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Showing posts with label Discover islam in a better way. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Discover islam in a better way. Show all posts
Monday, 2 September 2013
Sunday, 1 September 2013
Suicide Complete Knowledge with reference to Islam
Suicide
Why are you reading this section on suicide? Are you planning to commit suicide or are you researching on the subject that why do people commit suicide? Here you will find answers to all those questions relating to suicide. First, we have collected an Urdu book on this subject. Secondly, you will see a brief, yet comprehensive collection of Quranic Verses and Ahadith about suicide. After reading all this, if you are still not convinced or there are still any questions in your mind, you are always welcome to directly make a phone call at +1-407-434-1786 in USA. This is the ONLY request that I will make at this time if you are bent on committing suicide. Please, for sake of your own benefit, let us meet in person or online before you consider committing such a heinous act. Jazak Allah (swt) for valuing your own life. Read on....
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Urdu Book
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Verses and Ahadith
Here are some Quranic verses and Ahadith Nabvi about suicide for your reference;
- Quranic Verse 1: "Don't kill yourself. No doubt Allah (swt) is merciful and anyone who does so, will be pushed in fire. And it is easy for Allah (swt)." (Nisa: 4:29, 4:30)
- Quranic Verse 2: "We are property of Allah (swt) and we will return to Allah (swt) one day." (Baqra 2:156)
- Quranic Verse 3: "Don't' kill yourself with your own hands" (Baqra 2:195)
- Hadith No.1: "Whoever kills himself with an iron weapon, he will be tortured in hell with the same weapon". (Bokhari)
- Hadith No.2: "Whoever strangles himself with a rope, he will keep on strangling himself until being burnt in hell. And he who killed himself with a spear, he will keep on being killed by spear until he is sent to hell." (Bokhari)
- Hadith No.3: "Before death, a sick person cut his own fingers due to prolonged sickness and depression. Rasulullah (saw) saw him in dream and he was hiding his fingers. Rasulullah prayed to Allah to forgive him for cutting his own fingers". (Muslim)
- Hadith No.4: "A hypocrite fighting alongwith Rasulullah (saw) was very brave in the fight but when he was too much hurt, he killed himself with his own sword to avoid pain. Upon this, Rasulullah (saw) informed all that this person goes to hell. He said that there are some who do a few things to qualify for heaven, but they actually qualify for nothing except hell. Similarly, there are some whom everyone considers as going to hell, but they are actually going to heaven." (Muslim).
- Hadith No.5: "Rasulullah said there was a person back in time who had a painful acne and he cut his own wound whereby a lot of blood spilled and he died. Allah (swt) said "Heaven is fobidden to him". (Muslim)
- Hadith No.6: Whoever kills himself with a weapon made of iron, he will keep on hurting himself in hell with the same weapon in hell. And whoever kills himself with poison, he will keep on eating poison in hell. And whoever commits suicide by falling from mountain, he will keep on falling in the fire of hell forever over and over again." (Muslim)
- Fatwa in Durre Mukhtar: "Although one who commits suicide, will burn in hell forever, but the deceased was a Muslim before doing this act and he will be buried as per normal Muslim traditions. Such a person will be given Ghusl, Janaaza Salaat and burial in a Muslim cemetery as is the case with any other sinful Muslim. "
What are the teachings of Islam
What is Islam?
In an age torn by hatred, war and strife among the races, many of us look back to religion for guidance to peace and brotherhood and are disappointed when we find in most of them intolerance and narrowness of spirituality.However, man has changed this original teaching of Oneness and developed out of numerous mutually antagonistic sects. As Allah says in the Holy Qur'an, the revelation of Allah to Prophet Muhammad, praise and peace be upon him: "Surely this your brotherhood is a single brotherhood, and I am your Lord, so keep your duty unto Me. But they (mankind) split themselves up in sects, each party rejoicing in its own tenets." Chapter 23:52-53.
Islam still preserves this teaching of the Oneness of God and the brotherhood of all mankind. Islam seeks to implement this spirit among all races, and yet, at the same time, remains tolerant and respectful of all other heavenly religions and their followers who share the belief in the One and only God. The Holy Qur'an teaches: "There is no compulsion in religion. The right direction stands out clearly from error. Whoever rejects false dei- ties and believes in Allah has grasped a firm handhold that never breaks, and Allah hears and knows all things." Chapter 2:256
The Meaning of Islam
It is false to call Islam Muhammadanism, as has been done so frequently in the West. We have already pointed out that Muslims believe that Islam is the eternal message which Allah sent to all prophets, peace be upon them, from the dawn of mankind, and noto a new belief which began with the Prophet Muhammad, praise and peace be upon him. Muslims call their religion Islam, and the Arabic word Islam implies the attainment of peace through submission to Allah. The word Muslim is an adjective derived from the noun Islam, and implies one who has peace within himself from his submission to Allah.Muslims believe in the One, Eternal God, Who created the heavens and the earth and all that exists. In Arabic, God is called Allah. There is absolutely no difference between Allah and the God of Abraham, Moses and Jesus, peace be upon them all. Muslims do not believe that Prophet Muhammad was the only Prophet; rather they believe that he was the last of the Prophets of the Old and New Testaments. The Holy Qur'an is the revealed and sacred scripture of Islam, and it teaches: "Say (O Muslims), "We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the Prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them and unto Him have we surrendered." Chapter 2:136.
Some Basic Principles of Islam
The most fundamental concept of Islam and the fountainhead of all its other principles and practices is the Oneness of God - tawhiid. Islam is monotheism in its purest form, and the logic of pure monotheism is the thread which runs through the entire fabric of the Islamic way of life. Islam teaches a fundamental difference between Allah, the Creator and that which He has created. The sky, the moon, the stars, the harmony and perfection of the natural world, the grace and beauty of the human body and the excellence of the human mind, the alternation of day and night, the change of the seasons, and the mystery of life and death all point to something beyond, greater than themselves. To the believer these are all signs (ayaat) of Allah. Islam teaches that Allah is not to be likened to anything which He has created. He is All-Powerful, All-Knowing; He is beyond any imperfection, and is the fulfillment of all Perfection. He is not a substance, nor is He like any of His creatures. He is not a far away and distant God, nor is He an unapproachable ideal. He is All-Kind, All Merciful, and All-Compassionate.Islam teaches that Allah is eternal. He was not Himself begotten, nor has He, in turn begotten a son or a daughter. Islam rejects the concept of the incarnation of God, which is found in Hinduism, Christianity, and other religions, and believes that the concept of incarnation limits the concept of God and destroys the believer's conviction of God's Activeness and Perfection.
The Qur'an describes Allah being perfect and active: "Allah, there is no god except He. The Living, the Everlasting. Neither dozing nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth. Who is he that shall intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what will be before their hands and what was behind them. And they do not comprehend anything of His knowledge except what He willed. His Seat surrounds the heavens and earth. The preserving of them does not tire Him. He is the All-High, the All-Glorious." Chapter 2:255.
Islam rejects the notion that Jesus, peace be upon him, was the son of God. Rather it honors and respects him as one of the great messengers and prophets of Allah to the Children of Israel.
