The life of the prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

The prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was born in the year 570 CE in the city of Makkah. His mother's name was Amina and his father, known as Abdullah, died before Muhammad (pbuh) was born. Muhammad (pbuh) means the 'Praised One'. It was the custom of the time for children to be brought up in the countryside where they would have fresh air and a healthy upbringing. Amina was a widow and had very little money, but she managed to give her baby son to a lady called 'Halima' who also had children of the same age as Muhammad (pbuh) . After three years Halima took Muhammad (pbuh) back to the city of Makkah. When he was six years old his mother took him on another journey to 'Yathrib' (now known as Madinah) to visit relatives; on her way back Amina fell ill and died, so now Muhammad (pbuh) was an orphan.

His grandfather 'Abdul - Mutalib' took care of him, he was quite old, and when he died Muhammad (pbuh) came under the care of his uncle 'Abu Talib'

Abu Talib was a businessman who used to trade with his merchandise between the cities of Makkah and Syria. Muhammad (pbuh) was a very gentle and shy child, he preferred to take care of the camels and was not attention-seeking. One day Abu Talib's caravan was making its way across the desert to the city of Basra. Here a monk called 'Bahira' who had studied the scriptures noticed a caravan approaching, and above it a solitary cloud hovered. Bahira watched the caravan as it drew closer and closer. Bahira became very curious and went to meet the merchants and ask them to come in and rest; during the meal he asked if all were grouped together, Abu Talib explained that his nephew was very young and was minding the sheep. Bahira asked for him and curiously questioned the child. He tested Muhammad (pbuh) by asking him to swear by the idol gods of Makkah which Muhammad (pbuh) refused, and he looked for a special mark between the shoulder blades of the child. Bahira turned to Abu Talib and told him to take Muhammad (pbuh) back to his country and to look after him well. The monk Bahira knew that Muhammad (pbuh) was a very special child.

Back in Makkah Muhammad (pbuh) grew up to be a trustworthy and kind man, all people, no matter what race or religion, trusted Muhammad (pbuh). This is how he was given the title 'Al-Amin' which means 'The Trustworthy One'. At the age of twenty-five he was asked to marry a wealthy widow called 'Khadija' who was forty years old. At this time the people of Makkah worshiped idols, and Muhammad (pbuh) found it very difficult to join in the worship and the celebrations at the fair. He often left the city and sat in a cave in mount 'Hira', praying in peace to the one God.

It was during the month of Ramadan when the prophet Muhammad (pbuh), now aged forty years, sat meditating in the cave of Hira, when he received the first revelation of the Qur'an from angel Jibrail (Gabriel). This night is known as 'Laylat - ul - Qadr' (The Night of Power). The revelation was to continue through the lifetime of the prophet until the completion of the Qur'an. The angel commanded him to "read", the prophet said that he could not read, again he was ordered, on the third attempt the angel said,

"Read in the name of thy Lord, who createth,
Createth man from a drop of blood.
Read: and thy Lord is Most Generous:
Who teacheth man the use of the pen,
And teacheth him that which he knew not before."

Muhammad (pbuh) repeated these words, rushed out of the cave and ran home to his wife, and wrapped himself in a blanket and shivered with fear. Khadija was very concerned and asked him what had happened. Her cousin 'Waraqa' was a wise and learned Christian, and Khadija took Muhammad (pbuh) to see him. After Muhammad (pbuh) had related his experience to Waraqa, he told her it meant that Muhammad (pbuh) was the prophet of their people and that this was good news, but he also warned Muhammad (pbuh).

"No man brings the message you bring without being opposed, they will call you a liar and will cast you out and fight against you. Truly if I live to see the day I will help you all I can."

Khadija was the first to convert to Islam followed by the prophets younger cousin Ali and then his close friend Abu Bakr. Over the years Muhammad (pbuh) and his followers faced persecution, although his uncle Abu Talib protected him for a long time, but he was getting old and soon died. This was a great danger for the prophet. Muhammad (pbuh) and his followers including Khadija were outcast into the desert for three years. They were totally cut off from Makkah and were driven to starvation. During this time his wife Khadija died, these were the bitterest years of Muhammad's (pbuh) life.

Hijra

Some Muslims had fled to 'Yathrib' (Madina) and some to 'Abyssinia' (Ethiopia), a group of men from Madinah came to see the prophet and asked him to come to Madinah and sort out the feuds they had between two communities. Muhammad (pbuh) agreed and made his long journey on a camel with his friend 'Abu Bakr'. This event, known as Hijra, marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar.

Before Muhammad (pbuh) left he had sent most of his companions ahead. Meanwhile the people of Makkah planned to kill him. One the night of his departure a group of Makkans went to murder Muhammad (pbuh), but when they came to his home they only find Ali, his younger cousin sleeping in his bed. They decided to go in search of them and kill them the next day.

By now Muhammad (pbuh) and Abu Bakr were far off into the desert, they rested in a cave during the midday heat. Whilst they slept a spider spun a web across the mouth of the cave and a two doves nested near the opening. During this time the Makkans came in search of Muhammad (pbuh), they had thought that he was in the cave, but one amongst them spoke up and said:

"If Muhammad (pbuh) was in there the web would be broken and these birds would not be nesting."

Once again Allah saved the life of Muhammad (pbuh) so that he could continue his journey safely to Madinah.

On reaching Madinah, Muhammad (pbuh) received a warm welcome from the people. He built the first mosque on a piece of land belonging to two orphans.

The Makkans were getting very angry at the way Muhammad (pbuh) had settled down and become a leader in his own right. So they started to provoke the Muslims which lead to the battles of Badr (won by the Muslims) and Uhud (Lost by Muslims) in which the prophet's favourite uncle Hamza was killed making him a 'Shaheed' (a martyr who dies in the cause of God).

Eventually, Islam spread throughout Madinah, the Arabian peninsula and beyond. Soon Muhammad (pbuh) left with a group of pilgrims to enter Makkah and to perform the first Hajj. Although this was denied to them they signed a treaty and on a year later Muhammad (pbuh) took Makkah peacefully with his army; his first duty was to clean the Kaabah from all the idols inside and then Bilal, the first Muezzin ( Man who calls the Adhan for prayer), called the followers of Islam to prayer.

Up to the age of sixty-three Muhammad (pbuh) set an example for Muslims to follow, his words and actions (Hadith) were a guidance in addition to the Qur'an. Before his death at the age of sixty-three Islam had spread throughout Arabia and most of Africa.