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Birth
and Rearing | As a Young Man | In the Cave
| First Revelation | First
Converts | Hijrah to Abyssinia | The Boycott
| Hijrah to Madinah | Treaty of Hudaybiyah
| Back in Makkah | His Death
Birth
and Rearing
Muhammad
was born in Makkah on Rabi` Awwal 12, 570 CE. His father died before
his birth. The infant Muhammad was handed to a Bedouin wet nurse to
be brought up by her in the healthy atmosphere of the desert. At the
age of five, Muhammad returned to the care of his mother, Aminah
bint Wahb, but she died a year later. Muhammad then went to his
paternal grandfather, `Abdul Muttalib. He died when Muhammad was
eight, and the boy was then brought up by his uncle Abu Talib. At
the age of twelve, he accompanied his uncle in a merchant’s
caravan to Syria.
As
a Young Man
Muhammad
was content to work as a shepherd, but his uncle Abu Talib desired
something better for him and obtained him employment with a rich
widow, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid ibn Asad. Thus Muhammad found himself
at the age of 25 in charge of a caravan conveying merchandise to
Syria. On his return, Khadijah was so pleased with his successful
management of her business and was so attracted by his noble
character that she sent her sister to offer the young man
Khadijah’s hand. Muhammad had felt drawn to Khadijah, and so
matters were soon arranged. Their 26 years of married life were
singularly happy. Muhammad continued to work as a merchant. His
fairness further enhanced his reputation as “Al-Amin” (The
Trustworthy). He continued to take an ever-increasing interest in
public affairs and to exert himself in the service of the poor, the
helpless, and the weak.
In
the Cave
Whenever
the iniquities of his people oppressed him, Muhammad retired to the
solitude of a cave in Mount Hira’ outside Makkah. There his soul
tried to peer into the mysteries of creation, of life and death, of
good and evil, to find order out of chaos. Solitude became a passion
with him, and every year he would retire to the cave for the whole
month of Ramadan to mediate.
First
Revelation
It
was on one of these occasions, when he was 40 years of age, that
Muhammad received the call. One night, while lying absorbed in his
thoughts in the solitude of the cave, Muhammad was commanded by a
mighty voice to go forth and preach. Muhammad rose trembling and
hastened home to seek rest and solace in Khadijah’s tender care,
and she calmed and comforted him. She later consulted her kinsman,
Waraqah ibn Nawfal. He declared that the heavenly message that had
come to Moses had now come to Muhammad, and that he was chosen as a
prophet of Allah.
First
Converts
Khadijah
was the first to accept the truth of Islam. Muhammad then
communicated his experience to his cousin `Ali, his adopted son
Zayd, and his intimate friend Abu Bakr. The Prophet began by
preaching his mission secretly first among his intimate friends,
then among the members of his own tribe, and thereafter publicly in
the city and suburbs. The Quraysh tribe were the guardians of the
Ka`bah, which was a source of great prestige and profit to their
city, Makkah. They were, therefore, seriously alarmed and became
actively hostile towards Muhammad.
Hijrah
to Abyssinia
The
fury of the people of Makkah knew no bounds. Muhammad was subjected
to insults, to personal violence, and to the bitterest persecution,
and his converts were most relentlessly oppressed, persecuted, and
tortured. Therefore, in the fifth year of his mission, Muhammad
advised them to leave the country and seek refuge from the
persecution of the idolaters among the Christian people of
Abyssinia. Muhammad and a few stalwart followers remained in Makkah
and suffered untold misery and oppression, but still their number
continued to increase.
The
Boycott
The
Quraysh outlawed Muhammad and asked his clan to forgo their right to
avenge his blood. The proud clansmen refused to give up the right at
the bidding of the people of Makkah, who thereupon boycotted them.
After three years, the ban was lifted. A year later, Muhammad lost
his uncle Abu Talib and his wife Khadijah. The death of Abu Talib
removed the last check on the Makkans’ violence. Persecution grew
ever fiercer, and Muhammad sought refuge in the neighboring city of
Ta’if, where he was met with great hostility and barely escaped
with his life.
Hijrah
to Madinah
Muhammad
took council with his Makkan followers, and it was decided that they
should immigrate to Madinah. They left gradually and unobtrusively,
Muhammad remaining to the last. Their departure was soon discovered
by the Quraysh, who decided to slay Muhammad before he, too,
escaped. They, therefore, cast lots and chose forty men, one from
each clan, who took a solemn vow to kill Muhammad. They were to
strike simultaneously so that the murder could not be avenged on any
one clan. But on the night they were to kill him, Muhammad left
Makkah with Abu Bakr.
Muhammad
was now free to preach, and his followers increased rapidly. The
Muslims could now worship freely and live according to the laws of
Allah. But the people of Makkah were not going to allow Muhammad’s
movement to take root in Madinah. They organized three great
expeditions against the city, but all were beaten back.
Treaty
of Hudaybiyah
Eventually
the Makkans and Muslims concluded the Treaty of Hudaybiyah to
maintain peace and to observe neutrality in their conflicts with
third parties. According to the treaty, the Muslims were to return
to Madina that year without performing the pilgrimage, but they
could come to do that the following year when the Quraish would
vacate the city for them for three days.
Back
in Makkah
It
was not until AH 8 that the Muslims were able to put an end to this
war by gaining a bloodless victory over Makkah when the Makkans
violated the terms of their treaty. The people of Makkah, who had
relentlessly oppressed Muhammad and his followers for 21
years, expected dire vengeance, but in the hour of their defeat,
they were treated with the greatest magnanimity. “Go, you are
free!” were the words with which Muhammad gave them general
amnesty. The Prophet removed all the idols in and around the Ka`bah,
saying, [The Truth has come and falsehood vanished] (Al-Israa’:
81) and the Muslim call to prayer was heard in this ancient
sanctuary.
His
Death
In
AH 10, Muhammad went to Makkah as a pilgrim, and he felt it was for
the last time because the revelation he received there included the
verse [This day have I perfected your religion for you...]
(Al-Ma’idah: 3). On his return to Madinah, he fell ill of a mortal
fever. It lasted for 15 days, but he continued to lead the prayers
until 3 days before his death, when he deputed Abu Bakr. At early
dawn on the last day of his earthly life, Muhammad came out from his
room beside the mosque and joined the public prayers, but later in
the day he died. The end came peacefully; murmuring of pardon and
the company of the righteous in Paradise, the Prophet of Islam
breathed his last, at the age of 63, on Rabi` Awwal 12, AH 11.
After
his death, his followers faithfully carried the message of Islam,
and within 90 years, the light of Islam reached Spain, North Africa,
the Caucasus, China, and India.
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