MUHAMMAD SAW THE MESSENGER OF ISLAM (515 pages, 9/41)
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left her eyes and she could see. “Halima,” she cried, “guard well the secret of this child, for now I can see with my own eyes!” From that day on she became a faithful servant to the household and helped with all the chores and duties around the house. She now knew this child was unlike all other children.
The whole time the holy child lived with her, she saw and heard many amazing things. She grew to love him exceedingly, more even than her own natural children. In time he began to speak, and his first words were these:
La ilaha ill’Allah, wahdahu la sharika lak; lahul-mulk wa lahul-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadir.
Halima’s children used to take the sheep and goats out to pasture and Muhammad would go with them. But since the day he had come to them, wherever they took the flock, a strip of fresh green pasture would appear all around them, and the ground was always moist as if it had recently rained, whereas all around them it was the same barren desert as before. Her sheep and goats would return with bloated udders, and the household was blessed as never before.
The other villagers would wait to see where she would lead her goats, then they told the children to follow them so that they might also partake of this miraculous sustenance. One day, when Muhammad had grown into a little boy, he asked Halima, “Mother, where do my brothers and sisters go every day? They go out every morning and I would like to go with them.” “Oh my son,” she said, “they go out with the sheep and goats every day and lead them to pasture.” “Please let me go along,” pleaded the child, until at last Halima tied a belt around his middle, gave him a stick to hold in his hand, strung a leather bag across his shoulder and sent him out with his brothers to herd the flock. They led him out with the other children to the edge of the fields and followed him with their eyes for as far as they could see. Their hearts and minds were uneasy from love and care and worry about him.
Around noon the children came running to the house, screaming that something had happened and told the parents to come right away. A great bird had swooped down, they said, and had taken their Quraysh-brother up into the air and deposited him atop a great boulder. Anxious and alarmed they ran to that place, where they found the child Muhammad , on top of the rock, as the children had said. As they were looking, he sat up and rubbed his eyes, as if he had just
woken from a deep sleep.
However, it was no bird that had taken him away, but the angel Jibra'il who had been ordered to take him and to wash his heart. The traces of the operation were still visible as silken stitches upon his breast. This was the first operation on his heart; the second was to happen later, during his ascension to the heavens (Mi’raj). In every human heart there is a spot of black blood that is called the part of Shaytan, which consists of fear and evil suggestion. The angel had come to Muhammad and told him that he must remove this spot, that it was not right for him, and he opened his heart and performed the operation.
The troubled parents took the boy home and resolved never to let him go out again with the other children. When they came home at nightfall, they told their parents of all the wonderful things they had seen and heard while their Quraysh- brother was out with them that day. All the rocks on the ground had given their greetings, they said, when he went by, saying, “as-salam alaykum, ya nabi- ullah”, and all the trees bent their boughs low as he passed, as if in prostration.
They had gone as far as a certain valley, where all of a sudden a terrible mountain lion had sprung out before them. The children had run off in fright, calling to Muhammad to hide himself as well, but Muhammad had not moved from his spot, he just stood and watched. “The lion came up to him,” they said, “and were afraid that this would be the end, that the lion would just devour him, but nothing of the sort happened. Instead, the lion kneeled down before him, bowing low, and began to lick his feet. It seemed to be telling him something, and then we saw it lift one of its paws, which we could tell was hurt, maybe broken.
The Quraysh-boy looked at the paw and set it straight, then he stroked it and it was healed. The lion then fell down at his feet again and kissed and licked them, and Muhammad stroked its head, as if it were a great cat. Slowly the lion retreated, having expressed his gratitude and thanks, and when it was out of sight, we came out and saw that Muhammad was unhurt. It was after this that the great bird swooped down and carried him away, it was then that we were afraid for him.”
Halima then said, “If his enemies hear of these strange and wonderful happenings, they will surely trace him to our tents and take him from us by force. We have no way to protect him then.” Therefore, they decided to take the boy back to his family in Mecca, even though it pained them to let him go, so dear had he grown to his foster family.
When Muhammad was either two or four years old, according to varying narrations, his mother Amina suddenly fell ill and died. He was now completely orphaned and his grandfather, Abdul-Muttalib took him into his care. He took him along wherever he went, and never let him out of his sight. When Muhammad was eight years old, Abdul-Muttalib fell ill and called for all his sons (ten in all, four of whom who were still living: Abu Lahab, Abu Talib, Hamza, Abbas), as well as for the dignitaries of Mecca, for Abdul-Muttalib was the head of the tribes of Mecca.
He said to them, “This is my bequest. It is clear to me that this is my final illness and that I will not rise from my sickbed again. My one worry is in whose care to leave Muhammad , this fatherless child of your brother Abdullah.” Hamza spoke and said, “Oh my father, leave him with me, I shall look after him better than after my own soul.” But his father answered him, “Oh Hamza, you have no children of your own, hence you cannot know the value of a child.” After that Abu Lahab spoke up and said, “I will look after him, father.” Abdul-Muttalib said, “You already have too many children, you will not be able to look after him well.” Abbas was still a young man and unmarried, so Abu Talib offered to take him in. His father then said, “Now my soul is at rest, I give you this boy as a trust. Treat him with more care than you treat your own children, and for the sake of my memory, do nothing to undermine his noble nature, and if you wish to please me, show him the same honor and respect that you have always shown me.” He repeated this last wish several times until he passed away.
After his death, Abu Talib took the boy into his household and left nothing undone regarding his care and upbringing. He personally did not accept the faith of Islam during the lifetime of the Prophet , but he never failed to show him respect and honor, he always shielded him from his enemies and did everything in his power to protect him whenever he could.
After Abdul-Muttalib’s death, the Prophet Muhammad lived with his uncle Abu Talib until his marriage to his wife, Khadija. When Muhammad had been with him for about a year, Abu Talib planned to travel to Sham on a business trip. Muhammad was then nine years old, and he begged his uncle to take him along, but Abu Talib refused, saying, “Your are only a boy, stay here at home with my brother, Abbas while I am away.”
