LIFE OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD (P.B.U.H) IN MECCA, FROM HIS BIRTH TO THE HIJRAH (MIGRATION)

Prepared by Imam Ameen Ahmed.

EVENTS leading up to the birth of MUHAMMAD

Abdul Mut’ta’lib married his youngest son, Abdullah to Aminah, the daughter of Wahhab, the chief of the Banu Zuhra clan. (Khan 1983: 49). Soon after the marriage Abdullah was called on a trading trip to al Sham. When he left, Aminah was pregnant. (Haykal 1983:46). While he was returning from his journey he fell ill at Yathrib (now Medina) and died there. Abdullah left behind his pregnant wife. (Khan 1983:49)

The Birth of Muhammad

Muhammad was born in Mecca. The exact date of his birth is disputed, but it is agreed to be around A.D. 570. (Khan 1983:63) Most ot them hold that it took place in "the Year of the Elephant" (Aamul-feel). Historians have also differed concerning the month of Muhammad’s birth although the majority of them agree that it was 12^th Rabi’ al Awwal. An overjoyed grandfather, Abdul Mut’ta’lib named him Muhammad , thus changing the practice of using the names of ancestors. (Haykal 1983:48)

Wet Nurses

Aminah awaited the arrival of the wet nurses from the tribe of Banu Sa’d, as was the practice of the nobles of Mecca. The infants of widows, such as Muhammad, were not attractive at all. Halimah Al Sa’diyyah, daughter of Abu Dhu’ayb, accepted Muhammad into her charge because she had found no other. She related that after she took him, she found all kinds of blessings. Her herd became fat and multiplied, and everything around her seemed to prosper. (Haykal 1983:49) In all baby Muhammad spent about six years with her among the Banu Sa’d, during which time he developed the purest dialect of Arabic.

Strange Happenings

A number of miraculous events have been mentioned in the histories, which took place during his stay with nurse Halimah. The miracle of the "Opening of the Chest" is very famous which happened around fourth year of his age. Once when he was playing, two angels in snow white dress came down from the heaven and opened his holy chest (Khan 1983:53) Others claim that Muhammad stood in no need of any such surgery as God had prepared him at birth for receiving the divine message. (Haykal 1983:51)

Sad Childhood

At the age of four Muhammad was taken by his mother to Medina to visit her relatives, but on her return journey she passed away at a village by the name of Al’Ab’waa. Her slave woman Um-Ayman took Muhammad back to Mecca, where he lived with his grandfather Abdul Mut’ta’lib. When Muhammad was ten years old his grandfather passed away and he then lived with his uncle Abu Taalib. This uncle was very fond of him and looked upon him as his own child.

Journey to Syria

At the age of twelve Muhammad went with his uncle Abu Talib on a journey to Syria\Shaam. In Syria, at a place called Bus’raa, Muhammad met a monk by the name of Buhay’raa, who noticed and observed certain signs of Prophethood in Muhammad. He told Muhammad’s uncle about it and urged him to take good care of Muhammad and to protect and guard him. (Fakier 1995:57)

The Trustworthy – ‘Al –Amin’

During his childhood Muhammad used to help his grandfather and uncle with their work and business, and he also worked as a shepherd for some of the Meccans. Muhammad was since his childhood very neat, tidy, serious, honest and upright. He never attended any school, therefore he is known as Al-Um’miy, which means a person who cannot read or write. Muhammad was always very honest and truthful, always kept his word, fulfilled his promise and was known amongst his people as Al-Ameen, the trustworthy. (Fakier 1995:57)

Marriage to Khadijah

Khadijah, was a tradeswoman of honor and great wealth and on the recommendation of Muhammad’s uncle Abu Talib he was hired by Khadijah. On his first trip in the employ of Khadijah, Muhammad was accompanied by Maysarah. Muhammad’s adeptness and loyalty enabled him to make great gains for Khadijah – more than anyone had done before and his loyalty and gentleness had won for him the love and admiration of the slave, Maysarah. (Haykal 1983:62) At the age of twenty five Muhammad married Khadijah, the daughter of Khuwaylid, she was then forty years old. Out of the blessed marriage two sons were born, Qasim and Abdullah and four daughters, Fatimah, Ruqay’yah, Um-Kul’thoom and Zainab.

