Childhood and the early biography of Prophet Muhammad (Fall 2012)

When I chose the Prophet Muhammad’s early childhood and adulthood topic peace, and blessing be upon him, I knew I would I have a lot to cover in my short paper. Since we do not have enough documents about the Prophet Muhammad’s early biography, I will cover from his birth to the first ten or so years when he realized that he was a prophet. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was born in Makah in 570, and he was born as an orphan. Muhammad was the son of Abdullah, who was the son of Abdul-Muttalib, who was the son of Hashim; whose ancestry reaches the Prophet Ismael son of the Prophet Abraham, peace be upon all of them. (Ali 52)

The Prophet Muhammad’s father Abdullah bin Abdul-Muttalib died before he was born, and his mother Amina died shortly afterwards. Prophet Muhammad was raised by his grandfather Abdul-Muttalib, and then by his uncle Abu Talib. Nobody in his family ever thought about that their child Muhammad would be the last prophet from God to humanity.

When Muhammad was born his mother said: ‘As soon as I put my child on the ground he placed with his hands on the ground, raised his head to the skies and looked at the horizons all the while speaking in phrases of monotheism. Then a voice called out to me saying: “the best of mankind has been born so name him Muhammad.” This was very interesting to Amina and the rest of the family. Prophet Muhammad’s name was very unique and it was never ever giving to someone else before him.

After Abdullah's death, Muhammad's grandfather, Abdul-Muttalib, became his guardian. Abdul-Muttalib was one of the chiefs of the tribe of Quraysh. He always respected and honored agreements and embraced the finest of moralities. Abdul-Muttalib loved the poor and helped travelers. He would even feed the wild animals and the birds of the mountaintops. He would feed people in times of famine and would imprison offenders.

Prophet Muhammad was not yet seven years old when his mother died. After his mother's death, his grandfather Abdul-Muttalib assumed guardianship of him. Because of his knowledge of the status of the child and his faith in him he treated Muhammad with more care and attention than his other children. Abdul-Muttalib said to Muhammad’s uncle Abu Talib in his will to take care of him. The prophet peace and blessing be upon him was eight when his grandfather died, and he was taken into the care of his uncle Abu Talib. Abdu Talib chief of Banu Hashim a clan with in Quraysh than become the protector and guardian of prophet Muhammad (PBUH) from his eight year. Abdu Talib went on to protect and help the prophet, defending him and honoring him throughout the testing times of his prophet hood until the last breath of his life.

As a kid Muhammad peace and blessing be upon him used to accompany his uncle on his business trips to Syria. When the prophet (PBUH) reached the age of twelve he traveled with his uncle Abu Talib as far as Busra. There he was seen by a Christian monk named Georges who recognized him by his description. He took his hand and said: “this is the chief of the Worlds; God will send him as a mercy to the Worlds.' Abu Talib said: ‘how do you know this?' He said: ‘we find him mention of him by name in our books.” The prophet peace and blessings be upon him asked his uncle Abu Talib to take him back fearing for his safety, and his uncle took him back to their home. (Ali 159)

When Georges said we find him mention his name in our book, I took a little deep research on that, and I find out that one of the most respected Islamic scholars in modern world Ahmed Deedaat actually quoted the old testament of the bible in one his famous lectures in YouTube, and he found out exactly where prophet Muhammad was mentioned in the bible by name he argues; in the old testament of Hebrew language in the Song of Solomon chapter five, verse 16 it reads "Hikko Mamittakim we kullo [Muhammadim] Zehdoodeh wa Zahraee Bayna Jerusalem." (What) In English translation it reads "His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely [Muhammad]. This is my beloved, and this is my friend O daughters of Jerusalem." He said they have translated Prophet Muhammad's name in to "Altogether lovely", this was really interesting to me when I read the history of our beloved prophet Muhammad peace and blessing be upon.

Growing up Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was very nobleman and fine respected young men through his community. He became known for his excellent behavior, and because of the honesty in his manners and dealings he was referred as the Truthful one, and that was the reason he got his famous nick name “Al-Sadiq and Al Amiin” the Trustworthy One.