When the time of parting had come, Abu Talib was about to mount his camel, his whole household assembled round him, bidding him farewell. Among them stood also the boy Muhammad , his nephew, and he wept bitterly. “Oh uncle,”
he cried, “please take me with you!” Abu Talib’s heart burned when he heard the boy pleading, he relented and allowed Muhammad to accompany him after all.
They traveled along until they came to the town of Basra, a town in the border region of Sham. Outside the settlement there was a hermitage where a Christian monk named Buhayra stayed. He was a very learned man who had read a great many books, and he had read about the signs of the prophet who was to come. At his place the caravan of Abu Talib stopped for the night. The next day they let the camels loose to pasture, while the men rested awhile. Everyone was pursuing his leisure, and the boy Muhammad went to look at the loads and the bales of cloth they were carrying along.
Now the day was at its hottest, a scorching sun in a cloudless sky, however just above the boy’s head, a small fluffy white cloud appeared that shaded him and little else. The monk Buhayra happened to open the door of his hermitage and looked the sleeping men over. He saw Muhammad moving about, went to him and asked him about himself. He asked him his father’s name and his mother’s name, and Muhammad told him all he knew. The monk Buhayra found everything he had read in his books confirmed. He then asked the boy to remove his shirt, and on his back, between the shoulder blades, he found the sign he was looking for, the seal of prophethood.
He returned to Abu Talib and asked him how the boy Muhammad was related to him. Abu Talib said, “He is my son.” Buhayra then said, “That cannot be, the boy’s father cannot be among the living.” Abu Talib then admitted that he was his deceased brother’s son. The monk then asked, “Where are you going with him?” Abu Talib answered that he was taking him to Sham, to the merchants and market places. Buhayra then said, “This boy is worth more than all the crowds of the city, for he is destined to become one of Allah’s Holy Prophets. We find revealed in the scriptures the description of his signs and marks. For seventy years I have been waiting for this prophet to appear. By God, do not take this boy to Sham, for the unbelievers will take him from you, since they dread his coming. But however much they try, they will not be able to kill him before his time, for I have read in my books that his death will be occasioned by his eating poisoned goat’s meat, and that he will die several years after having eaten it. Still, take him back to Mecca now.”
Abu Bakr was traveling in the same caravan with Abu Talib, and he sent Muhammad back to Mecca with Abu Bakr and his slave Bilal. According to a different narration, Abu Talib himself gave up his trip and turned back towards
Mecca.
Early Historical Events that Shaped the Islamic Community
Muhammad’s Marriage to Khadija al-Kubra
(from Kara Da’ud)
It is related that Muhammad was twenty-five years old when he married Khadija who was forty years and some months at the time–his senior by fifteen years. Muhammad was either twenty or twenty-five years old. All of the Prophet’s descendants, except for his son Ibrahim, the son of Marya Quptiya, were born of Khadija. She was his first wife, and it was in reference to her that this Quran verse was revealed;
Did He not find thee needy, and suffice thee? (The Forenoon: 9)
It is related that after the death of both her previous husbands, Khadija saw a dream: she saw the sun descending from the skies into her house, but it did not shine. During its stay in her house it began to shine, until there was not a house in Mecca where its light had not penetrated. When she awoke, she went to see her uncle’s son, Waraqa bin Naufal who knew about dream interpretation, who had read all the ancient books and was known to be a man of knowledge.
He said to her, “Your dream means that you will marry the Prophet of the last times before his prophethood is revealed, and you will be his wife. In the course of your marriage his prophethood will be revealed, and all of Mecca will be cleansed of unbelief and idolatry, and the pure light of faith will shine forth.” When he had told her this, she asked, “But where is he now?” Waraqa bin Naufal answered, “He is in Mecca,” and she asked, “Which tribe does he belong to?” “He is of Quraysh,” said her uncle’s son. “And of which clan?” she asked. “Of the clan of Hashim.” “Then tell me his name,” said Khadija. “His name is Muhammad, oh Khadija,” said Waraqa.
Having been told no more than this, without ever having set her eyes on him, Khadija began to love him with all her heart and soul. She asked Waraqa, “When and where will this sun rise?” and she began to wait night and day for these events to take place. Now, Khadija was a woman excelling in beauty and
perfection, and her mind and manners were of great delicacy. She had no dearth of suitors among the Arab nobles and notables, but she inclined towards none and would accept no offer, despite the wealth and position it might have conferred. She waited patiently, burning with undisclosed passion.
One day Muhammad was having a meal at his uncle’s house. Abu Talib and his sister Atiqa watched him as he ate, and they remarked his good table manners and his fine style of eating. They said to each other, “Muhammad is now grown, he is a young man now, it is time he got married. What shall we do? He cannot marry just any woman; she should be a woman of rank and from a good family, who will make him a pure and decent wife. But to find such a woman is very costly, and we don’t have the means...” For at that time, by divine wisdom, Abu Talib’s affairs had foundered, and he was now a poor man.
Thus it was possible for Muhammad to become Khadija’ s trading agent in her business with the merchants of Sham, and he had opportunity to prove his exceptional worth of character and high-mindedness. Had Abu Talib been as well off as he was aforetime, none of this would have transpired, Rasulullah would have had no occasion to travel in business.
Abu Talib now answered his sister Atiqa, “I don’t know how to go about this, what shall we do?” The Prophet’s aunt Atiqa said, “I have an idea. You know of Khadija, and you know also the excellent reputation she enjoys; whoever has had dealings with her, has profited by them, she is a very fortunate and auspicious lady. Besides, she is very wealthy. At this time, she is just getting ready to send a caravan to Sham, laden with all manners of goods, and she is employing people in her service. Why don’t we send Muhammad along to accompany the caravan, in her employ; that way he will earn a little something, and with a little help from our side, he should be able to get married.”
Abu Talib agreed with her, he thought this a very good and useful proposition. He approved and said, “Indeed, this is a very reasonable idea, only I am too shy to go up to Khadija and ask her to hire Muhammad to do her business for her in Sham.” So Atiqa said, “I will go to her then, and talk to her.”
