — it fell in gentle waves."
Source: Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 16, p. 193 — quoting Kitab al-Gharat
9. His Blessed Countenance
Amir al-Mu'minin (p), describing the blessed countenance of the Great Prophet (p), said:
"He was neither heavy of build nor round of face; there was a gentle roundness in his countenance. Fair-skinned with a rosy tinge, deep black and wide of eye, long of lash, with broad shoulder-bones and a full upper back."
Source: Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 16, p. 193 — quoting Kitab al-Gharat
10. His Gait, and the Seal of Prophethood
Amir al-Mu'minin (p), describing the bearing and gait of the Great Prophet (p), said:
"When he walked he stepped firmly and with vigour, as though descending a slope; and when he turned, he turned with his whole body. Between his shoulders was the Seal of Prophethood — and he is the Seal of the Prophets."
Source: Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 16, p. 193 — quoting Kitab al-Gharat
11. His Simplicity at the Table
After recounting the qualities of the Great Prophet (p), Amir al-Mu'minin (p) said with longing and love:
"May my father be sacrificed for the one who never ate his fill of wheat bread three days in succession until he departed this world, and whose flour was never sifted."
Source: Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 16, p. 193 — quoting Kitab al-Gharat
12. Raised in His Arms from Childhood
In the Sermon of al-Qasi'a, our master Amir al-Mu'minin (p) recalls his upbringing in the care of the Great Prophet (p):
"You know well my standing with the Messenger of Allah (pbuh&hf) — the closeness of kinship and the special rank. He placed me in his lap when I was a small child, pressing me to his chest, sheltering me in his bed, letting me feel his body and breathe his fragrance. He would soften a morsel and then place it in my mouth. He never found a lie in my speech, nor a fault in my deed."
Source: Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 38, p. 320; Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 192 (al-Qasi'a)
13. Guided by the Greatest of Angels
Our master Amir al-Mu'minin (p), describing the divine nurturing of the Great Prophet (p), said:
"Indeed, from the time he was weaned, Allah joined to him the greatest of His angels, to lead him along the path of noble qualities and the finest character of the world, by night and by day."
Source: Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 38, p. 320; Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 192 (al-Qasi'a)
14. “As a Young Camel Follows Its Mother”
Our master Amir al-Mu'minin (p) tells of his constant companionship with the Great Prophet (p):
"I would follow him as a young camel follows the tracks of its mother. Each day he would raise up for me a banner of his character, and command me to follow it."
Source: Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 38, p. 320; Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 192 (al-Qasi'a)
15. The Solitude of Hira
Our master Amir al-Mu'minin (p) recalls the solitude of Islam's earliest days and the retreat of Hira:
"Every year he would withdraw to Hira, where I saw him and no one else saw him. In those days Islam had not gathered in a single household save that of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh&hf) and Khadija — and I was the third of them. I beheld the light of revelation and messengership, and I breathed the fragrance of prophethood."
Source: Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 38, p. 320; Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 192 (al-Qasi'a)
16. The Wailing of Satan at the Descent of Revelation
Our master Amir al-Mu'minin (p) relates the moment revelation descended upon the Great Prophet (p):
"Truly I heard the wail of Satan when the revelation came down upon him (pbuh&hf). I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, what is this wailing?' He said: 'This is Satan, who has despaired of being worshipped. You hear what I hear and you see what I see, except that you are not a prophet — rather you are a vizier, and you are indeed upon good.'"
Source: Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 38, pp. 320–321; Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 192 (al-Qasi'a)
17. His Household and His Justice
Our master Amir al-Mu'minin (p), describing the household and the way of the Great Prophet (p), said:
"His kindred are the best of kindred, his family the best of families, and his tree the best of trees. It took root in a sanctuary and rose tall in nobility; it has lofty branches and fruit beyond reach. He is the leader of every God-fearing soul and the insight of every guided one. His conduct is moderation, his way is right guidance, his speech is the decisive word, and his judgement is justice."
Source: Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 16, p. 379; Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 94
18. His Abode, His Speech, His Silence
Our master Amir al-Mu'minin (p), telling of the blessings brought by the Great Prophet (p), said:
«مُسْتَقَرُّهُ خَيْرُ مُسْتَقَرٍّ، وَ مَنْبِتُهُ أَشْرَفُ مَنْبِتٍ ؛ فِي مَعَادِنِ الْكَرَامَةِ وَ مَمَاهِدِ السَّلَامَةِ ؛ قَدْ صُرِفَتْ نَحْوَهُ أَفْئِدَةُ الْأَبْرَارِ، وَ ثُنِيَتْ إِلَيْهِ أَزِمَّةُ الْأَبْصَارِ ؛ دَفَنَ بِهِ الضَّغَائِنَ، وَ أَطْفَأَ بِهِ النَّوَائِرَ ؛ أَلَّفَ بِهِ إِخْوَاناً، وَ فَرَّقَ بِهِ أَقْرَاناً ؛ أَعَزَّ بِهِ الذِّلَّةَ، وَ أَذَلَّ بِهِ الْعِزَّةَ ؛ كَلَامُهُ بَيَانٌ، وَ صَمْتُهُ لِسَانٌ»
"His abode is the best of abodes and his origin the noblest of origins — among the mines of nobility and the cradles of safety. The hearts of the righteous have been turned toward him, and the reins of every gaze bent his way. Through him, God removed hatred and put out the fires of conflict; Through him, He brought people together as brothers and separated those who opposed the truth.; Through him, He gave honor to the humble and humbled the proud. His words were clear and meaningful, and even his silence spoke."
Source: Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 16, p. 379; Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 96
19. Chosen from the Tree of the Prophets
Our master Amir al-Mu'minin (p), telling of the chosenness of the Great Prophet (p), said:
"He chose him from the tree of the prophets, from the lamp-niche of light, from the loftiest summit of eminence, from the very heart of Batha, from the lamps that dispel darkness, and from the wellsprings of wisdom."
Source: Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 16, p. 381; Nahj al-Balagha
20. The Final Farewell
When Amir al-Mu'minin (p) had finished the washing of the pure body of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh&hf), he drew back the cloth from his blessed face and said:
«بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَ أُمِّي، طِبْتَ حَيّاً وَ طِبْتَ مَيِّتاً ؛ انْقَطَعَ بِمَوْتِكَ مَا لَمْ يَنْقَطِعْ بِمَوْتِ أَحَدٍ مِمَّنْ سِوَاكَ مِنَ النُّبُوَّةِ وَ الْإِنْبَاءِ ؛ خُصِّصْتَ حَتَّى صِرْتَ مُسَلِّياً عَمَّنْ سِوَاكَ، وَ عَمَّمْتَ حَتَّى صَارَ النَّاسُ فِيكَ سَوَاءً ؛ وَ لَوْ لَا أَنَّكَ أَمَرْتَ بِالصَّبْرِ وَ نَهَيْتَ عَنِ الْجَزَعِ لَأَنْفَدْنَا عَلَيْكَ الشُّئُونَ ؛ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَ أُمِّي، اذْكُرْنَا عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ وَ اجْعَلْنَا مِنْ هَمِّكَ»
"May my father and my mother be sacrificed for you. You were pure in life and pure in death. With your passing there was severed what the death of no one else has severed: prophethood and divine tidings. You were so singled out that you became a consolation for every other loss, and so universal that all people are equal in grieving you. Were it not that you yourself commanded patience and forbade despair, we would have exhausted the very wellsprings of our tears over you. May my father and my mother be sacrificed for you — remember us with your Lord, and keep us in your care."
Source: Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 22, p. 526
May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon Muhammad and his purified family, and may we be granted to walk in the light of his example.