Life of Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (S.A.W)

[HaziM]

BRIEF LIFE STORY OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam)

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam) Was born in Makkah on Monday 12th Rabi-ul-Awwal, before the Sun rise in the year 571 A.d. He lived in this World for 63 years. He left this World on on Monday 11th year of Hijra. Ulema has disagreement on his day of departure, some says 2 Rabi-ul-Awwal some says 3. He (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam) Lived 53 years in Makkah and 10 years in Madinah. He (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam) changed this World in just 23 years of his prophethood. Father Abdullah (Allah be pleased with him) died 6 months before the Prophet (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam) was born. At the age of 6 his (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam) Mother hadrat Amina (Allah be pleased with her) died. At the age of 8, his (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam) Grandfather Abdul Muttalib died. At the age of 13, his (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam) First business trip to Syria with his uncle Abu-Talib. At the age of 15, he (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam) Participated in the war of Fujjar to defend Kabbah. At the age of 23, his (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam) , 2nd trip Syria as Hadrat Khadija's (RadiallahAnho) representative. At the age of 25, he (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam) married hadrat Khadija (RadiallahAnho). She was 40 years old. At the age of 35, he (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam) helped in the rebuilding of Kabbah, and resolved the matter of fitting the Black Stone (hajr-e-Aswad) in the wall of Kabbah, therefore avoided eminent bloodshed. At the age of 36-40, he (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam) spent most of his time at the mount Hira.

LIFE IN MAKKAH & PROPHETHOOD

On the first day of 41st year of his life, Muhammad (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam) received his first revelation from Allah ta'ala through Angel Gibrail Alihesalam. First Muslims were Hadrat Khadijah, Hadrat Abu Bakr, Hadrat Ali, and hadrat Zaid (Allah be pleased with them). After three years of his Prophethood, Almighty Allah ordered him to invite people openly to Islam. Then he (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam) declared his prophethood in an open gathering on the top of the hill called Safa. People who used to love and respect the prophet (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam) became his enemies and started persecuting the handfuls Muslims. Prophet's uncle Abu Lahab and Abu Jahal were in the forefront to oppose and torture the prophet and his followers. In the 5th year, life in makkah for Muslims was becoming unbearable, so they were ordered to leave Makkah on individual basis. In the 6th year, Hadrat Umar (RadiallahAnho) and Prophet's uncle Hadrat Hamza (RadiallahAnho) accepted Islam, and right after that time, Muslims prayed openly and collectively in kabbah. Between 7th to the 10th year the Quraish of Makkah really made muslims' life miserable. They drove them out of Makkah to the outskirts and boycotted them for any business or family relationship. This was the hardest time in Prophet's (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam) life. In the 11th year, a group of people from yathrab (Madinah) accepted Islam. In 12th year on 27th of Rajab the Holy Prophet (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam) went on Meraj to Heavens and beyond, Where he met Allah Ta'ala and brought five prayers for Muslims as a gift of Almighty Allah. In 13th year of Prophethood, in the month of Safar, the Prophet (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam) migrated to Madinah in the company of Hadrat Abu Bakr (RadiallahAnho) leaving hadrat Ali (RadiallahAnho) behind so that hadrat Ali can return All the Amanats back to the people.

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LIFE IN MADINAH

On 1st Rabi-ul-Awwal Prophet Muhammad (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam) came out of the cave of Thore and on the 8th of this month he arrived at the town of Quba. After a 14-day stay in quba, where he built the first Mosque of Islam, the Holy Prophet (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam) left for Yathrab, whose name later changed to madinah-tul-Rasool or the city of the Apostle. Here he built masjid-e-Nabavi or the Mosque of the Prophet. In the 2nd year of Hijra, the revelation came for the call of Azan and change of Qibla to kaabak, in Makkah. Fasting in the month of Ramadan was made obligatory, and 313 Muslims defeated over 1000 invaders from Makkah at Badr. Abu jahal was killed in this battle.

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n the 3rd year of Hijra, Zakat was made obligatory, the battle of Uhad was fought in the month of Shawal in which Prophet's (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam) uncle hadrat Hamza (RadiallahAnho) was martyred. In the 4th year, the drinking of Alcohol was forbidden. In the fifth year, order of Hijab for the ladies was received. And in the month of Shawal of the same year, the Makkans again invaded Madinah and battle of Trench was fought. In the 6th year, the historical treaty of Hudaibiya was signed and the Holy Prophet (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam) sent his emissaries to the famous kings of the time with the message of ISLAM. In the 7th year, the battle of Khyber happened. In the 8th year of Hijra, Makkah was conquered and several famous people accepted Islam. In the 9th year of Hijra, battle of Tabook took place. The hajj was made obligatory. In the 10th year of Hijra the Prophet (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam) went to makkah for his last Hajj with more than 124,000 of his companions and faithful of Islam. He gave basic principles of Islam in his last sermon.