Reconstruction of Ka’bah

Muhammad did not withdraw from the people of Makkah or from participating in the public life of the city. At the time, the Meccans were preoccupied with the rebuilding of the Ka’bah after a sudden flood had shaken its foundation and cracked its walls. The Ka’bah had for some time been the concern of the Quraysh. (Haykal 1983:64-65) A decision was reached to repair the Ka’bah by different tribes working together but when the building was almost complete, there was a dispute to re-set the sacred ‘Black Stone’ in place. However, an old Quraishi, Abu Umayyah bin Mughirah, suggested that the person entering the Ka’bah first the next morning would decide what should be done. (Khan 1983:65) As Khan explains, Muhammad – Al – Amin (the Trustworthy) was the first to enter. He solved the problem for them by placing the Black Stone on a sheet and allowing the chief of every tribe to hold the sheet and raise the Black Stone to the required height whilst Muhammad himself set the stone in its rightful position.

Meditation in the Cave of Hira

Muhammad never took part in the wrong and evil life style of the Arabs, for Allah protected and guarded him since childhood. Since his youth Muhammad used to spend days and nights at the cave known as Ghaar-Hira, on the Mount of Nur, contemplating and reflecting, and thinking about his people, their wrong doings, their idol worshipping and their evil style of life. It was here in the cave of Hira that Muhammad worshipped Allah and prayed to him.

The First Revelation – First Words of the Holy Quran

He received his first revelation during the month of Ramadaan in the cave of Hira at the age of 40 years. The Angel Jib’reel appeared before him and said unto him: "Read!" Muhammad replied: "I cannot read". Jib’reel held him tightly and let him loose and said to him, for the second time:

"Read!", and Muhammad replied: "I cannot read". Jib’reel then held Him tightly for the third time and said to him: "Read!" and Muhammad replied again: "I cannot read", thereupon Jib’reel said to him: Read: In the Name of Thy Lord Who Created, Created Man From A Clot. Read: And Thy Lord is The Most Bounteous, Who Teaches By The Pen, Teaches Man That Which He Knew Not. (Fakier 1995:57-58)

This was the first Divine Call revealed to the Holy Prophet, the Final Messenger and the Last Prophet. The appearance of Angel Gabriel was a strange experience for the Holy Prophet. He went home while he was trembling, and asked his wife: "wrap me up!" "wrap me up!" His wife consoled Him. (Khan 1983:70) Khadijah ran to her cousin Waraqah ibn Nawfal who was a scholar of Holy Scriptures of Christians and Jews and he assured her that it was the same angel who came down to Moses and Jesus. Muhammad started his mission by conveying it secretly to his friends, but after a short period he preached it in public. The first who believed in Muhammad’s message was his wife Khadijah. The first male who believed in his mission was Abu-Bak’r, the first youth who believed was his cousin Ali and one of the first slaves who believed was Bilaal. The vast majority of Meccans rejected and denied the message of Muhammad. They then started persecuting him; they ridiculed him; they laughed and mocked at him; they harassed and annoyed him, and accused him of being mad, a magician and a liar. The unbelievers of Mecca ostracised, hurt and punished the followers of Muhammad. They threatened them with all sorts of threats, so that they may change their belief in Allah and return to their previous, corrupt and false beliefs and customs. (Fakier 1995:58)

The Call from Mount Safa

Determined to spread Islam the Prophet climbed to the top of Mount Safa, in Mecca and called aloud to the Quraish to assemble. Although the Quraish thought of the Prophet as always being truthful they refused to believe in the message he came with, (i.e. the oneness of Allah) and certainly they did not believe in the day of Judgment. Abu Taalib’s compromise with his nephew on behalf of the Quraish was to no avail and Abu Taalib realised that his nephew would not surrender to the Meccan kuffar. (Karrim 1992:31)

Muslims migrate to Abyssinia

Life in Mecca became unbearable for the Muslims and the Prophet advised the Muslims to make Hijrah to the land of Abyssinia (Ethiopia) in Africa. The King of Abyssinia, Negus, a very noble Christian accepted the Muslims to settle in Abyssinia. (Karrim 1992:40)

Boycott of the Muslims by the Quraish

The Quraish had failed to stop the Islamic Movement in Mecca and Abyssinia.

Hashim and Banu Muttalib as well. The terms of Boycott had caused many hardships and by agreement the boycott finally ended. (Karrim 1992:45-46)

Year of Sorrow – "Aam al Huzn"

Soon after the boycott, the Prophet’s uncle Abu Taalib passed away. This was a great loss for the Prophet as it was Abu Taalib who always protected the Prophet although he did not embrace Islam. Shortly thereafter, in the same year, the Prophet’s wife Khadija passed away. Her passing was a great loss to the Prophet as she always supported him in his mission and all the hardships that he faced. The Quraish started opposing the Prophet more openly now. (Karrim 1992:47)

The Holy Prophet at Taif

It was the 10^th year of his mission and the Prophet decided to spread the word of Almighty Allah to the people of Taif, a town 60 miles to the west of Mecca.

