Biography of Muhammad
Biography of Muhammad
ِ ٱلر ِح
ّ ٱلرحْ ٰم ِن ِ ّ ٰ ِبس ِْم
ّ ٱَلل
CHILDHOOD
Muhammad was born around the year 570 CE to the Banu Hashim clan
of the Quraysh tribe, one of Mecca’s prominent families. His father,
Abdullah, died almost six months before Muhammad was born.
According to Islamic tradition, Muhammad was sent to live with a
Bedouin family in the desert, as desert life was considered healthier for
infants. Muhammad stayed with his foster mother, Halimah bint Abi
Dhuayb, and her husband until he was two years old. At the age of six,
Muhammad lost his biological mother, Amina, to illness and was raised
by his paternal grandfather, Abd al-Muttalib, until he died when
Muhammad was eight. He then came under the care of his uncle Abu
Talib, the new leader of Banu Hashim While still in his teens,
ADULTHOOD
Muhammad accompanied his uncle on trading journeys to Syria, gaining
experience in commercial trade, which was the only career open to him as
an orphan. Islamic tradition states that when Muhammad was either nine
or twelve, while accompanying a caravan to Syria he met a Christian
monk or hermit named Bahira, who is said to have foreseen Muhammed’s
career as a prophet of God. Little is known of Muhammad during his later
youth; available information is fragmented, and it is difficult to separate
history from legend. It is known that he became a merchant and “was
involved in trade between the Indian ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.”
Due to his upright character during this time, he acquired the nickname
“al-Amin,” meaning “faithful, trustworthy,” and “al-Sadiq,” meaning
“truthful.
PERIOD OF REVELATION
The first seven verses of Surah Al-Muddaththir were
revealed during the early period in Makkah. These verses
were among the earliest revelations to the Holy Prophet
(peace be upon him). However, it’s important to note that
there is some debate about whether these verses or the first
five verses of Surah Al-Alaq (Chapter 96) were the
absolute earliest revelations. Authentic traditions indicate
that after the initial Revelation, there was a pause before
further revelations resumed. During this intermission, the
Prophet (peace be upon him) absorbed the impact of the
experience and prepared mentally for his prophetic
mission. When the revelation resumed, the first seven
verses of Surah Al-Muddaththir were revealed. These
verses instructed the Prophet to arise and warn people
about the consequences of their way of life, emphasizing
purity and sincere reform. The rest of the Surah (verses 8-
56) was revealed later, on the occasion of the first Hajj,
after the Prophet began openly preaching Islam¹. The
Surah addresses various themes, including cleanliness,
patience, and the difficulties faced by those who deny
Allah’s revelations and oppose His cause. It also highlights
actions that lead to the hellfire, such as neglecting Salah,
not feeding the poor, wasting time in vain talk, and
denying the Day of Judgment. The historical context
reveals the challenges the Prophet faced while spreading
the message of Islam, especially during the Hajj season
when he interacted with pilgrims from various parts of
Arabia.
Then the angel Gabriel embraced him tightly and then
revealed to him the first lines of chapter 96 of the Qur’an,
“Read: In the name of Allah Who created, (1) Created
man from a clot. (2) Read: And Allah is the Most
Generous, (3) Who taught by the pen, (4) Taught man
that which he knew not.”
1. Battle of Badr.
2. Battle of Uhud.
3. Battle of Khandaq(Trench); Also known as Battle of Ahzaab.
4. Battle of Hunayn.
5. Battle of Conquest of Makkah.
6. Battle of Khaybar.
7. Battle of Mut’a.