Prophet Muhammad (s): Difference between revisions

A decade after his blessed marriage to Lady Khadija (RA) and fifteen years following the fourth Fijar War, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), at the age of thirty-five, was honored to participate in the momentous reconstruction of the Kaaba. The Quraysh tribe, driven by a profound reverence for the sacred sanctuary, embarked on this noble endeavor. During this significant undertaking, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was bestowed with the esteemed role of placing the Black Stone (Hajar al-Aswad) in its rightful position. <ref>Ibn Hishām, ''al-Sīra al-Nabawīyya'', vol. 1, p. 192; Ṭabarī, ''Tārīkh al-Ṭabarī'', p. 321-323.</ref>  

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.<ref>Ibn Hishām, ''al-Sīra al-Nabawīyya'', vol. 1, p. 236.</ref>

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.<ref> Āyatī, ''Tārīkh-i Payāmbar-i Islām'', p. 67.</ref>

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]].<ref>Ibn Hishām, ''al-Sīra al-Nabawīyya'', vol. 1, p. 236.</ref> It is said that Muhammad (s) was forty years old at this time.<ref>Yaʿqūbī, ''Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī'', vol. 2, p. 22.</ref>

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.<ref> Āyatī, ''Tārīkh-i Payāmbar-i Islām'', p. 70.</ref>

Among the family members of Prophet Muhammad (s), the first believers and supporters were [[Ali (a)]] and [[Khadija]].<ref>Yaʿqūbī, ''Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī'', vol. 2, p. 23.</ref>

[[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.<ref>Yaʿqūbī, ''Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī'', vol. 2, p. 36.</ref> During the days of [[Hajj]], the Prophet (s) would engage in discussions with the pilgrims and invite them to Islam.<ref>Yaʿqūbī, ''Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī'', vol. 2, p. 36.</ref>

===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.<ref>Ibn Hishām, ''al-Sīra al-Nabawīyya'', vol. 1, p. 428-431.</ref>

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.<ref>Ibn Hishām, ''al-Sīra al-Nabawīyya'', vol. 1, p. 438; Yaʿqūbī, ''Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī'', vol. 2, p. 38.</ref>

 

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.<ref>Ibn Hishām, ''al-Sīra al-Nabawīyya'', vol. 1, p. 590; Masʿūdī, ''Murūj al-dhahab'', vol. 2, p. 286.</ref>

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).<ref>Ṭabarī, ''Tārīkh al-Ṭabarī'', vol. 2, p. 491; Masʿūdī, ''Murūj al-dhahab'', vol. 2, p. 287-289.</ref>

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.

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{{main|Conquest of Mecca}}

The Conquest of Mecca took place in the eighth year after the Hijra/629-30.<ref>Masʿūdī, ''Murūj al-dhahab'', vol. 2, p. 296.</ref> 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.<ref> Āyatī, ''Tārīkh-i Payāmbar-i Islām'', p. 464.</ref>

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.<ref>Yaʿqūbī, ''Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī'', vol. 2, p. 60; Āyatī,  ''Tārīkh-i Payāmbar-i Islām'', p. 466.</ref>

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.<ref>Numayrī, ''Tārīkh al-Madīna al-munawwara'', vol. 1, p. 75.</ref>

Many of these memorials are still standing today. The most important of these buildings is [[al-Masjid al-Nabawi]], which was connected to the houses of the Prophet (s) and his wives. The Prophet's body was buried in one of the chambers besides the mosque after his demise. The chambers in which the Prophet (s) is buried and his other chambers were added to al-Masjid al-Nabawi. 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]].<ref>Āyatī,  ''Tārīkh-i Payāmbar-i Islām'', p. 500.</ref>