As an adult, Muhammad worked as a seller between the cities of Mecca and Damascus, and earned a great character in the practice. A wealthy business woman Khadijah saw his performance in the business, and the returns he had produced as well as his honesty, she put Muhammad in charge of her big business. Although she had many proposals of marriage from various famous and wealthy businessmen of the Quraysh, Khadijah declined them all, and finally made her married proposed to the Prophet Muhammad peace and blessing be upon. Muhammad was poor, and he was so poor that he was not really able to marry until he was already an old man of twenty five years old to a woman who was forty years old and a widow.

The Prophet (PBUH) had a good relationship with his first wife and in reality, the period of prophet's family life during his marriage to his first wife could be considered as an example of an Islamic family life and lessons have learned many people from this great story. When they get married Muhammad (PBUH) was 25 years old, and Khadijah was 40 years young. (Biography)Yet, that did not bother the prophet peace and blessing be upon him, one bit. He loved her so deeply, and she loved him as deeply. Many Islamic historians consider the love story of the prophet Muhammad and Khadija to the greatest of love stories.

After a long and happy married with his family the prophet was about 40 years old, when he started being along in a cave call "Hira" in the al-Noor mountain near the city of Mecca, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to spend much of his time in prayer and worship of one God. In 610CE, at the age of forty, Muhammad received his first divine revelations when he was occupied in affection and prayer inside the cave of Hira. Angel Gabriel came to the prophet peace and blessing be upon him, and help him so tight, and squeezed him so tight that he could hardly breath, then let the prophet go and read to the first verses of the Quran, a message that have being delivered to all of mankind and he said: "In the name of Allah the Merciful, the Compassionate; Read in the name of thy Lord who created, Created man from a clot, Read and thy lord is the most noble, Who taught by pen, Taught man what he knew not . . ." (Qur'an Al Kariim Surah 96, 1-5.)

When the Prophet Muhammad peace and blessing be upon him received his first revelation, he was anxious and concerned. He did not understand that this was something that is coming from god, and it was at that moment that he truly needed a form of reassurance and encouragement. The Prophet (PBUH) knew the right person to go to and that was his wife and his best friend Khadijah. He run on to her and said to her the famous words “Zamiluuni zamilluunii, dakhilluunii dakhiluunii” meaning cover me up, cover me up. The Prophet (PBUH) was very confused and scared. Then Khadijah covered the prophet and asked him what happened to you? And then he explained to her what happened. Khadijah responded to the prophet calm down your God will disgrace you and will never punish you for anything. She then convinced the prophet to go with her uncle and explain to the story (Biography.) Prophet Muhammad peace and blessing be upon him spent the rest of his life communicated God’s message, and setting an example of how each human being should live.

Sources

1. Ali, Muhammad M. Sirat Al-Nabi and the Orientalists. 1st Edition ed. Vol. I. Madina: King Fahd Complex for Printing of the Holy Quran, 1997. Print.
2. BIOGRAPHY OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD. You Tube. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Jan. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZCbToxL6Bs>.
3. “Introduction to Islam.” West Chester University of Pennisylvaia. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Jan. 2011. <http://courses.wcupa.edu/jones/his101/misc/islam.htm>.
4. Omar, Raggeh. "The Life of Prophet Mohammed (peace Be upon Him)." YouTube. YouTube, 22 Dec. 2011. Web. 04 Dec. 2012.<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-8nONNli6U>
5. "What the Bible Says About Prophet Muhammad." YouTube. Trans. Ahmed Deedaat. YouTube, n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2012.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsNz40eyTnY
6. WriteWork.com. WriteWork.com, 26 March, 2004. Web. 04 Dec. 2012.
7. Vidyarthi, Abdul Haq. Muhammad in World Scriptures. New Delhi: Adam Publishers, 1990.
8. WriteWork contributors. "The ultimate standard for Muslim leaders is the Prophet Muhammad."