Life of Muhammad (570-632 CE)

Please read LR, pages 376-384.

Resources to Study the Life of Muhammad:

Most later biographers of Prophet Muhammad heavily rely on Ibn Ishaq (717-767 CE), Sirat Rasul Allah: The Life of Muhammad, translated by A. Guillaume, New York: Oxford University Press, 1980. Ibn Hisham, later, in 834 CE expanded the work of Ibn Ishaq.

“Qur’an” and “Hadith” are also good sources to reconstruct the biography of the Prophet Muhammad.

What is pbuh? And why? A prayer Muslims say every time they mention the prophet, “May God’s Peace Be Upon Him”, to honour the prophet.

Muhammad means, “Praise Worthy”! Muhammad is the best example 33:21; Muhammad (or the Qur’an) is a blessing for the universe 21:107! Muhammad is the barer of the Qur’an! Humanity of Muhammad – “just a mortal” 18:110. And in popular Islam Muhammad’s “sinless ness” is mentioned.

Meccan Period 570-622

Birth and Childhood – Belonged to the tribe of Quraish; Father Abdullah died before his birth and the mother Aminah when he was just six; his foster mother was Halimah; Abdul Muttalib, the grandfather cared for Muhammad after the death of his mother, and the grandfather died when he was only eight; Abu Talib, the uncle who was a leader of the Quraish and a merchant looked after him.

Muhammad as a Youth:

a. A Business Trip to Syria – at the age of twelve with his uncle! Encounter with Bahira, a Christian Monk at Busra (in Syria)!

b. Teenager and the battle of Fujjar – a local war broke out when Muhammad was only 15 years during the Hajj! Warring was forbidden during Hajj according to the Meccan tradition! War lasted four years and Muhammad considered war futile! Az Zubair, another uncle of Muhammad was responsible in establishing Hilf ul Fudul, Alliance for charity, to care for the “the oppressed, the poor, the needy”. Muhammad participated in this programme!

c. Young shepherd – Muhammad tended sheep while he was a boy! This provided with him a unique opportunity to contemplate! (You may want to think of other Hebrew prophets who were also shepherds – Moses, David, Amos, Jesus (?) – what about Buddha shepherding (?), Lord Krishna, the shepherd (?)).

Muhammad’s Marriage – Muhammad continued to help his uncle Abu Talib in the business! By now he earned his name as al Amin, an honest and upright young man!

a. Khadijah, a wealthy woman entrusted her business to Muhammad that ended in the Marriage. They had six children (some sources say five) two boys (some sources say one) and four girls, boys died before he became a PR. Daughters: Zainab, Ruqaiyyah, Umm Kulthum and Fatimah who married Ali.

b. Ā’isha, his “favoured” wife had played an important role in the history of early Islam.

Muhammad’s Search/Involvement in Religion:

a. Rebuilding of Kaba – Muhammad played an important role in that! By this time he was considered al Amin (trust worthy) and as Sadiq (the truthful)!

b. Search for truth – Muhammad was inclined “to think and meditate”, retreating into seclusion and solitude! Cave Hira was his favourite place! Perhaps, he was discontent with the existing social and political system! Blood shed, tribal disputes, and oppression of the poor bothered him much!

c. Muhammad’s Encounter with the Angel Gabriel: First Revelations – He was 40 years when he had a series of revelations beginning with 96:1-5 and 74:1-5. Waraqah ibn Nawful, an uncle of Khadijah, a Christian Monk, counselled Muhammad during this time!

d. Muhammad’s Mission:

First converts – Khadijah was perhaps the first convert. Ali, the son of Abu Talib was the next followed by Zaid, the son of Muhammad’s servant, Abu Bakr, a friend! He began to call the other Meccans too to the new faith! Some accepted!

Hostility begins – This begins with Abu Lahab, another uncle of Muhammad! 111:1-3. Opposition to Muhammad’s preaching takes the new movement into another stage! Muhammad was persecuted in Mecca! He, with his group, moved to Yathrib. It is generally accepted that this happened in 622 CE; with it the Islamic calendar begins.

‘Umar’s conversion is parallel to Paul’s conversion in early Christianity.

e. Muhammad’s Supper-Normal Experiences: Two “extra-ordinary” experiences of the PR that has become part of the Meccan period are:
“Transfiguration” of Muhammad - Angel Gabriel cleansing Muhammad’s “chest”!

Mi’rāj, Muhammad’s journey to heaven through Jerusalem! The traditional date for this is around 622 CE. You may want to remember three words: Mi’rāj, Isrā, and Burāq.

Medinan Period (622-632 CE)

Meccan Opposition:

a. The tribe of Quraish made several attempts to discourage Muhammad and his followers from adopting their newly found faith. Compromise too was suggested. But Muhammad was “uncompromising” as indicated in Sura 109 – “You have your religion, and I have mine”. This led to further intense persecutions – harassment, ridicule, torture, and false propaganda increased! At this point Muhammad advised those Muslims who felt “in-secured” to immigrate to Abyssinia. This leads to the spread of Islam!

b. The members of Quraish who were not Muslims made an official boycott of the Muslims who were particularly from Hashim and Muttalib clan!

c. And by now Muhammad was 50 years old and ten years have passed after his prophet hood established! Khadijah and his uncle Abu Talib, a strong supporter of the new movement have died. His invitation to the people in Taif, 60miles from Mecca, to join Islam was turned down while he was persecuted much there. Muhammad was “bruised, hurt, blood stained, yet never pronounced one word of curse for the people who had abused him”.

d. A mystical experience – al mi’raj – the ascent to the heaven! It was after that the five times prayers for Muslims was established and Muhammad continued his public preaching including during the time of Hajj.

e. his led to the conversion of some from Yathrib to Islam who enters into a covenant with Muhammad – these people pledged to Muhammad to follow the simple faith of early Islam - “to obey none but Allah (God), neither to steal nor commit adultery, neither to kill their children nor commit any evil, and not to disobey Allah”.

f. Eventually, there was a second covenant by which the Muslims of Yathrib (Medina) were to protect Muhammad and his followers in Mecca.

g. The Hijra:

Meccan Muslims were at this time encouraged to move to Medina. Muslims in Medina at this time were known as the Ansars (helpers) and the Muslims of Mecca who moved to Medina were known as Muhajjiruns (immigrants).

The Muslim perception is that Muhammad, himself left to Medina, only after God commanded him! And this was in the year 622 CE.

Yathrib became to be known as the city of the prophet – and Medina, the city! Ansars shared all what they had with the Muhajjiruns. And the cause of Islam began to grow in the new city.

h. Establishment of Umma:

Muslims were a cohesive community in Medina and they were organized further by the faith and practices of Islam that began to evolve through the “continuing” revelations that came to Muhammad!

Islam as a faith was now established with duties and responsibilities of Muslims outlined.

Islam was preached and battles were fought against those who opposed the Islamic cause – the battle of Badr, the battle of Uhud, the battle of Ahzab, and finally the conquest of Mecca.

i. Final Days of the Prophet:

The death of Muhammad was in 632 CE at the age of 63. He was a PR during the last 23 years of his life, receiving revelations from God.

Abu Bakr who was to lead the Muslim community after Muhammad spoke and said: “Surely he who worshipped Muhammad (pbuh) should know that Muhammad (pbuh) is dead, but hw who worshipped Allah should know that Allah is alive and never dies”.

Question to Explore:

Discuss the main events in the life of Muhammad that led to his emerging as a prophet.