Prophet Muhammad Essay Example
Prophet Muhammad Essay Example

Prophet Muhammad Essay Example

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  • Pages: 14 (3844 words)
  • Published: January 3, 2019
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Muhammad (s), the Last Prophet of God, was born in Mecca in 570 CE. Sadly, his father Abdullah had already passed away before his birth. Following the death of his mother Aminah on their way back from Medina, Muhammad (s) was raised by his grandfather Abd al Muttalib. Before passing away, Abd al Muttalib entrusted Muhammad's (s) care to his uncle Abu Talib and Umm-Ayman, a family servant. Muhammad's (s) uncle treated him with the same love and care as his grandfather did. During his childhood years, Muhammad (s) worked as a shepherd.

As he entered young adulthood, he gained recognition for being honest, reliable, and trustworthy as a merchant - earning him the nickname Amin. There is an account by Abu Daud where another merchant forgot to meet him for a trade discussion but Muhammad (s) still fulfilled his part of the promise.

At twenty-five ye

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ars old, a wealthy widow asked Muhammad (s) to take a caravan of merchandise to Syria for trading purposes. Eventually, she proposed marriage through one of her relatives. After careful consideration, Muhammad (s) accepted this situation.

Some Western writers who are unfamiliar with the social structure of pre-Islamic Arabs falsely claim that Muhammad's standard of living changed after marrying Khadijah r.a., but this is untrue as he remained without wealth until his last day.Even the caliphs who succeeded him led simple and content lives. The Holy Kabah housed 360 idols that had strayed from Prophet Ibrahim's teachings, influenced by superstitious beliefs brought by pilgrims who worshipped idols. These idols were considered as gods by the Arab pagans. However, Muhammad never followed such ignorance but believed in only one God since birth.

As the

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time approached for God to reveal that he was the final Prophet, Muhammad began experiencing profound inward signs and true visions in his dreams. He would often retreat to a cave on Mount Hirah for spiritual seclusion and dedicate nights to worshipping God. Over the years, there were instances where Muhammad would hear words of peace coming from a tree or stone after passing them on the street.

During Ramadan, he would visit the holy cave of Hirah as fights were traditionally avoided during this month. One night towards the end of Ramadan while alone in the cave wearing his robe, an Angel appeared before him in human form.This text describes the encounter between Muhammad (s) and Angel Jibril (a.s.), also known as Angel Gabriel.

Muhammad (s) was in a drowsy state when Jibril (a.s.) woke him up and presented a silk cloth with six words inscribed on it.To assist Muhammad (s) in seeing the cloth, Jibril (a.s.) emitted a radiant light from his body.The pressure of Jibril's (a.s.) hands caused intense pain to Muhammad (s), almost making him faint.Muhammad (s) expressed his inability to read when asked. This exchange happened three times until Jibril (a.s.) commanded him to proclaim in the name of his Lord and Cherisher, who created. After this revelation, Jibril disappeared. Tibri includes a quote from Khadijah R.A where she states that according to Muhammad's account, once Jibril left in human form, his thighs became weak and he struggled to stand for long periods. He had to sit down until gaining enough strength in his knees to stand again. As he started his journey home, his shoulders continued trembling. However, halfway through the

journey, a voice from the skies called out "O Muhammad(may Allah bless him and grant him peace), thou art the Prophet(may Allah bless him and grant him peace) of Allah; I am Jibril." Looking up into the sky revealed Jibril standing there delivering the same message. Muhammad was filled with fear and felt paralyzed as Jibril kept appearing before him. Eventually, Jibril disappeared and Muhammad made his way home with great effort due to weakness. According to Khadijah, when he arrived home, Muhammad looked pale and slowly approached her with the help of the wall. Three days later, Jibril reappeared and revealed Surah Al-Muddaththir (74th Surah of the Holy Quran) to Muhammad. This event is narrated in Sahih Bukhari.
The Surah starts with the verses: 1.O thou wrapped up (In a mantle!) 2.Arise and deliver thy warning (Al-Muddaththir;V-1-2). These verses were memorized by the Prophet from Gabriel, which convinced him that they were from Allah. Khadijah then sought confirmation from her cousin Waraqa, who confirmed that Gabriel was indeed the same Angel who had visited Moses. He also declared that Muhammad was the awaited Prophet. Khadijah embraced this revelation and became the first person to accept Islam. Despite facing hardships, especially during a three-year boycott by Quraish, Khadijah faithfully supported her husband. She passed away at sixty-five years old during Ramadan, shortly after the end of the boycott in 620 CE.

