A journey from an ordinary man to a Prophet
Muhammad was born in Mecca ( Makkah), Arabia, on Monday,2 August A.D. 570. His mother, 'Aminah', was the daughter of 'Wahb Ibn Abdu Manaf 'of the Zahrah family. His father, 'Abdullah', was the son of 'Abdul Muttalib'. His genealogy has been traced to the noble house of 'Ishmael'. Muhammad's father died before his birth.
Muhammad's father died before his birth and before he was even six years old his mother too died, and the orphaned Muhammad was put under the charge of his grandfather 'Abdul Muttalib' who took the most possible tender care of him. But the old chief too died two years later.After the death of his grandfather, authority in Mecca was divided among the ten senators who constituted the governing body of the Arabian Commonwealth. The Kaaba was surrounded by 360 idols, and every Arab house had its god. These idols were brought from all over the world. Thus people from all over the world visited Mecca, with lots of offerings for idols.But along the new governing body there was no safety of individual rights and property. Though family relations had some degree of protection , yet strangers were frequently were robbed, not only their goods, but even their wives and daughters.
Muhammad's grandfather on his deathbed he handed over his son 'Abu Talib' the charge of the little orphan.In his early years, Muhammad had to watch the flocks of his uncle, who had already lost the greater part of his wealth.
When Muhammad was twelve years old, he accompanied his uncle 'Abu Talib' on a mercantile journey to Syria, and they proceeded as far as Busra.
From youth to manhood he led an almost solitary life. During those days tribes had fierce fights in which many were killed and injured. The sudden outbursts of such bloody quarrels among the tribes naturally caused the feelings of pity and sorrow in the heart of the sensitive youth like Muhammed.
When Muhammad was twenty five years old, he traveled once more to Syria. But this time ,as a worker of a noble and rich women named "Khadijah' . She was a widow and got highly impressed with his faithfullness, honesty, and purity in heart that she happily offered herself to him as his wife. Khadijah was much the senior in age to Muhammed, but in spite of that the most tender devotion and love existed on both sides.
Until Muhammed reached thirty years of age, he was almost a stranger to the outside world.
When Muhammad reached thirty-five years, he settled a grave dispute, which threatened to plunge the whole of Arabia into a fierce,bloody wars, by his wise judgment . It so happened that in rebuilding the Sacred House of the Kaaba in A.D. 605, the question arose as to who should have the honor of raising the black stone (the most sacred of all the idols), into its proper place. Each tribe claimed that honor. The senior citizen advised the people that the first man to enter from a certain gate would decide. The proposal was agreed upon, and the first man who entered the gate was Muhammad. His advice satisfied all the contending parties. He ordered the stone to be placed on a piece of cloth and each tribe to share the honor of lifting it up by taking hold of a part of the cloth. The stone was thus deposited in its place, and the rebuilding of the House was completed without further interruption.
Muhammed was not only wise but was helpful to the needy and the helpless.He also helped his uncle 'Abu Talib' by undertaking the bringing up and education of his son 'Ali'. A year later he adopted 'Akil', another son of his uncle.
'Khadijah' bore Muhammad three sons and four daughters. All of their sons died in childhood, but in loving 'Ali' he found much consolation.
About this time, Muhammad set a good example of kindness, which created a salutary effect upon his people. His wife 'Khadijah' gave him a present of young slave named 'Zaid Ibn Haritha', who had been brought as a captive to Mecca and sold to 'Khadijah'. When 'Haritha' heard that Muhammad possessed the slave 'Zaid', he came to Mecca and offered a large sum for his ransom. Whereupon Muhammad said: "Let Zaid come here, and if he chooses to go with you, take him without ransom; but if it be his choice to stay with me, why should I not keep him?' Zaid, being brought into Muhammad's presence, declared that he would stay with his master, who treated him as if he was his only son. Muhammad no sooner heard this than he took Zaid by the hand and led him to the black stone of Kaaba, where he publicly adopted him as his son Hence Zaid was called the son of Muhammad.
Muhammad in his fortieth year was worried and thoughtful for humans of that age.His two visits to Syria had opened to him a scene of unutterable moral and social desolation. Arabian countries were facing extreme barbarism, addiction, superstitions, frequent and unsudden war, women had lost their respect, people were looted and killed,rivalry between different religious practice and belief and so on.
For years after his marriage, Muhammad had been accustomed to secluding himself in a cave in Mount Hira, a few miles from Mecca. To this cave he used to go for prayer and meditatiion. He was very concerned with his people's ignorance of the divine master, injustice, widespread social unrest,selfishness in humanity,women discriminated, rape, murder, loot,bloody war and violence among tribes and people of different faith and belief, abuse of tribal authorities prevalent in Pre-islamic arabia and so on. He was very hurt from within thus he spent hours, most of the time whole night he used to forget himself in prayers,deep thoughts and profound communion with the unseen devine master of the whole universe, 'Allaha'. It was during one of those night, when no human sympathy was near, an angel came to him to tell him that he was the Messenger of Allah sent to reclaim a fallen people to the knowledge and service of their Lord.
Muhammad would seclude himself in the cave of Mount Hira and worship three days and nights. He would, whenever he wished, return to his family at Mecca and then go back again, taking with him the necessities of life. Thus he continued to return to 'Khadijah' from time to time until one day the revelation came down to him and the Angel Gabriel appeared to him and said:
"Read!" But as Muhammad was illiterate, having never received any instruction in reading or writing, he said to the angel: "I am not a reader." The angel took a hold of him and squeezed him as much as he could bear, and then said again: "Read!" Then Prophet said: "I am not a reader." The Angel again seized the Prophet and squeezed him and said: "Read! In the Name of Your Lord, Who has created (all that exists), has created a man from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood). Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous, Who has taught (the writing) by the pen, has taught man that which he knew not." (Ch 96:1-4 Quran) Then the Prophet repeated the words with a trembling heart.
Perplexed by this new experience,he returned to 'Khadijah' from Mount Hira and said: "Wrap me up! Wrap me up!" She wrapped him in a garment until his fear was dispelled. He told 'Khadijah' , "I fear that something may happen to me". She replied: "Allah forbid! He will surely not let such a thing happen, for you speak the truth, you are faithful in trust, you bear the afflictions of the people, you spend in good works what you gain in trade, you are hospitable and you assist your fellow men. Then she arose and along with her husband went to her cousin 'Waraqa Ibn Naufal', who was old and blind and who knew the Scriptures of the Jews and Christians. Waraqah said: "O my nephew! What did you see?" When Muhammad told him what had happened to him. 'Waraqah' replied: "This is 'Namus' (meaning Gabriel or the holy spirit) that Allah sent to Moses. I wish I were younger. I wish I could live up to the time when your people would turn you out." Muhammad asked: "Will they drive me out?" Waraqah answered in the affirmative and said: "Anyone who came with something similar to what you have brought was treated with hostility; and if I should be alive until that day, then I would support you strongly."And he kissed him on the forehead. A few days later Waraqah died.
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