1.) PERFECTION

لا يمكن الثناء كما كان حقه  بعد از خدا بزرگ توئی قصہ مختصر

Praising you  as is your right is not possible. In short, after Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo you are the greatest.

There is unanimity that the portion of earth joined to the blessed body of Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam is more virtuous than the Ka’bah; in fact many scholars are of the opinion that this portion is greater than the Arsh (Divine Throne) and Kursi (Divine Chair). (Irshaadus Saari vol. 2 page 245)

Moulana Qaasim Naanotwi Rahmatullaahi Alayh has stated that all perfections in the world are combined at one time in the Being of Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam.

جہاں کے سارے کمالات ایک آپ میں ہیں    ترے کمال کسی میں نہیں مگر دو چار

All the perfections of the universe are found alone in you. Your perfections are not found in any other person, except for
a few qualities.

Abu Hurayrah RadhiAllaahu Anhu  narrates that Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said, “I will be the leader of the children of Adam on the Day of Judgement, the first person for whom the grave will split open, the first person to intercede, and the first person whose intercession will be accepted.”
(Muslim no. 2278)

Abu Hurayrah RadhiAllaahu Anhu  narrates that Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said, “I have been granted virtue over the Ambiyaa Alayhimus Salaam by six qualities: I have been granted concise speech; I have been assisted by awe; booty has been made permissible for me; the earth has been made a place of worship and purity; I have been sent to all of creation; and the chain of the Ambiyaa has terminated with me.” (Muslim no. 523)

Hassaan ibn Thaabit RadhiAllaahu Anhu  praising the high status of Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam stated that the one praising Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam or criticizing him will not cause any difference in his rank.

فَمَنْ يَهْجُو رَسُولَ اللهِ مِنْكُمْ وَيَمْدَحُهُ وَيَنْصُرُهُ سَوَاءُ

Whoever derides the Messenger of Allaah from amongst you, or praises him and helps him, it is all the same.

(Muslim no 2490)

2.) BEAUTY

The beauty of Yusuf Alayhis Salaam is famous, however the reality is that the beauty of Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam is far greater.

A doubt may be raised here that we find the women becoming infatuated with Yusuf Alayhis Salaam, whereas this was not found with Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam. Scholars have given different reasons:

1.) Shah Waliyullah Rahmatullaahi Alayh says that he asked Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam in a dream about this. He  replied, “My beauty is hidden. If it had become exposed, then people would have done far more than what was done with Yusuf Alayhis Salaam.” (Ad-Durruth Thamin fi Mubasharaatin Nabiyyil Ameen of Shah Waliyullah Dehlawi page 161)

2.) Beauty is of two types: One type is such that the onlooker immediately becomes enamoured. However as time passes on, and there is association, the effect of this beauty decreases. Thus, those women whose gaze fell suddenly on Yusuf Alayhis Salaam cut their hands. However Zulaikha did not cut her hand, as she had become accustomed to seeing him, since he was always associating with her.

The second type of beauty is such that the onlooker does not immediately perceive it. As one’s association and companionship increases, the beauty becomes more and more manifest.

يزيدك وجهه حسنا اذا ما زدته نظرا

The more I look at you, the more you increase
in beauty

Together with Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam’s beauty, there remained a sense of awe over him. Therefore, a person could not directly look at his blessed face. His beauty was therefore not immediately manifest. As a person associated more with him  and the awe became less, the beauty of Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam would become more apparent. Ali RadhiAllaahu Anhu  therefore remarked,

مَنْ رَآهُ بَدِيهَةً هَابَهُ، وَمَنْ خَالَطَهُ مَعْرِفَةً أَحَبَّهُ، يَقُولُ نَاعِتُهُ‏‏ لَمْ أَرَ قَبْلَهُ، وَلا بَعْدَهُ مِثْلَهُ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏.‏

Any person who saw him suddenly would become awe inspired. Anyone who came in close contact with him and knew his excellent character was smitten with the love of his excellent attributes. Anyone who described his noble features can only say, "I have not seen anyone like Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam neither before nor after him."

