Prophet Muhammad

When Muhammad was six years old, his mother Aminah took him to Yathrib (later called Medina) to visit his father's grave and meet his maternal relatives. On the return journey to Mecca, Aminah fell gravely ill at a place called Abwa and passed away, leaving young Muhammad completely orphaned. This was a profound moment of loss for the child, who had already lost his father before birth. Umm Ayman, the faithful servant who had cared for Muhammad since birth, brought him back to Mecca where his grandfather Abdul Muttalib, the chief of the Hashim clan, took him under his care. Abdul Muttalib loved Muhammad dearly and would often take him to sit beside him during clan meetings, recognizing something special about the child.

When Muhammad was eight years old, his beloved grandfather Abdul Muttalib passed away at the age of 82. On his deathbed, Abdul Muttalib called his sons and entrusted Muhammad to the care of Abu Talib, one of his sons, rather than Abbas who was wealthier. Abu Talib accepted this responsibility with honor and treated Muhammad as if he were his own son. Abu Talib was a respected merchant and leader of the Hashim clan. Despite not being the wealthiest among his uncles, Abu Talib provided Muhammad with love, protection, and guidance. He included Muhammad in family activities and business ventures, ensuring the young orphan felt valued and secure. This relationship would prove crucial throughout Muhammad's life, as Abu Talib would later protect him during the early years of his prophetic mission.

At the age of twelve, Muhammad accompanied his uncle Abu Talib on a trading caravan to Syria. This was his first major journey outside Arabia and an important part of his education in commerce and international relations. When the caravan stopped at Bosra, a town in southern Syria, they encountered a Christian monk named Bahira (also called Sergius) who lived in a monastery. Bahira had spent years studying ancient scriptures and was knowledgeable about the prophecies concerning the final messenger. When he saw Muhammad, he noticed certain physical signs and behavioral traits that matched the descriptions in his religious texts. Bahira invited the caravan for a meal - something he had never done before. He examined Muhammad closely and found the "seal of prophethood" between his shoulder blades. Concerned for the boy's safety, Bahira advised Abu Talib to take Muhammad back to Arabia quickly, warning him that if the Jews recognized these signs, they might harm the boy.

Muhammad had gained a reputation as "Al-Amin" (The Trustworthy) by the age of 25. His honesty and reliability in business dealings were well-known throughout Mecca. Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, a wealthy widow and successful merchant, had heard of Muhammad's reputation and hired him to manage her trading caravan to Syria. Upon his return, her servant Maysarah reported not only the exceptional profits Muhammad had secured but also some miraculous occurrences during the journey, including angels shading Muhammad from the sun. Impressed by his character, honesty, and the success of the venture, Khadijah proposed marriage to Muhammad through her friend Nafisa. Despite being 40 years old (15 years his senior) and Muhammad being 25, their marriage was based on mutual respect, love, and compatibility. Their marriage was blessed with children: four daughters (Zainab, Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthum, and Fatimah) and two sons (Qasim and Abdullah), though the sons died in infancy. Khadijah would later become the first person to believe in Muhammad's prophetic mission.

At the age of 40, Muhammad had developed a habit of retreating to the Cave of Hira on Mount Jabal an-Nour for meditation and reflection. During the month of Ramadan in 610 CE, while he was in deep contemplation about the state of society and spiritual matters, the Angel Gabriel (Jibril) appeared to him in his true form. The angel commanded him to "Read!" (Iqra!), but Muhammad replied that he could not read. Gabriel embraced him tightly three times, each time repeating the command, until the first verses of the Quran were revealed: "Read in the name of your Lord who created, created man from a clinging substance. Read, and your Lord is the most Generous, who taught by the pen, taught man that which he knew not." (Quran 96:1-5). This overwhelming experience left Muhammad trembling and confused. He rushed home to his wife Khadijah, asking her to cover him. After hearing his account, Khadijah reassured him and took him to her cousin Waraqah ibn Nawfal, a learned Christian scholar, who confirmed that Muhammad had encountered the same angel that had come to Moses.

