His walk and bearing ﷺ

His noble gait ﷺ

Hind ibn Abi Halah, describing his walk ﷺ, said: "When he moved off he moved off decisively, he took steps with a slight forward inclination, and walked with composure; his stride was long and wide — when he walked it was as if he were descending in a steady flow, and when he turned, everyone turned with him." And ʿAlī رضي الله عنه said: "When he walked he stepped confidently and resolutely, as if descending from a torrent." And Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه said: "I never saw anyone quicker in his walk than the Messenger of Allah ﷺ — as if the earth were folded up for him; we would exhaust ourselves while he remained unconcerned." — narrated by al-Tirmidhī in ash-Shama'il.

  • As if descending from a torrent — the gait of a confident, strong, imposing man
  • He steps takaffiyan — inclining slightly forward in confidence and dignity
  • Long-striding — taking wide, swift steps
  • He walks calmly — with serenity and dignity without arrogance
  • "The earth is folded up for him" — statement of Abū Hurayrah in al-Tirmidhī
  • When he turned, everyone turned with him — he did not turn only his face apart from his body

His bearing ﷺ in sitting and standing

When he ﷺ sat in his gathering he most often sat cross-legged, and sometimes rested on his hands. When he sat with his companions no distinction was made between him and them; a stranger would not recognize him until he asked. When he rose from his place he would say: "Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You; I bear witness that there is no deity but You; I ask Your forgiveness and repent to You." He was hardly ever seen sitting with his legs outstretched except rarely.

  • He most often sat cross-legged — and might rest on his hands
  • No distinction was made in his gathering between him and his companions — a stranger would not recognize him
  • He would say upon rising from the gathering: "Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You"
  • He would give his full attention to the person sitting with him — he did not make him feel neglected