By: Fasahat Ahmed and Mansur Mamdani Madrasa al-Hidaya

 Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) was born in Makkah, on 12 Rabi-ul-Awwal, 53 B.H, 571 C.E.  His mother’s name was Sayyidah Aminah (R.A).  His father’s name was Hadhrat Abdullah (R.A).  Muhammad means “The Praiseworthy”.  His grandfather Abdulmuttalib took him to the Ka’ba and named him Muhammad.

 When Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) was born, 14 towers of the palace of the king Khusrow of Iran fell down.  The great fire which had been burning for one thousand years in the Zoroastrian temple of Iran was extinguished.  Before he was born, another historical event that took place was the failure of a big attack on the Ka’ba by the powerful Yemeni ruler, Abraha.

 Prophet Muhammad’s (S.A.W) father Hadhrat Abdullah (R.A) belonged to the Banu Hashim family in the tribe of Quraish.  He passed away before the birth of Hadhrat Muhammad (S.A.W).

 According to the tradition of the Arabs, Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) was sent to the country-side where he was taken care of by a lady by the name of Sayyida Halima (R.A).  Sayyida Halima’s (R.A) village was suffering from a drought for a long time.  As soon as Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) came to the village, it rained and the drought was over. Goats and camels began to give milk and villagers had a good crop.  When she began to take care of him, she was never short of anything and her house was always blessed.

 When Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) was six years old, he went to Madina with his mother; Sayyida Aminah (R.A).  She passed away on the way back.  Then, his grandfather, Abdulmuttalib, took him in his care.  Two years later, when Abdulmuttalib passed away, Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) went to stay with his uncle, Abu Talib.

 Abu Talib was very fond of his nephew.  When Hadhrat Muhammad (S.A.W.) was twelve years old, Abu Talib took him to Syria on a trading journey.  In Syria, they met a Christian priest by the name of Bahira, He recognised Hadhrat Muhammad (S.A.W.) as the Prophet of Allah (S.W.T). He told Abu Talib to take good care of him.

 As a young man, Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) started his own business.  A rich widow by the name of Hadhrat Khadijah (R.A) needed someone to run her business for her.  She chose Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) as her manager.  Because of his honesty, good manners and truthfulness, she wished to marry him.  When they married, he was twenty five years old and she was forty years old.

 Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) and Hadhrat Khadija (R.A) had 6 children, 2 boys and 4 girls.  Their 2 sons Qasim and Abdullah passed away in their infancy.  The names of their 4 daughters are 1. Sayyida Zainab (R.A), 2. Sayyida Ruqayya (R.A), 3. Sayyida Umm Kulthum (R.A), and 4. Sayyida Fatima (R.A).

 Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) had regularly spent time in the cave of Hira to pray to Allah (S.W.T.).  One day in Ramadhan, Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) was praying in the cave of Hira when Angel Jibra’eel (A.S) appeared to him.  Angel Jibra’eel (A.S) greeted Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) and told him that Allah (S.W.T) had chosen him as his Prophet and told him to read.

 The first revelation was “Iqra” which means “read”.  The Qur’an, which is the Final Heavenly Book of Allah was revealed to him over a period of 23 years.

 Prophet Muhammed (S.A.W) invited everyone to the religion of Islam.  He told everyone to worship only one God, Allah, and to be pious.  Among the first to accept Islam were: 1. Hadhrat Khadijah (R.A). 2. Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (R.A) his very good friend. 3. Hadhrat Ali (R.A) his cousin and son of Abu Talib. 4. Hadhrat Zaid ibn Harithah (R.A), his freed slave.

 One of his miracles is his Isra and Mi’raj.  Isra is his journey with Hadhrat Jibraeel (A.S) from the sacred Masjid in Makkah to Masjid Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem.  Mi’raj is his journey from Masjid Al-Aqsa to the seven heavens and beyond to meet Allah (S.W.T) from Whom he received the five times daily Prayer.

 His non-Muslim enemies wanted to kill him. So he migrated from Makkah to Madina with his Companions.  This is called his Hijra.  The Muslim year begins from this date.

 Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) had many non-Muslim enemies who persecuted him and wanted to kill him.  He fought many battles against them.  His three greatest battles are: the battle of Badr, the battle of Uhud, and the battle of Hunain.  Finally he was able to conquer Makkah, and when he did that, he forgave all his enemies.

 Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) passed away in Madina, where we go for his ziyara.  His 4 greatest Khalifas are: 1. Sayyidina Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (R.A.) 2. Sayyidina Umar al-Farooq (R.A) 3. Sayyidina Uthman Dhun Nurain (R.A) 4. Sayyidina Ali al-Murtada (R.A).

 Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) has many titles. Here are a few;  The name Muhammad means “The Praised One”.  On earth he is called Muhammad, but in the heavens he is called Ahmed, which means “Most Praiseworthy.”  He is also As-Sadiq (the truthful) and Al-Amin (the trustworthy).  He has been mentioned in the Qur’an and the Hadith.  He has also been mentioned in the Kalima: Laa Ilaha Illallah Muhammad ur-Rasulullah, and in the Adhan: Ash-hadu anna Muħammadar-Rasulullah.

 When we pray Salah, in Attahiyyatu we recite “Assalamu ‘alaika ayyuhannabiyyu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu! Salutations on you, O Prophet, and the Mercy of Allah and His blessings.

 Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) is the greatest and last Prophet sent by Allah (S.W.T).  He taught us many things like good manners and good character.  He gave us the Qur’an and the Hadith.  He converted almost the whole of Arabia to Islam through his goodness and great character. Allah (S.W.T) had chosen him for that task.  He is the best creation of Allah (S.W.T) and all of us should love the blessed Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W).  He will intercede for sinners on the Day of Judgement.  May we enter Paradise in his company, Amin.