After three years of private preaching to close family and friends, Muhammad received the divine command to "warn your nearest kinsmen" and then to proclaim the message publicly. He climbed Mount Safa in Mecca and called out to the various tribes: "O people of Quraysh! If I were to tell you that an army was advancing to attack you from behind this mountain, would you believe me?" They replied, "Yes, we have never heard you tell a lie." Muhammad then declared, "I am a warner to you before a severe punishment. Worship Allah alone and associate no partners with Him." This public declaration marked the beginning of open opposition from the Meccan elite, who saw Islam as a threat to their economic and social power structure based on idol worship and pilgrimage to the Kaaba. Despite facing ridicule, persecution, and social boycott, Muhammad continued his mission with unwavering determination. His followers, initially few in number, included people from various social backgrounds: slaves like Bilal ibn Rabah, nobles like Abu Bakr, and youth like Ali ibn Abi Talib.

As persecution of Muslims intensified in Mecca, Muhammad advised some of his followers to migrate to Abyssinia (modern-day Ethiopia), ruled by the just Christian king An-Najashi (Negus). This was the first hijra (migration) in Islamic history. About 80 Muslims, including Uthman ibn Affan and his wife Ruqayyah (Muhammad's daughter), made this journey. When the Meccan leaders sent emissaries to demand their return, the Muslim spokesperson, Jafar ibn Abi Talib, eloquently defended Islam before the king. He recited verses from the Quran about Jesus and Mary, which moved the Christian king to tears. An-Najashi refused to hand over the Muslims, granting them protection and freedom to practice their religion. This migration demonstrated Islam's universal message and the early Muslim community's resilience. It also established the principle that Muslims could seek refuge in non-Muslim lands when facing persecution, provided they could practice their faith freely.

After years of persecution in Mecca, Muhammad received an invitation from the tribes of Yathrib (later renamed Medina) to come and mediate their conflicts. In a carefully planned migration, Muhammad and Abu Bakr left Mecca secretly and hid in the cave of Thawr for three days to avoid capture by Meccan pursuers. According to Islamic tradition, Allah protected them when their pursuers came to the cave entrance but were turned away by a spider's web and a bird's nest that had formed there. After reaching Medina safely, Muhammad established the first Islamic state based on the Constitution of Medina, which granted rights and responsibilities to all inhabitants regardless of religion. This migration (Hijra) was so significant that it marks the beginning of the Islamic lunar calendar. In Medina, Muhammad built the first mosque, established regular prayers, and created a unified community (ummah) that transcended tribal loyalties. The Hijra represents not just a physical journey, but a spiritual transformation from persecution to freedom, from minority to leadership.

In the tenth year after Hijra, Muhammad performed his farewell pilgrimage (Hajjat al-Wada) to Mecca, accompanied by over 100,000 Muslims. This pilgrimage established the rituals of Hajj that Muslims follow to this day. On the 9th day of Dhul Hijjah, standing on Mount Arafat, Muhammad delivered his famous Farewell Sermon, which encapsulated the core principles of Islam. He declared: "All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over a white except by piety and good action." He emphasized the sanctity of life, property, and honor, the rights of women, the abolition of usury, and the importance of following the Quran and Sunnah. He asked the crowd three times if he had conveyed the message, and they responded enthusiastically that he had. This sermon served as his final guidance to the Muslim community and established principles of human rights, equality, and justice that were revolutionary for their time.

On Monday, the 12th of Rabi' al-Awwal, 632 CE (11 AH), Prophet Muhammad passed away in the house of his beloved wife Aisha in Medina. His final illness lasted about two weeks, during which he continued to lead prayers when possible and gave guidance to his companions. In his final days, he emphasized the importance of prayer, the treatment of slaves, and reminded his followers that he was only a messenger, not to be worshipped. His last words were reported to be "Rather, Allah on high and paradise." His death was a profound shock to the Muslim community. Abu Bakr, his closest companion, addressed the grieving Muslims with the famous words: "O people! If anyone among you worshipped Muhammad, then Muhammad is dead. But if anyone among you worshipped Allah, then Allah is alive and will never die." Muhammad was buried in the same room where he died, which later became part of the Prophet's Mosque in Medina. His death marked the end of prophethood, as he was the final messenger of Allah, but his teachings through the Quran and Sunnah continued to guide Muslims.