First she went and informed Muhammad of the talk she had had with his uncle. Muhammad was agreeable to the idea and voiced no objections. When his uncle Abu Talib heard that he had accepted, he wept, for it hurt him to see his nephew sent on such a trip for wages. “No one of our tribe has ever had to travel for wages before, least of all such a pure bred, nobly born boy as Muhammad, with his honor, nobility and grace shining upon his forehead; yet, what can I do?
We have fallen upon hard times, and situations may occur when dubious actions are permitted, some things become permissible through necessity. So if it has to be, go then and speak with the lady, Khadija.”
So Atiqa went to Khadija and tried to explain things to her. As for Khadija, the coming of the Prophet’s aunt to her meant the advent of happiness, and she received her with honors and signs of great favor. When it came to stating her request, she felt ashamed to do so, considering the honor with which she had been received. Atiqa sat choking on her words, when Khadija herself broached the subject. “Oh Atiqa, noblewoman of the Arabs,” she said, “your demeanor tells me that you have something on your mind that you wish to say, but are not quite happy to do so. Tell it to me, for whatever is your request, know, that I will be more than happy to oblige, it is an honor for me to comply with your wishes.”
Then Atiqa felt easier and she said, “You must have heard of Muhammad , my brother Abdullah’s son who was orphaned before he was even born and brought up first by his grandfather, then by my other brother, Abu Talib. Now he is grown and it is time for him to get married. However, Abu Talib has fallen into straightened circumstances and has not the wherewithal to perform this important duty towards his nephew. Now we have heard that you are getting ready a trade caravan to travel to Sham these days, and if you see it fit to take my nephew along, you will gain the gratitude of the house of Hashim. Will you accept our young relative in your service, and send him on this trade mission to Sham?”
Khadija became thoughtful, thinking to herself, “This youth must be the man in my dream, all the descriptions that my uncle’s son Waraqa gave me apply to him. He is of the Arabs of Mecca, of Quraysh, of the house of Hashim. His noble name is Muhammad . He is known even now in the town as al-Amin, the trustworthy, he is always called Muhammad Amin. His purity and piety are the talk of the town. The Muhammad of my dream can be no other Muhammad than this man who is destined to become the Prophet of the last times.”
She then turned to Atiqa and addressed her thus: “Oh noblewoman of the Quraysh! I have heard talk of this Muhammad, he is thought by all to be honest and truthful, and of exemplary piety. But I have never met him myself. Will he have the necessary strength to lead a caravan? For it is no easy task to look after such an assemblage of men and beasts, and to ensure their safety and protection. I ask you to please have him come to me, so that I might see him and judge for myself.”
Khadija wished to see him so that she might be sure he bore all the signs mentioned in the holy books, and accorded to all the descriptions given therein. When Atiqa had gone, Khadija went to bathe and dressed herself in her finery, then she got her house ready and waited for her visitors to come. She had a thin curtain hung across the room, and she told all her servants to treat the arrivals with respect and to seat them in the place of honor. Then she sat down and perused the holy books until her visitors were announced. When Rasulullah and his aunt came, they were duly received and given every courteous attention. Khadijah compared Muhammad’s person with what she had read in the holy books concerning the prophet to come, and she found all the signs matching and in accordance with what was written of him. Now she was certain that he was the man of her dream. She knew this to be the truth and her heart beat with excitement.
She would have been happy to marry him at once, but being a very principled lady, she realized it was wiser to wait awhile; for were she to marry him at once, she would certainly encounter a lot of resistance from the people. She concluded that it would be much better if she first sent him to Sham as her business agent, and then arrange the marriage proposition. So she said to the Prophet’s aunt Atiqa, “Normally I give my caravan drivers twenty-five gold pieces for this journey. However, since Muhammad is such a nobly-born and high-ranking person, I agree to give him fifty pieces of gold, if he is willing to accept.”
Atiqa was more than pleased with Khadija’s handling of the affair, and she went to inform Abu Talib who was equally pleased. They both impressed on Muhammad to accept the offer and to do whatever she asked him to do. Muhammad then went to her house and offered his services, and Khadija was very glad for this outcome.
The leader of this caravan was a man by the name of Maysara. Khadija said to him, “Oh Maysara! Whatever you do, do not treat Muhammad as a simple laborer-for-wages in my employ! You are the leader of this caravan, but I ask you to regard him as my independent business agent. Serve him well, and make everything as easy and pleasant as possible for him. Obey him, don’t oppose him, and do him no harm.” After many such admonitions she added, “One more thing: until you have left the town behind, treat him as you would treat any ordinary man traveling with the caravan; only when you have passed out of the city, clothe him in this new suit of clothes and mount him upon this finely equipped camel. Do only as he orders and do your best for his protection. Lead him home by the shortest and safest route, and let no distractions of the road
interfere. For know that he is a noble kinsman of Quraysh, and the best of them all. Let us not be shamed before them. If you do as I have bidden you, and all goes well, I will give you your freedom and reward you better than you have hoped for.”
Then the caravan prepared and assembled to leave. The townspeople gathered round to watch it go, some just came to stare, others to bid farewell to their friends and relations. Muhammad’s departure aroused a great deal of interest, and many of his relatives had come to see him off, among them the nobles of Quraysh and the Bani Hashim. When his aunt and uncle, Atiqa and Abu Talib saw Muhammad in the garb of a common hireling, they lost control and began to weep. Abu Talib even fainted from excessive emotion, and when he came to his senses, he clasped Rasulullah to his breast.
Tears more shining than pearls welled up in his blessed eyes and rolled down his cheeks, fairer than the petals of the rose, and he spoke, “Forget me not and forget not to pray for me in those distant lands and the hardships that await me there.” Hearing these words from him, all his relatives began to sigh and weep. The heavenly angels wept as well and implored the Almighty, “Oh Lord, is this not Muhammad of whom You have spoken, ‘Were it not for you, I would not have created the universe’; is it not he whom You have crowned with such honor?” Allah Almighty responded to them and said, “It is he who is My Beloved . You, however, are ignorant of love and of being loved. Herein there is also hidden wisdom which is yet to appear.”
