Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Hasan. Hasan hadiths are considered good and acceptable in hadith classification.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Jami` at-Tirmidhi, which contains 4,053 hadiths across 49 books. It is hadith number 3738 in the Book of Chapters on Virtues.

I searched for a different number — is this the right hadith?

Hadith numbering varies across editions and translations (USC-MSA, Dar as-Salam, Fath al-Bari, and others). If you followed a link citing a different number but landed here, you may have been redirected to the canonical version in our library. If you were looking for a different hadith entirely, use the search bar to find it by text.

‹

#3737

#3738

Jami` at-Tirmidhi

#3739

›

Jami` at-Tirmidhi #3738

Q: What is Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3738 about?

This hadith from Jami` at-Tirmidhi (Book of Chapters on Virtues), narrated by Narrated Jabir bin Samurah:, states: ""The two shins of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) were thin, and he would not laugh except as a smile, and whenever I looked at him I would say: "He put kohl on his eyes,' but he (ﷺ) did not use kohl.""

Chapters on Virtues

Hasan

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مَنِيعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبَّادُ بْنُ الْعَوَّامِ، أَخْبَرَنَا الْحَجَّاجُ، هُوَ ابْنُ أَرْطَاةَ عَنْ سِمَاكِ بْنِ حَرْبٍ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ، قَالَ كَانَ فِي سَاقَىْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حُمُوشَةٌ وَكَانَ لاَ يَضْحَكُ إِلاَّ تَبَسُّمًا وَكُنْتُ إِذَا نَظَرْتُ إِلَيْهِ قُلْتُ أَكْحَلَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ وَلَيْسَ بِأَكْحَلَ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ غَرِيبٌ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ ‏.‏

"The two shins of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) were thin, and he would not laugh except as a smile, and whenever I looked at him I would say: "He put kohl on his eyes,' but he (ﷺ) did not use kohl."

Narrated by Narrated Jabir bin Samurah:

Context

This hadith describes the physical attributes and demeanor of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), noting his modesty and gentle nature. It illustrates how he interacted with others, often smiling rather than laughing, which reflects his composed character.

Modern Application

In everyday interactions, adopting a gentle and approachable demeanor can foster positive relationships. Emulating the Prophet's (ﷺ) example can create an atmosphere of kindness and respect in social settings.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Prophetic Conduct and Prophetic Example because it provides insights into the Prophet's (ﷺ) behavior and how he presented himself to others.

Prophetic Conduct Prophetic Example