Description

LINEAGE

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was born in Mecca (Makkah), Saudi Arabia, on 12 Rabi’ Al-Awal (2 August A.D. 570). His mother, Aminah (RA), was the daughter of Wahb Ibn ‘Abdu Manaf of the Zahrah family. His father, Abdullah (RA), was the son of Abdul Muttalib (RA). His genealogy has been traced to the noble house of Ishmael (AS), the son of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) of about the fortieth descent. Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) father died before his birth.

 

CHILDHOOD

Before he was six years old his mother died, and the doubly orphaned Muhammad (SAW) was put under the charge of his grandfather Abdul Muttalib who took tender care of him. But the old chief died two years afterward. On his deathbed, he confided to his son Abu Talib the charge of the little orphan.

When Muhammad (SAW) was twelve years old, he accompanied his uncle Abu Talib on a mercantile journey to Syria, and they proceeded as far as Busra. The journey lasted for some months. It was at Busra that the Christian monk Bahira met Muhammad (SAW). He is related to have said to Abu Talib: “Return with this boy and guard him against the hatred of the Jews, for a great career awaits your nephew.”

 

MARRIAGE

When Muhammad (SAW) was twenty-five years old, he traveled once more to Syria as the factor of a noble and rich Quraishi widow named Khadijah (RA); and, having proved himself faithful in the commercial interests of that lady, he was soon rewarded with her hand in marriage. This marriage proved fortunate and singularly happy. Khadijah (RA) was much the senior of her husband, but despite the disparity of age between them, tenderness and devotion on both sides existed.

 

MOUNT HIRA

For years after his marriage, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) had been accustomed to secluding himself in a cave in Mount Hira, a few miles from Mecca. To this cave, he used to go for prayer and meditation, sometimes alone and sometimes with his family. There, he often spent whole nights in deep thought and profound communion with the Unseen yet All-Knowing Allah. It was during one of those retirements and in the still hours of the night, when no human sympathy was near, that an angel came to him to tell him that he was the Messenger of Allah sent to reclaim a fallen people to the knowledge and service of their Lord. This is the first revelation received by the Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) would seclude himself in the cave of Mount Hira and worship for three days and nights. He would, whenever he wished, return to his family at Mecca and then go back again, taking with him the necessities of life. Thus, he continued to return to Khadijah (RA) from time to time until one day the revelation came down to him and the Angel Jibreel appeared to him and said: “Read!” But as Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was illiterate, having never received any instruction in reading or writing, he said to the angel: “I am not a reader.” The angel took hold of him and squeezed him as much as he could bear, and then said again: “Read!” The Prophet said: “I am not a reader.” The Angel again seized the Prophet and squeezed him and said: “Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists), has created man from something that clings. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous, Who has taught (the writing) by the pen, has taught man that which he knew not.” (Quran Ayah 96:1-5).

 

MISSION

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) engaged himself in the work to which he was called. Khadijah (RA) was the first to accept his mission. She was to believe in the revelations, to abandon the idolatry of her people, and to join him in the purity of heart and in offering up prayers to Allah the Almighty. At the beginning of his mission, Muhammad (SAW) – hereinafter called the Prophet – opened his soul only to those who were attached to him and tried to free them from the gross practices of their forefathers. After Khadijah (RA), his cousin Hazrat Ali (RA) was his next companion. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) used often to go into the desert around Mecca with his wife and young cousin so that they might together offer their heartfelt thanks to the Lord of all nations for His manifold blessings.

At this time Hamza, the youngest son of Abdul Muttalib (RA), adopted Islam. Hamza was a man of distinguished bravery, an intrepid warrior, generous and true. He became a devoted adherent of Islam and eventually lost his life in the cause.

The Prophet continued preaching to the Arabs in a most gentle and reasonable manner. He called the people, so accustomed to iniquity and wrongdoings, to abandon their abominations. In burning words that excited the hearts of his hearers, he warned them of the punishment which Allah had inflicted upon the ancient tribes of ‘Ad and Thamud who had obstinately disobeyed the teachings of Allah’s messengers to them.

