Lesson 5

Sunday 28 October 2018

In the first 40 years before Prophethood we see in the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi
wasallam the quality of leadership and honesty. He is a person of stature where his
opinion/decision is respected and accepted.

The Format of the Course

Aapa Sobia will follow the format of “Revelation” in which the author uses the
Qur’anic year timeline as well as Mnemonic devices making it easy to navigate the
Seerah and remember the sequence of events which is important. There are many
stories and events from Seerah which we know however generally people cannot
place them in the correct sequence. We all have Makkan and Madni periods in our
lives and looking at the events and the reasons behind them will help us connect
our lives to the Seerah and we will view events of our life in a different
perspective.

The diagram shows all the stages of the life of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi
wasallam, starting with the prologue before his birth, thereafter the second
prologue after his birth and before prophethood and finally the two periods after
prophethood.
“Year 1” begins with the first revelation and as the diagram below shows, the life
of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam is divided into four periods:

 The early Makkan period: fledgling community facing individual persecution

 The late Makkan period: facing collective persecution
 The early Madni period: community building
 The late Madni period: peaceful – rapid expansion
The diagram below shows events according to the Qur’anic years. It will be helpful
to not only remember the sequence but also to see where we are in the Seerah
during the course.
The following diagram shows the early Makkan period with short notes on the first
six years. Hamzah RA and ‘Umar RA accepting Islam is the turning point of this
period. However as the community became stronger the backlash also became
stronger.
The Dawn of Prophethood
When Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam reached his fortieth year the world
stood on the brink of an abyss of fire. The entire human race was bent upon self-
destruction. The forces of darkness and ignorance, superstition and paganism had
covered the world. At this darkest moment in the history of mankind Allah ta’ala
sent the “Breaking of the light of dawn”.

Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam began to experience a restlessness and

solitude became dear to him. He would go for spiritual retreats to the desert and
the cave in Mount Hira not far from the outskirts of Makkah. There was nothing in
this that would have struck the Quraysh as particularly strange, for retreat had
been a traditional practice amongst the descendants of Isma’eel, and in each
generation there had been one or two (of the Haneef) who would withdraw to a
solitary place from time to time so that they might have a period that was
uncontaminated by the world of men. In accordance with this age-old practice,
Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam would take with him provisions and spend
a certain number of nights in meditation. Then he would return to his family, and
sometimes on his return he took more provisions and went again to the mountain.
Sometimes Khadeejah would also visit him taking with her provisions.
Scholars have speculated on what the meditation was as there was no Qur’an to
recite or any specific Dhikr. Meditation could mean seeking the truth, seeking
answers to the things in society which disturbed him. He was aware of, and
troubled by the Makkan religious and economic system which exploited the city’s
masses in order to maintain the wealth and power of the elite. It was also escaping
from the ills of society (which we need a lot more in this age.)

During these few years it often happened that after he had left the town and was
approaching his hermitage he would hear clearly the words “Peace be on you, O
Messenger of God” and he would turn and look for the speaker but no one was in
sight, and it was as if the words had come from a tree or a stone.

The Momentous Day

Ramadhaan was the traditional month of retreat, and it was one night towards the
end of Ramadhaan, in his fortieth year, when he was alone in the cave, that there
came to him an Angel in the form of a man. The Angel said to him: “Recite!” and he
said; “I am not a reciter,” whereupon, as he himself told it, “the Angel took me and
whelmed me in his embrace until he had reached the limit of my endurance. Then
he released me and said, “Recite!” I said: “I am not a reciter,” and again he took
me and whelmed me in his embrace, and again when he had reached the limit of
my endurance he released me and said, “Recite!”, and again I said, “I am not a
reciter.” Then a third time he whelmed me as before, then released me and said,

‫ْأ‬
‫اْقَر ِباْس ِم َر ِّبَك اَّلِذي َخ َلَق‬
‫َل‬ ‫َل‬
‫َخ َق اِإْلْنَس اَن ِمْن َع ٍق‬
‫َأْل‬ ‫ْأ‬
‫اْقَر َوَر ُّبَك ا ْكَر ُم‬
‫َّل ْل َل‬ ‫َّل‬
‫ا ِذي َع َم ِبا َق ِم‬
‫َعَّلَم اِإْلْنَس اَن َما َلْم َيْعَلْم‬
Recite in the name of thy Lord who created!
He createth man from a clot of blood.
Recite; and thy Lord is the Most Bountiful,
He who hath taught by the pen,
taught man what he knew not.