After everyone had dispersed, the caravan set off for its distant destination. Now Muhammad was overcome with the pain of being a stranger in this world, so that he wept and spoke inwardly, “Oh my parents, oh beloved mother, oh my father whom I never knew! If only you could see what has become of your son, if only you could behold him in the attire of a lowly wayfarer! Oh exile, oh toil, come to me, now is your moment! Mecca, my homeland, shall I ever see you again, or shall I breathe my last, far from home in a strange and foreign land?” Thus he was overcome by the pangs of homesickness and the loneliness of the road.
Oh Nation of Muhammad ! When you hear of the woeful events that befell your noble Prophet , and the pain he experienced from feeling like a lonely and deserted stranger, it is incumbent upon you to weep for him in his plight! For whenever this Nation weeps for him in such moments as these, the angels register it and turn to the Lord Almighty, saying, “Oh Lord, what is it that they
are now weeping?” The Almighty then answers them, “It is because they are following the story of their prophet, and they weep out of empathy and compassion for My beloved Prophet and all that befell him. Oh My angels both in Heaven and upon the earth bear witness! I will free from the torment of Hell all those of my servants who weep for the sake of My beloved, My wrath and punishment shall be lifted from them!” This is another evidence of the compassionate Grace and Munificence of our Lord Almighty.
Thus the Holy Prophet departed from his hometown Mecca-tul-Mukarrama, may Allah increase its renown and favor us with a sojourn at these holy places. After they had left the city behind, the leader of the caravan, Maysara, gave him the splendid robe to wear and he had him mount upon a lavishly adorned camel. Abu Bakr was also traveling with this caravan. Maysara and Abu Bakr said to Muhammad , “Oh Muhammad , you are our chief, and we will abide by your word. Inform us of your wishes, and of what is required.” From then on till the end of the journey, they served Muhammad and showed him honor in every way.
Allah Almighty sent a little cloud to accompany them which stood above the Holy Prophet at all times, shielding him from the rays of a violent sun. The Almighty also ordered the wind to send a soft little breeze to accompany His beloved, that brought him cooling as from a fan, so that he felt neither the heat of the road nor the torridity of the desert round him. In this way the infinite Grace of the Almighty manifested and the caravan proceeded along its way.
At some point in the trip, two of the camels belonging to Khadija grew exhausted and could no longer go on. Maysara came and told Muhammad of this. The Holy Prophet went over to the animals and with his blessed hand he gently stroked the legs of the camels. Of an instant the camels rose and their strength was restored; they assumed their place in the string of camels and followed the lead. Seeing this, Abu Bakr and Maysara marveled and understood that Muhammad carried with him a special blessing and that he would one day be great.
The caravan moved along at a steady pace until it reached a certain church by Busra on the outskirts of the land of Sham. It was the same hermitage that Muhammad had visited with his uncle Abu Talib when he was a boy, and he had known the monk Buhayra. This old monk had meanwhile passed away, and in his place there lived a younger monk by the name of Nastura. He was renowned for his asceticism and for his great learning, and his knowledge of the
scriptures was profound. The Prophet and his companions came up close to the church, wishing to dismount and rest awhile under the shade of the old trees. Rasulullah went and sat beneath a tree, leaning his back against its trunk. It was an old, dead tree, but as soon as he touched it, it came to life again, sprouting fresh green and even bearing fruit on its boughs.
The monk Nastura watched the approach of the caravan and emerged from his cell. He beheld a radiant person seated at the foot of the dead tree which had suddenly sprung to life and greened anew and now was laden with fruit. He also saw a small white cloud hovering in the sky that shaded him alone. Nastura realized instantly that this man must be either a prophet or a very holy man of God. He turned back and disappeared in his cell where he prepared a splendid meal for the wayfarers. He invited the entire caravan to his dwelling, for he wished to see up close that blessed person he had noticed at a distance, and to learn more about his mission with the caravan. By inviting them to his hermitage he could take a closer look at him and make his acquaintance.
Maysara responded gladly to the monk’s invitation, while Muhammad said, “You go ahead, I will stay here and guard our belongings and pack animals.” Maysara was very pleased with this arrangement, for Muhammad , as everyone knew, was the most trustworthy of all. So Maysara took his leave of him and went to have dinner at the hermitage. When all his guests were assembled, the monk went out and saw that the cloud had not moved from its place, so he came back to his guests and asked whether they had left anyone outside. They answered truthfully that they had left Muhammad outside to keep watch over their belongings. The monk Nastura then said, “You have my word that your belongings will remain untouched; just ask this person to come in to me, for I have need to see him.” Then he went out in person to invite the Holy Prophet to come inside.
The Holy Prophet rose when he saw the monk approaching him and shook his hand. Nastura said, “I have prepared this meal especially for you, my friend, it is quite important that you attend it in person.” So, as Rasulullah began to walk towards his hermitage, the monk observed that the little white cloud overhead followed him, and that as soon as he stood still, the cloud also stopped above him. They came to the church hall; the monk seated Muhammad in the seat of honor, and went out again to look. He saw the cloud hovering over the entrance to the church, and he heard these words coming from it, “When our Holy Prophet comes out again, I will again be his shade; therefore I am waiting
here.” Then Nastura went in and joined his guests.
When they had eaten, the monk addressed Muhammad and asked him the following questions, and received these answers:
“Where are you from?” “I am from Mecca.” “Of which tribe?”
“Of the tribe of Quraysh.” “Of which clan of Quraysh?”
“Of the clan of the Bani Hashim.” “What is your name?”
“My name is Muhammad.”
Thereupon the monk rose and embraced Muhammad and kissed him upon the forehead. Then he gave his testimony: “I testify that there is no god but Allah, and I testify that you are Muhammad, His Prophet.” After showing him all the respect and honor he could, Nastura asked him, “There is one request I wish to make of your holy person which I beg you to accept.” “What could your wish be?” asked Muhammad . “I would ask you to show me the unmistakable mark of your prophethood so that my heart might have certainty and my mind be at peace and my conviction be strengthened
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left her eyes and she could see. “Halima,” she cried, “guard well the secret of this child, for now I can see with my own eyes!” From that day on she became a faithful servant to the household and helped with all the chores and duties around the house. She now knew this child was unlike all other children.