While the followers of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) sought safety in foreign lands against the persecution of their people, he continued his warnings to the Quraish more strenuously than ever. Again, they came to him with offers of riches and honor, which he firmly refused. But they mocked him and urged him for miracles to prove his mission. He used to answer: “Allah has not sent me to work wonders; He has sent me to preach to you.”

 

JOURNEY TO MIRAJ

In the twelfth year of his mission, the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) made his night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem, and then to heaven. His journey, known in history as Miraj (Ascension), was a real bodily one and not only a vision. It was at this time that Allah ordered the Muslims to pray the five daily prayers. The Buraq, a white animal that was smaller than a mule and bigger than a donkey was brought by the Angel Jibreel to travel to each heaven.

Reaching the first heaven, Muhammad (S.A.W) saw Adam (AS) and paid to greet to him. Then reaching the second heaven, Muhammad (S.A.W) saw Yahya (AS) and Isa (AS), who were cousins of each other, and paid his greeting to both of them. Over the third heaven, there was Yusuf (AS) and on the fourth the was Idris (AS). The fifth heaven was Haroon (AS), the sixth was Moussa (AS) and the seventh was Ibrahim (AS).

Then Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was made to ascend to Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (i.e., the Lote Tree of the utmost boundary). Behold! Its fruits were like the jars of Hajr (i.e., a place near Medina) and its leaves were as big as the ears of elephants. Angel Jibreel said: ‘This is the Lote Tree of the utmost boundary.’ Behold! There ran four rivers; two were hidden and two were visible, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) asked: ‘What are these two kinds of rivers, O Jibreel. He replied: ‘As for the hidden rivers, they are two rivers in Paradise and the visible rivers are the Nile and the Euphrates.’

Prophet Muhammad (SAW); “Then Al-Bait-ul-Mamur (i.e., the Sacred House) was shown to me and a container full of wine and another full of milk and a third full of honey were brought to me. I took the milk.”  Angel Jibreel remarked: ‘This is the Islamic religion which you and your followers are following.’

“Then the prayers were enjoined on me: they were fifty prayers a day. When I returned, I passed by Moussa (RA), who asked (me): ‘What have you been ordered to do?’ I replied: ‘I have been ordered to offer fifty prayers a day.’ Moussa (RA) said: ‘Your followers cannot bear fifty prayers a day, and by Allah, I have tested people before you, and I have tried my level best with Bani Israel (in vain). Go back to your Lord and ask for reduction to lessen your followers’ burden.’ So, I went back, and Allah kept on reducing till it came to five prayers a day.’’ After that, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) kept on preaching Islam, the five prayers, and stopping idolatry.

 

LAST DAYS

Before completing all rites of the pilgrimage, he addressed the assembled multitude from the top of Mount Arafat. The Prophet concluded his sermon by exclaiming: “0 Lord, I have fulfilled my message and accomplished my work.” The assembled multitude, all in one voice, cried: “Yea, verily you have.” The Prophet (SAW) again exclaimed: “0 Lord, I beseech You, bear witness to it.”

The health of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) grew worse. His last days were remarkable for the calmness and serenity of his mind. He was able, though weak and feeble, to lead the public prayers until within three days of his death. Then the Prophet died while laying his head on the bosom of Aisha (RA). Al-Abbas (AS), the Prophet’s uncle, presided at the preparation for the burial, and the body was duly washed and perfumed.

There was some dispute between the Quraish and the Ansars as to the place of burial; however, Abu Bakr (AS) settled the dispute by affirming that he had heard the Prophet say that a prophet should be buried at the very spot where he died. A grave was accordingly dug in the ground within the house of Aisha and under the bed on which the Prophet died. In this grave, the body was buried, and the usual rites were performed by those who were present.