RABI-AWWAL THE MONTH OF REJOICE, GRATEFULNESS AND CELEBRATION

Rabi Awwal, This is a very beautiful month also because on the 12th of day of this blessed month was sent to this world by Allaah Ta'ala the Most Compassionate, a human being the like of which the world had never ever seen before, His own beloved Hadrat Muhammad bin 'Abdullaah, Sayyidul Mursileen, Afdal ul Ambiaa, (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam) the manifest light (Noor ul Mubeen) who would lead the world from the darkness of ignorance to glories of enlightenment of the True Guidance from the very Source of Life and Absolute Truth, the Lord of the Universe Himself. The crown of honor of completion and perfection of this enlightenment for all humanity to come till the Day of Judgment, as testified by our Lord the Creator in His Quraan ul Majeed, was to be placed upon the blessed head of the last of the series of truly great human beings that were graciously sent by their Lord to guide humanity to the straight path, the path of willing submission to their Lord and Master, His Own beloved who He named "Rahmat ul lil 'Aalameen" (Mercy for the worlds)

His (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam) coming is not only an invaluable gift of mercy to the world, but to the entire universe! Allaah the Lord of Mercy has among many beautiful things, this to say about his Own beloved:

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Translation: "We sent you (O Muhammad ) not but as a mercy to the 'Aalameen (The worlds, the universe, His entire creation)". Soorah21 Aayah 107

Translation: "And you (O Muhammad) stand on an exalted (The greatest) standard of character (Manners, and Conduct ). Soorah 68 Aayah 4.

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Translation: "You have indeed in the Messenger of Allaah, a beautiful model of (conduct) for anyone whose hope is in Allaah and the Final Day and who engages much in the praise of Allaah" Soorah33 Aayah 21.

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Allaah Ta'ala when reminding us about his innumerous favors says in the Holy Quraan (Soorah 18 Aayah 109)

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Translation: Say (O Muhammad) if the ocean were ink (with which to write out) the words of my Lord (Praises, signs, favors, mercy) sooner would the ocean be exhausted than would the words of my Lord, even if were added another ocean like it for its aid."

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Dear beloved soul mates, is there a favor or mercy that Allaah Tal'ala the most Merciful could have bestowed upon us all greater than the gift to us of Muhammad (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam)? According the above Aayah of our Merciful Lord, it is really not possible for us to thank Him adequately for this His greatest favor.

Allaah in Soorah 14 Aayah 7 commands us:

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Translation:"And remember! your Lord caused to be declared (publicly): 'If you are grateful I will add more (favors) unto you; but if you show ingratitude truly My punishment is terrible indeed."

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The above Aayah has a specific context, yet the principle is applicable to all His favors and for all times (Allaah and His beloved know best). Therefore, inadequate though the expression of our gratitude towards His Generosity will be, however we must give thanks profusely for the His greatest blessing to us as well as all other favors. He plainly warns us about His terrible punishment if we fail to do so. In what manner are we to praise Him for His bounties?

In Soorah 93 Aayah 11 Allaah commands His beloved and of course through him us also:

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Translation: " Therefore of the bounty of your Lord rehearse and proclaim".

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My most precious and beloved readers, there is one word in the dictionary which meets all the commands laid down by Lord Almighty in the above quoted Aayahs, for us to respond to and express ourselves at His wonderful blessings and gifts He bestows upon us, especially a gift like His beloved, Hadrat Sayyidinaa wa Maulaanaa Muhammad (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam); the word has the following meanings: Rejoice, Extol, Praise, Make widely known, Display, Acclaim, Eulogize and Honor. And that word is "Celebrate"! My beloved soul mates, I sincerely believe that no amount of celebration is enough to express our sincere gratitude to our Most Merciful Lord for His gift to us of the Rasoolallaah , a gift which is so precious that it is beyond any description.

However I would like to pass on a word of caution to all of us: Our Lord Almighty ordained fasting in the month of Ramadaan ul Mubaarak so that we may learn Taqwaa (Increased awareness of Allaah ). This does not mean though that the rest of the year we should give up Taqwaa. Similarly, although in the blessed month of Rabee' ul Awwal and its blessed 12th day, because of the deep sense of its importance, it is necessary to celebrate it appropriately as mandated by Allaah, the objective should be to use the memory of this greatest of all occasions to renew and revitalize our appreciation for all His bounties and to realize that the only way to give it expression is to commit ourselves sincerely to conform our lives according to the Sunnah of His beloved throughout the year and throughout our lives. To this humble pinch of dust, this commitment is the most significant and sincere ingredient of the celebration of this blessed month and its blessed 12th day. Yaa Hayyu Yaa Qayyoom.

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LOVE AND RESPECT OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam) IS THE CORNER STONE OF IMAAN

A minute disrespect in the honor of the prophet Muhammad (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam) could invite Allah Ta'ala's Anger!

