The beauty of the Beloved of Allah ﷺ

The people of knowledge have mentioned the difference between saba’hat* and mala’hat*. Saba’hat was given to Prophet Yusuf alayhi salaam and Mala’hat is (one of the) attributes of  our Master, the Beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The Noble Prophet ﷺ said:

 

 

Within me is mala’hat and my brother (Sayyiduna Yusuf alayhi salaam) has been given saba’hat.

 

 

*Saba’hat means a type of beauty that a person is unable to look at, as when the women of egypt looked upon Sayyiduna Yusuf alayhi salaam they cut their fingers instead of the lemons as mentioned in the Qur’an:

 

 

So when she heard of their scheming, she sent for them and prepared for them a banquet and gave each one of them a knife and said [to Joseph], “Come out before them.” And when they saw him, they greatly admired him and cut their hands and said, “Perfect is Allah! This is not a man; this is none but a noble angel.” -Qur’an 12:31

 

*Mala’hat refers to that beauty which one who witnesses it, is mesmerised by it and is awestruck as is mentioned by Sayyiduna Ali b. Abi Talib alayhimus salaam:

 

 

‘If someone saw Him ﷺ unexpectedly, he was awestruck by Him ﷺ‘ as mentioned in the Sham’ail al Muhammadiyya by Imam Tirmidhi radiAllahu anhu.

 

Allah Ta’ala and His Beloved Messenger ﷺ know best.