Prophet Muhammad (s)

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Muḥammad b. ʿAbd Allāh (s), is the Prophet of Islam. He was born in Mecca, attained prophethood at forty, and began inviting people to Islam in Mecca. Fourteen years later, he went to Yathrib to extend his invitation. This city was later named Medina of the Prophet after the Prophet's arrival and became the center of the Islamic government. He lived in this city for ten years, and al-Masjid al-Nabawi was his residence along with his wives. Later, mosques were built in various places where he visited or prayed.

Birthday

Most Shi'as consider the seventeenth of Rabi' al-Awwal as the date of the birth of the Prophet (s), while most Sunnis consider the twelfth of Rabi' al-Awwal as his birthday.[1]

His father was 'Abd Allah b. 'Abd al-Muttalib and his mother was Amina bt. Wahb b. 'Abd Manaf.[2]

Muhammad (s) was born in a house in Shi'b Abi Talib, which later became known as Mawlid al-Nabi and was respected. After his birth, he was entrusted to Halima, to nurse him. He resided with Halima among the tribe of Banu Sa'ad b. Bakr b. Hawazin for four years, and in the fifth year, Halima returned him to his mother.[3]

From Childhood to Marriage

From childhood to youth and the marriage of Prophet Muhammad (s), some events have been highlighted by biographers.

Death of Parents

At the age of six, Muhammad (s) accompanied his mother Amina to Medina. Amina passed away on the return journey in a place called Abwa' and was buried there. Umm Ayman, took him back to Mecca, after Amina's death. 'Abd al-Muttalib, the grandfather of Muhammad (s), took care of him until the age of eight, and upon 'Abd al-Muttalib's passing, his care was entrusted to his uncle, Abu Talib.[4]

Journey to Syria

At the age of twelve, or some say nine or thirteen, Muhammad (s) accompanied Abu Talib on a trade caravan of the Quraysh to Syria. Muhammad (s) once again traveled to Syria at the age of twenty-five for trade, financed by Khadija, a journey that laid the groundwork for the marriage of Muhammad (s) and Khadijah.[5]

Reconstruction of the Ka'ba

Ten years after his marriage to Khadija and fifteen years after the fourth Fijar war, when Muhammad (s) was thirty-five years old, the Quraysh decided to reconstruct the Ka'ba. In this reconstruction, Muhammad (s) placed the Black Stone (al-Hajar al-aswad) in its place.[6]

Some reports suggest that Muahammad's age at the time of this event was twenty-five.[7]

Tahannuth in Hira'

Muhammad (s) used to spend some time in seclusion and solitude in the cave of Hira' every year. Some have said that this period lasted for one month each year, and according to some narrations, it was during the month of Ramadan.[8]

Bi'tha

According to the widely accepted belief among Shi'a Muslims (Imamiyyah), the event of the Bi'tha occurred on the 27th day of the month of Rajab. However, according to the popular belief among Sunni Muslims, it took place during the month of Ramadan.[9] According to some reports, the first encounter of the Muhammad (s) with the angel Gabriel occurred during one of his days of seclusion in the cave of Hira.[10] It is said that Muhammad (s) was forty years old at this time.[11]

There is a difference of opinion regarding the first verses revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (s). Some believe that the first five verses of Sura al-'Alaq (Quran 96) were the initial revelations, while others argue that the first verses were from Sura al-Muddathir (Quran 74). Additionally, some scholars consider the Sura al-Fatiha (Quran 1), as the first revelation.[12]

Commencement of the Prophet's Call in Mecca

Among the family members of Prophet Muhammad (s), the first believers and supporters were Ali (a) and Khadija.[13]

Hamza b. 'Abd al-Muttalib also embraced Islam in the second or sixth year after Bi'tha. Besides them, a group of Meccans joined him. The companions of the Prophet (s) used to go to the outskirts of Mecca to pray until a confrontation between them and the Meccan polytheists led them to thereafter pray at the house of Arqam.

Three years after the beginning of the Prophet's mission, he publicly declared his call in Mecca. From then on, the polytheists sought to constrain the Prophet (s). The Prophet (s) also explored new ways to expand his call. In the fifth year of the mission, he sent a group of Muslims to Abyssinia and traveled to Ta'if to find supporters in that city.[14] During the days of Hajj, the Prophet (s) would engage in discussions with the pilgrims and invite them to Islam.[15]

Acquaintance of the People of Medina with the Prophet (s)

In the eleventh year after Bi'tha/620, during the days of Hajj, the Prophet (s) met with six individuals from the tribe of Khazraj in Yathrib (later known as Medina) and invited them to Islam. After returning to Yathrib, this group brought up the Prophet's invitation.[16]