Islam is a religion of Love. It preaches to love Allah, His prophets, His Aulias, His friends and His Creations. The philosophy of love and respect is evident by the fact that if you do not love or respect somebody then how you will obey his wishes. For example, We obey and follow the orders of our parents simply because we love and respect them and if this ingredients of love and respect would have been missing from one's existence then he/she would care less following his/her parent. With the same token, if we don't love and respect our prophet Muhammad Mustufa (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam), how we going to follow what he (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam) brought for us in the form of Islam. The kafirs of Mecca all the time used to say our prophet (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam) as "you are just a human being like us! why should we follow you?" and tried to find faults in the personality of the Prophet (salallahoalaihewasalam). Why did they do that? It sounds very awkward if I tell my friends or family all the time that you are human like me because it is understood that we are all human and there is no need to point it out but why the Kafirs of Mecca used to say our prophet (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam ) all the time.,There must be a very profound reason, The answer is very simple. If they convinced the people that Muhammad (salallahoalaihewasalam) is an ordinary man like us, full of faults and defects then his (salallahoalaihewasalam) divine message will automatically become faulty because an imperfect person cannot deliver a perfect message! Indeed, prophet Muhammad (salallahoalaihewasalam) is a human being but not an ordinary human like us. He is the highest of all mankind, he is Rahmatul-lil-Alameen, he is Imam-ul-Ambia, he is the best creation of Allah, he is Habib-ullah. Only Allah knows His Habib alihe salam status. In fact, Allah loves his prophet (salallahoalaihewasalam) so much that Allah and His Angels send Salaat-o-Salaam to prophet Muhammad (salallahoalaihewasalam ) all the time and He made "love of Rasulullah (salallahoalaihewasalam)" pre-requsite of Imaan, thus in surah Ale-Imran

Allah says:

TRANSLATION:"Say: O, people! if you do love Allah, follow me , Allah will love you and forgive your sins" (Surah Ale-Imran, Verse 31).

Here is the Hadith where Rasulullah (salallahoalaihewasalam) said; Translation: "That is, none of you is Momin (believer) unless I am dearer to him than his parents, his children and all other persons." (Sahiul Bukhari).

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On one hand Quran and Hadiths teaches us to love and respect Imam-ul-Ambia (salallahoalaihewasalam) more than any thing in the universe to gain Allah Ta'ala consents but on the other hand we (due to our ignorance) spread the message of disrespect about our beloved prophet Muhammad Mustufa (salallahoalaihewasalam) by calling him "human like us", "he was just a messenger with no authority", "his message is important, not his personality" , "Allah did not give him the knowledge of unseen" etc, etc. Now let see what kind of warning Allah gives to such person who show even a minute disrespect in the honor of His Habib (salallahoalaihewasalam).

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Translation:"Raise not your voice above the voice of the Prophet. Lest your labors should come to nothing without your knowledge" (Quran Surah #49:2)

Translation:“Whatever the Apostle gives you accept it; and whatever he forbids you, refrain from. And fear Allah, for Allah is strict in punismentâ€

And this incident:

While going for battle of Tabook, there was three groups of Munafiqeen (hypocrates Muslims). One of them were saying about the Holy Prophet (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam ) that he (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam ) thinks that we will defeat the Romans. The second group listened their mocking and laughed jokingly and the third group only listened but did not say anything. When Rasulallah asked these groups about their comments, the groups replied we were saying that just to pass journey. Upon this answer of the Munafiqeen, Allah immediately sent the following verse:

"Don't make any excuses, you become kafir after accepting Imaan. If we pardon some of you, We will punish others amongst you, for that they are in sin" (Quran: Surah Tauba, verse 66)

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Dear Muslims, just think of the above incident how a small disrespect about the prophet (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam ) invites Allah's Anger. Those groups were only talking with each other and passed the remark that the prophet thinks he will defeat the Romans. If this little disrespect made Allah to declares those people Kafirs then think of those who say the following about our beloved prophet Muhammad (SalallahoAlaiHeWasallam ) that he is "human like us", "he was just a messenger with no authority", "his message is important, not his personality" , "Allah did not give him the knowledge of unseen" , "he is dead and decompose" etc, etc

 

Shaitaan (Iblees) used to be the Teacher of Malaika (Angels). He worshiped Allah Ta'ala day and night for more than Fourty thousand years but because of only one act he became Shaitaan and Mardood and that action was the disrespect of the prophet of Allah i.e he refused to bow in front of Adam (Alaihe Salaam). This fact alone is enough to remind us that our Salaat, Fasting, Hajj, Zakaat, Sadaqa, or any good action is worthless if we don't respect Allah's Prophets. In short, Aqeedah (belief) is first then comes Amal (action).

