To know the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is not merely to know the dates and events of his life. It is to know the Messenger whom Allah chose to convey His final revelation, to recognise the qualities with which Allah honoured him, and to understand the unique rank he holds among the Messengers.
This is one of the great benefits of studying the khaṣāʾiṣ of the Prophet ﷺ: the virtues, qualities and distinctions that Allah granted specifically to him.
The great scholar ʿIzz al-Dīn ibn ʿAbd al-Salām gathered many of these distinguishing qualities in his concise work:
Bidāyat al-Sūl fī Tafḍīl al-Rasūl ﷺ
The Beginning of the Quest Concerning the Excellence of the Messenger ﷺ
The purpose of studying such a work is not simply to produce a long list of the Prophet's ﷺ virtues. Knowing him should increase our faith, deepen our love for him, and ultimately make us more serious about following his Sunnah.
Allah says:
﴿قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ﴾
“Say: If you truly love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you.”
(Sūrat Āl ʿImrān 3:31)
Love, therefore, is not merely something claimed with the tongue or felt in the heart. Genuine love for the Messenger ﷺ should lead to learning his guidance and following his example.
For those wishing to study the life and teachings of the Prophet ﷺ in greater depth, the Madinah College Learning Portal contains an extensive collection of recorded Islamic courses, including dedicated courses in Seerah, Hadith and the Sunnah. (Madinah College Portal)
An explanation of Bidāyat al-Sūl fī Tafḍīl al-Rasūl ﷺ will also, in shāʾ Allāh, be published on the MCL Portal soon.
1. The Master of the Children of Adam
Among the first distinctions mentioned by Ibn ʿAbd al-Salām is the supreme rank Allah granted the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ among mankind.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«أَنَا سَيِّدُ وَلَدِ آدَمَ وَلَا فَخْرَ»
“I am the master of the children of Adam, and this is no boast.”
Ibn ʿAbd al-Salām explains that al-sayyid refers to one characterised by lofty qualities and sublime character.
Importantly, the Prophet ﷺ did not mention his rank in order to boast. He was informing his Ummah of something Allah had bestowed upon him.
The author explains that his superiority in the Hereafter corresponds to the extraordinary virtues and qualities with which he was characterised in this world.
His humility therefore does not diminish his rank, and his tremendous rank does not diminish his humility.
Both are part of knowing the Messenger ﷺ properly.
2. Allah Honoured His Messenger ﷺ
Bidāyat al-Sūl also draws attention to the unique ways in which Allah honoured His Prophet ﷺ.
Among them is the manner in which Allah addresses him in the Qur'an. Ibn ʿAbd al-Salām observes that Allah addresses him with noble descriptions such as “O Prophet” and “O Messenger.”
He also mentions the remarkable Qur'anic oath in which Allah says:
﴿لَعَمْرُكَ إِنَّهُمْ لَفِي سَكْرَتِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ﴾
“By your life! Indeed, they were wandering blindly in their intoxication.”
(Sūrat al-Ḥijr 15:72)
Ibn ʿAbd al-Salām points to this as an indication of the nobility and blessedness of the Prophet's ﷺ life.
And what a blessed life it was.
Through him, people learned who Allah is, how He should be worshipped, how to distinguish guidance from misguidance and how to prepare for the Hereafter.
More than fourteen centuries after his death, that guidance continues to transform people's lives.
3. His Extraordinary Concern for His Ummah
One of the most moving qualities discussed in Bidāyat al-Sūl is the Prophet's ﷺ concern for his Ummah.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ explained that every Prophet was granted a special supplication. Whereas the other Prophets used theirs, Muhammad ﷺ reserved his for his Ummah.