Islam rejects the concept of trinity and considers it a contradiction of pure monotheism. It also rejects the argument of some Christians that God made Himself incarnate in Jesus, peace be upon him, so that God could be known by men, and also rejects the argument that Jesus, peace be upon him, died on the cross for mankind's sins. To begin with, Islam believes that man can come to know Allah and feel close to Him by means of proper prayer, fasting, charity, pilgrimage, and righteous deeds. The very practice of Islam is meant to purify the believer's soul and to bring him/her closer to Allah. With regard to the second argument, Islam teaches no human being can bear the burden of another's responsibility. Allah is very aware of our human weaknesses and imperfection. He does not condemn us because we are created imperfect; rather He guides us to self-perfection and He forgives us and showers His Mercy upon us when we fail and then ask His forgiveness sincerely.
Muslims believe in the divine origin of the Old and New Testaments, although Muslims doubt the historical authenticity of some parts of the Old and New Testaments and do not believe them to be exact representations of what Allah originally revealed. The Qur'an upheld this view of the text of the Old and New Testaments hundreds of years ago, and in recent years, this view has been upheld by textual studies of biblical scholars. Muslims believe in the Angels of Allah, and His Prophets, peace be upon them. They believe in the resurrection of the dead at the end of the world; they believe in the coming of the Day of Judgement and eternal life in Paradise or Hell.
Although Muslims believe that Allah is All-Powerful and maintains complete control over His creation, they also believe that Allah has created man with free will and the ability to choose and act, and that Allah is just in making man morally responsible for what man does during his/her lifetime. It is false to say that Islam teaches its followers to resign meekly and passively to whatever is their fate or destiny. Rather Islam challenges the believer to fight against wrong and oppression and to strive for the establishment of righteousness and justice.
Faith In Action
Faith without action is a dead letter. Islam teaches us that faith by itself is not enough until it is transformed into action. The Prophet Muhammad, praise and peace be upon him, said: "Faith does not depend on raising hopes, but it is something which is firmly established in the heart and testified to by action. Indeed, there are people who have been deceived by their hopes, so that they finally leave this world without merit. They used to say, 'We have good expectations from Allah.' Yet they only deceived themselves. For had they truly placed good expectations in Allah, they would have excelled in good deeds."Each Muslim is taught that he/she is personally responsible for his/her own actions, both in this world and in the next. Islam teaches that every individual must carry the responsibility of his/her own actions and that no one can carry that burden for them.
The Position Of Women In Islam
Islam teaches that the woman is not inherently inferior to man; rather man and woman are of similar nature. They both are equal in intellectual and spiritual capacity. Furthermore, they are both equally responsible for their deeds before Allah.It is also true that Islam regards the woman as having a primary role to play in the constitution and running of the family. Islam places great emphasis on the role of the Muslim woman as a wife and particularly as a mother, and Muslims are often of the opinion that the best position for the woman is in the home with her children and family. However, the Muslim woman is not prohibited from leaving her home to pursue education, a teaching profession, or other worthwhile and constructive goals which profit not only her but society as well. The Qur'an establishes the spiritual equality and mutual responsibility of man and woman in verses like the following: "And whoever does deeds of righteousness, whether male or female, and is a believer, such will enter Paradise, and they will not be wronged even a small thing like the spot on a date- stone." Chapter 4:124.
"And their Lord answered them, 'Indeed I suffer not the work of any worker, male or female, to be lost. You are equal to each other.'" Chapter 3:195.
The relationship of the Muslim man to his wife is not that of master to slave. Rather the entire responsibility of economic support is placed on the shoulders of the man alone and he cannot demand of his wife that she also become economically productive to support the family, although she is able to do this if she desires.
The Qur'an enunciates this responsibility of men to women in the following verse: "Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, for that Allah has preferred one over the other in bounty, and because they support them from their means. So righteous women are obedient, guarding in secret what Allah has guarded." Chapter 4:34.
The important point that should be made is that the religion of Islam has great respect for the woman. It does not teach that she is without a soul or that she is the root of all evil or that she is inferior to man and must be kept in seclusion and subjugation. It is also worthy of mention that the Qur'an does not teach that man fell from Paradise because of the temptation of Eve. Rather the Qur'an directs all the responsibility toward Adam himself, while adding that Allah turned to Adam in mercy and forgave him his sin. Therefore, Adam's sin stops with Adam himself, and Allah, who is the Beneficent and the Merciful, does not hold mankind responsible for the sin of Adam.
We cannot deny that the condition of women has at times been regrettable in the Muslim world, as well as in the rest of the world at large. We do not wish to justify these circumstances, but only to make the point that they did not originate from the teachings of Islam itself. Rather they are the results of short sightedness and human failures.
Brotherhood And Equality Of Mankind
Islam teaches that the human family is one, that there is no superiority of white over black or black over white. Islam rejects radically all notions of racial prejudice and teaches that the only basis of distinction between human beings is their individual moral qualities.The concept of Islamic brotherhood has two primary dimensions; the relationship of Muslims to Muslims and the relationship of Muslims to non-Muslims. As for the first category Islam teaches that the brotherhood between all Muslims is to be absolute and total. The Arab has no privileges over the non-Arab, and, since there is no clergy or priesthood in Islam, all Muslims are basically equal, from top to bottom, from rich to poor, from educated to uneducated.
As for the relationships between Muslims and non-Muslims, the teaching of Islam is that this is to be a relationship of mutual respect and particularly of tolerance. It is preferable that Muslims and non-Muslims live in peace, protect each other, and cooperate with each other. As the Qur'an says: "There is no compulsion in religion ..." Chapter 2:256 and "You have your religion and I have mine." Chapter 109:6
Reason
Muslims consider their religion to be very rational and consistent with the dictates of the believing and reasoning mind. Furthermore, the Qur'an teaches that the rational faculty is one of the greatest gifts of Allah to man, and it encourages us to use this faculty and to develop it. Islam does not ask its followers to believe and then follow everything blindly and unquestioningly. The Qur'an says, for instance: "And if you are in doubt about what We have send down to Our worshipper, then bring a chapter like it, and call your witnesses besides Allah, if you are truthful." Chapter 2:23Islam encourages reasoning, thought and personal opinion. The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said: "The differences of opinion among the learned of my followers are Allah's mercy." Islam has great respect for learning science and for man's exploration of the secrets of nature and of creation. In fact Allah challenges man on many occasions in the Qur'an to deepen his faith, knowledge, and wisdom from study and contemplation of the natural world, its harmony, symmetry, and beauty. For example: "He it is who created the seven heavens in harmony. Never can you see a lack of symmetry in the creation of the Compassionate. So look yet again, can you perceive any flaw? Then look again, and still another time; your vision will return unto you weakened and dim." Chapter 67:3-4.
The individual capacities and unique abilities of people are a gift of Allah, to be developed, perfected, and used for the benefit of humanity. Islam does not try to crush the individuality of its believers, but rather to guide each believer to perfection and purify his own uniqueness. This multiplicity of expressive and developed personalities enriches society and places it on a higher level, like the beauty of an intricate but unified arabesque.