The Prophet was not well received in Taif and once again, life was hard and difficult for him. When the Prophet reached the Cave of Hira where he rested he realised that the Kuffar still intended killing him. The Prophet sent word to Mu’tim bin ‘Adi, a Kaafir, asking him for protection. He was safe for a while under Mu’tim’s protection. (Karrim 1992:49)

Journey to the Heavens – Meeraj

After the death of Abu Taalib and Khadija and the cruel treatment that the Prophet received at Taif, the Profit longed for some comfort. This comfort happened in the form of a remarkable and eventful night journey to Jerusalem called "Al Isra", and the ascent to the Heavens called "Al Meeraj" (Karrim 1992: 50) The Holy Prophet was first taken to the great mosque at Jerusalem then across the seven heavens where he had an audience with the Almighty. All this took place in a very short space of time. (Khan 1983:95)

Islam Spreads to Medina

The message of Islam was not only preached to the Meccans but also to the people ofYathrib (Medina). This was possible when the pilgrims from Yathrib came to Mecca for Hajj, the Prophet use to teach them about Islam.

Pledges of Aqaba

Aqaba is a place between Mount Hira and Mina near Mecca. During the 11^th year of the Prophets mission, 6 men from Yathrib met him at Aqaba and he taught them about Islam and they in turn had to spread the message of Islam to Yathrib. During the 13^th year of his mission a further pledge took place and the Prophet appointed 12 Sahaba to teach Islam to the new Muslims of Yathrib.

The First Hijrah to Yathrib (Medina)

The Kuffar were very angry when they heard about the Pledges of Aqaba. They became more harsh to the Muslims. The Prophet was ordered by the Allah to send the Muslims to Yathrib where they will be protected. The Kuffar planned to kill the Holy Prophet but their evil plot failed when he made Hijrah to Yathrib.

b.(i)

The serious-minded Muhammad, living amongst the social, moral corruption and licentiousness of the Quraysh in the days of ignorance (Jahilliyyah) often took himself away from the evils of the urban life in Makkah to retreat to the nearby mountains where he found solace, peace and serenity to worship Allah the Lord of the worlds. His loving wife Khadija had already come to understand the contemplative nature of her young husband and gave him her fullest support by preparing food and drink for him on his long spells away from home in his Tahannuth (meditation) on the nearby mountain that was later to become known as Jabal Nur, the Mountain of light. It was on one of these retreats, one night in the month of Ramadhan that he experienced the most awesome and significant experience of his life that ushered in the era of the last and final phase of the Prophetic mission to mankind through divine revelation to the one chosen to bear that auspicious and honourable task. On this particular night, the archangel Gabriel appeared to Muhammad in his fullest angelic glory proclaiming: Iqra: Read ! repeatedly. This was the divine command which initiated the final revelation to mankind through the nubuwwat (messengership) of Muhammad. His initial reaction was "ma ana biqari-in"... " I know not how to read...." When, after repeated injunctions, Gabriel, embracing him, finally got him to read, revelation flowed into the heart and onto the lips of Muhammad.

The first revelation thus starts:

" Read in the name of your Lord, who creates, He who created man from a clot of

blood. Read and your Lord is most Bounteous, the one who teaches Man by the

pen, taught man that which he knew not.....

(Quran Alaq, 1-3)

Sweating and with heart pulsating, he rushed home to his understanding and supportive wife Khadija. Suffering feverishly from the initial heat and shock of the first revelatory words he asked to be covered and wrapped in a mantel. She comforted him and assured him by believing in his mission as Allah’s last Prophet to humankind. Khadija immediately set off to her uncle, Waraqah bin Nofal a well-read, uprighteous and believing man who knew the divine scriptures of old. Realising that the messiah, as promised in the last Jewish scriptures had finally come, he assured Muhammad of the validity of his claim to prophethood, and warned him of the inherent dangers of such an immense responsibility. Muhammad went on proclaim his call to the worship of the one true Ilaah (Allah) first to his family and tribesmen, but was rejected by most of them.

In the early Meccan period, revelation focussed mostly on The unique unity of Allah and issues relating to belief and Aqidah (faith and ideology).

b. (ii)

The attitude of the Meccans forced Muhammad to look towards other centers to spread the word of Allah, the Prophetic mission he was entrusted with. He focussed on Taif, an oasis city to the tribes North of Mecca. He also invited various tribes that had come to big fairs and markets in the outlying areas surrounding Mecca. It was at these annual fairsat ‘Ukaz and Al-Mujanna that he persuaded some visitors from the friendly northern city of Yathrib who had embraced the new faith to spread the message of Islam there.