He recited these words after the Angel, who thereupon left him and he feared that
this might mean he had become a jinn-inspired poet or a man possessed. He left
the cave and when he was half-way down the slope of the mountain he heard a
voice above him saying: “O Muhammad, thou art the Messenger of God, and I am
Gabriel.” He raised his eyes heavenwards and there was his visitant, still
recognisable but now clearly an Angel, filling the whole horizon, and again he said:
“O Muhammad, thou art the Messenger of God, and I am Gabriel.” The Prophet
stood gazing at the Angel; then he turned away from him, but whichever way he
looked the Angel was always there, astride the horizon, whether it was to the
north, to the south, to the east or to the west. Finally the Angel turned away, and
the Prophet descended the slope and he went to his house saying, ‫َز ِّمُلوِني‬
‫َز ِّمُلوِني‬ - “Cover me! Cover me!” to Khadeejah. Alarmed, she quickly brought a
cloak and spread it over him and tried to comfort him. When he related the events
to her she realised she should consult someone of knowledge and she took him to
see her cousin Waraqa bin Nawfal who said, “By Him in whose hand is the soul of
Waraqah, there hath come unto Muhammad the greatest Namoos (Angel Jibrail),
who came to Moses. A time will come when you will be called a liar, your people
will mistreat you, cast you out and fight you.” Surprised at this since he was
regarded with respect he said, “Will they expel me?” Waraqah replied, “Yes for no
man has ever brought the like of what you have brought without being opposed
and fought by his people. This has always been so. If I live to see the day, I will
stand by you.”

This was 17 Ramadhaan (6Th August, 610 AD) and this marked the first day of his
Prophethood and these were the first words of the revelation of the Qur’an.

Regarding the Prophet sallalaahu ‘alayhiw asallam being embraced/squeezed by

Jibra’eel AS, Scholars have given different explanations. It could have been to
spiritually strengthen him to enable him to carry the Wahy (Revelation) since it
was not easy to receive Wahy as mentioned by him in Hadith. Another explanation
mentioned by Shaykh Hamzah Yusuf is that this indicates the difficulty of the
Qur’an (i.e. the intensity and the weight of the words coming down) and Allah
ta’ala says in Surah Hashr, verse 21,

‫َأ‬ ‫َأ‬
‫َلْو ْنَز ْلَنا َٰهَذا اْلُقْر آَن َعَلٰى َجَبٍل َلَر ْيَتُه َخاِشًعا ُمَتَصِّدًعا ِمْن َخ ْش َيِة الَّلِه‬
If We had sent down this Qur’an on a mountain, you would have seen it humble
itself and split asunder from the fear of Allah.

Lesson from Khadeejah RA

There are lessons in the way Khadeejah RA comforted and supported the Prophet
sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam. The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam was fearful
and overwhelmed by his experience and full of uncertainty and self-doubts.
Khadeejah RA however was calm and confident.

Was she surprised by this event?

Due to her cousin Waraqah, she may have known he was the expected Prophet as
she did not doubt him at all. She knew his noble character and when he expressed
his fears to her she said, “Allah would never shame you. You join family ties, you
speak the truth, you bear people’s burdens, you help the destitute, you entertain
guests and you mitigate the pains and grief suffered for the sake of truth.”

The reassurances of Khadeejah RA and Waraqah were followed by a reassurance

from Heaven in the form of a second Revelation after a brief pause.

Finally the next verses were revealed and Allah ta’ala takes an oath and then
reassures his doubts, anxiety and fears.

