Muhammad ﷺ

Muhammad ﷺ

Muhammad ﷺ(Arabic: CE 570 – 8 June 632 CE) 

 was an Arabian religious and political leader. Muslims and Baha'is believe he was a messenger and a prophet of Allah (God). He is believed to be a descendant of Ishmael, a son of Abraham, and a seal to all prophets. He is seen as an example for all Muslims to follow.

History

Childhood

Muhammad ﷺwas born about 570 AD in Mecca. His father, whose name was Abdullah, died six months before Muhammad's birth. His mother, Amina, died when he was six years old. So, his grandfather, Abdul-Muttalib, took care of him after the death of Amina but unfortunately he too died two years later when Muhammad ﷺ was eight. After his grandfather's death, his uncle Abu Talib took care of him, and was a support to him for many years of his adult life.

Beginning of the Prophethood

In 610 AD, when Muhammad ﷺ was forty years old, he went for a walk to the mountain of Hira near Mecca. According to Muslims, the angel Jibrail (Gabriel) spoke with him in a cave on the mountain. The story says that when Muhammad ﷺ first saw the angel Gabriel, he fainted, because Gabriel was so large. This is what Jibrail said to Muhammad:

According to Muslim tradition, the mountain of Hira was the place where Jibrail first spoke to Muhammad

"Read... in the name of God Who made man from a drop of blood... God is Most Rewarding... He Who taught man to write with pen... and taught man what he knew not." Muhammad ﷺ went back home to his wife Khadijah, and told her what had happened. New revelations came to him commanding him to preach what was being sent down from God. When Muhammad ﷺ first started teaching, many of the people of Mecca, who worshipped idols, did not like the things that Muhammad ﷺ said. But there were also people who listened to his preaching and obeyed his messages. These people were the first of the followers of Islam. Leaders of Mecca punished and tortured the followers of Islam. Some followers of Islam were executed. Muhammad ﷺ resisted this and continued to teach Islam.

The Hijra

After Muhammad ﷺfinished in Mecca, he took his message to Medina, where some people learned about him and his followers. They welcomed him into their city, and Muhammad wanted them to convert to Islam. They agreed, and many of his followers went to Medina. This movement from Mecca to Medina is called the Hijrah. The Hijra was also the beginning of the Islamic calendar. Muhammad  stayed behind until all of his people left Mecca safely.

His Stay in Medina

Muhammad ﷺ and Abu Bakr arrived in Medina. Some people welcomed Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to their homes. He used his camel to show everyone where he would build his house. Also, the first mosque of Medina, a small place for prayer, was built in the back of this house.

The people in a strong Jewish tribe in Medina disagreed with the teachings and rules set by Muhammad. This tribe told their allies in Mecca to sell of all the things and homes that Muslims of Mecca left behind. The Muslims and those from Mecca were advised to fight for their property. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ told them not to do that.

Muslims were called all over Medina to gather at a mosque that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ prayed in. They were told to fight against the people of Mecca who burned down their homes and stole their property.

The Wars

The Quraysh pagans of Mecca heard about this, and they sent a larger army numbering 1000 warriors to fight the Muslims. They met in Badr, but the pagans were defeated and Abu Jahl, one of the pagan leaders, was also killed.

But, the Muslims lost the second battle at Uhud. One year after the fight at Badr, the army of Mecca had outside help. Muslim archers failed to listen to Muhammad's instructions and Khalid ibn al-Walid cleverly took advantage of that. Hamza, Muhammad's last uncle, was killed when a slave from Mecca threw a spear into his chest. Muhammad ﷺhimself was injured.

Then in 627, Abu Sufyan led the Quraysh and its allies to attack Medina itself. However, they could not pass the trench that the Muslims had dug around Medina. After several weeks, the coalition broke up and went home. The Medinians were considered victors.

Final Exit

Masjid al-Nabawi in Medina. Muhammad ﷺ is believed to be buried at the building with the green dome. It used to be his home when he was alive.

In 632 AD, on June 8, Muhammad ﷺ became very sick. Before he died, he told his followers about his death. He is buried in the chamber of his wife Aisha (RA) in Medina, where the Masjid al-Nabawi (Mosque of the Prophet) is. In Medina, his friend Abu Bakr went to the Masjid al-Nabawi and shouted to the people:

"If any of you worship Muhammad, you should know that Muhammad ﷺ is dead. But those of you who worship Allah (swt) (God), let it be known that Allah (swt) (God) is alive and cannot die."

Although Muhammad ﷺ died, Islam soon spread all over the Middle East. Then, centuries later, it continued till it reached Africa, Asia and Europe. Islam has become one of the world's biggest and fastest growing religions.

His Wives

list of his wives' names...

Khadijah bint Khuwaylid

Sawda bint Zamʿa

Aisha

Hafsa bint Umar

Zaynab bint Khuzayma

Umm Salama

Zaynab bint Jahsh

Juwayriyya bint al-Harith

Ramla bint Abi Sufyan

Safiyya bint Huyayy

Maymunah bint al-Harith

Maria al-Qibtiyya