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QURAN AND SUNNAH GO HAND IN HAND

Abandoning Sunnah is direct violation of Allah’s Commands. A true Muslim cannot just take Quran alone and leave Sunnah of the Prophet (SallalaHoAlaiHeWassalam) aside or vice versa. Allah Ta’ala commands in Quran:

 

“he who obeys the Messenger, has indeed obeyed Allah†(Surah-Al-Nisa, V-80)

“Say you, ‘O people if you love Allah, then follow me: Allah will love you and forgive your sins and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful†(Surah-Ale-Imram, V-31)

“Undoubtedly, you have the best in the following of the Messenger,†(Surah Al-Ahzab, V-21)

“And whatsoever the Messenger gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain from that, And fear Allah; undoubtedly, the torment of Allah is severeâ€(Surah Al-Hashr, V-7)

“And whoso obeys Allah and His messenger, has got a great success†(Surah Al-Ahzab, V-71)

 

These and numerous other similar verses of Quran Where Allah Ta’ala command muslims to follow the Sunnah of our beloved prophet Muhammad (SallalaHoAlaiHeWassalam) in all aspects of life in order to become successful here and after. It is very strange that in the Quran Allah Ta’ala commands Muslims to obey His Messenger in order to get His Raza but we muslims on the other hand doing the opposite i.e. abandoning sunnah of our master (SallalaHoAlaiHeWassalam) one by one. In fact, we are so busy in worldly affairs that we don’t even have time to offer sunnat part of our compulsory prayers or care for even du’ah after prayer, rather than be ashamed of not following the way of our prophet (SallalaHoAlaiHeWassalam), we try to justify why Sunnah is not necessary. Those who say its O.K. not to practice Sunnah of the prophet (SallalaHoAlaiHeWassalam) are in fact directly refuting Allah’s commands and are therefore misguided.

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From the above mentioned verses it becomes very clear that every muslim has to follow Rasoolallah (SallalaHoAlaiHeWassalam) path because obeying Muhammad (SallalaHoAlaiHeWassalam) is indeed obeying Allah Ta’ala.

MUHAMMAD (SalallahoAlaiheWasalam) MESSAGE AS WELL AS HIS PERSONALITY (CHARACTER) IS IMPORTANT

Muhammad's (SalallahoAlaiheWasalam) Message as well as his Personality is important. In fact, the authenticity of his message is totally dependable on the credibility of his personality. Long before the announcement of his prophet hood, Muhammad (SalallahoAlaiheWasalam) was given the title of Sadiq and Ameen by the Kafirs of Makkah. It was his immaculate personality that kuffar of Makkah entered into Islam upon his (SalallahoAlaiheWasalam) invitation. Those who say his personality is not important look like they have not read the Quran. In Quran, Allah Ta'ala commands Muslims to obey His beloved Prophet Muhammad (SalallahoAlaiheWasalam) and to adopt his (SalallahoAlaiheWasalam) examples (Sunnahs) thus in surah Al-Ahzab, verse-21 Allah Ta'ala said “Undoubtedly, you have the best in the following of the Messenger,†. The personality of the Prophet Muhammad (SalallahoAlaiheWasalam) is complete Islam. Once Hazrat Aisha (radiAllahAnha) was asked concerning the character of the Holy Prophet (SalallahoAlaiheWasalam) and she answered, "Do you not recite the Holy Quran". When the people replied that they did, she then said: "His Blessed Character is the Holy Quran"

Our beloved prophet Muhammad Mustufa (SalallahoAlaiheWasalam) is the symbol of Islam. He is a vital link between Allah Ta'ala and the Universe. Remembrance of the Holy Prophet (SalallahoAlaiheWasalam) is the Sunnah of Allah and His Angels as said in Quran “Undoubtedly, Allah and His Angels send blessings on the prophet the communicator of unseen news, O you who believe! send upon him blessings and salute him fully well in abundance†(Surah Al-Ahzab, V-56).

 

If Muhammad (SalallahoAlaiheWasalam) personality has no importance then it wouldn't have been made compulsory:

• to say "Muhammad ur Rasulallah " in the Kalima.? Woud not "La ilaha ilallah" be enough for the Shahada that Allah is one.

• to call his blessed name in every Azaan

• to send Salaam in the prayer during reciting "Attahyaat"

• to recite Darood in the Namaaz after Attahyaat.

• to ask third question in the grave by the Angels that " What you used to say about this person (i.e Muhammad) in the world.

Dear Muslims, don't be misguided by the Shaytaan and his off springs. Don't Flunk the third question of the grave by saying Muhammad's message was important not his personality or he was human like us or so on.

 

May Allah Ta'ala protect our Imaan and fill our hearts with the love and respect of His Habib Muhammad Mustufa (SalallahoAlaiheWasalam) . Ameen!

Source : The Holy Quran and from the blog of madinamasjid