Islamic Attitude Towards War
In the eyes of some commentators on Islam in the West, Islam has been portrayed as a militant religion, a religion of blood, fire, and sword. We have already tried to draw attention to the fundamental concern of Islam for tolerance and religious freedom, and have also commented upon the emphasis Islam places on peace and cooperation among mankind. However, Islam is a practical religion, a religion which never ignores for a single moment the complexities and demands of the harsh realities and facts of life. Islam is fundamentally concerned with establishing societies in which the rights of freedom of belief, human rights, and protection of life, dignity, and property are secure from both internal and external threats. Therefore, whereas Islam teaches its followers to be merciful and inclined toward forgiveness and peace even in times of war, it never teaches them to turn the other cheek. However good the philosophy of "turn the other cheek" may be for private individual and small day to day affairs, it spells social suicide if it is implemented by society as an absolute value.Islam therefore stipulates principles which Muslims are to follow before, during, and after war. Peace is to be established on the basis of justice. Muslims are not to be aggressive or to violate treaties which they have concluded with others, but war is to be waged in defence of the Muslim community and what it stands for. During war, there is to be no killing of civilians and those who do no participate directly in the war. Prisoners are to be treated humanely. Destruction of lands, fruit trees, animals, and towns and villages is to be avoided. Muslims are to be inclined to peace if the enemy is truthfully inclined to peace, and they are to make treaties and agreements to preserve that peace and then observe those treaties as long as the enemy observes them. The concept of "jihad" is one of the highest concepts in Islam. The term has at times been translated as "Holy War". However, this translation is incomplete for Jihad also means by language "struggling." It is a concept which places great emphasis on activism and self-sacrifice, although it does not apply to sacrifice in war alone. For example the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said, that the greatest jihad is the striving of the Muslim to purify himself. The lesser jihad consists of all the striving the Muslim does in his external life, charity, righteous living and acts, the constant effort to achieve the Right Path in his dealings with his fellow men. This is true striving in the Way of Allah.
The Six Pillars of Islam
Islam sets down six principle duties which are obligatory upon all Muslims, and form the structure, or pillars, of his/her life. They are:1. Belief in the Oneness of Allah, and the bearing of witness to this belief by the words: "I bear witness that there is no god except Allah, and that Muhammad is His Prophet and Messenger."
2. The five daily prayers at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset and nightfall. These five daily prayers help one to develop Allah consciousness in his/her everyday life. The importance of these cannot be over emphasized. They are a constant reminder to the worshipper of the Presence and Power of Allah and help the worshipper to keep himself from deviating from the Right Path.
3. The bestowal of charity on one's fellow man. Islam places great emphasis on generosity and charity as a means of purifying one's soul and getting closer to Allah. The Muslim is enjoined to give voluntarily whenever he/she can; however, he/she is required each year to pay an obligatory charity tax of two and a half percent of his/her annual net earnings that exceed necessities, to go to the poor and the needy, etc. The Zakat - charity - thus enables the Muslim community to take care of all its members and insures that no one will be deprived of his/her basic human right to exist.
4. Fasting during the ninth month of the lunar year "Ramadan." This fast is enjoined upon Muslims of good health and sound body who have attained the age of physical maturity and are not prevented from performing the fast by various circumstances like travel, sickness, mental illness, or specifically in the case of women, menstruation, or childbirth. The fast of Ramadan begins at dawn and last until sunset. During this period the Muslim abstains from eating, and drinking, sexual activity and smoking. Fasting teaches self discipline and control, while purifying the soul and body and strengthening one's consciousness of Allah.
5. The pilgrimage to Mecca. The pilgrimage is required of all Muslims at least once during their lifetime, if they have the financial means. The annual pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the greatest events of the Muslim world, uniting Muslims from every race and from every corner of the world. This is a great experience in the life of a Muslim which enables him to draw himself closer to Allah. We would like to remind the reader that the Holy Mosque in Mecca was built by Prophet Abraham and his son, the Prophet Ishmail, peace be upon them.
6. Jihad (war) Against Evil.
Who is a Muslim?
Since there is no priesthood in Islam, no clergy and no official religious institution, all one has to do to become a Muslim is to be personally convinced of the truth of what Islam teaches and bear witness that "There is no god except Allah, and that Muhammad is His Prophet."One of the great beauties of Islam is its simplicity, its naturalness, and its lack of formalities. Islam is the religion of Adam and of mankind in its earliest and most advanced stages of development. Allah says in the Holy Qur'an: "So set your face to the religion of Islam as a man by nature upright, the nature of Allah with which He has inspired mankind and molded them. There is no changing to the creation of Allah. That is the right religion, but most men know not." Chapter 30:30.
The Benefit Of Embracing Islam
Among the many benefits of embracing Islam are that once you bear witness that: "There is no god except Allah, and Muhammad is His Prophet," all your past sins are forgiven and all your past sins are transformed into merits! You also receive the reward of believing the religion of the Prophet Jesus, if you are a Christian, or Prophet Moses, if you are a Jew, and the religion of Prophet Muhammad, which means that you receive two rewards.Brief Biography of Hazrat Muhammad PBUH
Brief Story of Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)'s Life
Birth and Prophethood:
Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) was born of a noble family of Banu Hashim ancestry. However, he was not fortunate enough to have been born wealthy as he was born an orphan. His father, Abdullah bin Abdul Muttalib, died of sickness at the age of 25 on a trading journey to Syria, leaving his wife Amenah only a few months pregnant.
Muhammad’s Birth:
His birth was on the twelfth (12) of Rabiul Awwal 53 B.H. (570 A.D of the Christian era) was ordinary and has no significance in Islam and the celebrations on this occasion have nothing to do with shari'ah and some people consider it Bid’ah.
Abdul Mutalib, his grandfather who was the chief of Makkah at that time, showed pride in him as Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) compensated him for the loss of his son who died in the prime of his youth. His mother showed affection for her son as she awaited the best nurses to come and take care of him: The tradition at that time was that nurses would come from the desert seeking to be the custodians of the children of nobility in return for good pay and gifts. Giving that Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) was not wealthy all nurses turned away from him, Halimah of the Banu Saad tribe was one of them, but when she could not find any other child she was ashamed to return home empty handed, so she went back and took Muhammad (s.a.w.s.), and since then Allah showered his mercy on her; for instance animals started giving plenty of milk after they had been dried. Therefore, her and her husband felt they were blessed to have taken Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) and became very attached to him.
Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) spent five years with Banu Saad during which nothing out of the ordinary happened except one told incident which scared Halimah and became known as “the splitting of his chest.” When he was playing with the other boys Jibril held him, threw him down, split his chest, took out his heart and took out a clump from it and said: “this is Satan's portion of you.” Then he washed him in a basin made of gold with the water of zamzam, then sealed his chest and returned him where he was. The boys ran to Halimah and said Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) has been killed. They came back and found him alive but pale. (Reported by Anas in the Hadith compilations of Muslim and Ahmed)
Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) returned to Makkah at the age of five to his mother and grandfather who took good care of him, but the days refused to allow him tranquility among those tender hearts, as his mother died during a visit to Madinah to visit her husbands grave. She took Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) and his maid Umm Aiman with her. On the way back, she fell very sick and died in Abwaa leaving Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) with Umm Aiman.
