The prophet was an orphan at six years old
Allah's
prophet, Abu Al Qasim Muhammad Ibn Abd Allah, was born in Mecca,
modern-day Saudi Arabia, around 570 AD in rabi’ al awaal, the third
month of the Islamic calendar.
According to Islamic traditions,
the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was born into a noble family from
descendants of Ibrahim, or Abraham in the Jewish and Christian
traditions. The prophet, however, lost both parents.
His father
Abd Allah Ibn Abd al Muttalib passed away six months before his birth,
and his mother Aminah bint Wahb died when he was six years old.
The
prophet was raised by his grandfather Abdul Muttalib and his uncle Abu
Talib, a merchant to whom he was very close. He accompanied Abu Talib on
his trading journeys.
The prophet was considered trustworthy, faithful, and honest
At
a young age, the prophet worked as a shepherd, tending to the herd his
uncle owned. Muhammad gained trading experience from accompanying his
uncle on many trading journeys, and in time he conducted many
businesses. Many praised him for his honesty and commitments, for he
never lied or cheated and always kept his promises.
He quickly became known across the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea as a trustworthy, honest, and faithful merchant.
His
growing reputation later attracted a wealthy businesswoman, Khadija,
who was 15 years older than him. She offered him work and later proposed
marriage. She became his first wife and the first person to believe in
his prophecy.
Khadija, one of the strongest women who defied stereotypes
Khadija
was born into a wealthy family as the daughter of a successful merchant
in the Quraysh tribe of Mecca who taught her everything about trading.
After her father’s death, and in a male-dominant field, Khadija took
over the family business known for its success and fair dealing.
Khadija
was married twice before Muhammad (PBUH); both marriages left her
widowed with children that she chose to care for and support alone,
despite the many marriage proposals she received.
The independent
businesswoman did not marry Muhammad (PBUH) for his finances or looks,
but for love, his wisdom, and smart ways in dealing with business.
Khadija was also 40 years old when she married him, 15 years his senior.
During
their happy and monogamous marriage, Muhammad (PBUH) received his first
revelation from God in 610 AD in the cave Hira during his meditation
and prayers.
Khadija took care of the prophet and comforted
him after he came back distressed. She was the first person to accept
Muhammad (PBUH) as the prophet and Islam as her religion, which is why
she is known as the “Mother of Islam.”
The prophet refused bribes to quit his preaching
When
the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) first started delivering verses of the
Quran to his tribe, he faced rejection and mockery. Only a few people
believed in his prophecy, including his relatives and Khadija, who
supported him and always encouraged him to spread Islam.
When
the Quran verses first condemned idol worship and polytheism, Mecca’s
merchant leaders considered the messages as a threat to their
long-standing beliefs and their economy, which relied on pilgrimages to
Mecca every year for idol worship.
The Quraysh merchant leader
who guarded the Kaaba, the religious center of Mecca, attempted to
persuade the prophet to abandon his preaching by offering him higher
positions in the inner circle of merchants and an advantageous marriage,
but Muhammad (PBUH) refused.
Muslims were tortured to give up their faith
When
the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his followers refused to give up their
faith, the Quraysh and other tribes persecuted them for diverging from
Mecca’s traditional ways, torturing them and subjecting them to
near-famine conditions.
According to Islamic records, some of the
prominent followers of Islam that suffered torture and death included
Sumayyah Bint Khayat, the slave of a Meccan leader and one of the first
members of the Islamic community. Her master killed her with a spear
when she refused to give up her faith.
Bilal ibn Rabah was
also a Muslim slave who suffered torture at the hands of Umayyah Ibn
Khalaf, who placed a heavy rock on the man’s chest to force him to
convert. Bilal refused and later became one of the most trusted
companions of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
The first Muslim community emerged in Yathrib (Medina)
Amid
increased persecution, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his followers
migrated from Mecca to Yathrib (Medina, modern-day Saudi Arabia), an
oasis town where the prophet’s father Abd Allah was buried. The
emigration in 622 AD marks the first year of the Islamic calendar.
