Life of the Prophet (PBUH)

image

BIOGRAPHY OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD (PBUH) PART 1

 

The Prophet Mohammed was born on 12th of Rabi’ al- Awwal or otherwise known as 571 AD. His parent’s names were Aminah bint Wahab and Abdullah ibn Abd al-Muttalib. Aminah was from the clan of Banu Zuhrah and Abdullah ibn Abd al -Muttalib was from the Banu Hashim clan.  The prophet’s father was from the Quraysh tribe which was the most powerful tribe in Mecca at the time. The people from Quraysh were very active in politics and they were polytheists. The prophet's father died before his birth and his mother died when he was only 6 years old. During the prophet’s infancy, he was breastfed by 3 women: Halima bin Saidiyah, Ummu Ayman, Thuwayba. He was raised by his uncles and grandfather. Since the prophet's family was very poor he started working in a camel caravan that has traveled in many of the surrounding areas and all the way to Syria when he fulfilled the expectations of the reputation he carried as al-Ameen (Trustworthy). One of the merchants he was working for was a woman by the name of Khadija who was 15 years older than him. As she became attracted to the genuine character of the prophet, she sent out a marriage proposal and he accepted. Their marriage lasted for 25 years and was a happy one in which they never fought or argued. Prophet Mohamed (swt) loved and relied upon Khadija and did not enter a marriage with another woman during his first marriage. After many years of marriage, they only had one kid that has remained to become an adult was Fatima who later marries Ali ibn Abi Talib.

 

An incident indicating the level of respect and honor that Prophet Mohamed had within the Quraysh tribe is evident in the incident that occurred when setting the Black Stone in place in the wall of the Kaabah. The Black Stone had been removed to facilitate renovations to the Kaaba and the leaders of Mecca could not agree on which clan should have the honor of setting the Black Stone back in its place. They agreed to wait for the next man to come through the door and ask him to choose. That man who walked through the door was Prophet Mohamed and the leaders were happy since they knew that he would be just in whatever decision that he made. He asked for a cloth and put the Black Stone in its center and had a representative from each clan hold the cloth. The clan leaders held the corners of the cloth and together carried the Black Stone to the right spot; then Prophet Muhammad set the stone in place, satisfying all who were present.

 

Before revelation was sent to Prophet Mohamed, he would seek solitary in a cave Hira where he would worship the religion of his grandfather Prophet Ibrahim. He would immerse himself in contemplation and meditation for long periods of time.

 

He was in Cave Hira when one day the Angel Jibreel appeared before him commanding him to “read” even though the prophet was illiterate and could not read, and he also brought him the tidings that God had chosen him to be His Last Messenger to this world. The prophet descended from the cliffs of Hira and rushed to his home in a state of fear. He was shivering with cold, and when he entered his house. He asked his wife, Khadija, to cover him with a blanket which she did. She asked him what happened and he recounted to her the story of what had happened to him in the cave. Khadija comforted him and eased his heart by letting him know that Allah would not forsake him due to the good person he was. She then took the prophet to her cousin, Warqah, who had knowledge of the Christian religion who informed the prophet that he is the last prophet that is spoken about in their book.

 

The Beginning of the Prophet’s life

Volume 1

The prophet Mohammed was born on the 12th of Rabi’ al- Awwal or otherwise known as 571 AD. His parent’s names were Aminah bint Wahab and Abdullah ibn Abd al-Muttalib. Aminah was from the clan of Banu Zahra and Abdullah ibn Abd al -Muttalib was from the Banu Hashim clan.  The prophet’s father was from the Quraysh tribe which was the most powerful tribe in Mecca at the time. The people from Quraysh were very active in politics and they were polytheists. The prophet's father died before his birth and his mother died when he was only 6 years old. During the prophet’s infancy, he was breastfeed by 3 women: Halima bin Saidiyah, Ummu Ayman, Thuwayba. He was raised by his uncles and grandfather.

Since the prophet's family was very poor he started working in a camel caravan that has traveled in many of the surrounding areas and all the way to Syria when he fulfilled the expectations of the reputation he carried as al-Ameen (Trustworthy). One of the merchants he was working for was a woman by the name of Khadija who was 15 years older than him.

As she became attracted to the genuine character of the prophet, she sent out a marriage proposal and he accepted. Their marriage lasted for 25 years and was a happy one in which they never fought or argued. Prophet Mohamed (swt) loved and relied upon Khadija and did not enter a marriage with another woman during his first marriage. After many years of marriage, they only had one kid that has remained to become an adult was Fatima who later marries Ali ibn Abi Talib.

