Life and Importance of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.

W)
Birth and Childhood
• Prophet Muhammad was born on 12th Rabi ul awwal 570 AD. His father Abdullah had died before
his birth. His mother Aamina, named him Ahmed and his grandfather Abdul Muttalib named him
Muhammad
• According to the custom of Arabia, new born were raised by wet nurses, away from the busy cities.
Therefore, keeping with the local tradition, the infant Muhammad’s (P.B.U.H) upbringing was
entrusted to Halima Saadia, who belonged to the tribe of Banu Sa’ad . Great blessing and good
fortune surrounded Halima and her family as long as Muhammad (P.B.U.H) stayed with her, they
were never short of food; and their flock yielded milk in abundance. Muhammad (P.B.U.H) remained
with Banu Sa’ad for five years, where he learned pure Arabic dialect he took pride in it, he said, “Verily
I am the most perfect Arab amongst you; my descent is from Quraish and my tongue is the tongue
of the Banu Sa’ad.
• After two years Muhammad (P.B.U.H) was brought back to his mother but there was epidemic in
Makkah so she sent him back with Halima.
• When Muhammad (P.B.U.H) was about five years old, the Angel Gabriel came with another angel.
On this occaision, Prophet’s chest was opened and a clot of blood was taken out of his heart and it
was washed with Zam-Zam water. When Halima came to know about it, she got scared and returned
him to his mother.
• When Muhammad (P.B.U.H) was six years old, his mother took him to Madinah to visit the grave of
her husband. On their return journey she passed away at Abwa and was buried there.
• Umm Aimen, the slave girl brought Muhammad (P.B.U.H) to his grandfather Abdul Muttalib, who
brought him up with love and affection. When Muhammad (P.B.U.H) was eight years old, Abdul
Muttalib died, before his death he entrusted him to the care of his son Abu Talib. Abu Talib was very
kind to Muhammad (P.B.U.H); he was loving and affectionate his nephew. Allah says regarding this,
“Did he not find you an orphan and give you shelter (and care).” (Ad Dhuha 93:6) When he was a
boy, Muhammad (P.B.U.H) looked after the flocks of Abu Talib.
Meeting with Bahira
• At the age of twelve, Muhammad (P.B.U.H) accompanied Abu Talib on a trade journey to Syria. On
his way near Basra, he met a Christian monk named Bahira, who noticed the signs of prophethood in
him. He asked Abu Talib to take special care of his nephew and protect him. He also warned him not
to take the Prophet Muhammad to Syria as Jews would harm him. Therefore, Abu Talib sold his
merchandise at Basra and came back to Makkah.
Harb ul Fijar
• Between the years 580-590, a sacrilegious war broke out at the fair of Ukaz between the Quraish
and Hawazin tribes, despite the fact that war was forbidden during the Hajj season. Muhammad
(P.B.U.H) was 15 year old when he went to the battlefield. However he did not participate in actual
fighting, he helped by picking up stray arrows thrown by the enemy and giving them to his uncles. It
lasted for many years.
Half al Fadul
• Seeing the injustice and ravages of war, some tribes decided to form an alliance to protect the rights
of the oppressed and provide them with justice. For this purpose they assembled in the house of
Abdullah bin Jad’an , they agreed that if they found anyone either a native of Makkah, or an outsider
had been wronged they would help him against the aggressor till the stolen property was restored
to him. This alliance came to be called Half-al-Fudul (truce of Fudul). According to some it was named
after the names of the leading members of the alliance. Prophet Muhammad(P.B.U.H) was among
 those who attended the meeting with his uncle Zubair bin Abdul Mutlib and was so impressed by its
noble objectives that he remained loyal to it. Later on he said,” I was present in the house of
Abdullah bin Judan at so excellent a pact that I would not exchange my part in it for a herd of red
camels; and if now in Islam. I were summoned unto it, I would gladly respond’’
Youth and Titles:
• Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.h) led a virtuous life. He was considerate, kind, forbearing, patient, noble
hearted and a man of principles. He was honest and truthful and was known as “Sadiq” ( the Truthful
) and “Ameen” (the Trustworthy ) for these characteristics. Hazrat Sa’ad his busuness partner said:
“I was partner of Mohammad (P.B.U.H) in business. I always found him very honest in his dealings;
he never picked quarrels, nor made any false statement’’
On the occasion of the annual pilgrimage, Muhammad (P.B.U.H) used to supply water to the pilgrims
and look after their comforts. He was always fair and honest in his dealings.
Marriage :
• Khadijah bint Khuwalid, a wealthy widow in Makkah, had heard about the honesty of Muhammad
(P.B.U.H) and approached him for this purpose and sent her slave Maysera with him on a trade trip
to Syria.
Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) worked diligently and earned a great deal of profit. When they came
back, Maysera praised him for his honesty, Khadijah was very much impressed, and she proposed
marriage to him through her cousin Nafeesa, which he accepted after consultation with his uncle. At
the time of marriage in 595AD, Muhammad (P.B.U.h) was 25, while Khadijah was 40 years old. They
were blessed with four daughters; Ruqayyah, zaynab, Umm Kulthoom, and Fatimah and two sons
who died in infancy.
Fixing of the Black Stone
• When the Prophet was 35 year old, Quraish decided to repair Ka’bah, which had been damaged due
to floods. When the question of placing the nlack stone arose, a dispute started as every tribe was
eager to have the honour to install the black stone. The dispute was prevented by an elder who
suggested that the arbitration of the first person who entered the mosque the next morning should
be taken and all accepted the decision. Muhammad (P.B.U.H) happened to be the first person who
came to Ka’bah, and he accepted to arbitrate. Muhammad (P.B.U.H) placed the black stone in a sheet
and asked the leader of all tribes to lift it to the level where it was to be placed, and then he himself
deposited it in its place. Thus, Muhammad (P.B.U.H) was able to prevent a crisis with wisdom and
diplomacy, which could have led to bloodshed.
Meditation

3. (b) Why was his relationship with his wife Khadija important for him? [4]
• Khadija support of the Prophet financially and spiritually and being the first Muslim.
• Her support allowed him to spend time in seclusion.
• Seclusion prepared him for receiving revelations.
• Her maturity allowed her to console and believe in the Prophet when he received revelation

Call to Prophethood / First Revelation

• With age and growing understanding Hazrat Muhammad (P.B.U.H) became more aware of the
corrupt society around him and it disturbed him greatly. He could not believe the polytheistic ideas of
the pagans of Makkah and often thought of God of his forefathers, Ibrahim and Ismail. He realized that
there is a force of truth beyond this world which must have power and control over the whole universe.
 A few years before the conferment of prophethood, he became more and more fond of solitude. He
started retiring for days with a supply of dates, oatmeal and water into a cave in a mountain (Jabal e
Noor) outside Makkah, known as cave of Hira. There he pondered and mediated over the condition of
his people. These spells of loneliness and mediation became more frequent as he approached the age of
forty.
• One day towards the end of Ramadan in 610 AD, he was in the cave of Hira, when angel Jibrael
appeared before him and asked him to read. This was so sudden and unexpected that startled by the
strange voice, he answered’ “I cannot read”. Then he felt that he was being hugged and squeezed so
hard that he thought that he would die of suffocation. He was then released and the request to read
was repeated. “I cannot read”, said Muhammad (P.B.U.H) again. The angel again hugged him asked
him to read. Muhammad (P.B.U.H) was afraid of being squeezed a third time, so he asked: “What
shall I read?”
• The angel then recited the following verses.
“Proclaim (or read) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created. Created man, out of a
(mere) clot of congealed blood. Proclaim! And your Lord is most bountiful, He who taught (the use
of) the pen. Taught man that which he knew not” (96:1-5)
Muhammad (P.B.U.H) recited these verses after the angel and the words were imprinted on his mind.
This was the first revelation and the beginning of Prophethood of Hazrat Muhammad (P.B.U.H). He
was then forty years old.
• Muhammad (P.B.U.H was greatly shaken by this experience and he ran out of the cave. Suddenly, he
heard a voice and raising his head in the sky, he saw the same angel in the sky filling the whole horizon
and saying: “O Muhammad (P.B.U.H) , you are the messenger of Allah and I am Jibrael.” Whichever
way he looked, he saw the same vision and heard the same voice. He stood there until the angel
disappeared.
• After the experience he came home and narrated the incident to Hazrat Khadija. She comforted him
and assured him that no harm could come to a man of his nature and that Allah would protect him
from all evils. Then she took him to her cousin Waraqa bin Naufal, who was a blind scholarly person
and had embraced Christianity.
After hearing what had happened to her husband in the cave of Hira, he said that it was the angel
Jibrael who had always brought revelations to previous messengers of God. He also informed her
that his enemies would turn the new Prophet out of his city.
Preaching by the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H)
After the prophet received his first revelation in the cave of Hira, he only told his wife khadija and her cousin
Waraqa bin Nawfal, about the event. Khadija was the first to accept the message. Waraqa confirmed the
prophethood, and for some days there was a break in revelation which is known as Fatrah tul wahi.

1. Secret Preaching:
The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) passed this time in restlessness and anxiety, until one day, he saw angel Jibrael
again, in the sky seated on a chair. The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) became frightened and rushed home. He
asked Khadija to cover him up. She covered him up, after which he received another revelation which said:
“O you wrapped up (in a mantle)!
Arise and deliver your warning!
And your Lord do you magnify. (74: 1-3)
In obedience to the command of Allah, the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) invited his friends and relatives to the
religion of Islam. He preached to them the oneness of Allah and warned them of the consequences of
following their evil ways. But, he did not, at this stage, make any public announcement.
• The first person to believe in him was his wife, Khadija, who accepted his message without any
hesitation.
 • This was followed by the acceptance of Islam by ten years old, Ali, son of Abu Talib.
• The first freed slave to accept Islam was Zaid bin Haris.
• The first Person to become a Muslim outside the Prophet’s immediate family was his close friend,
Hazrat Abu Bakr, who invited many people to Islam and many prominent companions Muslim
through him.
• Khalid ibn Sa’id, a friend of Hazrat Abu Bakr, was guided through a dream in which he saw himself
being saved from fire by the Prophet. Hazrat Abu bakr R.A interpreted Khalid’s dream and he
accepted Islam.
Within a period of three years, while the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) was preaching his message in secret, about
forty righteous and God-fearing people accepted Islam. Among them were, Talha, Zubair, Jaffar, Usman
Abdur Rahman bin Auf, Sa’ad bin Abi Waqas and Abdullah bin Masud.
These early converts were the people who had witnessed the Prophet’s (P.B.U.H) private and public life very
closely and had arrived at the conclusion that such a gentle and honest person could not mislead the people.
The house of Hazrat Arqam became the first preaching centre of Islam, where the Prophet (pbuh) met these
early converts and taught them the revelations he received. Muslims prayed twice in a day and would often
go to the mountains outside Makkah to worship secretly.
• None of the Holy Prophet’s (P.B.U.H) uncles accepted Islam. Abu Talib gave protection to the Holy
Prophet . Abu Lahab believed that his nephew was self-deceived.

2. Preaching to Banu Hashim:

After the revelation of the verse, “And warn your nearest relatives.” (26:214)
• the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) called Hazrat Ali and asked him to prepare a meal and assemble the Banu
Hashim. Hazrat Ali R.A did what he was told and most of the clan of Hashim came to the meal, about
forty of them. After the meal Abu Lahab said to everyone, ‘Your host has placed a spell upon you’
and with that they dispersed before the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) could say more.
• The next day, the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) asked Hazrat Ali R.A to do the same and invited his kinsmen
for a meal; but this time he made sure he addressed them. ‘ O sons of Abd-ul-Mutalib ! Allah has
commanded me to call you unto Him. Which of you, then, will help me in this, and be my brother
and my successor?’
When no one responded, the young Hazrat Ali R.A spoke up and said, “O Prophet of Allah, I will be
your helper in this. I will fight him who fights you”.
• The men laughed at the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H), but from among the women, the Holy Prophet’s
(P.B.U.H) aunt, Safiyah, accepted Islam as her son Zubair had done. Umm-al-Fadl, the wife of the
Holy Prophet’s (P.B.U.H) uncle Abbas, and her sisters Maymunah, Salma, and Asma also came into
the faith.

3. Open Preaching:
Soon afterwards he received another revelation through which the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) was given the
order: “Expound openly what you are commanded and turn away from those who join false gods with
Allah.” (15:94)
• Following this command, the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) assembled the people of Makkah at the Safa hill
and said to them: “O Quraish, if I were to tell you that a large army has gathered on the other side
of his mountain and is ready to attack you, would you believe me?” They all said that they would,
since they had never heard him tell a lie. But when he asked them to believe in one Allah and his
Prophethood, they became angry and some of them shouted: “You have gone mad”.
• Abu Lahab, one of his uncles, said, ‘may you perish forever, did you call us for such a thing?’. The
Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) was shocked at the harsh response and the rejection by the Makkans. Allah
comforted him by revealing the following verses regarding the punishment awaiting Abu Lahab: ‘May
the hand of Abu Lahab perish, doomed he is. His wealth and his properties shall not safe him; he
shall be thrown into a flaming fire of hell.’(111:1-3)
After this, all of them dispersed.
The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) now started to address the people in public and private gatherings and on
approach routes to Makkah which were used by pilgrims to the Holy city. His efforts were successful and
people started embracing Islam. After this event the prophet and his followers had to face persecutions
which continued until they migrated to Madina.

3.(b) Was it significant that the Prophet began preaching the message in secret?
• yes, it was significant because the message was new and so the Prophet and his closest followers
needed time to get used to it.
• Also, they did not know how the Quraysh would react so it was better to wait until they had some
strength in numbers before openly preaching.
• It was also better to wait until they were guided by God to preach Islam openly as the Prophet (pbuh)
always followed divine instructions.
• It symbolises the importance of Spiritual and Mental Jihad. While they were secretly preaching, they
capitalised on their intellect, character and habits. It was the secret preaching due to which
Muhammad (PBUH) garnered support that lifted Islam.

Migration to Abyssinia

• The Persecution and hostilities of the Quraish started slowly but by the middle of fifth year of
prophethood/615 AD, they became intense. Some of prophet’s followers were persecuted to death
e.g Sumayya and her husband Yasir.
It was at this time that surah az-Zumar was revealed: “Good is for those who do good in this world,
and Allah’s earth is spacious. Only those who are patient shall receive their rewards in full, without
reckoning.”(39:10)
After this revelation, the Prophet allowed the Muslim converts to migrate to Abyssinia, where the
King Ashamah, who held the title of Negus(Najashi), was a just man.
• The first group of Muslims who migrated were a group of 12 men and 4 women, including the
Prophet’s (P.B.U.H) daughter Ruqayyah and her husband Hazrat Usman. After a long journey , they
reached the capital, Aksum, where they were received warmly and given freedom to live and practice
their religion.
• That same year in the month of Ramadan, the Prophet (P.B.U.H) was by the Ka’aba when he started
to recite the verses of Surah al-Najam, as they were revealed to him, in the presence of many
idolaters. The Impact of the word of Allah was such that, spellbound, they fell in prostration. News
of this event was mis-reported in Abyssinia, and the migrants, led to believe that the whole of Makkah
had accepted Islam, made their way back. On reaching back Makkah, they realized that the news was
not true. The Quraish had heard reports about the good treatment to the migrants whilst in Abyssinia
and, in their fury, they redoubled their persecutions.
• Seeing the plight of the Muslims, the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) allowed them a second migration. This
time the group leaving Makkah was large. There were 83 men and 19 women who secretly made the
journey led by the Prophet’s (P.B.U.H) cousin Jafar ibn Abu Talib. They included Hazrat Sawdah and
her husband Sakran, Zubair, Abu Ubaidah bin Jarrah, Abdur Rehman bin Auf etc.
• The leaders of the Quraish, rather than celebrating the departure of these Muslims from Makkah,
were furious and determined that they should not be left in peace to settle and, perhaps, even
increase their number by preaching Islam in Abyssinia. Hence, they planned to send a delegation of
two men, Amr bin Aas and Abdullah bin Rabiyya, with some gifts to the king to request him to hand
over the emigrants to them. The sole purpose of this two-man delegation was to slander the faith of
Islam in the eyes of the Christian King Negus.
 They appealed to the generals first and then to Negus himself, saying: “Some foolish young men and
women of our people have taken refuge in this kingdom. They have left their own religion, not for
your, but for one they have invented, one that is unknown to us and to yourselves. We beg you
to restore them (to their elders)”
• Negus, being a just ruler, asked the Muslims to explain themselves before he reached a decision
about whether or not he would return them to the Quraish. Jafar ibn Abu Talib, who was an eloquent
speaker, stepped forward and answered:
✓ “O King! We were ignorant people and we lived like wild animals. The strong among us lived by
preying upon the weak. We obeyed no law and we acknowledged no authority save that of brute
force. We worshipped idols made of stone or wood, and we knew nothing of human dignity.
✓ And then God, in His Mercy, sent to us His Messenger who was himself one of us. We knew about
his truthfulness and his integrity. His character was exemplary, and he was the well-born of the
Arabs.
✓ He invited us toward the worship of One God, and he forbade us to worship idols. He exhorted us
to tell the truth, and to protect the weak, the poor, the humble, the widows and the orphans. He
ordered us to show respect to women, and never to slander them. We obeyed him and followed
his teachings.
✓ Most of the people in our country are still polytheists, and they resented our conversion to the
new faith which is called Islam. They began to persecute us and it was in order to escape from
persecution by them that we sought and found sanctuary in your kingdom.”
• When Negus asked for an example of the Prophet’s (P.B.U.H) message, Jafar choose well and recited
Surah Maryam, verses 17-26, about Hazrat Maryam the mother of the Prophet Isa nad his miraculous
birth without a father.
It is said that when Jafar finished, the recitation, Negus and his entire court had tears in their eyes.
Negus said:
"By God this and Gospel are the lights of one candle".
Thereafter he returned the gifts, sent by the leaders of the Quraish and told them that even if they
offered him a mountain of gold, he would not hand over the people who had sought his refuge.
• When the envoys of the Quraish came back to Makkah unsuccessful, it infuriated the Quraish and
they intensified their persecutions of the believers remaining in Makkah. It was at this time that the
Prophet’s uncle Hazrat Hamza and Hazrat Umar ibn al-Khattab entered the fold of Islam.

4. (b) Why did the people of Makka pursue these Muslims? [4]
• The Makkans wanted to destroy the new faith, as it threatened their own religious and economic
stability and therefore, did not want the Muslims to escape and for Islam to flourish.
• The Makkans had fears due to the increasing number of Muslims and the this migration encouraged
those to accept Islam who previously feared persecutions.
• They wanted to bring emigrants back and persecute them in order to discourage others from
accepting Islam.
• The success of this Migration was a threat to their political leadership in Arabia. This migration also
threatened their economic prosperity.
4(b) What was the importance of making this migration at that time? [4]
• The migration to Abyssinia was a significant event which can be described at the first major political
move taken by the Holy Prophet pbuh..
• The migration to Abyssinia made the feelings of unity among Muslims stronger;
• the emigration to Abyssinia gave the Muslims a chance to carry the message of Islam further and
out of Arabia.
• The migration provided practical training during the Holy Prophet’s pbuh lifetime for the
establishment of a Muslim society in which the Prophetpbuh did not live.
 • The Muslims came to know that there were places where they could seek shelter and protection
from the persecution of the Quarish.
It ultimately gave birth to the idea of a greater migration to Madina.