Yathrib’s
leaders sought the prophet at the time for his well-known wisdom to
solve a vicious war that raged between several of the city’s tribes. The
prophet acted as their mediator to bring an end to the war.
Settling in Yathrib, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) gathered more acceptance and followers as he built the first Muslim community.
Islam accepts and respects other religions
Contrary
to what many believe, Islam does not discriminate against any religion
or race, nor does it call for forcible conversion.
The holy
Quran states, “There is no compulsion in religion” in ayah (verse) 256
of Al-Baqara. Islamic scholars interpret the verse as meaning that Islam
is clear and plain and no one should accept it under coercion.
The
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also viewed Christians and Jews as natural
allies to Muslims, for the three religions share core teachings. After
his migration to Medina, the prophet made an agreement with the local
Jewish tribes that secured political equality and support for both Jews
and Muslims.
According to Islamic records, the Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) also allowed Christian priests to hold prayers in his
mosques and told Muslims to treat them with respect and equality.
Islam condemns discrimination based on ethnicity, race
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) did not discriminate against other races, despite this being common amongst tribes in the region.
Wishing
to end racism and discrimination, in his last sermon, the prophet
declared: “A white has no superiority over a black, nor does a black
over a white, except by piety and good action.”
Some of the
prophet’s closest companions were Bilal Ibn Rabah, who was Abyssinian or
East African, and Salman Farsi, who was Persian and a former Muslim
slave.
Bilal was one of the most prominent and trusted
companions of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) after he set him free from his
former master. The prophet also chose Bilal to deliver the first call
to prayer, or adhan, according to records.
Islam promotes sharing and charity
One
of Islam’s five pillars, “zakat” is a mandatory charitable donation for
Muslims. Every Muslim who is able must give 2.5% of their wealth to the
benefit of the poor and needy.
Muslims often give zakat during
the holy month of Ramadan. Contrary to many beliefs, Ramadan is not just
about fasting. Muslims take the month to reflect and meditate, get in
touch with their souls and come closer to God, refrain from negative
deeds and thoughts, share with family and neighbors, and feed the poor.
In
Islam Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also promoted “sadaqah,” which is
voluntary donation and charity work. The Quran also encourages sadaqah
to be discreet to promote the righteous moral acts of giving and
sharing.
The prophet established rights for women
Islamophobic
discourse often pushes the narrative that Muslim women are oppressed,
abused, inferior, and unequal in Islam. However, such misconceptions
could not be further from the truth.
Before Islam, parents in
Arabia buried girls alive and men treated women as property until the
Prophet Muhammad (PHUB) openly condemned inequality and honored women in
society.
The prophet Muhammad (PHUB) made education an
obligation in Islam for all Muslims, both men and women. One of the most
prominent scholars in Islam was the prophet’s wife, Aisha. Many
scholars would travel long journeys to learn from her.
Women in
Islam also gave political opinions freely, participated in battles, and
conducted businesses. One of the most successful businesswomen was
Khadija, the prophet’s first wife, and Shaffa bin Abdullah, the
supervisor of the bazaar in the Medina marketplace.
In Islam,
women are free to choose whoever they want to marry and cannot be
forced into marriage. They also have the right to seek a divorce if
unsatisfied with the marriage and remarry as a widow or divorcee. Muslim
women have the right to do whatever they wish with the money they
personally own and are not obliged to spend any money on household needs
unless they chose to.
In contrast, women in the West generally
lacked the rights Muslim women enjoyed until the 19th century. In
England, a woman’s property became her husband’s after marriage. Muslim
women, on the other hand, were entitled to their assets. Another example
is how most Muslim women keep their family names after marriage, while
women in the West often take their husband’s last name.
Amid
the hate and Islamophobia and the different misconceptions that run
rampant in many societies, it can be easy to forget what Islam really
represents and stands for.
Islam is a rich religion that offers,
peace, connection, coexistence, love, forgiveness, charity, and
equality amongst human beings, yet not many people realize this because
of ignorance and preconceived discrimination.
Learning
historical truths about the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the timeless
teachings of Islam can help communities grow in peace rather than in
tension and hatred. https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/ |
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