An incident indicating the level of respect and honor that Prophet Mohamed had within the Quraysh tribe is evident in the incident that occurred when setting the Black Stone in place in the wall of the Kaaba. The Black Stone had been removed to facilitate renovations to the Kaaba and the leaders of Mecca could not agree on which clan should have the honor of setting the Black Stone back in its place. They agreed to wait for the next man to come through the door and ask him to choose. That man who walked through the door was Prophet Mohamed and the leaders were happy since they knew that he would be just in whatever decision that he made.

He asked for a cloth and put the Black Stone in its center and had a representative from each clan hold the cloth. The clan leaders held the corners of the cloth and together carried the Black Stone to the right spot; then Prophet Muhammad set the stone in place, satisfying all who were present.

 

Before revelation was sent to Prophet Mohamed, he would seek solitary in a cave Hira where he would worship the religion of his grandfather Prophet Ibrahim. He would immerse himself in contemplation and meditation for long periods of time. He was in Cave Hira when one day the Angel Jibril appeared before him commanding him to “read” even though the prophet was illiterate and could not read, and he also brought him the tidings that God had chosen him to be His Last Messenger to this world.

The prophet descended from the cliffs of Hira and rushed to his home in a state of fear. He was shivering with cold, and when he entered his house. He asked his wife, Khadija, to cover him with a blanket which she did. She asked him what happened, and he recounted to her the story of what had happened to him in the cave. Khadija comforted him and eased his heart by letting him know that Allah would not forsake him due to the good person he was. She then took the prophet to her cousin, Warqah, who had knowledge of the Christian religion who informed the prophet that he is the last prophet that is spoken about in their book.

Although there were so many unimaginable trials and tribulations during their marriage Khadijah and the prophet lived happily with each other. Not only was Khadijah honored by the prophet, but she was also honored by Allah the almighty. Abu Huraira reported: The Angel Gabriel came to the Prophet, peace and blessings are upon him, and he said, “O Messenger of Allah, here is Khadijah coming to you with a dish of stew, food and drink. When she arrives before you, greet her with peace on behalf of her Lord and me. Give her glad tidings of a palace in Paradise made of reeds, wherein there will be no turbulence, nor fatigue.”

Ummul Mu’minina Zainab Bint Jahseh | Part 4

Umm Al Hakam

Aisha Bint Abu Bakr once said “I have never seen a woman more advanced in religious piety than Zainab, more God-conscious, more truthful, more alive to the ties of blood, more generous and having more sense of self-sacrifice in practical life and having more charitable disposition and thus closer to God, the Exalted, than her. She, however, lost temper very soon but was soon calm.” (a). 

This is what our mother Aisha said about Zainab Bint Jahseh, her closest competitor. Umul Muminia Zainab Bint Jahseh has the most unique story yet. Let us start from the begin. Zaynab Bint Jahseh’s parents where Jahseh Ibn Riyab and Umama Bint Abdul Muttalib. Because Umayma Bint Abdulmutallab was the paternal aunt of the prophet peace be upon him, which makes our prophet and Zainab cousins. Zaynab and her brother converted to Islam after the hijra to Medina. 

When it was time for Zaynab to get remarried she got married to the prophets adopted son Zayd Ibn Harithah but of course there is a unique story to that too. Initially the union between Zayd and Zainab was the prophet’s idea he wanted to eliminate the class distinctions that the people of his society strongly believed in and followed. When the proposal came to Zainab she immediately hesitated because of that reason, she believed that she should not marry Zayd because he was a freed slave of the prophet disregarding that the prophet himself announced to the people that Zayd is his son and for some time he was called Zayd Ibn Mohamed and not Zayd Ibn Harithah. "We called Zaid bin Harithah nothing but 'Zaid bin Muhammad' until the Qur'an was revealed (ordering): Call them by their fathers, that is more just according to Allah. (33:5)" (At-Tirmidhi). Even though she hesitated Allah sent this ayah regarding this matter. "It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disbelieves Allah and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed into a plane error." (Quran) Their marriage was doomed from its very beginning, they were simply not compatible.

It only lasted less than two years. To fix the marriage Zayd once came to the prophet as a last resort because he wanted to divorce her and the prophet simply responded by telling this ayah, "Keep your wife to yourself, and fear Allah." [Noble Quran 33:37]. The prophet knew of Allah’s intention and he simply wanted to prolong that marriage because at the time it was a very taboo subject to marry your son’s ex-wife, and the prophet feared that backlash. After Zainab finished her time and decided that she wanted to get remarried, with the prior knowledge that she wanted to get married to the prophet and the feelings were mutual for her, the prophet consulted with Zayd and asked him to go and seek the marriage proposal on behalf of him. Zainab did not respond to the proposal right away even though she wanted to marry the prophet she said she would like to think and pray about the decision.  