Boycott of Banu Hashim

• After the acceptance of Islam by Hazrat Hamza and Hazrat Umar, the Quraish came under pressure from
Abu Jahl to take action against the growing popularity of Islam and the courage the Muslims were now
showing in the practise of their faith. In the seventh year of prophethood the Quraish mounted pressure
on Abu Talib the chief of the Clan of Banu Hashim that he should abandon his nephew and surrender him
to their custody. But when he refused, they decided to impose a ban on the entire clan of Banu Hashim
which, with the exception of Abu Lahab, was committed to protecting Hazrat Muhammad (P.B.U.H)
whether or not they believed him to be a Prophet.
• According to terms of ban, which was placed inside the Ka’ba, no one would marry a Hashimi woman or
give his daughter in marriage to a Hashmi; no one was to sell or buy anything from them. This was to
continue until the Banu Hashim themselves renounced Hazrat Muhammad (P.B.U.H) or until he renounced
his claim to prophethood.
• The agreement was duly written and hung on Ka’bah. Members of Banu Hashim (Muslim as well as non-
Muslim) were compelled to retire to a narrow gorge called Shib Abu talib in the outskirts of Makkah, which
was the property of Abu Talib. The boycott lasted for three years i.e 7th to 10th year of prophethood
(616AD-619AD) during which Banu Hashim suffered a lot. They lived in dire condition and face starvation.
The pagans did not allow anyone to deliver food or other necessities to them. Crying of the children due
to hunger and starvation could be heard outside the gorge. They were forced to eat grass and leaves of
trees.
• Sometimes some relatives would flout the ban and smuggle food inside the gorge. For instance, Hakim ibn
Hazim was once caught by Abu Jahl, trying to smuggle in a sack of wheat to his aunt Khadija R.A. The
besieged could leave the gorge in the season of Hajj. The Boycott strengthened the faith of the Muslims.
They were more determined than ever to see their mission successful.
• Finally, after Three years, the ban was lifted in the month of Muharram when hashim bin Amr one of the
Quraish who used to smuggled food to the Banu Hashim, went to Zuhayr, one of the Prophet’s (P.B.U.H)
cousin, to protest about the ban and its effects on the besieged kinsmen. The two men won the support
of others. They met at the Ka’aba and swore not to give up until the ban was torn up. Abu Jahl and one or
two others, who opposed this action, now realised that would be futile to resist any longer. After much
discussion they decided to lift the ban and when they went to take out the document, they found that the
termite had already eaten it up and only the name of Allah was left on it.

The Year of Sorrow

The year 619 AD was a year of deep grief for the Prophet (P.B.U.H). A few months after the lifting of ban, his
beloved wife Hazrat Khadija R.A passed away. It was soon after Hazrat Khadija R.A passing away that
Prophet’s (P.B.U.H) uncle Abu fell ill. The clan leaders came to honour him and asked him if he could arrange
a compromise between his nephew and themselves. The Quraish leaders, in their effort to reach a
compromise with the Prophet (P.B.U.H), suggested that they should practise both religions. Before the
Prophet could formulate a response, he received the Sura Kafirun as a divine answer. “You have your religion
and I have my religion.” [109:6] . The meeting failed and broke up. Soon afterwards, Abu Talib passed away.
With his death, the leadership of the Banu Hashim passed over to Abu Lahab, who was one of the Prophet’s
(P.B.U.H) most violent opponents.

Visit to Taif
 • After the death of Abu Talib, the Quraish increased their attacks against the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H).
This new situation meant that he could no longer stay in Makkah with any hope of victory. Before
things became too critical, he had to explore new avenues in his search for support. So, accompanied
by his adopted son, Zaid bin Hartih, he set out for Taif, a town about 60 miles from Makkah, to preach
Divine Message to its people.
• Taif was populated by Banu Saqeef, this second largest tribe in Arabia. As he began his journey, he
was full of hope that if they responded favourably it would signify a new phase in the history of Islam.
In Taif the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) approached three chiefs calling upon them to believe in Allah and
support him in his efforts to establish Islam; but none gave him a favourable response and asked him
to leave the town. Prophet (P.B.U.H) did not lose heart and started to preach Islam to common people
of Taif which continued for ten days.
• When the chiefs came to know about this, they were infuriated and set upon him a crowd of
teenagers and slaves, who not only abused him but also threw stones at him. He was so badly
wounded that his shoes were filled with blood. Zaid tried hard to defend and protect him from the
stones. In trying to shield the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H), his head was badly wounded. The mob followed
them until they were driven to the outskirts of the city.
• The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) then sought refuge in an orchard that belong to two brothers who
although opposed to Islam and to the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H), felt sorry for him. They sent their
Christian slave with a bunch of grapes for him.
• At that time the Angel Gabriel appeared and addressed him saying: “Allah has heard what your
people said to you, and how they have replied to you. Allah has sent the angel of the Mountains to
you so that you may order him to do whatever you wish to these people.”
The Angel of the Mountains then appeared and said, “O Muhammad! Order what you wish. If you
like, I shall cause mountains surrounding Al-Ta’if, to fall upon them, and crush them into pieces.”
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied, “Why should I pray for their
destruction, for I hope that there shall be among their children those who will worship Allah alone,
and will worship none besides Him.”
He prayed, “O Allah forgive them and guide them … for they know me not.”
Afterwards, the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) set out on his journey back to Makkah.
• Before entering Makkah, the Prophet (P.B.U.H) tried to seek the protection of many influential men
but was turned down. He finally sought protection from Mut’im, the chief of Nawfal. The next day,
fully armed and accompanied by his sons and cousins, he escorted Prophet (P.B.U.H) to the Ka’aba
and announced to protect him.

3 (b) How can Muslims apply in practice the lessons learnt from the Prophet’s behaviour in this
situation? [4]
• The Prophet did not give up his faith in times of difficulty, despite few conversions and losing his
wife and uncle, but rather he persevered.
• Muslims should learn to persevere in times of difficulty, when they have lost family members
or they are living in difficult circumstances in their community;
• the Prophet did not curse or wish the worst for those people who had treated him so badly, but
rather prayed for them.
• So Muslims now should not get angry and wish bad things towards those who insult them, but
should try to do or say good things for them.

Persecutions and Difficulties in Makkah

Prophet (P.B.U.H)
 • The Prophet pbuh proclaimed the message of Islam openly on the mount of Safa after the divine
command for open preaching of Islam in 613 AD,
“Expound openly what you are commanded and turn away from those who join false gods with Allah.”
[15:94]
He was rejected by the gathering specially his uncle Abu Lahab cursed him. After this event he had to face
stiff opposition and both physical and mental persecutions. The influential people of Makkah like Abu Jahl,
Abu Lahab, Abu Sufyan etc became his enemies. The opposition increased gradually.
• The Quraish wanted to discredit Prophet (P.B.U.H)and his teachings in front of them and so came to the
decision that they would call him a magician who was so powerful that he could separate son from father,
brother from his brother, wife from her husband, and man from his clan.
The Quraish started to ridicule, degrade, and belittle the believers as well as the Prophet (P.B.U.H) himself
to demoralize them. They said that the Prophet (P.B.U.H) was mad and the he practised witchcraft.
• His uncle Abu Lahb called him “abtar” at the death of his second son. At that time Allah consoled and
comforted him with Surah al Kauthar and declared that his enemies were “abtar”. “For he who hates you,
he will be cut off.” [108:3 ] .
After the revelation of Surah Lahab , Abu Lahab also forced his sons Utba and Utaiba to divorce the
Prophet’s daughter Ruqayya and Umm-e-Kalsoom. Abu Lahb’s wife Umm-e-Jamil used to throw thorny
bushes in the path which the Prophet pbuh was expected to take.
• They also persecuted him physically. Once Abu Jahl threw camel’s intestines on him when he was
prostrating in prayer, his daughter Hazrat Fatima removed it from him. Once Utba tried to strangle him
when he was praying near the Kaabah. An old woman regularly pelted him with rubbish on his way to
prayer.
• The pagans of Makkah also tried to bribe him by offering him wealth, leadership and even promised to
marry him with the fairest girl if he abandoned the preaching of Islam. The prophet pbuh rejected all such
offers and said, “O Uncle! Even if they place the sun in my right hand and the moon on my left, to force
me to renounce my mission, I would not stop until Allah fulfills my mission or destroys me in the
process.” ‘Hearing this, Abu Talib said to him, ‘Go and preach what you please for, by Allah, I will not
forsake you.”
• The Prophet pbuh and his family were boycotted for three years i.e., from 7th till 10th year of prophet hood
and were forced to live in a narrow valley outside Makkah which is also known as Shib-e-Abu Talib. It was
a time of difficulties and hardships but the Prophet pbuh remained steadfast.
• They also came up with another proposal that he should worship their gods and in return they would
worship his God. Prophet told them that there would be no compromise as Allah guided him to declare,
“You have your religion and I have my religion.”[109:6]
• After Abu Talib’s death, he visited Taif for preaching Islam but people of banu Saqeef persecuted him
mercilessly. The makkans plotted to assassinate him, which forced him to migrate to Madina.

FOLLOWERS:
• For the first few years the Prophet (pbuh) preached the message in secret. Initially only a handful of
Muslims accepted Islam, the main ones being Khadija, Zaid, ‘Ali and Abu Bakr, who in turn brought many
people to Islam including, ‘Uthman, Zubair ibn Awwam, and Talha. Other early converts were Bilal, Abu
‘Ubaida, Abu Salamah. Prayer was established morning and evening. They would pray and practise their
faith in secret, often praying in the mountains.
• The Prophet pbuh proclaimed the message of Islam openly on the mount of safa after the divine command
for open preaching of Islam in 613 AD,
“Expound openly what you are commanded and turn away from those who join false gods with Allah.”
[15:94]
 He was rejected and after this event, period of persecutions and difficulties started for the prophet
pbuh and his followers especially the poor and the weak.
• Another victim of the cruelty of Quraish was Ammar bin Yasir (R.A), a freed slave of Banu Makhzum,
who had accepted Islam in its early days along with his parents. They were repeatedly made to lie on
the burning sand and beaten. At times, Ammar was also thrown on burning embers.
• His parents Sumayya and Yasir were persecuted to death by Abu Jahl when they refused to abandon
their faith. They were the first martyrs of Islam.
• Bilal bin Rabah (R.A) was the slave of Ummayah ibn Khalaf was severely beaten by his master.
Sometimes, a rope was put around his neck and he was dragged by street boys around the streets
and hiss of Makkah. He was deprived of food and drink, and one day during its hottest hour, he was
bound and a heavy stone was put on his chest. He was then asked to renounce his faith, but he kept
repeating ‘One, One’ to honour the oneness of Allah. Hazrat Abu Bakr was passing by and, moved by
the sight, he purchased Bilal from his master and freed him.
Not only the poor and the weak but the rich and the noble Muslims were also persecuted.
• Once Abu Bakr(R.A) was pulled by his beard and was dragged through the streets of Makkah for
protecting the Prophet pbuh.
• Usman(R.A) was wrapped in palm leaves and set fire to by his uncle; Khabab bin al-Arat was made to
lie on burning coal with a rock on his chest.
• Harith bin Abi Hala(R.A) was also killed by the Makkans when he was trying to protect the Prophet
against his enemies.
• Zinra (R.A), a Roman slave girl was beaten and made blind by her master.
• Suhaib Rumi(R.A) was beaten so badly that he became unconscious,
• Khubaib -bin--Arat(R.A), a blacksmith was branded by his own tools; his body was burnt badly as
they threw him on burning coal.
• Abdullah bin Masud(R.A) was persecuted mercilessly when he recited the Quran loudly near the
Kaaba.
The poor and the weak Muslims were deprived of their possessions and their means of livelihood were
taken away.
• Due to the severity of the persecutions, the Prophet (pbuh) told the believers to meet secretly at Dar
al-Arqam, In 5th year of prophet hood/615AD the Prophet (S.A.W) permitted some of his followers
specially the poor and the weak, to migrate to Abyssinia to the protection of the Christian king Negus.
The Quraish followed them and demanded Negus to send them back. He called the emigrants and
after listening to the speech of Jafar bin Abu Talib, he refused to send them back and the Makkans
had to return unsuccessfully.
• The Prophet pbuh and his family Banu Hashim were boycotted for three years i.e., from 7th till 10th
year of prophethood and were forced to live in a narrow valley outside Makkah which is also known
as Shib-e-Abu Talib. It was a time of difficulties and hardships but they remained steadfast. They were
not allowed to worship at the Kaaba.

Isra wa Miraj (Night Journey and Ascension)

Intro:
• Isra and Miraj took place on 27 Rajab, 11thyear of prophethood. By Allah’s will, Holy Prophet
(pbuh) was taken from the sacred mosque in Mecca to the farthest mosque, Masjid al Aqsa
in Jerusalem In one night. On his way, he was shown some signs of Allah and he also
performed prayer at some important places. The first part of the journey is referred as “Isra,”
or the “Nightly Journey.” The Quran describes this event in these words,
 “Glory to Him who took his servant for a journey by night from the sacred mosque to the
farthest mosque whose precincts We blessed. In order that We might show him some of our signs; for
He is the one who hears and sees.” [17:1]

Isra :
• According to a hadith, Prophet (pbuh) said, “while I was lying in al-Hateem, suddenly someone
came to me and cut my body open ….. Then he took out my heart. Then a gold tray full of beliefs
was brought to me and my heart was washed and was filled and then returned to its original
place. Then a white animal which was smaller than a mule and bigger than a donkey was brought
to me( It was Burraq). I was carried on it and Jibrael set out with me”.
• It took him to Jerusalem; Prophet (pbuh) tied the animal to the same ring on the door of Masjid
Aqsa used by the other Prophets for their animals. The Prophet (pbuh) offered two
Rakk’ahsprayer over there and led all the Prophets .Gabriel then brought two vessels; one was
filled with wine and the other with milk. The Prophet (pbuh) chose the vessel filled with milk, and
drank from it. Gabriel said, “Praise be to Allah who guided you to Al-Fitra (the right path).

Miraj:
• The Prophet (pbuh) again rode the Buraq till he reached the lowest heaven. When Jibrael asked for
the gate to be opened, it was asked, “Who is it?”. Jibrael answered, “Jibrael”. It was asked,” Who is
accompanying you?” .Jibrael replied, “Muhammad (pbuh)”. It was asked, “Has Muhammad (pbuh)
been called?”. Jibrael replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, “He is welcomed. What an excellent
visit his is.”
• The gate was opened and on the first heaven Prophet(pbuh) saw prophet Adam sitting with a large
group of people. Those on his left were the souls of his descendants who were the inhabitants of
Hell, while those on his right were the inhabitants of Paradise. So when he looked at right side, he
laughed and when he looked at his left side, he wept. The Prophet greeted Hazrat Adam. On second
heaven he met prophet Yahya and prophet Isa. On third heaven Prophet Yusuf. On the fourth
Prophet Idrees. On the fifth prophet Haroon. On the sixth prophet Musa and on the seventh he met
prophet Ibrahim.
Then came a point where angel Jibrael left the Prophet (pbuh), as he was not allowed to go beyond
for his wings would burn. This point is called Sidra-tul-Muntaha.
• The Prophet(pbuh) went ahead alone and finally, he entered the presence of Allah himself. Here the
last verses of surah-tul-Baqarah were revealed, and Allah promised that the major sins of his
followers would be forgiven, if they did not commit shirk.
• It is narrated that during Mairaj the Prophet (P.B.U.H) had the opportunity to see Malik the keeper
of Hell. He saw Paradise and Hell, and the two rivers of Paradise, Kauthar being one of them. Fifty
prayers a day were made obligatory for the Muslims.

Return:
• On his return, the Prophet (P.B.U.H) informed Moses (P.B.U.H) about fifty prayers, Moses told him
to have the prayers reduced, as his people would not be able to offer these. The Prophet (P.B.U.H)
went back to Allah and the numbers were reduced by ten. Again, Moses (P.B.U.H) urged him to have
the number reduced, which he did until it came down to five daily prayers. Moses again urged the
Prophet (P.B.U.h) to go back and have the number further reduced but he refused saying “I have
asked my Lord till I am ashamed to face him”. (Sahih Bukhari)
 • When Prophet(pbuh) returned, the lock on his door was still moving as it was when he left his house.
When Prophet (pbuh) narrated this event to Quraish, they made fun of him but when Prophet told
them of trade caravan that he had seen on his way, his truthfulness was proved. Hazrat Abu Bakr
believed and testified this experience and was given the title of Siddiquei.e “testifier to the truth.”.

(b) What was the significance of this journey to the Prophet? [4]
• The Prophet (pbuh) had been through a period of difficulty and this event made him realise that God
had not left him.
• It allowed him to see what he, and all Muslims, should be striving for which gave him renewed
strength.
• He realised his status amongst prophets (as seal of the prophets), he led them in prayer), and
realised the blessings God had given his community (by giving the five prayers), which gave him
renewed hope in his message and he began to work towards better prospects for him and his
community.
• It was one of the main miracles other than the Qur’an.

Pledges of Aqabah and surrounding events

• Soon after Abu Talib’s death conditions became unfavorable for the Prophet in Makkah because his
worst enemy Abu Lahab became the chief of Quraish, which meant that the prophet had no clan protection.
He decided to go to Taif to invite the people of Banu Saqeef tribe to Islam. He was accompanied by his freed
slave and adopted son,Zaid bin Harith. He invited the 3 chiefs of the local tribes to Islam. They rejected his
message and asked him to leave the town. He started preaching to the common people of the town. The
chiefs became furious and asked their slaves and mischievous boys to drive him out of the town. They abused
him and hurled stones at him. He was so severely injured that the blood trickled down his body and filled his
shoes. He took refuge in an orchard . Angel Jibrail appeared with the angel of mountains and offered him to
destroy the town but he forgave them and prayed for their guidance.
• The Holy Prophet returned from Taif to Makkah and resumed his preaching. He had started preaching
to the pilgrims who came to Makkah each year. In the eleventh year of prophet hood (620A.D)six pilgrims
from the tribe of khazraj in Yasrib Came to Makkah. They embraced the faith after hearing the teaching of
Islam by the prophet. When they went back to Yasrib they introduced Islam to their friends and relatives.
Thus the message of Islam reached Yasrib.
• Later in 12th year of prophet hood/ 621 AD twelve persons,two of whom belonged to the Aws clan,
met the Holy Prophet and accepted the faith and pledged to abstain from all the un-Islamic practices i.e
stealing, adultery, killing their children, slandering or disobeying the prophet etc and to lead a righteous life
believing in one Allah. In this first Pledge of Aqabah they vowed: “We pledge our allegiance to the
Messenger of Allah that we would associate nothing with Allah, that we would neither steal, nor commit
fornication, nor slay our offspring, not utters slanders; and that we would not disobey him in that which
is right.”
These people promised to spread Islam in Yasrib and the Holy Prophet sent Musab bin Umair with them to
preach Islam to the residents of the city. This pledge is also known as “pledge of women”(Bait e Nisa) because
fighting was not mentioned in it.
• In 13th year of prophet hood (622A.D) a deputation consisting of 73 men and 2 women came from
Yasrib to take the same Pledge. This is called the second Pledge of Aqabah. They promised to listen and obey
the Prophet, to spend in plenty as well as in scarcity for the cause of Islam, to enjoin upon good and forbid
evil, fear no one but Allah and to defend the Prophet against his enemies if he needed and to lay down their
lives for the cause of Islam. They also invited the Prophet to Yasrib and pledged full support for him. Here,
Bara, a chieftain of Yathrib, took the Prophet (P.B.U.H) and swore: “By Him who sent you with the truth,
we will protect you as we protect them (our wives and children). So accept the pledge of our allegiance,
O Messenger of Allah, for we are men of war, possessed arms that have been handed down from father
to son.” The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) replied: “I am yours and you are mine. Whom you war against, him I
war against. Whom you make peace with, him I make peace with.”
• When the unbelievers came to know of these developments they redoubled their persecution, so the
Prophet allowed his companions to secretly migrate to Yasrib and family after family left in this manner. All
the companions were able to migrate except Hazrat Abu Bakr and Hazrat Ali.
• Mut’im, the Nawfal chieftain who had become Hazrat Muhammad’s protector from the time of the
Taif incident, passed away soon after the second pledge of Aqabah; with his death, the Prophet (P.U.H.H)
was once more vulnerable to the violence of the Quraish. Abu Jahal now perfected a plot to murder him.
The Quraish held a meeting in the council hall,“Dar-un-Nadwa” where it was decided that one person from
each tribe should be selected who would simultaneously attack the Prophet and kill him. Abu Lahab, now
the chief of the Banu Hashim, was not informed of this plan, but the understanding was that he, being a
strong opponent of Islam and the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H), would accept the blood money and settle the
issue.
The prophet was informed of this plan of his enemies by Allah and was told to leave Makkah that same night:
“Remember how the unbelievers plotted against you, to keep you in bonds or slay thee, or get you out (of
your home).They plot and plan, and Allah too plans, But the best of planners is Allah.”
The Holy Prophet asked Ali to sleep in his bed, and then he quietly left the house unnoticed. Accompanied
by Abu Bakr, he made his way to Yasrib.

3(b) In your view, why should Muslims provide a safe haven for others? Give reasons for
your answer. [4]
• They should provide a safe haven for people who are fleeing persecution, such as those fleeing the war
in Afghanistan / Syria etc. and their governments should provide shelter and basic facilities for them.
• It is from the teachings of Islam to care for others and to provide the basic needs of fellow human beings.
• Muslims could also provide a safe haven for those who have lost their families, especially children who
are now orphaned, whether it be due to war or famine or natural disasters.
• Providing homes and shelter for them would allow them to start a new life much like Muslims of Makka
started a new life due to the invitation of the Madinans.
• Also, the Prophet said that the person who looks after an orphan will be with him in paradise.