Bi'tha: Difference between revisions
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== Concept == | == Concept == | ||
The term Bi'tha originates from the Arabic root letters "ب-ع-ث" (b-'a-th), which carry the meanings of "to send forth," " to raise," or "to dispatch." This root encapsulates the dual notions of selection and mission, emphasizing the idea of appointing someone for a specific purpose. | The term Bi'tha originates from the Arabic root letters "ب-ع-ث" (b-'a-th), which carry the meanings of "to send forth," " to raise," or "to dispatch." This root encapsulates the dual notions of selection and mission, emphasizing the idea of appointing someone for a specific purpose. | ||
In Islamic theology, Bi'tha specifically refers to God's divine appointment of prophets to guide humankind. This concept is supported by several Quranic verses, such as verse 36 of | In Islamic theology, Bi'tha specifically refers to God's divine appointment of prophets to guide humankind. This concept is supported by several Quranic verses, such as verse 36 of Sura An-Nahl and verse 15 of Sura Al-Isra, where God speaks of sending prophets to deliver His message and the consequences faced by those who reject it. | ||
Bi'tha, derived from the root "ba-'ayn-tha",<ref>Mufradat, Volume 1, p. 132, the term "Ba'th/بعث"</ref> signifies sending,<ref>Al-'Ayn, Volume 2, p. 112, the term "Ba'atha/ بعث"</ref> awakening,<ref>Al-Tahqiq, Volume 1, p. 295, the term "Ba'atha"</ref> or dispatching.<ref>Mufradat, Volume 1, p. 133 | Bi'tha, derived from the root "ba-'ayn-tha",<ref>Mufradat, Volume 1, p. 132, the term "Ba'th/بعث"</ref> signifies sending,<ref>Al-'Ayn, Volume 2, p. 112, the term "Ba'atha/ بعث"</ref> awakening,<ref>Al-Tahqiq, Volume 1, p. 295, the term "Ba'atha"</ref> or dispatching.<ref>Mufradat, Volume 1, p. 133 | ||
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== Hijaz Before Bi'tha == | == Hijaz Before Bi'tha == | ||
The [[Quran]] describes the state of affairs before the Prophet's mission as "clear misguidance."<ref> | The [[Quran]] describes the state of affairs before the Prophet's mission as "clear misguidance."<ref>Sura Al-Jumua, Verse 2</ref> This era is referred to in Islamic sources as the Age of Ignorance (Jahiliyya). According to [[Imam Ali (a)]], people were religiously fragmented and scattered; some likened God to phenomena, while others attributed valuable names and virtuous attributes to idols.<ref>Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 1</ref> The most common practice among the Arabs was idol worship, and it was so popular that the number of idols quickly increased, and up to 360 idols were installed and maintained in the [[Ka'ba]]. The idols of Manat,<ref>Al-Asnam, p. 13</ref> Lat,<ref>Al-Asnam, p. 16</ref> Uzza,<ref>''Tarikh-i 'Arab-i qabl az Islam'', p. 379</ref> and Hubal<ref>Al-Asnam, p. 27</ref> held a high position among the polytheists. In addition to idol worship, [[Judaism]], [[Christianity]], and [[Dualism]] were among the common religions among the Arabs at the time of the Prophet's mission. | ||
=== Propehecies of Bi'tha === | === Propehecies of Bi'tha === | ||
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It is said that the angel of revelation spoke with Muhammad (s) before Bi'tha.<ref>''Haqq al-yaqin'', vol. 1, p. 179.</ref> The Prophet of Islam held the position of prophethood before the age of forty<ref>''''Bihar al-anwar'''', vol. 26, p. 75; vol. 18, p. 278.</ref>, and religious rulings were revealed to him, and he worshiped God in the same way.<ref>''Bihar al-anwar'', vol. 18, p. 278.</ref> When he saw the angel of revelation at the age of forty, he was obliged to preach the new Sharia.<ref>Tarikh al-Khamis, vol. 1, p. 254.</ref> | It is said that the angel of revelation spoke with Muhammad (s) before Bi'tha.<ref>''Haqq al-yaqin'', vol. 1, p. 179.</ref> The Prophet of Islam held the position of prophethood before the age of forty<ref>''''Bihar al-anwar'''', vol. 26, p. 75; vol. 18, p. 278.</ref>, and religious rulings were revealed to him, and he worshiped God in the same way.<ref>''Bihar al-anwar'', vol. 18, p. 278.</ref> When he saw the angel of revelation at the age of forty, he was obliged to preach the new Sharia.<ref>Tarikh al-Khamis, vol. 1, p. 254.</ref> | ||