His grandfather always took good care of him and never left him alone, he took him to all public gatherings. However, at the age of eight, Abdul Muttalib died leaving him into his uncle Abu Talib’s care. Since Abu Talib had many children and was not wealthy, Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) insisted on sharing the burdens of life with him. He went with his uncle on a trading journey to Syria at the age of thirteen. He met a monk called Bahira during the journey, who looked at his face and the sign on his back (the sign of Prophethood) and asked Abu Talib: “What is this boy to you ?”My son he said.” “His father should not be alive.” Said Buhira. Abu Talib then said, “Yes, in fact he is my brother’s son “and told him the rest of the story. The monk said “Now you are telling me the truth. Take him back and be careful of the Jews over him.”
Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) then returned to Makkah and resumed his life, working as a shepherd in his early life. He did not acquire knowledge or education from a monk or a philosopher or sorcerer, as was the norm then. Instead he read through the pages of life and took what he found good. He combined the good qualities of discipline with spiritual purity, rightness and contentment.
In this manner, he entered his third phase of life and got acquainted with his first wife Khadija (r.a.) who was a merchant woman of nobility and wealth. She had heard of his truthfulness and trustworthiness, so she offered him to take her trade to Syria (before marrying him). He was 25 years old and she was 40 years old when they got married. Their marriage lasted until she died at the age of 65.
The Message of Islam:
Every year, Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) used to leave Makkah to spend Ramadan in the cave of Hiraa where he used to meditate and worship for self-purification away from the falsehood of Jahilia. In this cave, He met with the heavenly host and listened to the voice of the angel telling him to read. He knew that he had become a Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.s.) and that it was Jabril, the ambassador of revelation who came to him; then the mission’s struggle began.
Quraysh spared no efforts to fight Islam and persecuted those who embraced it. The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and his companions abused, ridiculed, humiliated, accused of indulging in magic, and the weak and oppressed believers were tortured until they disbelieved, died or swooned (as they had no clan to defend them).
In spite of all that Islam grew stronger, so Quraysh decided to change strategy and agreed not to buy, sell or intermarry with Muslims or those who approved of their religion, protected them or sympathized with them. They wrote this agreement which was called “The General Boycott” on a piece of parchment and hung it inside the Kaabah as a secret pact. Therefore, Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) and his followers were forced into confinement in the Vale of Banu Hashim where they were cut off of any assistance. This boycott lasted three long years during which only the bond of faith kept the hearts together and gave them strength. It ended after Hisham Ibn Amr (who felt very upset about the terrible plight of Muslims) gathered some clans around him and agreed to break the pact. They went to Makkah to tear the parchment and to their surprise they found that the worms had already eaten it up except the words: “In Your name O God.”
After ten years of suffering for the mission of Islam, Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) suffered the loss of his wife Khadijah and his uncle Abu Talib, in other words, he had lost his public life, as his uncle defended him and protected him from any calamity, and his private life, as Khadijah loved, supported and shared with him the miseries and pains of the Da’wah.
Muhammad ’s Attractive Leadership:
Muhammad led a very ordinary life yet the life style he practiced offered an example for others to follow. So this is an invitation to search through the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) lifestyle and adopt what he did in his daily activities.
To start with read what Al Hasan (son of Ali) said about the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.s.) “Doors are not locked under him, nor do door keepers stand for him, and trays of food are not served to him in the morning or the evening. He sits on the ground and eats his food from the ground. He wears coarse (rough) clothes and rides on a donkey with others sitting behind him, and he licks his fingers after taking food.”
His regular deeds:
His habits were really simple in all aspects of his life as we see. He never started any activity without saying “In the name of Allah.”
Sleeping Habits:
Aisha (r.a.) said that the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) used to sleep during the earlier part of the night and stood praying during the later part. She also said that when he got up at night he started his prayer with two rakaat.
When Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) went to bed he “Used to lie down on his right side and said: O Allah I surrender myself to you, and seek protection in you, longing for you and fearing you; there is no protection and no escape from you except with you, I believe in your book which you sent down and your Prophet (s.a.w.s.) whom you sent down and your Prophet (s.a.w.s.) whom you sent.” (Bukhari)
Then he used to read Surah Al Ikhlas and Al Muawathatein (Surah Al -Falaq and An-Naas) three times. (Dawud and Tirmithi)
Praying:
Ibn Omar (r.a.) said that at night, the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) used to pray rakaat in two then finished with one, and he used to supplicate saying:
“O Allah, forgive me my sins and my ignorance, my excesses in my matter and what you know better than myself. O Allah forgive me the wrongs (I did) lightly and seriously, and my accidental and intentional transgressions and all that is with me.” (Bukhari)
For Fajr prayer, he used to pray two short rakaat between the call and the Iqama and also read Qur’an. According to him “Qur’an at dawn is always witnessed by the angels of the nights and the angels of the days.” (Tirmithi)
Bathing, Ablution and the Call of Nature:
Aisha (r.a.) said that the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) used his right hand for ablution and taking food, and the left hand for the toilet and the like.
When bathing from janaba, Aisha said, “he would begin by washing his hands, then he made ablution as for prayer, then he puts his fingers in water and runs them through the roots of his hair and then poured handfuls of water with his hands over his head and let the water flow all over his body .” (Bukhari)
The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: “It is an obligation on every Muslim to bathe at least once every seven days and wash both his head and body.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
As far as ablution is concerned, Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) said:
“He who makes ablution and makes it the best way, his sins leave his body, even from beneath his nails.” (Muslim). In the hadith compiled by Imam Bukhari it was narrated that when the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) got up from sleep for Tahajjud prayer, he cleansed his mouth with a tooth-stick (miswak).
As far as answering the call of nature is concerned the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.s.) said “He who relieves himself should be concealed from the view of others .” (Abu Dawud) and “Two people should not go out together to relieve themselves, uncovering their private parts and talking to each other, for Allah abhors this.” (Ahmad and Abu Dawud) He also told Omar, “Do not pass water while standing.”
When he entered the toilet he used to say “O Allah I seek refuge in You from all kinds of evils.” (Bukhari) And when he came out of the toilet he used to say “Grant Your forgiveness.” (Tirmithi)
Clothing:
Umm Salama (r.a.) said “The piece of clothing best liked by Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) was the shirt.” (Tirmithi) When he put on a shirt, he used to begin with the right side and says “Praise be to Allah who clothed me with this.” And he forbade us to exaggerate in our clothing when he said: “Eat, drink and wear good clothes as long as these things do not involve excess, and arrogance.” (Ahmed) In another hadith it was narrated that Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) cursed the man who puts on woman’s clothes and the woman who puts on men’s clothes.” (Abu Dawud)
Eating and Drinking:
Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) used to invoke the name of Allah before eating and also before washing his hands before and after eating. He used to say, “The blessing of food is received by washing the hands before and after taking it.” (Tirmithi and Abu Dawud)
Muslim also reported that “Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) used to eat with three fingers and he licked his hand before he wiped it.” The Messenger (s.a.w.s.) told Abu Salma (r.a.) “Invoke the name of Allah, and eat with your right hand and eat what is near.” (Muslim) And he also said, “If dinner is served, and Iqama for prayer is (also), then take the dinner first.” (Bukhari)
Manners of Speech:
Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) used to start his speech with salam. He says: “Saying salam comes before talking.” (Tirmithi) And he teaches us not to talk unnecessarily saying: “Do not talk without remembering Allah, for talking without remembering Allah hardens the heart.” (Tirmithi)
He never used obscene talk nor did he listen to it, nor did he listen to anything about anyone. Aisha (r.a.) said that “His speech was clear and distinct such that all those who listened to him understood him.” (Abu Dawud)
General Conduct in Living with People:
Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) used to say salam when he arrives where people are seated and when he wishes to leave, he also says salam as “the former is as appropriate as the latter.” (Abu Dawud)
He did not like people exalting him “He came out once leaning on a stick and a group of people stood up, he said: don’t stand up as foreigners stand up exalting each other therewith.” (Abu Dawud)
When visiting people, he used to ask permission to enter saying “Peace be upon you, may I enter.” (Abu Dawud) and when his guests are leaving he used to go with them to the door of the house.
Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) used “to receive gifts and to give gifts back.” (Bukhari) and he said “Make gifts to one another for a gift removes rancour from the chest.” (Tirmithi)
At home, he used to serve his family. Aisha was asked about what the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) used to do in his house, she said “He used to work for his family, that is to serve his family, and when prayer time came, he goes out for prayer.” (Bukhari)
Death of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.)
The pains of sickness attacked the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) since the ending of Safar of the eleventh year. Once he fainted and his family put medicine in his mouth. When he awoke, he showed his dislike of that. During his illness he would supplicate “O Allah help me in the pangs of death.” (Bukhari: narrated by Aisha)
He was warning Muslims -- even when he was in the throes of death -- that they should stay committed to monotheism by saying “Allah’s curse be upon the Jews and Christians, they took their Prophet (s.a.w)’s graves as mosques.” (He was warning them against the action.) (Al-Shaikhan)
The last thing the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) did before his death (according to Aisha):
“He lay down in my lap, brushed his teeth harder than he had ever done before ”, then his eyes were fixed and he was saying “Nay, the Companion on high from paradise.” I said to myself “You were given the choice and you have chosen, by Him who sent you with the Truth.” Then, he passed away.” (Bukhari)
This was a brief study of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.)’s way of life. It must be stressed that we will never really understand the Sirah unless we study the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Praise and Glory be to Allah, we seek Allah’s forgiveness and we turn to him in repentance.
Written by Shadiah Hamza Sheikh, Ph. D.
(SWT): Subhanahu wa Ta'ala – ‘The Exalted’
(s.a.w.s.) : Sall-Allahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam – ‘Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him’
(r.a.): Radia Allahu ‘Anhu – ‘May Allah be pleased with him’, Radi Allahu ‘Anha- ‘May Allah be pleased with her’, Radi Allahu ‘Anhum - ‘May Allah be pleased with them.’
Courtesy: http://www.wefound.org/texts/Muhammad_files/Muhammad%27sLife.htm
Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) was born of a noble family of Banu Hashim ancestry. However, he was not fortunate enough to have been born wealthy as he was born an orphan. His father, Abdullah bin Abdul Muttalib, died of sickness at the age of 25 on a trading journey to Syria, leaving his wife Amenah only a few months pregnant.
Muhammad’s Birth:
His birth was on the twelfth (12) of Rabiul Awwal 53 B.H. (570 A.D of the Christian era) was ordinary and has no significance in Islam and the celebrations on this occasion have nothing to do with shari'ah and some people consider it Bid’ah.
Abdul Mutalib, his grandfather who was the chief of Makkah at that time, showed pride in him as Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) compensated him for the loss of his son who died in the prime of his youth. His mother showed affection for her son as she awaited the best nurses to come and take care of him: The tradition at that time was that nurses would come from the desert seeking to be the custodians of the children of nobility in return for good pay and gifts. Giving that Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) was not wealthy all nurses turned away from him, Halimah of the Banu Saad tribe was one of them, but when she could not find any other child she was ashamed to return home empty handed, so she went back and took Muhammad (s.a.w.s.), and since then Allah showered his mercy on her; for instance animals started giving plenty of milk after they had been dried. Therefore, her and her husband felt they were blessed to have taken Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) and became very attached to him.
Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) spent five years with Banu Saad during which nothing out of the ordinary happened except one told incident which scared Halimah and became known as “the splitting of his chest.” When he was playing with the other boys Jibril held him, threw him down, split his chest, took out his heart and took out a clump from it and said: “this is Satan's portion of you.” Then he washed him in a basin made of gold with the water of zamzam, then sealed his chest and returned him where he was. The boys ran to Halimah and said Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) has been killed. They came back and found him alive but pale. (Reported by Anas in the Hadith compilations of Muslim and Ahmed)
Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) returned to Makkah at the age of five to his mother and grandfather who took good care of him, but the days refused to allow him tranquility among those tender hearts, as his mother died during a visit to Madinah to visit her husbands grave. She took Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) and his maid Umm Aiman with her. On the way back, she fell very sick and died in Abwaa leaving Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) with Umm Aiman.
His grandfather always took good care of him and never left him alone, he took him to all public gatherings. However, at the age of eight, Abdul Muttalib died leaving him into his uncle Abu Talib’s care. Since Abu Talib had many children and was not wealthy, Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) insisted on sharing the burdens of life with him. He went with his uncle on a trading journey to Syria at the age of thirteen. He met a monk called Bahira during the journey, who looked at his face and the sign on his back (the sign of Prophethood) and asked Abu Talib: “What is this boy to you ?”My son he said.” “His father should not be alive.” Said Buhira. Abu Talib then said, “Yes, in fact he is my brother’s son “and told him the rest of the story. The monk said “Now you are telling me the truth. Take him back and be careful of the Jews over him.”
Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) then returned to Makkah and resumed his life, working as a shepherd in his early life. He did not acquire knowledge or education from a monk or a philosopher or sorcerer, as was the norm then. Instead he read through the pages of life and took what he found good. He combined the good qualities of discipline with spiritual purity, rightness and contentment.
In this manner, he entered his third phase of life and got acquainted with his first wife Khadija (r.a.) who was a merchant woman of nobility and wealth. She had heard of his truthfulness and trustworthiness, so she offered him to take her trade to Syria (before marrying him). He was 25 years old and she was 40 years old when they got married. Their marriage lasted until she died at the age of 65.
The Message of Islam:
Every year, Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) used to leave Makkah to spend Ramadan in the cave of Hiraa where he used to meditate and worship for self-purification away from the falsehood of Jahilia. In this cave, He met with the heavenly host and listened to the voice of the angel telling him to read. He knew that he had become a Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.s.) and that it was Jabril, the ambassador of revelation who came to him; then the mission’s struggle began.
Quraysh spared no efforts to fight Islam and persecuted those who embraced it. The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and his companions abused, ridiculed, humiliated, accused of indulging in magic, and the weak and oppressed believers were tortured until they disbelieved, died or swooned (as they had no clan to defend them).