The Yathrabite converts preached and practiced the new faith with zeal and vigor managed to convert other family members and tribesmen. A group of pilgrims performing the following year came to pledge their allegiance to Muhammad. This was known as the first pledge of Aqabah, after hillock where it took place. These new enthusiastic converts of the Khazraj and Auz tribes returned to Yathrib with a young man Musab ibn Umayr whom the Prophet had entrusted to the city to teach and guide the new Muslims. As mentor and teacher he did well and significantly, the following year a second group, numbering seventy met the Prophet the same place, again to swear allegiance to support him and rally around the cause of Islam. They invited the prophet to visit their friendly city, which he accepted. On return to their city they influenced others amongst their friends and family whilst Islam grew stronger, entering many new homes. The Prophet consequently commissioned twelve Companions to teach the new converts to Islam and reinforce it’s influence there.

The Pledges of Aqabah undoubtedly signified the turning point for Islam in the Arabian Peninsula. Whilst the Meccans, in the birth-place of Muhammad initially shunned him, the city of Yathrib opened it’s heart to the Prophet and his followers. The warm welcome and the support it lent, laid the groundwork for the growth and spread of the young faith in Yathrib which was later to become the Medina-tur-Rasul (the City of the Prophet) or simply Medina.

b. (iii)

With the consolidation and established strength of the young Islamic state in Medina, the Muslims were looking more and more at the trade-caravans passing close by Medina towards Syria on their way to the North. This presented an ideal opportunity to the now strong Muslim forces to assail the caravan cargoes of their Meccan enemies who had recently disowned and persecuted them and had expelled them from the birthplace. When the Prophet attempted to waylay such a caravan, to dent the pride and image of the Quraysh with the other tribes, caravan-leader Abu Sufyan cunningly evaded such a move and informed Mecca of the new danger the Muslims posed for the caravan routes.

Immediately Abu Jahl gathered a strong, well equipped army of a thousand men on camel and horse back to come to the rescue of this caravan and finish off the Muslims. Charged with zeal and determination, the Muslims, ill-equipped and only seventy in number, were more determined to stand by their Prophet and fight to the last man. Both armies marched to Badr, some eighty miles from Medina and the battle began in earnest on the 17^th of Ramadhan in the second year of the Hejira. The young and bold Muslim soldiers fought with unprecedented valour and killed many of the most prominent Qurayshi leaders, significant of whom was Abu Sufyan. As the brave Muslim warriors fought they could sense divine intervention as the enemies’ heads began to roll in combat, through the agency of angelic support, whence Archangel Gabriel arranged angels to fight within the outnumbered the Muslim ranks, The Quran describes this:

"When you sought help of your Lord, and He answered you saying I will help you with a thousand of the angels each behind the other (following one another) in succession."

Miraculously the course of the Battle was turned in favour of the Muslims who came out victoriously, Seventy Meccans were taken prisoners of war, the rich could buy the freedom in ransom whilst other literate ones stayed behind to teach the the young Muslims the art of reading and writing. The once powerful and strong Quryash were now shaken in their wits, humiliated with the other Arabian tribes for having lost the most notable of their leadership in Mecca, to a band of ill-equipped fighters in the Battle of Badr.

Surah Aala Imran: (Q 3:13)

"There has been a clear sign for you in the Battle of Badr whence two armies met, one fighting in the way of Allah, and as for the other, they were disbelievers. They (the disbelievers) were seen, clearly outnumbering them. And Allah supports with his victory whom he wills. Verily in this is a lesson for those who understand."

The victory at Badr was the most significant and strengthening factor that boosted the morale of the young Muslim nation, whilst at the same time delivering a most damaging blow to the prestige and pride of the Meccan Quraysh leaders. This decisive battle had laid the trend of the battles to follow whence the Quraysh mustered more and more formidable forces to crush the young Islamic state in Medina.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Dr Majid Ali Khan 1983: Muhammad, The Final Messenger, Pakistan – Da’wah

Islamic Academy

M.Y.A. Karrim 1992: Islamic History, Part 2, First Edition, South Africa – I

A Raza Academy

Muhammad Husayn Haykal 1976: The Life of Muhammad, U.S.A. – American Trust

Publication

Sheikh M A Fakier 1995 Ar-Risaalah, Al –Mufeedah, South Africa