==Objectives of | ==Objectives of Bi'tha== | ||
The | The Quran considers one of the purposes of the prophets' mission to be the completion of God's proof to the people, so that they do not say: We did not have a leader and guide and we did not know.<ref>Sura al-Nisa:165; ''Min huda al-Qur'an'', vol. 2, p. 257; ''Tafsir al-Nur'', vol. 2, p. 213.</ref> According to verses and hadiths, education and training<ref>Sura al-Jumu'a:2.</ref> and resolving the disagreements of people,<ref>''Al-Mizan'', vol. 2, pp. 131-132.</ref> fair judgment among them<ref>''Al-Mizan'', vol. 3, p. 198.</ref> and the liberation of human beings from the clutches of the oppressors<ref>''Al-Kafi'', vol. 8, p. 386; ''Al-Mizan'', vol. 12, p. 243.</ref> are considered other purposes and wisdoms of the mission of the prophets. | ||
== | == Events of Bi'tha == | ||
Around 40 years after the [[Year of the Elephant]], the Prophet Muhammad (s) was divinely appointed by God to lead humankind.<ref>Imta' al-Asma', vol. 1, p. 32; Tarikh al-Islam, vol. 1, p. 24; Al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya, vol. 2, p. 321.</ref> According to widely accepted reports, the initiation of his prophethood and the first revelation occurred when he was 40 years old,<ref>Tarikh al-Yaqoubi, vol. 2, p. 22.</ref> although some sources suggest it happened when he was 43.<ref>Sirat Ibn Ishaq, p. 114.</ref> | Around 40 years after the [[Year of the Elephant]], the Prophet Muhammad (s) was divinely appointed by God to lead humankind.<ref>Imta' al-Asma', vol. 1, p. 32; Tarikh al-Islam, vol. 1, p. 24; Al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya, vol. 2, p. 321.</ref> According to widely accepted reports, the initiation of his prophethood and the first revelation occurred when he was 40 years old,<ref>Tarikh al-Yaqoubi, vol. 2, p. 22.</ref> although some sources suggest it happened when he was 43.<ref>Sirat Ibn Ishaq, p. 114.</ref> | ||
Narratives about the first revelation differ among various companions, leading to some inconsistencies in the details. Nonetheless, a consistent element across these reports is that the first divine revelation began with the descent of several verses of the Holy Qur'an while the Prophet was in seclusion in the [[Cave of Hira]] for worship and reflection.<ref>Al-Sira al-Nabawiyya, by Ibn Hisham, vol. 1, p. 154; Tārīkh al-Ṭabarī, vol. 2, pp. 48-49.</ref><ref>Tārīkh al-Ṭabarī, vol. 2, p. 47.</ref><ref>Ansāb al-Ashrāf, vol. 1, pp. 104-105.</ref> Additionally, some accounts describe the initial phase of this divine communication as the Prophet receiving truthful dreams prior to his formal appointment as a prophet.<ref>Sahīh al-Bukhārī, vol. 1, p. 3.</ref> | Narratives about the first revelation differ among various companions, leading to some inconsistencies in the details. Nonetheless, a consistent element across these reports is that the first divine revelation began with the descent of several verses of the Holy Qur'an while the Prophet was in seclusion in the [[Cave of Hira]] for worship and reflection.<ref>Al-Sira al-Nabawiyya, by Ibn Hisham, vol. 1, p. 154; Tārīkh al-Ṭabarī, vol. 2, pp. 48-49.</ref><ref>Tārīkh al-Ṭabarī, vol. 2, p. 47.</ref><ref>Ansāb al-Ashrāf, vol. 1, pp. 104-105.</ref> Additionally, some accounts describe the initial phase of this divine communication as the Prophet receiving truthful dreams prior to his formal appointment as a prophet.<ref>Sahīh al-Bukhārī, vol. 1, p. 3.</ref> | ||
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For most Shia Muslims, the 27th of Rajab is observed as the Day of Bi'tha,<ref>Bihār al-Anwār, j. 18, p. 190; al-Ṣaḥīḥ min Sīrat al-Nabī, j. 2, p. 64-65.</ref> while Sunni Muslims commemorate it on the 17th of [[Ramadhan]].<ref>Al-Sīrah al-Nabawiyyah, Ibn Hishām, j. 1, p. 158; al-Ṭabaqāt, j. 1, p. 193-194.</ref> This day marks the initiation of the prophetic mission of Prophet Muhammad (S), a pivotal and crucial event in the history of Islam. It is reported that [[Umar ibn al-Khattab]] once suggested that the [[bi'thah]] should serve as the starting point of the Islamic calendar. However, this proposal was not accepted. Instead, on the recommendation of [[Ali (a.s)]], the Prophet's migration ([[Hijrah]]) was chosen as the defining moment to begin the [[Islamic calendar]].<ref>Tārīkh Yaʿqūbī, j. 2, p. 145.</ref> | For most Shia Muslims, the 27th of Rajab is observed as the Day of Bi'tha,<ref>Bihār al-Anwār, j. 18, p. 190; al-Ṣaḥīḥ min Sīrat al-Nabī, j. 2, p. 64-65.</ref> while Sunni Muslims commemorate it on the 17th of [[Ramadhan]].<ref>Al-Sīrah al-Nabawiyyah, Ibn Hishām, j. 1, p. 158; al-Ṭabaqāt, j. 1, p. 193-194.</ref> This day marks the initiation of the prophetic mission of Prophet Muhammad (S), a pivotal and crucial event in the history of Islam. It is reported that [[Umar ibn al-Khattab]] once suggested that the [[bi'thah]] should serve as the starting point of the Islamic calendar. However, this proposal was not accepted. Instead, on the recommendation of [[Ali (a.s)]], the Prophet's migration ([[Hijrah]]) was chosen as the defining moment to begin the [[Islamic calendar]].<ref>Tārīkh Yaʿqūbī, j. 2, p. 145.</ref> | ||
== The First Revealed Verses == | == The First Revealed Verses == | ||
It is widely narrated that the first five verses of | It is widely narrated that the first five verses of Sura Al-Alaq were the initial revelations to Prophet Muhammad (S).<ref>Al-Sīrah al-Nabawiyyah, Ibn Hishām, j. 1, p. 155; Tafsīr Qummī, j. 2, p. 428.</ref> However, some sources suggest that the first revealed verses originated from Sura Al-Muddaththir,<ref>Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, j. 6, p. 74; al-Awāʾil, p. 43.</ref> while others contend that Sura Al-Fatiha was the first revelation.<ref>Al-Kashāf, j. 4, p. 270; Majmaʿ al-Bayān, j. 10, p. 398; al-Ittqān, j. 1, p. 77.</ref> | ||
== The First Believers == | == The First Believers == | ||
With the revelation of the first divine verses, Prophet Muhammad (s) embarked on his prophetic mission. His wife, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid al-Asadi, was the first woman to accept Islam, a fact universally acknowledged by historians.<ref>Tārīkh Yaʿqūbī, j. 2, p. 23.</ref> According to the prevailing consensus among both [[Shia]] and [[Sunni]] scholars,<ref>Al-Sīrah al-Ḥalabiyyah, j. 1, p. 382.</ref> the first man to embrace Islam was [[Imam Ali]] (a.s).<ref>Al-Ghadīr, j. 3, s. 95; Al-Sīrah al-Nabawiyyah, Ibn Hishām, j. 1, s. 162.</ref> | With the revelation of the first divine verses, Prophet Muhammad (s) embarked on his prophetic mission. His wife, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid al-Asadi, was the first woman to accept Islam, a fact universally acknowledged by historians.<ref>Tārīkh Yaʿqūbī, j. 2, p. 23.</ref> According to the prevailing consensus among both [[Shia]] and [[Sunni]] scholars,<ref>Al-Sīrah al-Ḥalabiyyah, j. 1, p. 382.</ref> the first man to embrace Islam was [[Imam Ali]] (a.s).<ref>Al-Ghadīr, j. 3, s. 95; Al-Sīrah al-Nabawiyyah, Ibn Hishām, j. 1, s. 162.</ref> | ||