In spite of all that Islam grew stronger, so Quraysh decided to change strategy and agreed not to buy, sell or intermarry with Muslims or those who approved of their religion, protected them or sympathized with them. They wrote this agreement which was called “The General Boycott” on a piece of parchment and hung it inside the Kaabah as a secret pact. Therefore, Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) and his followers were forced into confinement in the Vale of Banu Hashim where they were cut off of any assistance. This boycott lasted three long years during which only the bond of faith kept the hearts together and gave them strength. It ended after Hisham Ibn Amr (who felt very upset about the terrible plight of Muslims) gathered some clans around him and agreed to break the pact. They went to Makkah to tear the parchment and to their surprise they found that the worms had already eaten it up except the words: “In Your name O God.”
After ten years of suffering for the mission of Islam, Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) suffered the loss of his wife Khadijah and his uncle Abu Talib, in other words, he had lost his public life, as his uncle defended him and protected him from any calamity, and his private life, as Khadijah loved, supported and shared with him the miseries and pains of the Da’wah.
Muhammad ’s Attractive Leadership:
Muhammad led a very ordinary life yet the life style he practiced offered an example for others to follow. So this is an invitation to search through the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) lifestyle and adopt what he did in his daily activities.
To start with read what Al Hasan (son of Ali) said about the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.s.) “Doors are not locked under him, nor do door keepers stand for him, and trays of food are not served to him in the morning or the evening. He sits on the ground and eats his food from the ground. He wears coarse (rough) clothes and rides on a donkey with others sitting behind him, and he licks his fingers after taking food.”
His regular deeds:
His habits were really simple in all aspects of his life as we see. He never started any activity without saying “In the name of Allah.”
Sleeping Habits:
Aisha (r.a.) said that the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) used to sleep during the earlier part of the night and stood praying during the later part. She also said that when he got up at night he started his prayer with two rakaat.
When Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) went to bed he “Used to lie down on his right side and said: O Allah I surrender myself to you, and seek protection in you, longing for you and fearing you; there is no protection and no escape from you except with you, I believe in your book which you sent down and your Prophet (s.a.w.s.) whom you sent down and your Prophet (s.a.w.s.) whom you sent.” (Bukhari)
Then he used to read Surah Al Ikhlas and Al Muawathatein (Surah Al -Falaq and An-Naas) three times. (Dawud and Tirmithi)
Praying:
Ibn Omar (r.a.) said that at night, the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) used to pray rakaat in two then finished with one, and he used to supplicate saying:
“O Allah, forgive me my sins and my ignorance, my excesses in my matter and what you know better than myself. O Allah forgive me the wrongs (I did) lightly and seriously, and my accidental and intentional transgressions and all that is with me.” (Bukhari)
For Fajr prayer, he used to pray two short rakaat between the call and the Iqama and also read Qur’an. According to him “Qur’an at dawn is always witnessed by the angels of the nights and the angels of the days.” (Tirmithi)
Bathing, Ablution and the Call of Nature:
Aisha (r.a.) said that the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) used his right hand for ablution and taking food, and the left hand for the toilet and the like.
When bathing from janaba, Aisha said, “he would begin by washing his hands, then he made ablution as for prayer, then he puts his fingers in water and runs them through the roots of his hair and then poured handfuls of water with his hands over his head and let the water flow all over his body .” (Bukhari)
The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: “It is an obligation on every Muslim to bathe at least once every seven days and wash both his head and body.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
As far as ablution is concerned, Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) said:
“He who makes ablution and makes it the best way, his sins leave his body, even from beneath his nails.” (Muslim). In the hadith compiled by Imam Bukhari it was narrated that when the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) got up from sleep for Tahajjud prayer, he cleansed his mouth with a tooth-stick (miswak).
As far as answering the call of nature is concerned the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.s.) said “He who relieves himself should be concealed from the view of others .” (Abu Dawud) and “Two people should not go out together to relieve themselves, uncovering their private parts and talking to each other, for Allah abhors this.” (Ahmad and Abu Dawud) He also told Omar, “Do not pass water while standing.”
When he entered the toilet he used to say “O Allah I seek refuge in You from all kinds of evils.” (Bukhari) And when he came out of the toilet he used to say “Grant Your forgiveness.” (Tirmithi)
Clothing:
Umm Salama (r.a.) said “The piece of clothing best liked by Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) was the shirt.” (Tirmithi) When he put on a shirt, he used to begin with the right side and says “Praise be to Allah who clothed me with this.” And he forbade us to exaggerate in our clothing when he said: “Eat, drink and wear good clothes as long as these things do not involve excess, and arrogance.” (Ahmed) In another hadith it was narrated that Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) cursed the man who puts on woman’s clothes and the woman who puts on men’s clothes.” (Abu Dawud)
Eating and Drinking:
Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) used to invoke the name of Allah before eating and also before washing his hands before and after eating. He used to say, “The blessing of food is received by washing the hands before and after taking it.” (Tirmithi and Abu Dawud)
Muslim also reported that “Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) used to eat with three fingers and he licked his hand before he wiped it.” The Messenger (s.a.w.s.) told Abu Salma (r.a.) “Invoke the name of Allah, and eat with your right hand and eat what is near.” (Muslim) And he also said, “If dinner is served, and Iqama for prayer is (also), then take the dinner first.” (Bukhari)
Manners of Speech:
Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) used to start his speech with salam. He says: “Saying salam comes before talking.” (Tirmithi) And he teaches us not to talk unnecessarily saying: “Do not talk without remembering Allah, for talking without remembering Allah hardens the heart.” (Tirmithi)
He never used obscene talk nor did he listen to it, nor did he listen to anything about anyone. Aisha (r.a.) said that “His speech was clear and distinct such that all those who listened to him understood him.” (Abu Dawud)
General Conduct in Living with People:
Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) used to say salam when he arrives where people are seated and when he wishes to leave, he also says salam as “the former is as appropriate as the latter.” (Abu Dawud)
He did not like people exalting him “He came out once leaning on a stick and a group of people stood up, he said: don’t stand up as foreigners stand up exalting each other therewith.” (Abu Dawud)
When visiting people, he used to ask permission to enter saying “Peace be upon you, may I enter.” (Abu Dawud) and when his guests are leaving he used to go with them to the door of the house.
Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) used “to receive gifts and to give gifts back.” (Bukhari) and he said “Make gifts to one another for a gift removes rancour from the chest.” (Tirmithi)
At home, he used to serve his family. Aisha was asked about what the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) used to do in his house, she said “He used to work for his family, that is to serve his family, and when prayer time came, he goes out for prayer.” (Bukhari)
Death of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.)
The pains of sickness attacked the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) since the ending of Safar of the eleventh year. Once he fainted and his family put medicine in his mouth. When he awoke, he showed his dislike of that. During his illness he would supplicate “O Allah help me in the pangs of death.” (Bukhari: narrated by Aisha)
He was warning Muslims -- even when he was in the throes of death -- that they should stay committed to monotheism by saying “Allah’s curse be upon the Jews and Christians, they took their Prophet (s.a.w)’s graves as mosques.” (He was warning them against the action.) (Al-Shaikhan)
The last thing the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) did before his death (according to Aisha):
“He lay down in my lap, brushed his teeth harder than he had ever done before ”, then his eyes were fixed and he was saying “Nay, the Companion on high from paradise.” I said to myself “You were given the choice and you have chosen, by Him who sent you with the Truth.” Then, he passed away.” (Bukhari)
This was a brief study of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.)’s way of life. It must be stressed that we will never really understand the Sirah unless we study the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Praise and Glory be to Allah, we seek Allah’s forgiveness and we turn to him in repentance.