Jibril visited the Prophet as commanded by Allah, revealing Arabic Ayat (meaning signs or verses) over a span of twenty-three years. Instead of instantly sending down the entire Holy Quran for dissemination, Allah chose to involve humanity in performing good deeds through this gradual process of

revelation. This method benefited both humans and jinn due to Allah's superior knowledge. The Quranic verses were written on various materials like leather, palm leaves, bark, and animal bones. They were also immediately memorized upon being revealed and recited by Muslims during their daily prayers.Jibril, the angel, assisted Prophet Muhammad in organizing and arranging the verses of the Quran. He instructed Muhammad's scribes to record them accordingly. Jibril also taught Muhammad how to perform ablution before prayer and how to pray, knowledge which he then shared with others. The Quran itself mentions its name within the revealed verses, emphasizing that it contains Allah's commandments in first-person voice and not words from the Prophet himself. Throughout his mission, Jibril continued to visit Prophet Muhammad, providing guidance and information as needed for his prophetic duties, including details about events and strategies.

It is worth noting that Prophet Muhammad's (s) mission aimed at restoring monotheistic worship of the One True God. This mission sought to revive the teachings of Prophet Ibrahim and previous Prophets regarding the creator and sustaining force of the universe. It also aimed to establish moral, ethical, legal, and social conduct for all humanity.

Early followers of Islam included Abu Bakr, Ali, Zayd ibn Harithah, as well as Muhammad's wife and daughters. They embraced Islam by affirming their belief in Allah as the only deity and Muhammad as his messenger. Within three years after a recent revelation instructing him to publicly recite revelations and invite people to embrace Islam, 40 men and women converted to Islam.The leaders of Makkah (Quraish) responded hostilely towards Muhammad, including his uncle Abu Lahab and his wife who showed strong animosity. Initially,

they tried to bribe him with money and power, even offering kingship if he abandoned his message. However, Muhammad rejected these offers knowing that worldly possessions held little value compared to Allah's true gift. Since their direct persuasion failed, they turned to Abu Talib in hopes that he would accept a substitute for Muhammad or allow them to kill him. But Abu Talib was unable to persuade Muhammad to stop preaching.

Muslims faced persecution in various forms such as physical abuse, torture, and economic boycotts. Even the weak, poor, and enslaved endured public torture. Umm Ammar, a Muslim woman and mother of Ammar ibn Yasir, became the first martyr of Islam. Wealthy Muslims were confined at home with the promise of freedom if they renounced their faith.

The Prophet himself experienced ridicule and humiliation in public; while praying in the Kabah he was frequently targeted with filth. Despite these immense hardships and lack of support, all Muslims remained steadfast due to Islam's message.

God instructed the Prophet to be patient and continue preaching from the Quran. He advised Muslims not to retaliate against their persecutors as no revelation had allowed it yet.
When persecution became unbearable for most Muslims, the Prophet suggested that they emigrate to Abyssinia where a Christian ruler named Ashabah held power. To avoid detection by Quraish leaders, eighty individuals left in small groups along the Arabian coastline. However, Quraish leaders discovered their escape plans and decided not to leave them undisturbed. Two envoys were then sent promptly to Negus requesting the return of all Muslim emigrants. Prophet Muhammad sought refuge for his followers in Abyssinia under Negus's rule despite facing persecution. Negus allowed the emigrants