During the Hajj of the twelfth year of Bi'tha/621, twelve individuals from the people of Yathrib pledged allegiance to the Prophet (s) at al-'Aqaba, known as the first al-'Aqaba pledge. In the Hajj of the thirteenth year's after Bi'tha/622, around seventy dignitaries from Medina met with the Prophet (s) and pledged allegiance, known as the second al-Aqaba pledge, inviting him to migrate to Medina.[17]

Migration to Medina

The migration of Muslims began after the second pledge at al-Aqaba in Dhu al-Hijja of the thirteenth year after Bi'tha/622. The Prophet (s) himself migrated in the first of Rabi' al-Awwal of the year 14 after Bi'tha/623. The Prophet's journey to Medina later became known as the Tariq al-Hijra. He entered Quba on the twelfth of Rabi' al-Awwal, which was one of the neighborhoods of Medina.[18]

The Prophet (s) in Medina

The Prophet (s) lived in Medina for ten years and passed away in this city. The migration to Medina later became the beginning of Islamic calendar. The years following the migration were the years of the establishment of the Muslim state under the leadership of the Prophet (s). During these years, several small and large battles occurred between the Muslims of Medina and the polytheists of Quraysh or other tribes around or within Medina (the Jews).[19]

The most important of these are the Battles of Badr, Uhud, Khandaq, and Khaybar. Gradually, the power of the Muslims increased, and in the eighth year/629-30, with the Conquest of Mecca, their power was consolidated in a large part of the Arabian Peninsula.

Conquest of Mecca

The Conquest of Mecca took place in the eighth year after the Hijra/629-30.[20] He first went to al-Masjid al-Haram riding a camel and circumambulated the Ka'ba seven times, then touched the Black Stone with a stick he had in his hand.[21]

After the rituals, the Prophet (s) entered the Ka'ba, smashed the idols, stood at the door of the Ka'ba, and addressed the people and delivered a sermon.[22]

Memorials of the Prophet (s) in Mecca and Medina

In addition to the Quran, which is the holy book of Muslims and the result of divine revelation to the Prophet (s), Muslims consider many places and buildings associated with him as valuable memorials. Among them, mosques have been built in various locations in Mecca and Medina where the Prophet (s) has prayed.[23]

Many of these memorials are still standing today. The most important of these buildings is al-Masjid al-Nabawi, which was connected to the house of the Prophet (s) and his wives. The Prophet's body was buried in this mosque after his demise. Today, the al-Masjid al-Nabawi is the most important pilgrimage site for Muslims after the al-Masjid al-Haram in Mecca.

Even outside the cities of Mecca and Medina, places where the Prophet (s) has prayed during his journeys and expeditions, later became mosques. Among them, one can mention the 17 mosques along the route of the Tabuk Expedition, which are built from Medina to Tabuk.[24]

Hajj

After migrating to Medina, the Prophet (s) performed Umra once in the month of Dhu al-Qi'da of the sixth year after the Hijra/628, which is known as Umrat al-Qada.[25]

Once again, after the Battle of Hunayn, in the month of Dhu al-Qi'da of the eighth year after the Hijra/630, the Prophet (s) performed Umra. He also performed Hajj once in the tenth year after the Hijra/632. This pilgrimage is known as the Hajjat al-Wada'.[26]

Reports of the Prophet's pilgrimage serve as one of the sources for understanding the jurisprudence and rituals of Hajj among Muslims.[27] It was during the return from this same pilgrimage that the event of Ghadir Khumm occurred, where the Prophet (s) selected 'Ali b. Abi Talib (a) as his successor.

Passing Away

Most historians have reported the Prophet's date of passing as the twelfth of Rabi' al-Awwal, but Shia scholars believe it to be the 28th of Safar. 'Ali (a) and Abbas conducted the ritual washing of the Prophet's body, and he was buried in the same place where he passed away (the chamber of the Prophet).[28]

Wives and Children

The number of wives of the Prophet Muhammad (s) has been recorded differently by various sources.[29] The prophet muhammad(s) had three sons and four daughters. His sons passed away at a young age. Al-Qasim and 'Abd Allah were born in Mecca and passed away there, while Ibrahim was born in 8 AH in Medina and passed away in 10 AH. His daughters were al-Zaynab, Ruqayya, Umm Kulthum, and Fatima(s).[30]

Notes

  1. ↑ Āyatī, Muḥammad Ibrāhīm. Tārīkh-i Payāmbar-i Islām, p. 43
  2. ↑ Ibn Hishām, al-Sīra al-Nabawīyya, vol. 1, p. 157.
  3. ↑ Masʿūdī, Murūj al-dhahab, vol. 2, p. 280.
  4. ↑ Ibn Hishām, al-Sīra al-Nabawīyya, vol. 1, p. 168-169,179; Masʿūdī, Murūj al-dhahab, vol. 2, p. 281.
  5. ↑ Ibn Hishām, al-Sīra al-Nabawīyya, vol. 1, p. 181; Yaʿqūbī, Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī, vol. 2, p. 20.
  6. ↑ Ibn Hishām, al-Sīra al-Nabawīyya, vol. 1, p. 192; Ṭabarī, Tārīkh al-Ṭabarī, p. 321-323.
  7. ↑ Yaʿqūbī, Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī, vol. 1, p. 19.
  8. ↑ Ibn Hishām, al-Sīra al-Nabawīyya, vol. 1, p. 236.
  9. ↑ Āyatī, Tārīkh-i Payāmbar-i Islām, p. 67.
  10. ↑ Ibn Hishām, al-Sīra al-Nabawīyya, vol. 1, p. 236.
  11. ↑ Yaʿqūbī, Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī, vol. 2, p. 22.
  12. ↑ Āyatī, Tārīkh-i Payāmbar-i Islām, p. 70.
  13. ↑ Yaʿqūbī, Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī, vol. 2, p. 23.
  14. ↑ Yaʿqūbī, Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī, vol. 2, p. 36.
  15. ↑ Yaʿqūbī, Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī, vol. 2, p. 36.
  16. ↑ Ibn Hishām, al-Sīra al-Nabawīyya, vol. 1, p. 428-431.
  17. ↑ Ibn Hishām, al-Sīra al-Nabawīyya, vol. 1, p. 438; Yaʿqūbī, Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī, vol. 2, p. 38.
  18. ↑ Ibn Hishām, al-Sīra al-Nabawīyya, vol. 1, p. 590; Masʿūdī, Murūj al-dhahab, vol. 2, p. 286.
  19. ↑ Ṭabarī, Tārīkh al-Ṭabarī, vol. 2, p. 491; Masʿūdī, Murūj al-dhahab, vol. 2, p. 287-289.
  20. ↑ Masʿūdī, Murūj al-dhahab, vol. 2, p. 296.
  21. ↑ Āyatī, Tārīkh-i Payāmbar-i Islām, p. 464.
  22. ↑ Yaʿqūbī, Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī, vol. 2, p. 60; Āyatī, Tārīkh-i Payāmbar-i Islām, p. 466.
  23. ↑ Numayrī, Tārīkh al-Madīna al-munawwara, vol. 1, p. 75.
  24. ↑ Āyatī, Tārīkh-i Payāmbar-i Islām, p. 500.
  25. ↑ Āyatī, Tārīkh-i Payāmbar-i Islām, p. 427.
  26. ↑ Masʿūdī, Murūj al-dhahab, vol. 2, p. 297.
  27. ↑ Ibn Hishām, al-Sīra al-Nabawīyya, vol. 2, p. 605-606.
  28. ↑ Ibn Hishām, al-Sīra al-Nabawīyya, vol. 2, p. 663; Fayyāḍ, Tārīkh-i Islām,p.111-112.
  29. ↑ Ibn Hishām, al-Sīra al-Nabawīyya, vol. 1, p. 643; Masʿūdī, Murūj al-dhahab, vol. 2, p. 290.
  30. ↑ Āyatī, Tārīkh-i Payāmbar-i Islām, p. 60-61.

References

  • Āyatī, Muḥammad Ibrāhīm. Tārīkh-i Payāmbar-i Islām. Edited by Abu l-Qāsim Gurjī. Tehran: Intishārat-i Dānishgāh-i Tehran, 1378 Sh.
  • Fayyāḍ ʿAlī Akbar. Tārīkh-i Islām. Tehran: Intishārat-i Dānishgāh-i Tehran, 1382 Sh.
  • Ibn Hishām, ʿAbd al-Malik. Al-Sīra al-Nabawīyya. Edited by Muṣṭafā al-Saqqā. Beirut: Dār al-Maʿrifa, [n.d].
  • Masʿūdī, ʿAlī b. al-Ḥusayn al-. Murūj al-dhahab wa maʿādin al-jawhar.Beirut: Dār al-Maʿrifa, [n.d].
  • Numayrī, Ibn Shubba. Tārīkh al-Madīna al-munawwara. Edited by Fahīm Muḥammad Shaltūt. Beirut: Dār al-Maʿrifa, [n.d].
  • Ṭabarī, Muḥammad b. Jarīr al-. Tārīkh al-Ṭabarī. Fourth edition. Beirut: Muʾassisat al-Aʿlamī li-l-Maṭbūʿāt, 1403 AH.
  • Yaʿqūbī, Aḥmad b. Abī Yaʿqūb al-. Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī. Beirut: Dār Ṣādir, n.p.
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