Written by Shadiah Hamza Sheikh, Ph. D.
(SWT): Subhanahu wa Ta'ala – ‘The Exalted’
(s.a.w.s.) : Sall-Allahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam – ‘Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him’
(r.a.): Radia Allahu ‘Anhu – ‘May Allah be pleased with him’, Radi Allahu ‘Anha- ‘May Allah be pleased with her’, Radi Allahu ‘Anhum - ‘May Allah be pleased with them.’
Courtesy: http://www.wefound.org/texts/Muhammad_files/Muhammad%27sLife.htm
Timeline of Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) Life
570 Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)'s Birth and Infancy
Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) was born in the year 570 in the town of Mecca, a mountain town in the high desert plateau of western Arabia. His name derives from the Arabic verb hamada, meaning "to praise, to glorify." He was the first and only son of Abd Allah bin Al-Muttalib and Amina bint Wahb. Abd Allah died before Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)'s birth and Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) was raised by his mother Amina, who in keeping with Meccan tradition entrusted her son at an early age to a wet nurse named Halima from the nomadic tribe of the Sa'd ibn Bakr. He grew up in the hill country, learning their pure Arabic.
575 Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) Becomes an Orphan
When Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) was five or six his mother took him to Yathrib, an oasis town a few hundred miles north of Mecca, to stay with relatives and visit his father's grave there. On the return journey, Amina took ill and died. She was buried in the village of Abwa on the Mecca-Medina Road. Halima, his nurse, returned to Mecca with the orphaned boy and placed him in the protection of his paternal grandfather, Abdul Al-Muttalib. In this man's care, Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) learned the rudiments of statecraft. Mecca was Arabia's most important pilgrimage center and Abdul Al-Muttalib its most respected leader. He controlled important pilgrimage concessions and frequently presided over Mecca's Council of Elders.
578 Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) in Mecca in Care of an Uncle
Upon his grandfather's death in 578, Muhammad (s.a.w.s.), aged about eight, passed into the care of a paternal uncle, Abu Talib. Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) grew up in the older man's home and remained under Abu Talib's protection for many years. Chroniclers have underscored Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)'s disrupted childhood. So does the Qur'an: "Did God not find you an orphan and give you shelter and care? And He found you wandering, and gave you guidance. And he found you in need, and made you independent" (93:6-8).
580-594 Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)'s Teens
When young boy, Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) worked as a shepherd to help pay his keep (his uncle was of modest means). In his teens he sometimes traveled with Abu Talib, who was a merchant, accompanying caravans to trade centers. On at least one occasion, he is said to have traveled as far north as Syria. Older merchants recognized his character and nicknamed him El–Amin, the one you can trust.
594 Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) Acts as Caravan Agent for Wealthy Tradeswoman, Khadija
In his early twenties, Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) entered the service of a wealthy Meccan merchant, a widow named Khadija bint Khawalayd. The two were distant cousins. Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) carried her goods to the north and returned with a profit.
595-609 Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)'s Marriage and Family Life
Impressed by Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)'s honesty and character, Khadija eventually proposed marriage. They were wed in about 595. He was twenty-five. She was nearly forty.
Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) continued to manage Khadija's business affairs, and their next years were pleasant and prosperous. Six children were born to them, two sons who both died in infancy, and four daughters. Mecca prospered too, becoming a well–off trading center in the hands of an elite group of clan leaders who were mostly successful traders.
610 Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) Receives First Revelation
Mecca's new materialism and its traditional idolatry disturbed Muhammad (s.a.w.s.). He began making long retreats to a mountain cave outside town. There, he fasted and meditated. On one occasion, after a number of indistinct visionary experiences, Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) was visited by an overpowering presence and instructed to recite words of such beauty and force that he and others gradually attributed them to God. This experience shook Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) to the core. It was several years before he dared to talk about it outside his family.
613 Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) Takes his Message Public
After several similar experiences, Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) finally began to reveal the messages he was receiving to his tribe. These were gathered verse by verse and later would become the Qur'an, Islam's sacred scripture. In the next decade, Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) and his followers were first belittled and ridiculed, then persecuted and physically attacked for departing from traditional Mecca's tribal ways. Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)'s message was resolutely monotheistic. For several years, the the Quraysh, Mecca's dominant tribe, levied a ban on trade with Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)'s people, subjecting them to near famine conditions. Toward the end of the decade, Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)'s wife and uncle both died. Finally, the leaders of Mecca attempted to assassinate Muhammad (s.a.w.s.).
622 Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) and the Muslims Emigrate to Medina
In 622, Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) and his few hundred followers left Mecca and traveled to Yathrib, the oasis town where his father was buried. The leaders there were suffering through a vicious civil war, and they had invited this man well known for his wisdom to act as their mediator. Yathrib soon became known as Medina, the City of the Prophet. Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) remained here for the next six years, building the first Muslim community and gradually gathering more and more people to his side.
625-628 The Military Period
The Meccans did not take Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)'s new success lightly. Early skirmishes led to three major battles in the next three years. Of these the Muslims won the first (the Battle of Badr, March, 624), lost the second (the Battle of Uhud, March, 625), and outlasted the third, (The Battle of the Trench and the Siege of Medina, April, 627). In March, 628, a treaty was signed between the two sides, which recognized the Muslims as a new force in Arabia and gave them freedom to move unmolested throughout Arabia. Meccan allies breached the treaty a year later.
630 The Conquest of Mecca
By now, the balance of power had shifted radically away from once-powerful Mecca, toward Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) and the Muslims. In January, 630, they marched on Mecca and were joined by tribe after tribe along the way. They entered Mecca without bloodshed and the Meccans, seeing the tide had turned, joined them.
630-632 Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)'s Final Years
Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) returned to live in Medina. In the next three years, he consolidated most of the Arabian Peninsula under Islam. In March, 632, he returned to Mecca one last time to perform a pilgrimage, and tens of thousands of Muslims joined him.
After the pilgrimage, he returned to Medina. Three months later on June 8, 632 he died there, after a brief illness. He is buried in the mosque in Medina. Within a hundred years Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)'s teaching and way of life had spread from the remote corners of Arabia as far east as Indo-China and as far west as Morocco, France and Spain.
Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) was born in the year 570 in the town of Mecca, a mountain town in the high desert plateau of western Arabia. His name derives from the Arabic verb hamada, meaning "to praise, to glorify." He was the first and only son of Abd Allah bin Al-Muttalib and Amina bint Wahb. Abd Allah died before Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)'s birth and Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) was raised by his mother Amina, who in keeping with Meccan tradition entrusted her son at an early age to a wet nurse named Halima from the nomadic tribe of the Sa'd ibn Bakr. He grew up in the hill country, learning their pure Arabic.
575 Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) Becomes an Orphan
When Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) was five or six his mother took him to Yathrib, an oasis town a few hundred miles north of Mecca, to stay with relatives and visit his father's grave there. On the return journey, Amina took ill and died. She was buried in the village of Abwa on the Mecca-Medina Road. Halima, his nurse, returned to Mecca with the orphaned boy and placed him in the protection of his paternal grandfather, Abdul Al-Muttalib. In this man's care, Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) learned the rudiments of statecraft. Mecca was Arabia's most important pilgrimage center and Abdul Al-Muttalib its most respected leader. He controlled important pilgrimage concessions and frequently presided over Mecca's Council of Elders.