The whole time the holy child lived with her, she saw and heard many amazing things. She grew to love him exceedingly, more even than her own natural children. In time he began to speak, and his first words were these:
La ilaha ill’Allah, wahdahu la sharika lak; lahul-mulk wa lahul-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadir.
Halima’s children used to take the sheep and goats out to pasture and Muhammad would go with them. But since the day he had come to them, wherever they took the flock, a strip of fresh green pasture would appear all around them, and the ground was always moist as if it had recently rained, whereas all around them it was the same barren desert as before. Her sheep and goats would return with bloated udders, and the household was blessed as never before.
The other villagers would wait to see where she would lead her goats, then they told the children to follow them so that they might also partake of this miraculous sustenance. One day, when Muhammad had grown into a little boy, he asked Halima, “Mother, where do my brothers and sisters go every day? They go out every morning and I would like to go with them.” “Oh my son,” she said, “they go out with the sheep and goats every day and lead them to pasture.” “Please let me go along,” pleaded the child, until at last Halima tied a belt around his middle, gave him a stick to hold in his hand, strung a leather bag across his shoulder and sent him out with his brothers to herd the flock. They led him out with the other children to the edge of the fields and followed him with their eyes for as far as they could see. Their hearts and minds were uneasy from love and care and worry about him.
Around noon the children came running to the house, screaming that something had happened and told the parents to come right away. A great bird had swooped down, they said, and had taken their Quraysh-brother up into the air and deposited him atop a great boulder. Anxious and alarmed they ran to that place, where they found the child Muhammad , on top of the rock, as the children had said. As they were looking, he sat up and rubbed his eyes, as if he had just
woken from a deep sleep.
However, it was no bird that had taken him away, but the angel Jibra'il who had been ordered to take him and to wash his heart. The traces of the operation were still visible as silken stitches upon his breast. This was the first operation on his heart; the second was to happen later, during his ascension to the heavens (Mi’raj). In every human heart there is a spot of black blood that is called the part of Shaytan, which consists of fear and evil suggestion. The angel had come to Muhammad and told him that he must remove this spot, that it was not right for him, and he opened his heart and performed the operation.
The troubled parents took the boy home and resolved never to let him go out again with the other children. When they came home at nightfall, they told their parents of all the wonderful things they had seen and heard while their Quraysh- brother was out with them that day. All the rocks on the ground had given their greetings, they said, when he went by, saying, “as-salam alaykum, ya nabi- ullah”, and all the trees bent their boughs low as he passed, as if in prostration.
They had gone as far as a certain valley, where all of a sudden a terrible mountain lion had sprung out before them. The children had run off in fright, calling to Muhammad to hide himself as well, but Muhammad had not moved from his spot, he just stood and watched. “The lion came up to him,” they said, “and were afraid that this would be the end, that the lion would just devour him, but nothing of the sort happened. Instead, the lion kneeled down before him, bowing low, and began to lick his feet. It seemed to be telling him something, and then we saw it lift one of its paws, which we could tell was hurt, maybe broken.
The Quraysh-boy looked at the paw and set it straight, then he stroked it and it was healed. The lion then fell down at his feet again and kissed and licked them, and Muhammad stroked its head, as if it were a great cat. Slowly the lion retreated, having expressed his gratitude and thanks, and when it was out of sight, we came out and saw that Muhammad was unhurt. It was after this that the great bird swooped down and carried him away, it was then that we were afraid for him.”
Halima then said, “If his enemies hear of these strange and wonderful happenings, they will surely trace him to our tents and take him from us by force. We have no way to protect him then.” Therefore, they decided to take the boy back to his family in Mecca, even though it pained them to let him go, so dear had he grown to his foster family.
When Muhammad was either two or four years old, according to varying narrations, his mother Amina suddenly fell ill and died. He was now completely orphaned and his grandfather, Abdul-Muttalib took him into his care. He took him along wherever he went, and never let him out of his sight. When Muhammad was eight years old, Abdul-Muttalib fell ill and called for all his sons (ten in all, four of whom who were still living: Abu Lahab, Abu Talib, Hamza, Abbas), as well as for the dignitaries of Mecca, for Abdul-Muttalib was the head of the tribes of Mecca.
He said to them, “This is my bequest. It is clear to me that this is my final illness and that I will not rise from my sickbed again. My one worry is in whose care to leave Muhammad , this fatherless child of your brother Abdullah.” Hamza spoke and said, “Oh my father, leave him with me, I shall look after him better than after my own soul.” But his father answered him, “Oh Hamza, you have no children of your own, hence you cannot know the value of a child.” After that Abu Lahab spoke up and said, “I will look after him, father.” Abdul-Muttalib said, “You already have too many children, you will not be able to look after him well.” Abbas was still a young man and unmarried, so Abu Talib offered to take him in. His father then said, “Now my soul is at rest, I give you this boy as a trust. Treat him with more care than you treat your own children, and for the sake of my memory, do nothing to undermine his noble nature, and if you wish to please me, show him the same honor and respect that you have always shown me.” He repeated this last wish several times until he passed away.
After his death, Abu Talib took the boy into his household and left nothing undone regarding his care and upbringing. He personally did not accept the faith of Islam during the lifetime of the Prophet , but he never failed to show him respect and honor, he always shielded him from his enemies and did everything in his power to protect him whenever he could.
After Abdul-Muttalib’s death, the Prophet Muhammad lived with his uncle Abu Talib until his marriage to his wife, Khadija. When Muhammad had been with him for about a year, Abu Talib planned to travel to Sham on a business trip. Muhammad was then nine years old, and he begged his uncle to take him along, but Abu Talib refused, saying, “Your are only a boy, stay here at home with my brother, Abbas while I am away.”