to worship freely as he had an understanding of Muslim beliefs and knowledge of revelations about Jesus and Mary in the Quran. This was a respite for the Prophet and his followers as they were facing a ban imposed by the Quraish which prohibited any contact with the Prophet's family for three years. The Quraish later proposed a compromise that would allow both idolatry and Islam but the Prophet rejected it. In response, he received a divine revelation affirming religious tolerance (Surah 109 of the Quran). Eventually, the ban was lifted when it was discovered that their secret documents regarding the ban had been destroyed by worms except for mention of Allah. However, despite this positive development, sadness continued for the Prophet with the passing of Khadijah r.a.and his uncle Abu TalibAfter the death of Khadijah, Muhammad (s) married Sawadah r.a., who was fifty years old at that time. In that same year, following a divine command in a dream and seeking approval from Sawadah first, Aishah r.a., daughter of his companion Abu Bakr r.a., became Muhammad (s)'s wife through completion of their marriage contract in Medina. Both Sawadah and Aishah r.a. were Muhammad's only wives until he turned 56 years old. When his uncle Abu Talib died, he went to Taif seeking protection. Taif is located 50 miles from Mecca. Despite facing rejection and having stones thrown at him by the people of Taif, the Prophet Muhammad remained steadfast. During this time, Jibril (a.s.) visited him and informed him that if he asked Allah for punishment, the angels were ready to destroy the town. However, instead of seeking revenge, the Prophet prayed for future

generations of Taif to embrace Islam.
It was during his return from Taif that Surah Al Jinn (Surah 72) was revealed, emphasizing that the Quran provides guidance for both Jinns and Humankind.
Shortly after this disappointing experience in Taif, the Prophet experienced al-Israa and al-Miraaj (around 621 C.E.). In al-Israa , Jibril swiftly transported him from the sacred mosque near Kabah to Jerusalem's furthest mosque (Dome of the Rock) during late night hours.There ,he met with previous prophets such as Adam , Abraham , Moses ,and Jesus,and led them in prayer to worship Allah .In al-Miraaj ,he ascended to heaven witness signs from God .During the journey, the five daily prayers were prescribed. Upon returning to Kabah after this brief nighttime experience in Jerusalem, news spread about what had happened and the accuracy of his descriptions along his way. Even details such as a caravan he saw and its expected arrival in Mecca turned out to be true. As a result, those who had previously mocked him stopped their mockery. The event of Israa and Miraaj is mentioned in Chapter 17 of the Quran titled The Children of Israel. In 622 C.E., there was a plot by the people of Quraish to assassinate Prophet Muhammad (s). Their plan involved sending one man from each tribe to repeatedly strike him while he was inside his house. However, Allah (swt) had His own plan and He is indeed the best planner. Jibril (a.s) warned Muhammad (s) about this danger and advised him to immediately leave Mecca and migrate to Medina. Before leaving, the Prophet (s) made arrangements for returning properties entrusted to him by nonbelievers. Accompanied by Abu Bakr

r.a., they left on the night when his assassination was planned.They sought refuge in a mountain cave south of Mecca where they stayed for three nights before heading towards Medina which was approximately two hundred and fifty miles away.Upon learning about their escape, the leaders of Quraish offered a reward of 100 camels for capturing or killing himDespite extensive efforts to find Muhammad (s) and a search party being deployed, Allah (swt) protected him from harm and safely brought him to Medina unharmed. This event, known as Hijra, marks the beginning of the Islamic Calendar. The people of Medina warmly welcomed Prophet Muhammad (s), fulfilling their promise made during the previous year's pilgrimage. Muslims from Mecca secretly left their properties and homes one by one, migrating to Medina where locals maintained peace.

In order to promote unity in Medina, Prophet Muhammad (s) suggested a treaty that was accepted by all Muslims, non-Muslim Arabs, and Jews. After the migration, opponents of Islam launched increased attacks from various directions. Despite being outnumbered, the Muslims emerged victorious in battle with the help of 3000 angels sent by Allahu Akbar (swt). Many Muslim men lost their lives defending their city and faith, leaving behind widows and orphans.

Prophet Muhammad (s) entered into multiple marriages between his fifty-sixth to sixtieth year but refrained from marrying again in his final three years due to a revelation that limited wives to a maximum of four. This was an important development in scriptural history as it established marriage restrictions and expectations for spouses' behavior.
After a new revelation, the Prophet was instructed not to divorce any of his wives. It is worth noting that all the

women he married were either widowed or divorced, except for Aishah r.a. The disbelievers proposed a ten-year treaty with Muhammad (s), which the Muslims agreed to because it provided an opportunity to spread Islam to other countries during this peaceful period. Consequently, more individuals in different nations embraced Islam.

The Prophet sent letters inviting kings and rulers, including those from Byzantium and Persia, to convert to Islam. Notably, Negus, the king of Abyssinia, and the Ruler of Bahrain accepted Islam while Emperor Heraclius acknowledged Muhammad's Prophethood. Chakrawati Farmas, a Hindu King of Malabar (http://www.muhammad.net), converted without any initiative from the Prophet.

Approximately two years later in 629 CE, the Quraish violated the terms of their treaty by attacking one of the Prophet's allies. Seeking justice against those responsible for the attack, these individuals turned to Muhammad (s) after receiving no assistance from the Quraish. Upon verifying that the attack had indeed taken place, the Prophet led an army comprising 3000 Muslims from Medina and other Arab communities totaling 10,000 Muslims into Mecca.

Before entering Mecca itself though, he sent a message guaranteeing safety for anyone residing in his home or Abu Sufyan's home or within Kabah itself. As they entered Mecca peacefully following this assurance letter was delivered;Immediately upon arriving at Kabah, the Prophet (s) used his stick to gesture towards each idol and recited a statement from the Qur'an 17:81, declaring that Truth had come and Falsehood would not start or reappear. As a result, all three hundred and sixty idols collapsed, restoring Kabah to its original state of worshiping One True God as established by Prophets Ibrahim and Ismail.

Despite the expectation of retaliation from Mecca for

their mistreatment of Muslims over the past two decades, the Prophet (s) forgave them and stood beside the Ka'bah. When questioned about his intentions towards them, he assured them of his noble motives and compared his treatment with that of Prophet Yousuf towards his brothers. He announced that no blame would be imposed on them and they were free to return home.

The Prophet emphasized Mecca's sanctity by stating that Allah had deemed it holy since its creation until Judgment Day. It was unlawful for anyone who believed in Allah and the last day to shed blood or cut down trees within Mecca; this prohibition existed before and after the time of the Prophet. These events led even those who strongly opposed him to embrace Islam.

Upon entering Mecca, influential enemies as well as military commanders chose to flee but later returned when they received assurances from the Prophet that there would be no revenge and no force in religion.Gradually, Islam gained the affection of the people and in just one year, nearly all of Arabia embraced Islam. The Prophet's close companions included Muslims from various backgrounds such as Persia, Abyssinia, Syria, and Rome. Moreover, several notable Jewish Rabbis, Christian bishops, and clergymen converted to Islam after discussions with the Prophet.

Two months after completing the Farewell Pilgrimage, Prophet Muhammad became ill but still led congregational prayers. Following a prayer session, he blessed the martyrs of Uhud and spoke to the Muslims about a slave who prioritized what is with God over worldly possessions. Abu Bakr understood that this referred to the Prophet himself and his impending death which moved him to tears.

The Prophet cautioned the Muslims to

treat the Ansar (the Helpers from Medina) well and acknowledged their faithful service. He also prophesied that while there would be an increase in Muslim numbers, the importance of the Ansar would diminish to become as valuable as salt in a meal. He prohibited them from worshiping tombs like previous nations had done.

Abu Bakr was his most selfless companion, and if he were to have an inseparable friend amongst mankind it would be Abu Bakr — yet our bond of faith will endure until God unites us in His presence. The beloved daughter Fatimah and dear aunt Safiyah were advised by the Prophet to focus on striving for life after death as he could not assist them against Allah's Will.
He assured them that he would go before them and bear witness when they meet at the celestial lake supplied by heavenly river Kawthar where believers quench their thirst upon entering paradise. The Prophet expressed no fear that they would worship other gods besides Allah but cautioned against competing with each other for worldly gains. After delivering his final sermon in the mosque, Prophet Muhammad became too weak to move and appointed Abu Bakr r.a.as the prayer leader. He spent the rest of his illness in Aishah r.a.'s apartment. On Rabi al-Awwal 12th, his fever subsided and with help from Fadl and Thawban, he made his way to the mosque. However, Abu Bakr r.a.was already leading prayers when he arrived. Without looking back, Abu Bakr stepped aside upon realizing that Prophet Muhammad was present but Prophet Muhammad placed his hand on Abu Bakr's shoulder to signal him to continue leading prayers.Seated next to Abu Bakr, Prophet