578 Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) in Mecca in Care of an Uncle
Upon his grandfather's death in 578, Muhammad (s.a.w.s.), aged about eight, passed into the care of a paternal uncle, Abu Talib. Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) grew up in the older man's home and remained under Abu Talib's protection for many years. Chroniclers have underscored Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)'s disrupted childhood. So does the Qur'an: "Did God not find you an orphan and give you shelter and care? And He found you wandering, and gave you guidance. And he found you in need, and made you independent" (93:6-8).
580-594 Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)'s Teens
When young boy, Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) worked as a shepherd to help pay his keep (his uncle was of modest means). In his teens he sometimes traveled with Abu Talib, who was a merchant, accompanying caravans to trade centers. On at least one occasion, he is said to have traveled as far north as Syria. Older merchants recognized his character and nicknamed him El–Amin, the one you can trust.
594 Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) Acts as Caravan Agent for Wealthy Tradeswoman, Khadija
In his early twenties, Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) entered the service of a wealthy Meccan merchant, a widow named Khadija bint Khawalayd. The two were distant cousins. Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) carried her goods to the north and returned with a profit.
595-609 Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)'s Marriage and Family Life
Impressed by Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)'s honesty and character, Khadija eventually proposed marriage. They were wed in about 595. He was twenty-five. She was nearly forty.
Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) continued to manage Khadija's business affairs, and their next years were pleasant and prosperous. Six children were born to them, two sons who both died in infancy, and four daughters. Mecca prospered too, becoming a well–off trading center in the hands of an elite group of clan leaders who were mostly successful traders.
610 Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) Receives First Revelation
Mecca's new materialism and its traditional idolatry disturbed Muhammad (s.a.w.s.). He began making long retreats to a mountain cave outside town. There, he fasted and meditated. On one occasion, after a number of indistinct visionary experiences, Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) was visited by an overpowering presence and instructed to recite words of such beauty and force that he and others gradually attributed them to God. This experience shook Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) to the core. It was several years before he dared to talk about it outside his family.
613 Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) Takes his Message Public
After several similar experiences, Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) finally began to reveal the messages he was receiving to his tribe. These were gathered verse by verse and later would become the Qur'an, Islam's sacred scripture. In the next decade, Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) and his followers were first belittled and ridiculed, then persecuted and physically attacked for departing from traditional Mecca's tribal ways. Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)'s message was resolutely monotheistic. For several years, the the Quraysh, Mecca's dominant tribe, levied a ban on trade with Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)'s people, subjecting them to near famine conditions. Toward the end of the decade, Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)'s wife and uncle both died. Finally, the leaders of Mecca attempted to assassinate Muhammad (s.a.w.s.).
622 Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) and the Muslims Emigrate to Medina
In 622, Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) and his few hundred followers left Mecca and traveled to Yathrib, the oasis town where his father was buried. The leaders there were suffering through a vicious civil war, and they had invited this man well known for his wisdom to act as their mediator. Yathrib soon became known as Medina, the City of the Prophet. Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) remained here for the next six years, building the first Muslim community and gradually gathering more and more people to his side.
625-628 The Military Period
The Meccans did not take Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)'s new success lightly. Early skirmishes led to three major battles in the next three years. Of these the Muslims won the first (the Battle of Badr, March, 624), lost the second (the Battle of Uhud, March, 625), and outlasted the third, (The Battle of the Trench and the Siege of Medina, April, 627). In March, 628, a treaty was signed between the two sides, which recognized the Muslims as a new force in Arabia and gave them freedom to move unmolested throughout Arabia. Meccan allies breached the treaty a year later.
630 The Conquest of Mecca
By now, the balance of power had shifted radically away from once-powerful Mecca, toward Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) and the Muslims. In January, 630, they marched on Mecca and were joined by tribe after tribe along the way. They entered Mecca without bloodshed and the Meccans, seeing the tide had turned, joined them.
630-632 Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)'s Final Years
Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) returned to live in Medina. In the next three years, he consolidated most of the Arabian Peninsula under Islam. In March, 632, he returned to Mecca one last time to perform a pilgrimage, and tens of thousands of Muslims joined him.
After the pilgrimage, he returned to Medina. Three months later on June 8, 632 he died there, after a brief illness. He is buried in the mosque in Medina. Within a hundred years Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)'s teaching and way of life had spread from the remote corners of Arabia as far east as Indo-China and as far west as Morocco, France and Spain.
History of Islam WIth Reference
Islamic History
Al-Bidaya wa'l-Nihaya - Tarikh ibn Kathir
As per the words of Ibn Kathir himself, he compiled history of mankind starting from the creation of universe, creatures and everything in or out of it. It include stories of most of the Prophets (pbuh) until the day of judgement. Ibn Kathir strived his best to narrate everything as Rasulullah (saw) conveyed which was described by a Companion (ra) of Rasulullah (saw) Abuzar Ghaffari (ra) "Rasulullah (saw) informed us about everything until His (saw) death, even about a bird who flies through his wings".
Volume 1: From the creation of earth, skies and Adam (as) till Jin, Angels and Ilyas (as)
Volume 2: From Bani Israel, Ismail (as) to Hazrat Mohammad (saw)
Volume 3: From First Revelation upon Rasulullah (saw) to 2nd year of Hijri
Volume 4: From 3rd Hijri year to 8th year of Hijri
Volume 5: From 9th year of Hijri to 11th year of Hijri. Ghazwa Tabuk, Masjid Zarar, Abdullah Bin Ubi, Mosailma Kazzab, Adi bin Hatim, Hujjatul widah, Will, Ahram, Burial of Rasulullah (saw), Wives, Slaves and Servants of Rasulullah (saw).
Volume 6: Rasulullah (saw)'s clothes, weapons, shoes, horses, ring, cups and sword. Qualities of Rasulullah (saw), Miracles of Rasulullah (saw) i.e. increase in water of well, increase in food, Tasbih of stones, recovery of sick via prayers, Problems during Usman (ra) Khilafat and events during Ali (ra) Khilafat and Khawarij
Volume 7: From 13th Hijri year to 40th Hijri year. Yarmok, Damascus, Qadsiya, Hamas, Qansirain, Qaisarya, Ajnadin, Jalula, Nehawand, Africa, Andalus, Halwan, Madain, Egypt (Misr).
Volume 8: Sayings of Ali (ra), Hasan bin Ali (ra) Khilafat, Muawya bin Sufyan, Yazid bin Muawiya, Hussain (ra) maryr in Iraq, Abdullah bin Zubair (ra), Kaaba construction, Marwan bin Al-Hakm, Ibn Zyad, Ibn Abbas (ra), Masab bin Zubair (ra), Asma (ra), Marj Rahat, Ainul warda, Hajjaj Kaba, and many Companions of Rasulullah (saw).
Volume 9: Banu Umayyad victories, welfare and development work, famous rich and statemen, Companions (ra), Tabaeen, Poets and scholars.
Volume 10: From 126 Hijri year to 248 Hijri year. Abu Hanifa, Ahmed Bin Hanbal and many others.
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