(Shamaail Tirmidhi no. 7)

Hassaan ibn Thaabit RadhiAllaahu Anhu , the poet of Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam has so beautifully stated,

وأحْسَنَ مِنْكَ لَمْ تَرَ قَطُّ عَيْنِيْ وأجْمَلَ مِنْكَ لَمْ تَلِدِ النِّسَاءُ

خُلِقْتَ مُبَرَّأً مِّنْ كُلِّ عَيْبٍ كَأَنَّكَ قَدْ خُلِقْتَ كَمَا تَشَاءُ

My eye has ever seen anyone more beautiful than you. No woman has given birth to someone more handsome than you. You have been created free from every fault as though you have been created as you wished.  (Diwaan of Hassaan ibn Thaabit page 10 Daar Saadir Beirut)

ياَ صَاحِبَ الجَمالِ وَ ياَ سَيِّدَ الْبَشَر                     مِن وَجْهِكَ الْمُنِيرِ لَقَدْ نُوِّرَ القَمَرُ

لا يُمْكِنُ الثَّناءُ كَمَا كَانَ حَقُّه                          بعد از خدا بزرگ تو ہی قصہ مختصر

O the possessor of beauty, the Leader of man, from your enlightened face, the moon has been given light

It is not possible to praise you as is your due right

In short, after Allaah, you are the greatest.

Jaabir ibn Samurah RadhiAllaahu Anhu  narrates, “I saw Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam on a clear night, so I looked at Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam and at the moon, and he was wearing a red outfit, and he looked better than the moon to me." (Tirmidhi no. 2811)

Abdullah ibn Ka`b RadhiAllaahu Anhu narrated,
“I heard Ka`b ibn Malik talking after his failure to join (the Battle of) Tabuk.
He said, ‘When I greeted Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam, his face was glittering with happiness, for whenever Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam was happy, his face used to glitter, as if it was a piece of the moon, and we used to recognize it (i.e. his happiness) from his face.’” (Bukhaari no. 3556)

Abu Ishaaq narrates,
“Baraa RadhiAllaahu Anhu was asked, ‘Was the face of Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam (as bright) as a sword?’
He replied, ‘No, but (as bright) as a moon.’” (Bukhaari no. 3552)

Anas RadhiAllaahu Anhu reported that Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam had a very fair complexion and (the drops) of his perspiration shone like pearls, and when he walked he walked inclining forward, and I never touched brocade and silk (and found it) as soft as the softness of the palm of Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam and I never smelt musk or ambergris and found its fragrance as sweet as the fragrance of Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam.
(Muslim 2330)

Urwah ibn Zubair Rahmatullaahi Alayh says, “I never saw any person more knowledgeable than Aaishah RadhiAllaahu Anha in understanding the meaning of the Quraan, in rulings of inheritance, permissible and impermissible, Arab poetry, and genealogy.

Amongst her poems is the following one in which she praises Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam,

فلو سمعوا فى مصر أوصاف خدّه ... لما بذلوا فى سوم يوسف من نقد

لوامى زليخا لو رأين جبينه ... لآثرن بالقطع القلوب على الايدى

If those in Egypt had to hear of the qualities of his cheeks, they would not have spent any money to buy Yusuf Alayhis Salaam.

If the women who reproached Zulaikha had to see his  forehead, they would have cut their hearts instead of their hands. (Taarikhul-Khamees vol. 1 page 358)

Doubt: It is possible that this doubt may arise that when people saw Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam, then no one cut their hearts, let alone their hands.

Answer: This doubt can only be found in the person who is unaware of the amazing feats of the Sahaabah RadhiAllaahu Anhum who were prepared to sacrifice their lives for Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam. These incidents are so many that it is not possible to enumerate them here. It is not strange for a young woman to fall in love with a handsome lad. This normally happens in the world. Truly amazing is that men, women, old people, young people, and even animals were prepared to sacrifice their lives for Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam. Plants and even inanimate objects manifested their love.

In the farewell Hajj, Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam slaughtered one hundred camels, 63 with his own blessed hands, with Ali RadhiAllaahu Anhu  doing the remainder. (Muslim no.1218)

To slaughter these animals, one leg was tied, and the animals were made to stand in a row. When Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam raised his spear to slaughter the animals, the animals went forward, trying to outdo one another in being slaughtered first. (Abu Dawood no. 1765, Mustadrak Haakim no. 7522)

The incident of the pillar of Hanaanah is famous.

Jaabir ibn Abdullah RadhiAllaahu Anhu narrated that Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam used to stand by a tree or a date-palm on Friday.
Then an Ansari woman or man said, “O Allaah's Messenger ! Shall we make a pulpit for you?”
He  replied, “If you wish.”
So they made a pulpit for him and when it was Friday, he proceeded towards the pulpit (for delivering the sermon). The date palm cried like a child.
Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam descended (the pulpit) and embraced it while it continued moaning like a child being quietened.
Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said, “It was crying for (missing) what it used to hear of religious knowledge given near to it.”  
(Bukhaari no. 3584)

To Be Continued

مَوْلَاىَ صَلِّ وَ سَلِّمْ دَائِمًا أَبَداً  عَلىٰ حَبِيْبِكَ خَيْرِ الْخَلْقِ كُلِّهِمِ