He ﷺ said:
«لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ دَعْوَةٌ مُسْتَجَابَةٌ، فَتَعَجَّلَ كُلُّ نَبِيٍّ دَعْوَتَهُ، وَإِنِّي اخْتَبَأْتُ دَعْوَتِي شَفَاعَةً لِأُمَّتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ»
“Every Prophet had an answered supplication, and every Prophet hastened to use his supplication. But I have reserved my supplication as intercession for my Ummah on the Day of Resurrection.”
Ibn ʿAbd al-Salām highlights this as an example of the Prophet ﷺ preferring his Ummah over himself.
His concern was therefore not restricted to the Companions who lived beside him.
It extended to believers whom he would never meet during his earthly life.
Studying this should make love for the Prophet ﷺ something personal. The Sunnah we inherit is the guidance of a Messenger who was deeply concerned about the salvation of his followers.
4. His Universal Mission
Another major distinction is the universality of his message.
Ibn ʿAbd al-Salām contrasts the missions of earlier Prophets, who were sent specifically to their peoples, with Muhammad ﷺ, whose mission extended to mankind and the jinn.
Allah says:
﴿وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا كَافَّةً لِّلنَّاسِ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ﴾
“We have sent you only to all of humanity as a bearer of good news and a warner, but most people do not know.”
(Sūrat Sabaʾ 34:28)
This universal mission also helps us understand the extraordinary continuing impact of his guidance.
Every generation that learns the prayer, teaches the Qur'an, spreads beneficial knowledge and calls others towards obedience to Allah is ultimately benefiting from the Message he ﷺ conveyed.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«مَنْ دَعَا إِلَى هُدًى كَانَ لَهُ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ مِثْلُ أُجُورِ مَنْ تَبِعَهُ، لَا يَنْقُصُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ أُجُورِهِمْ شَيْئًا»
“Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the rewards of those who follow him, without that diminishing their rewards in the slightest.”
Ibn ʿAbd al-Salām develops this into a remarkable observation: the righteous actions performed throughout the Ummah are connected to the Prophet's ﷺ original guidance.
His earthly life ended, but the fruits of his teaching continue.
5. The Qur'an: His Enduring Miracle
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was granted numerous miracles.
Bidāyat al-Sūl mentions the stone giving salām to him, the tree trunk yearning for him and water springing from between his fingers.
But one distinction towers above them in its continuing accessibility: the Qur'an remains.
Ibn ʿAbd al-Salām contrasts miracles that occurred and passed with the continuing miracle of the Qur'an, which remains until the Day of Judgement.
Allah says:
﴿إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ﴾
“Indeed, it is We who sent down the Reminder, and indeed We will preserve it.”
(Sūrat al-Ḥijr 15:9)
The preservation of his Book is itself subsequently listed by Ibn ʿAbd al-Salām among the Prophet's ﷺ distinctions.
Every generation therefore has access to the revelation recited and taught by the Messenger ﷺ.
6. His Rank on the Day of Resurrection
Many of the Prophet's ﷺ greatest distinctions will become fully apparent in the Hereafter.
Bidāyat al-Sūl mentions the Banner of Praise, his intercession, al-Wasīlah, al-Kawthar, the Ḥawḍ, and his precedence on the Day of Resurrection.
Allah says:
﴿إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ﴾
“Indeed, We have granted you al-Kawthar.”
(Sūrat al-Kawthar 108:1)
The man who lived with remarkable simplicity in this world will be granted extraordinary honour in the next.
He endured hunger, rejection, persecution, bereavement and enormous responsibility, yet remained devoted to Allah and merciful towards His creation.
His worldly humility and his Hereafter rank stand together as two dimensions of the same remarkable life.
7. A Mercy to the Worlds
Some of the Prophet's ﷺ distinctions also brought tremendous ease to his Ummah.
Among the examples given in Bidāyat al-Sūl is that the earth was made a place of prayer and its soil a means of purification.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«جُعِلَتْ لِيَ الْأَرْضُ مَسْجِدًا وَطَهُورًا»
“The earth was made for me a place of prostration and a means of purification.”
This is part of a much broader characteristic of his mission.