When the time of parting had come, Abu Talib was about to mount his camel, his whole household assembled round him, bidding him farewell. Among them stood also the boy Muhammad , his nephew, and he wept bitterly. “Oh uncle,”
he cried, “please take me with you!” Abu Talib’s heart burned when he heard the boy pleading, he relented and allowed Muhammad to accompany him after all.
They traveled along until they came to the town of Basra, a town in the border region of Sham. Outside the settlement there was a hermitage where a Christian monk named Buhayra stayed. He was a very learned man who had read a great many books, and he had read about the signs of the prophet who was to come. At his place the caravan of Abu Talib stopped for the night. The next day they let the camels loose to pasture, while the men rested awhile. Everyone was pursuing his leisure, and the boy Muhammad went to look at the loads and the bales of cloth they were carrying along.
Now the day was at its hottest, a scorching sun in a cloudless sky, however just above the boy’s head, a small fluffy white cloud appeared that shaded him and little else. The monk Buhayra happened to open the door of his hermitage and looked the sleeping men over. He saw Muhammad moving about, went to him and asked him about himself. He asked him his father’s name and his mother’s name, and Muhammad told him all he knew. The monk Buhayra found everything he had read in his books confirmed. He then asked the boy to remove his shirt, and on his back, between the shoulder blades, he found the sign he was looking for, the seal of prophethood.
He returned to Abu Talib and asked him how the boy Muhammad was related to him. Abu Talib said, “He is my son.” Buhayra then said, “That cannot be, the boy’s father cannot be among the living.” Abu Talib then admitted that he was his deceased brother’s son. The monk then asked, “Where are you going with him?” Abu Talib answered that he was taking him to Sham, to the merchants and market places. Buhayra then said, “This boy is worth more than all the crowds of the city, for he is destined to become one of Allah’s Holy Prophets. We find revealed in the scriptures the description of his signs and marks. For seventy years I have been waiting for this prophet to appear. By God, do not take this boy to Sham, for the unbelievers will take him from you, since they dread his coming. But however much they try, they will not be able to kill him before his time, for I have read in my books that his death will be occasioned by his eating poisoned goat’s meat, and that he will die several years after having eaten it. Still, take him back to Mecca now.”
Abu Bakr was traveling in the same caravan with Abu Talib, and he sent Muhammad back to Mecca with Abu Bakr and his slave Bilal. According to a different narration, Abu Talib himself gave up his trip and turned back towards
Mecca.
Early Historical Events that Shaped the Islamic Community
Muhammad’s Marriage to Khadija al-Kubra
(from Kara Da’ud)
It is related that Muhammad was twenty-five years old when he married Khadija who was forty years and some months at the time–his senior by fifteen years. Muhammad was either twenty or twenty-five years old. All of the Prophet’s descendants, except for his son Ibrahim, the son of Marya Quptiya, were born of Khadija. She was his first wife, and it was in reference to her that this Quran verse was revealed;
Did He not find thee needy, and suffice thee? (The Forenoon: 9)
It is related that after the death of both her previous husbands, Khadija saw a dream: she saw the sun descending from the skies into her house, but it did not shine. During its stay in her house it began to shine, until there was not a house in Mecca where its light had not penetrated. When she awoke, she went to see her uncle’s son, Waraqa bin Naufal who knew about dream interpretation, who had read all the ancient books and was known to be a man of knowledge.
He said to her, “Your dream means that you will marry the Prophet of the last times before his prophethood is revealed, and you will be his wife. In the course of your marriage his prophethood will be revealed, and all of Mecca will be cleansed of unbelief and idolatry, and the pure light of faith will shine forth.” When he had told her this, she asked, “But where is he now?” Waraqa bin Naufal answered, “He is in Mecca,” and she asked, “Which tribe does he belong to?” “He is of Quraysh,” said her uncle’s son. “And of which clan?” she asked. “Of the clan of Hashim.” “Then tell me his name,” said Khadija. “His name is Muhammad, oh Khadija,” said Waraqa.
Having been told no more than this, without ever having set her eyes on him, Khadija began to love him with all her heart and soul. She asked Waraqa, “When and where will this sun rise?” and she began to wait night and day for these events to take place. Now, Khadija was a woman excelling in beauty and
perfection, and her mind and manners were of great delicacy. She had no dearth of suitors among the Arab nobles and notables, but she inclined towards none and would accept no offer, despite the wealth and position it might have conferred. She waited patiently, burning with undisclosed passion.
One day Muhammad was having a meal at his uncle’s house. Abu Talib and his sister Atiqa watched him as he ate, and they remarked his good table manners and his fine style of eating. They said to each other, “Muhammad is now grown, he is a young man now, it is time he got married. What shall we do? He cannot marry just any woman; she should be a woman of rank and from a good family, who will make him a pure and decent wife. But to find such a woman is very costly, and we don’t have the means...” For at that time, by divine wisdom, Abu Talib’s affairs had foundered, and he was now a poor man.
Thus it was possible for Muhammad to become Khadija’ s trading agent in her business with the merchants of Sham, and he had opportunity to prove his exceptional worth of character and high-mindedness. Had Abu Talib been as well off as he was aforetime, none of this would have transpired, Rasulullah would have had no occasion to travel in business.
Abu Talib now answered his sister Atiqa, “I don’t know how to go about this, what shall we do?” The Prophet’s aunt Atiqa said, “I have an idea. You know of Khadija, and you know also the excellent reputation she enjoys; whoever has had dealings with her, has profited by them, she is a very fortunate and auspicious lady. Besides, she is very wealthy. At this time, she is just getting ready to send a caravan to Sham, laden with all manners of goods, and she is employing people in her service. Why don’t we send Muhammad along to accompany the caravan, in her employ; that way he will earn a little something, and with a little help from our side, he should be able to get married.”
Abu Talib agreed with her, he thought this a very good and useful proposition. He approved and said, “Indeed, this is a very reasonable idea, only I am too shy to go up to Khadija and ask her to hire Muhammad to do her business for her in Sham.” So Atiqa said, “I will go to her then, and talk to her.”
First she went and informed Muhammad of the talk she had had with his uncle. Muhammad was agreeable to the idea and voiced no objections. When his uncle Abu Talib heard that he had accepted, he wept, for it hurt him to see his nephew sent on such a trip for wages. “No one of our tribe has ever had to travel for wages before, least of all such a pure bred, nobly born boy as Muhammad, with his honor, nobility and grace shining upon his forehead; yet, what can I do?
We have fallen upon hard times, and situations may occur when dubious actions are permitted, some things become permissible through necessity. So if it has to be, go then and speak with the lady, Khadija.”
So Atiqa went to Khadija and tried to explain things to her. As for Khadija, the coming of the Prophet’s aunt to her meant the advent of happiness, and she received her with honors and signs of great favor. When it came to stating her request, she felt ashamed to do so, considering the honor with which she had been received. Atiqa sat choking on her words, when Khadija herself broached the subject. “Oh Atiqa, noblewoman of the Arabs,” she said, “your demeanor tells me that you have something on your mind that you wish to say, but are not quite happy to do so. Tell it to me, for whatever is your request, know, that I will be more than happy to oblige, it is an honor for me to comply with your wishes.”
Then Atiqa felt easier and she said, “You must have heard of Muhammad , my brother Abdullah’s son who was orphaned before he was even born and brought up first by his grandfather, then by my other brother, Abu Talib. Now he is grown and it is time for him to get married. However, Abu Talib has fallen into straightened circumstances and has not the wherewithal to perform this important duty towards his nephew. Now we have heard that you are getting ready a trade caravan to travel to Sham these days, and if you see it fit to take my nephew along, you will gain the gratitude of the house of Hashim. Will you accept our young relative in your service, and send him on this trade mission to Sham?”
Khadija became thoughtful, thinking to herself, “This youth must be the man in my dream, all the descriptions that my uncle’s son Waraqa gave me apply to him. He is of the Arabs of Mecca, of Quraysh, of the house of Hashim. His noble name is Muhammad . He is known even now in the town as al-Amin, the trustworthy, he is always called Muhammad Amin. His purity and piety are the talk of the town. The Muhammad of my dream can be no other Muhammad than this man who is destined to become the Prophet of the last times.”
She then turned to Atiqa and addressed her thus: “Oh noblewoman of the Quraysh! I have heard talk of this Muhammad, he is thought by all to be honest and truthful, and of exemplary piety. But I have never met him myself. Will he have the necessary strength to lead a caravan? For it is no easy task to look after such an assemblage of men and beasts, and to ensure their safety and protection. I ask you to please have him come to me, so that I might see him and judge for myself.”
Khadija wished to see him so that she might be sure he bore all the signs mentioned in the holy books, and accorded to all the descriptions given therein. When Atiqa had gone, Khadija went to bathe and dressed herself in her finery, then she got her house ready and waited for her visitors to come. She had a thin curtain hung across the room, and she told all her servants to treat the arrivals with respect and to seat them in the place of honor. Then she sat down and perused the holy books until her visitors were announced. When Rasulullah and his aunt came, they were duly received and given every courteous attention. Khadijah compared Muhammad’s person with what she had read in the holy books concerning the prophet to come, and she found all the signs matching and in accordance with what was written of him. Now she was certain that he was the man of her dream. She knew this to be the truth and her heart beat with excitement.
She would have been happy to marry him at once, but being a very principled lady, she realized it was wiser to wait awhile; for were she to marry him at once, she would certainly encounter a lot of resistance from the people. She concluded that it would be much better if she first sent him to Sham as her business agent, and then arrange the marriage proposition. So she said to the Prophet’s aunt Atiqa, “Normally I give my caravan drivers twenty-five gold pieces for this journey. However, since Muhammad is such a nobly-born and high-ranking person, I agree to give him fifty pieces of gold, if he is willing to accept.”
Atiqa was more than pleased with Khadija’s handling of the affair, and she went to inform Abu Talib who was equally pleased. They both impressed on Muhammad to accept the offer and to do whatever she asked him to do. Muhammad then went to her house and offered his services, and Khadija was very glad for this outcome.
The leader of this caravan was a man by the name of Maysara. Khadija said to him, “Oh Maysara! Whatever you do, do not treat Muhammad as a simple laborer-for-wages in my employ! You are the leader of this caravan, but I ask you to regard him as my independent business agent. Serve him well, and make everything as easy and pleasant as possible for him. Obey him, don’t oppose him, and do him no harm.” After many such admonitions she added, “One more thing: until you have left the town behind, treat him as you would treat any ordinary man traveling with the caravan; only when you have passed out of the city, clothe him in this new suit of clothes and mount him upon this finely equipped camel. Do only as he orders and do your best for his protection. Lead him home by the shortest and safest route, and let no distractions of the road
interfere. For know that he is a noble kinsman of Quraysh, and the best of them all. Let us not be shamed before them. If you do as I have bidden you, and all goes well, I will give you your freedom and reward you better than you have hoped for.”
Then the caravan prepared and assembled to leave. The townspeople gathered round to watch it go, some just came to stare, others to bid farewell to their friends and relations. Muhammad’s departure aroused a great deal of interest, and many of his relatives had come to see him off, among them the nobles of Quraysh and the Bani Hashim. When his aunt and uncle, Atiqa and Abu Talib saw Muhammad in the garb of a common hireling, they lost control and began to weep. Abu Talib even fainted from excessive emotion, and when he came to his senses, he clasped Rasulullah to his breast.
Tears more shining than pearls welled up in his blessed eyes and rolled down his cheeks, fairer than the petals of the rose, and he spoke, “Forget me not and forget not to pray for me in those distant lands and the hardships that await me there.” Hearing these words from him, all his relatives began to sigh and weep. The heavenly angels wept as well and implored the Almighty, “Oh Lord, is this not Muhammad of whom You have spoken, ‘Were it not for you, I would not have created the universe’; is it not he whom You have crowned with such honor?” Allah Almighty responded to them and said, “It is he who is My Beloved . You, however, are ignorant of love and of being loved. Herein there is also hidden wisdom which is yet to appear.”
After everyone had dispersed, the caravan set off for its distant destination. Now Muhammad was overcome with the pain of being a stranger in this world, so that he wept and spoke inwardly, “Oh my parents, oh beloved mother, oh my father whom I never knew! If only you could see what has become of your son, if only you could behold him in the attire of a lowly wayfarer! Oh exile, oh toil, come to me, now is your moment! Mecca, my homeland, shall I ever see you again, or shall I breathe my last, far from home in a strange and foreign land?” Thus he was overcome by the pangs of homesickness and the loneliness of the road.
Oh Nation of Muhammad ! When you hear of the woeful events that befell your noble Prophet , and the pain he experienced from feeling like a lonely and deserted stranger, it is incumbent upon you to weep for him in his plight! For whenever this Nation weeps for him in such moments as these, the angels register it and turn to the Lord Almighty, saying, “Oh Lord, what is it that they
are now weeping?” The Almighty then answers them, “It is because they are following the story of their prophet, and they weep out of empathy and compassion for My beloved Prophet and all that befell him. Oh My angels both in Heaven and upon the earth bear witness! I will free from the torment of Hell all those of my servants who weep for the sake of My beloved, My wrath and punishment shall be lifted from them!” This is another evidence of the compassionate Grace and Munificence of our Lord Almighty.
Thus the Holy Prophet departed from his hometown Mecca-tul-Mukarrama, may Allah increase its renown and favor us with a sojourn at these holy places. After they had left the city behind, the leader of the caravan, Maysara, gave him the splendid robe to wear and he had him mount upon a lavishly adorned camel. Abu Bakr was also traveling with this caravan. Maysara and Abu Bakr said to Muhammad , “Oh Muhammad , you are our chief, and we will abide by your word. Inform us of your wishes, and of what is required.” From then on till the end of the journey, they served Muhammad and showed him honor in every way.
Allah Almighty sent a little cloud to accompany them which stood above the Holy Prophet at all times, shielding him from the rays of a violent sun. The Almighty also ordered the wind to send a soft little breeze to accompany His beloved, that brought him cooling as from a fan, so that he felt neither the heat of the road nor the torridity of the desert round him. In this way the infinite Grace of the Almighty manifested and the caravan proceeded along its way.
At some point in the trip, two of the camels belonging to Khadija grew exhausted and could no longer go on. Maysara came and told Muhammad of this. The Holy Prophet went over to the animals and with his blessed hand he gently stroked the legs of the camels. Of an instant the camels rose and their strength was restored; they assumed their place in the string of camels and followed the lead. Seeing this, Abu Bakr and Maysara marveled and understood that Muhammad carried with him a special blessing and that he would one day be great.
The caravan moved along at a steady pace until it reached a certain church by Busra on the outskirts of the land of Sham. It was the same hermitage that Muhammad had visited with his uncle Abu Talib when he was a boy, and he had known the monk Buhayra. This old monk had meanwhile passed away, and in his place there lived a younger monk by the name of Nastura. He was renowned for his asceticism and for his great learning, and his knowledge of the
scriptures was profound. The Prophet and his companions came up close to the church, wishing to dismount and rest awhile under the shade of the old trees. Rasulullah went and sat beneath a tree, leaning his back against its trunk. It was an old, dead tree, but as soon as he touched it, it came to life again, sprouting fresh green and even bearing fruit on its boughs.
The monk Nastura watched the approach of the caravan and emerged from his cell. He beheld a radiant person seated at the foot of the dead tree which had suddenly sprung to life and greened anew and now was laden with fruit. He also saw a small white cloud hovering in the sky that shaded him alone. Nastura realized instantly that this man must be either a prophet or a very holy man of God. He turned back and disappeared in his cell where he prepared a splendid meal for the wayfarers. He invited the entire caravan to his dwelling, for he wished to see up close that blessed person he had noticed at a distance, and to learn more about his mission with the caravan. By inviting them to his hermitage he could take a closer look at him and make his acquaintance.
Maysara responded gladly to the monk’s invitation, while Muhammad said, “You go ahead, I will stay here and guard our belongings and pack animals.” Maysara was very pleased with this arrangement, for Muhammad , as everyone knew, was the most trustworthy of all. So Maysara took his leave of him and went to have dinner at the hermitage. When all his guests were assembled, the monk went out and saw that the cloud had not moved from its place, so he came back to his guests and asked whether they had left anyone outside. They answered truthfully that they had left Muhammad outside to keep watch over their belongings. The monk Nastura then said, “You have my word that your belongings will remain untouched; just ask this person to come in to me, for I have need to see him.” Then he went out in person to invite the Holy Prophet to come inside.
The Holy Prophet rose when he saw the monk approaching him and shook his hand. Nastura said, “I have prepared this meal especially for you, my friend, it is quite important that you attend it in person.” So, as Rasulullah began to walk towards his hermitage, the monk observed that the little white cloud overhead followed him, and that as soon as he stood still, the cloud also stopped above him. They came to the church hall; the monk seated Muhammad in the seat of honor, and went out again to look. He saw the cloud hovering over the entrance to the church, and he heard these words coming from it, “When our Holy Prophet comes out again, I will again be his shade; therefore I am waiting
here.” Then Nastura went in and joined his guests.
When they had eaten, the monk addressed Muhammad and asked him the following questions, and received these answers:
“Where are you from?” “I am from Mecca.” “Of which tribe?”
“Of the tribe of Quraysh.” “Of which clan of Quraysh?”
“Of the clan of the Bani Hashim.” “What is your name?”
“My name is Muhammad.”
Thereupon the monk rose and embraced Muhammad and kissed him upon the forehead. Then he gave his testimony: “I testify that there is no god but Allah, and I testify that you are Muhammad, His Prophet.” After showing him all the respect and honor he could, Nastura asked him, “There is one request I wish to make of your holy person which I beg you to accept.” “What could your wish be?” asked Muhammad . “I would ask you to show me the unmistakable mark of your prophethood so that my heart might have certainty and my mind be at peace and my conviction be strengthened
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