‫ٓن ۚ ۚ َوٱْلَقَلِم َوَما َيْس ُطُر وَن‬

‫َأ‬
‫َمٓا نَت ِبِنْعَمِة َر ِّبَك ِبَمْجُنوٍن‬
‫َأَل‬
‫َوِإَّن َلَك ْج ًر ا َغْيَر َمْمُنوٍن‬
‫ُل‬ ‫َل َل‬
‫َوِإَّنَك َع ٰى ُخ ٍق َعِظيٍم‬
‫َف َس ُت ْب ِص ُر َو ُي ْب ِص ُرو َن‬
Nun. By the Pen and the (Record) which (men) write,-
Thou art not, by the Grace of thy Lord, mad or possessed.
Nay, verily for thee is a Reward unfailing:
And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character.
[Beginning verses of Surah Qalam]

Point made by Non-Muslim Writer

As mentioned before, we should read Seerah books written by Muslim Scholars
and writers before venturing to read books by non-Muslim writers. However when
we do read their books, along with the problamatic issues we sometimes find very
interesting and touching points mentioned because they have a level of objectivity
whereas from Muslim writers there will be a certain expectation.

A woman called Lesley Hazelton, an Agnostic Jewish woman wrote a book on the
Prophet sallalaahu ‘alayhi wasallam. She was asked why she had written a book on
him and she said, “How can I not?” She means how can one not know this man
who changed society completely and made such an impact that it can be felt to this
day.

She mentions the episode of the first revelation in the book and how he had left the
cave in fear. She then says the amazing thing is not what he did, but what he did
not do i.e. he did not come down the mountain shouting about his experience,
promoting himself. He was in denial, self-doubt and in fear of his sanity so it was a
very truthful reaction. Coming from a non-Muslim writer this is very touching.

Similarity to Ibraheem AS
Scholars say that the situation of Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam
was very similar to that of Ibraheem AS. It is mentioned that Ibraheem AS also
doubted himself but Allah ta’ala constantly sent signs and visions to reassure him.
Ibraheem AS lived in a time of idolatry with his father being an idol maker and the
Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam lived in Makkah which thrived due to idolatry
which was accepted during the Hajj season when people came from other places
and brought their idols with them. Before that, Makkah was a place of Tawheed.

The Revelation
It is important to know what the early Makkan Surahs mentioned because often
what was revealed coincided with the life of the Prophet sallalaahu ‘alayhi
wasallam. Early Surahs did mention Tawheed but was not stressed upon so much
until much later. Early Surahs gave consolation to the Prophet sallalaahu ‘alayhi
wasallam and showed the social injustices of society, not to love wealth, to know
there is afterlife etc. and stressed on the purification of the soul.

After the first Messages had come there was a period of silence, until the Prophet
sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam began to fear that he had incurred in some way the
displeasure of Heaven, though Khadeejah RA continually told him that this was not
possible. It is mentioned in commentaries that the doubts and the silence from the
heaven made him contemplate throwing himself off the mountain cliff however
each time Jibra’eel AS greeted him and reminded him of who he was. This shows a
strong humanness.

The silence was broken, and there came a further reassurance, and with it the first
command directly related to his mission in Surah Dhuhaa.

‫َوال ُّض َحى‬

‫َوالَّلْيِل ِإَذا َس َج ى‬

‫َما َوَّدَعَك َر ُّبَك َوَما َقَلى‬

‫َوَلآْل ِخ َر ُة َخ ْيٌر َلَك ِمَن اُأْلوَلى‬

‫َوَلَس ْوَف ُيْعِطيَك َر ُّبَك َفَتْر َضى‬

‫َأَلْم َيِج ْدَك َيِتيًما َفآَوى‬

‫َفَهَدى‬ ‫َوَوَجَدَك َضااًّل‬

‫َفَأْغَنى‬ ‫َوَوَجَدَك َعاِئاًل‬

‫َأ‬
‫َف َّما اْلَيِتيَم َفاَل َتْقَهْر‬
‫َأ‬
‫َو َّما الَّس اِئَل َفاَل َتْنَهْر‬
 ‫َوَأَّما ِبِنْعَمِة َر ِّبَك َفَحِّدْث‬
1. By the forenoon (after sun-rise);
2. And by the night when it is still (or darkens);
3. Your Lord (O Muhammad) has neither forsaken you nor hated you.
4. And indeed the Hereafter is better for you than the present (life of this
world).
5. And verily, your Lord will give you (all i.e. good) so that you shall be well-
pleased.
6. Did He not find you (O Muhammad) an orphan and gave you a refuge?
7. And He found you unaware (of the Qur'an, its legal laws, and Prophethood,
etc.) and guided you?
8. And He found you poor, and made you rich (self-sufficient with self-
contentment, etc.)?
9. Therefore, treat not the orphan with oppression,
10. And repulse not the beggar;
11. And proclaim the Grace of your Lord (i.e. the Prophethood and all other
Graces).

Allah ta’ala removed his anxiety and at the same time reminded him of his past, of
how he was an orphan and Allah ta’ala granted him support through his family and
how granted him knowledge and made him a Prophet and how through marrying
Khadeejah RA he found himself wealthy when he had nothing.

YEAR 1 (Private Invitation)

Who were the first Muslims?
Year one begins with the first revelation and the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi
wasallam began speaking about his close family and friends who accepted Islam.

Khadeejah accepts Islam

She was the first Believer. Khadeejah RA had the opportunity of being his
companion, helper, consort and defender. She stood behind him supporting him
against those who opposed him.

Ali ibn Taalib and Zayd Accept Islam

Ali RA was a youth and he was next to accept Islam and the third was Zaid ibn
Haarith the foster son of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam.

Abu Bakr accepts Islam

He was the first free man to accept Islam. He was a friend of the Prophet
sallallaahu ‘alayhiw asallam with status in society, easy going, well respected
whom others consulted. Those who accepted Islam at the invitation of Abu Bakr RA
included Uthmaan ibn Affaan RA, Zubayr ibn Awwaam RA, Abdur Rahmaan ibn
Awf RA, Sa’d ibn abi Waqqaas RA and Talhah RA.

During the first three years the message of Islam was spread privately and not
openly. The group increased with both men and women, most of them young.
Contrary to general belief that the first people who accepted Islam were either
slaves i.e. Bilal RA or the poor and down trodden of society, there were many who
were from well to do families.

Seerah is not just about the life of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam but also
the Sahaabah RA. Their lives were intertwined with the life of the Prophet
sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam.

Details of some Sahaabah RA

Abdur Rahmaan bin Awf: his name was Abdu ‘Amr and the Prophet sallallaahu
‘alayhi wasallm changed it to Abdur Rahmaan. He accepted Islam two days after
Abu Bakr RA. He was a distant relative from Prophet’s sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam
mother’s side. He was wealthy and generous and was of the Ashara
Mubashsharah. He migrated to Abyssinia

‘Ubaydah the son of al-Jarrah: he was also of the Abasha Mubashsharah. He was
one of those who migrated to Abyssinia and he fought in all the battles. He was
given the title Amin or Custodian of Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam’s
Ummah.

‘Uthman, son of the Umayyad ‘Affan: he was a merchant on his way home from
Syria andwas awoken one night by a voice crying in the desert: “Sleepers, awake,
for verily Ahmad has come forth in Makkah.”

The words sank into his heart, though he did not understand what was meant by
“coming forth”, nor did he recognise that the superlative Ahmad “most glorified”
stood for Muhammad, “glorified”.

Talhah: Before reaching Makkah, ‘Uthmaan was overtaken by Talhah, a cousin of

Abu Bakr RA and Talhah had passed through Bostra, where he had been asked by
a monk if Ahmad had yet appeared amongst the people of the Sanctuary. “Who is
Ahmad?” said Talhah. “The son of ‘Abd ul Muttalib’s son ‘Abdullah,” answered the
monk. “This is his month, in which he shall come forth; and he is the last of the
Prophets.” Talhah repeated these words to ‘Uthmaan, who told him of his own
experience, and on their return they asked Abu Bakr RA, who was known to be the
closest friend of the man now uppermost in their minds. He took them to the
Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam so that they could repeat to him the words of
the monk and the words of the desert voice. Having done this, they made their
professions of faith.

YEAR 2
Prayers
The five daily prayers were not ordained yet but it is believed there were two
prayers, one before sunrise and one after sunset.
Jibra’eel AS had come to him one day and performed the ritual ablution to show
the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam how to purify himself for worship. Then he
showed him the postures and movements of the prayer. He taught the prayer to
Khadeejah RA and his closest family members.

More Revelations
The revelation of Surah Muzzammil happened when the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi
wasallam had enfolded himself in his cloak. It establishes the Tahajjud prayer and
reminds him to bear patiently the abuse he was suffering. Surah Muddaththir was
revealed when he was wrapped in his cloak in a state of anxiety and fear.

The first believers took the commands addressed to the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi
wasallam as applying to themselves. They were careful not only to perform the
ablution in preparation for it but also to make sure that their garments were free
from all defilement; and they were quick to learn by heart all that was been
revealed.

YEAR 3
Invitation to Family
‫َأْل‬ ‫َأ‬
‫ َو ْنِذْر َعِش يَر َتَك ا ْقَر ِبيَن‬- And warn thy tribe of near kindred, [Surah Ash-Shu’ara’:
214]

After the revelation of this verse the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam called
‘Ali and asked him to prepare a feast of mutton and milk. He then gathered the
clans of Hashim and Muttalib but before he could explain the reason of the
gathering his uncle Abu Lahab dispersed the family members. The next day again
‘Ali was asked to prepare food and the family were once again invited. This time
the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam addressed the family saying he believed in
Allah ta’ala, put his trust in Allah ta’ala and then bore witness there was no one
worthy of being worshipped except Allah ta’ala and that he was sent as a
messenger. He told them about resurrection and the Aakhirah which the
Mushrikeen did not believe in. He asked them for support.

When he finished speaking, there was silence among the people gathered. Ja’far
and Zayd could both have spoken, but they knew that their Islam was not in
question and that the purpose of the gathering was to bring in others than
themselves. When the silence remained unbroken, the thirteen-year-old ‘Ali spoke
up saying he would be his helper. At this, some of the men laughed and rose to
leave.

Who Accepted?
Of his uncles, Abu Taalib who was the father figure to the Prophet sallallaahu
‘alayhi wasallam did not have any objections to his sons Ja’far and ‘Ali accepting
but he himself was cautious but supportive. He said he cannot leave the religion of
his forefathers. Abbaas and Hamzah were evasive and assured the Prophet
sallalaahu ‘alayhi wasallam of their affection for him. Abu Lahab showed enmity
and denounced the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam as self-deceived.

Among those who accepted were two cousins on his mother’s side, Sa’d bin Abu
Waqqas of Zuhrah and his younger brother ‘Umayr. Others were the sons of their
aunt Umaymah, ‘Abdullah ibn Jahsh and his brother ‘Ubaydullah, and the son of
their aunt Barrah, Abu Salamah.

What about the Women?

As to the Prophet’s sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam aunts, Safiyyah had no hesitation
in following him as her son Zubayr had done, but her five sisters could not bring
themselves to make any decision.

His aunt by marriage, Umm al-Fadl, the wife of the hesitant ‘Abbas, (it was in the
household of Umm al-Fadl that Ja’far had been brought up) was the first woman to
enter Islam after Khadeejah; and she invited others. She brought three of her
sisters to the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam; her full sister Maymunah (who
will later become the wife of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam), and two
half-sisters, Salma (married to Hamzah) and Asma (Married to Waleed bin
Mughirah and the mother of Khalid bin Waleed.) Therefore though the men
(Hamzah and Abbas) hesitated, their wives accepted Islam and all these women
were married to the most influential Sahabah in Seerah.

Another of the first to respond was Umm Ayman. The Prophet said of her: “He that
would marry a woman of the people of Paradise, let him marry Umm Ayman” and
this remark was overheard by
Zayd who married her even though she was older than him. They had a son,
Usamah and he was brought up as the grandson of the Prophet, who dearly loved
him.