Muhammad completed the prayer while sitting down.The Muslims were overjoyed at seeing a visible improvement in Prophet Muhammad's health; Anas reported that he had never seen such radiance on his face before.Unfortunately, shortly after this momentary improvement, Prophet Muhammad lost consciousness again.
An hour later, Prophet Muhammad regained consciousness and spoke to Aishah, stating that no prophet dies without seeing their place in Paradise and having the choice to live or die. His final words included a prayer for communion in Paradise with God-blessed individuals such as prophets, saints, martyrs, and righteous people. The last thing he uttered was "O Allah, with the supreme communion." In the evening of Rabi al-Awwal at sixty-three years old, Prophet Muhammad passed away. The companions of Muhammad found it hard to accept his death news, with some refusing to believe it. Abu Bakr, who would later become the first caliph, went to the mosque and delivered a profound speech. He informed the people that if they worshiped only Muhammad, they must accept his passing. However, if they worshiped Allah, they should know that He is immortal. This message is also conveyed in Qur'an verse 3:144 which states that Muhammad is merely an Apostle; if he were to die or be slain would they turn away? Those who turn away will do no harm to Allah but He will reward those who serve Him with gratitude. On the day following his death, Prophet Muhammad was buried at the same location where he had died as determined by himself according to Abu Bakr r.a.. Throughout his life, Prophet Muhammad lived a simple and modest existence.He frequently went without cooked meals and instead

relied on dates, dried bread, and water for sustenance. Besides being a family man, he held various important positions such as head of state, chief justice, commander-in-chief arbitrator instructor, among others. During the nighttime hours, he devoted himself to prayer and meditation. All of his children except Fatimah r.a., passed away before him, while his wives lived out their lives as widows. Despite having virtual control over Arabia, the Prophet only possessed simple items like mats, blankets, jugs, and other personal belongings. His inheritance included a white mule, ammunition,and a piece of land that he gifted during his lifetime. In his final words ,he stressed that Prophets do not inherit anything; instead their possessions are meant for charity.These actions and words were recorded as Hadith to provide guidance for future generations of Muslims.The Prophet has served as an exemplary role model throughout history and will continue to be revered by humanity (Muhammad: His Life). After the Prophet's death Abu Bakr r.a., his best friend ,companion ,and father-in-law established the first caliphate.However this marked just the beginning of Islam's journey.Today Islam is both the world's fastest-growing religion and the second-largest in terms of followers.Muhammad (s) was not only a man but also a messenger sent by Allah(The One God). He was Allah's final prophet who guided humanity towards righteousness.The Quran mentions Adam as the first prophet and provides details about 25 prophets' names, missions struggles, and communities they belonged to. It also refutes any charges made against previous scriptures' prophets and acknowledges four previously revealed scriptures: Suhoof of Ibrahim, Taurat revealed to Prophet Moses, Zuboor revealed to Prophet David, and Injeel revealed to Prophet Jesus (pbuh).

Islam requires belief in all prophets and revealed scriptures. Muhammad is highly respected as the model of Quranic behavior, with his name mentioned as "peace be upon him." Muslims strive to closely follow the Quran and Prophet Muhammad's example. Detailed accounts of his life are preserved. Throughout history, he has served as an exemplary figure for humanity and will continue to do so. At the end of his mission, Muhammad had hundreds of thousands of followers who prayed with him and listened to his sermons. They sought his advice on everyday issues and attentively listened to interpretations of revealed verses. These sincere Muslims supported him wholeheartedly, following the message of the Quran and Allah's Messenger sincerely. After him, they dutifully spread Islam's teachings resulting in its widespread presence within ninety years across regions like Spain, North Africa,
the Caucasus,northwest China,and India.Prophet Muhammad's relentless endeavors have spread his message from a humble city in a barren desert to every corner of the world.

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