Allah says:
﴿وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ﴾
“We have not sent you except as a mercy to the worlds.”
(Sūrat al-Anbiyāʾ 21:107)
Ibn ʿAbd al-Salām explicitly includes his being sent as a mercy among the distinctions of the Prophet ﷺ.
Mercy was not simply something he taught.
It characterised his mission.
8. His Tremendous Character
Yet perhaps one of the most beautiful lessons of Bidāyat al-Sūl is that the greatness of the Prophet ﷺ was not only displayed through miracles and extraordinary events.
It appeared in the way he lived every day.
Allah says:
﴿وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ﴾
“And indeed, you are surely upon tremendous character.”
(Sūrat al-Qalam 68:4)
Ibn ʿAbd al-Salām pauses over the significance of Allah Himself describing the Prophet's ﷺ character as ʿaẓīm — tremendous.
He then gathers examples of that character: humility, patience, pardon, gratitude, beautiful companionship, concern for the Ummah, tenderness towards the believers, perseverance in conveying the Message and patience with the harm inflicted upon him.
His greatness could therefore be seen not only in extraordinary miracles but also in ordinary human interactions.
How he spoke.
How he forgave.
How he worshipped.
How he treated his family.
How he responded to hardship.
How he taught.
How he led.
And how he remained a servant of Allah throughout it all.
Knowing the Prophet ﷺ Should Lead to Following Him
The purpose of studying the virtues of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is not simply to know more facts about him.
Knowledge should produce love.
Love should produce following.
And following should transform our worship and character.
Allah says:
﴿لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا﴾
“Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example for whoever hopes in Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah often.”
(Sūrat al-Aḥzāb 33:21)
This is ultimately where Bidāyat al-Sūl leads its reader. Ibn ʿAbd al-Salām concludes the work by turning from descriptions of the Prophet's ﷺ virtues to a supplication that Allah grant us success in following his Sunnah, his way, and his outward and inward character.
That is perhaps the most important lesson of the entire work.
We study his virtues so that we know him.
We know him so that we love him.
And we love him so that we follow him.
Continue Learning About the Prophet ﷺ
If this introduction has encouraged you to learn more about the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, continue your studies through the Madinah College Learning Portal.
The Portal contains a growing library of structured lessons across the Islamic sciences, including Seerah, Hadith and the Sunnah, which can be studied online at your own pace. (Madinah College Portal)
You can begin with:
- Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ — an 18-lesson course following the life of the Prophet ﷺ from the beginning of revelation through the Hijrah, major battles and conquest of Makkah. (Madinah College Portal)
- Concise Seerah of the Prophet ﷺ — a shorter study of the major events and lessons from his life. (Madinah College Portal)
- 10 Hadith from Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim — selected authentic narrations studied for their meanings and practical lessons. (Madinah College Portal)
- Jawāmiʿ al-Akhbār — a study of important Prophetic narrations, including the special gift of jawāmiʿ al-kalim: concise speech containing vast meanings. (Madinah College Portal)
- Browse all MCL Portal courses for further study in Hadith, Seerah, Aqeedah, Fiqh, Tafsir, Arabic and other Islamic sciences. (Madinah College Portal)
Coming Soon: Bidāyat al-Sūl fī Tafḍīl al-Rasūl ﷺ
A dedicated explanation of ʿIzz al-Dīn ibn ʿAbd al-Salām's Bidāyat al-Sūl fī Tafḍīl al-Rasūl ﷺ will also be published soon on the MCL Portal.
The course will provide an opportunity to study the Prophet's ﷺ distinguishing qualities in greater detail and understand how knowledge of his rank, virtues, mercy, character and guidance should strengthen our attachment to his Sunnah.
May Allah grant us beneficial knowledge, increase our love for His Messenger ﷺ, enable us to follow his Sunnah outwardly and inwardly, and gather us beneath his banner on the Day of Resurrection.
Āmīn.