This was the custom in that society. While they were waiting from a response from Zainab this ayah also came down. "And (remember) when you said to him (Zayd bin Harithah) on whom Allah has bestowed grace (by guiding him to Islam) and you have done favor (by manumitting him): "Keep your wife to yourself, and fear Allah." But you hid in yourself that which Allah will make manifest, you did fear the people (i.e., their saying that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) married the divorced wife of his manumitted slave) whereas Allah had a better right that you should fear Him. So, when Zayd had accomplished his desire from her (i.e., divorced her), We gave her to you in marriage, so that there may be no difficulty to the believers in respect of (the marriage of) the wives of their adopted sons when the latter have no desire to keep them. And Allah's Command must be fulfilled." [Noble Quran 33:37]. Amongst all the prophet’s wives Zainab is the only women who had Allah gave her hand away in marriage to the prophet. Anas may Allah be pleased with him related this hadith which articulates the entire series of events to us. When the 'Iddah of Zainab was over, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to Zaid to make a mention to her about him.

Zaid went on until he came to her and she was fermenting her flour. He (Zaid) said: As I saw her, I felt in my heart an idea of her greatness so much so that I could not see towards her (simply for the fact) that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had made a mention of her. So, I turned my back towards her. and I turned upon my heels, and said: Zainab, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) has sent (me) with a message to you. She said: I do not do anything until I solicit the will of my Lord. So, she stood at her place of worship and the (verse of) the Qur'an (pertaining to her marriage) were revealed, and Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came to her without permission. He (the narrator) said: I saw that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) served us bread and meat until it was broad day light, and the people went away, but some persons who were busy in con- versation stayed on in the house after the meal. 

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) also went out and I also followed him, and he began to visit the apartments of his wives greeting them (with the words): As-Salami 'alaikum, and they would say: Allah's Messenger, how did you find your family (hadrat Zainab)? He (the narrator) stated: I do not know whether I had informed him that the people had gone out or he (the Holy Prophet) informed me (about that). He moved on until he entered the apartment, and I also went and wanted to enter (the apartment) along with him, but he threw a curtain between me and him, as (the verses pertaining to seclusion) had been revealed, and people were instructed in what they had been instructed.

Ibn Rafii had made this addition in his narration:" O you who believe, enter not the houses of the Prophet unless permission is given to you for a meal, not waiting for its cooking being finished..." to the words"... Allah forbears not from the truth." (b) Then the day of her wedding Anas B. Malik narrated this. When Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) contracted marriage with Zainab (Allah be pleased with bet), Umm Sulaim sent him hats in a vessel of stone as a gift. Anas stated that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to him: Go and invite on my behalf all the Muslims whom you meet. So, I invited on his behalf everyone whom I met. They entered (his house) and they ate and went out. And Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had kept his hand on the food, and he invoked blessing on that, and said whatever Allah wished him to say, and none whom I met was left uninvited. They ate to their fill and went out, but a group among them remained there and was engaged in lengthy discussion.

Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) felt shy of telling them anything. So, he went out and left them in his house and Allah the Great and Majestic revealed this verse:" 0 you who believe, enter not the houses of the Prophet unless permission is given to you for a meal, not waiting for its cooking being finished." Qatada (instead of using the word Ghaira Nazirina) used the word Ghaira Mutahayyinina (i. e. not waiting for the time of the food). But when you are invited, enter..." up to this verse. This is purer for your hearts and their hearts. One of the reasons why this verse came down was this, during the wedding the guest stayed at the prophet’s house even when he gave multiple hints that he wanted to spend the rest of his time with his new bride in the kindest way. One of the multiple reasons that makes Zainab Bint Jahseh extremely unique is the concept of hijab was sent down to the prophet regarding her and the rest of his wives. The proof of that was narrated to us by Anas Ibn Malik: The Verse of Al-Hijab (veiling of women) was revealed in connection with Zainab Bint Jahseh. (On the day of her marriage with him) the Prophet (ﷺ) gave a wedding banquet with bread and meat; and she used to boast before other wives of the Prophet (ﷺ) and used to say, "Allah married me (to the Prophet (ﷺ) in the Heavens (7421). Her story is a story we can learn so much from and its extremely unique because she was none other than Zainab Bint Jahseh may Allah be pleased with her.

Help further IANA's mission to enhance Islamic organizations and strengthen the community! Donate for as little as a dollar a day at To Donate Now, Please Click Here!

 

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *