A short biography of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Biography of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

 Prophet Muhammad was born in 570 CE (Common Era) in the city of Mecca in the Arabian Peninsula, part of modern day Saudi Arabia. As his father had died shortly after marriage, his grandfather 'Abd al-Muttalib became his guardian. 'Abd al-Muttalib was the respected head of the clan of Hashim and the tribe of Quraysh, to which his clan belonged. With the Quraysh being the biggest and most influential tribe in Mecca, 'Abd al-Muttalib was seen as the master of all of Mecca. The Quraysh had a special status in Mecca because they used to be in charge of the sacred Ka'ba. The Qur'an tells us that this holy edifice was built by Prophets Abraham and his son Ishmael:

And when Abraham and Ishmael were raising the foundations of the House [Abraham prayed]: "Our Lord! Accept from us; surely You are the Hearing, the Knowing (2.127). Our Lord! Make us Muslims and raise from our offspring a nation of Muslims. Show us our ways of worship, and relent toward us. Surely, Your are the Relenting, the Merciful" (2.128).

This means that the Ka'ba was built around 1900 BCE, which is when Abraham is thought to have lived. The Ka'ba maintained its venerable status as the destination of pilgrimage in the eyes of the pilgrims and the Arab population of the Arabian Peninsula down the centuries. 'Abd al-Muttalib was personally in charge of the Ka'ba. 

The Prophet was only about five to six years old when he lost his mother. Orphan Muhammad then lost his grandfather and custodian 'Abd al-Muttalib at the age of eight. Now one of 'Abd al-Muttalib's sons, Abu Talib, became the guardian of his orphan nephew. Though respected by the clan of Hashim and the people of Mecca in general, Abu Talib did not possess the high status and influence of his father. Had he been more fortunate financially, he might have aspired to acquire that special leadership status. 

When Muhammad was twenty five years old, he was hired by a woman called Khadija to take her merchandize to Syria. Khadija, a widow fifteen years Muhammad's senior, later proposed marriage to him, which he agreed to. They lived together for almost a quarter of a century, until the death of Khadija about 8-9 years after the revelation of the Qur'an. 

It is interesting to note that Muhammad did not get married to any other woman during Khadija's life, despite the fact that polygamy was common practice in that society. Living out his youth with only one woman in that highly polygamous environment contradicts Muhammad's lecherous image in the Western mind. 

Muhammad was deeply interested in matters beyond this mundane life. He used to frequent a cave that became known as "Hira'" on the Mountain of "Nur" (light) for contemplation. The cave itself, which survived the times, gives a very vivid image of Muhammad's spiritual inclinations. Resting on the top of one of the mountains north of Mecca, the cave is completely isolated from the rest of the world. In fact, it is not easy to find at all even if one knew it existed. After visiting the cave, I found myself concluding that Muhammad must have been divinely guided to that hideaway, even if he had chosen it consciously. Once inside the cave, it is a total isolation. Nothing can be seen other than the clear, beautiful sky above and the many surrounding mountains. Very little of this world can be seen or heard from inside the cave. The inhabitant of that cave was obviously interested in things beyond this world and its material riches. 

It was in that cave in 610 CE, i.e. at the age of forty, that Prophet Muhammad received from Allah the first verses of the Qur'an. Then and there, history changed. 

The Qur'an continued to be revealed in fragments to Prophet Muhammad over the following twenty two years. The last words of the Book were revealed to the Prophet shortly before his death in 632 CE. We will read more about the Qur'an in section 2.2. 

In the first two to three years after the revelation, the Prophet preached Islam secretly to individuals whom he trusted. When he started calling people to Islam publicly, the new religion gradually attracted more people but, not surprisingly, also increasing hostility from the idol worshipping population of Mecca. The Prophet was subjected to harassment and abuse. However, armed with patience, resilience, and determination, and protected by his uncle Abu Talib and the clan of Hashim, the Prophet was able to carry on preaching the new faith to people. 

Converts to Islam, some of whom were slaves, had to suffer all kinds of persecution, including brutal torture and murder, at the hands of the enemies of the new religion in Mecca. In 614 CE, the Prophet had to instruct a group of Muslims to escape the persecution to Abyssinia and seek the protection of its just Christian king. The Quraysh then sent a delegation to the king, carrying precious gifts, to secure the extradition of the Muslim refugees. The king, however, rejected the bribe and let the Muslims stay in Abyssinia. 

One year later, the Quraysh imposed economic and social sanctions on the Prophet, his followers, and his clan. As a result, the Muslims withdrew to a mountain in Mecca. The sanctions lasted about three years before collapsing in 618/619 CE without achieving their goals. 

Soon afterward, the Prophet lost his wife Khadija. Matters got worse quickly with the death of his uncle and protector. Prophet Muhammad started to suffer more from the disbelievers' relentless attempts to uproot Islam and destroy its followers. During the pilgrimage season in 622 CE, Muhammad met in Mecca with a number of chiefs from the city of Yathrib, where he had previously sent some Muslims to settle in. Having converted to Islam, the chiefs made a secret pledge to protect the Prophet should the Quraysh try to kill him. 

However, the Quraysh learned about the agreement, so the people from Yathrib had to return quickly to their city. Sensing that the danger to Muslims has increased, Muhammad instructed them to immigrate individually or in small groups to Yathrib. The Qurayshites tried to prevent Muslims from fleeing Mecca to Yathrib, but the converts continued to sneak out gradually. 

The continuing immigration of Muslims to Yathrib where they had allies was already very bad news for the Qurayshites. This could yet get much worse if Muhammad also would move to that city. They decided that they had no other option but to kill him. 

The various clans of the tribe of Quraysh agreed to act as one and assassinate the Prophet while asleep. The idea behind acting collectively was that no one party could be blamed for the killing and become embroiled in a war of vengeance with the clan of Hashim. 

The assassination plan, however, was sabotaged by divine intervention. The night the murder was planned to take place, Allah informed His Prophet of the danger and ordered him to secretly leave Mecca and head to the city of Yathrib. The latter became known as "al-Madina al-Munawwara" (the illuminated city), or "al-Madina" for brief, after the arrival of the Prophet. 

This famous event, known as the "Hijra " (immigration), occurred in 622 CE, about twelve years after the revelation of the first verses of the Qur'an. This flight was destined to have far-reaching consequences in establishing the Islamic community, strengthening the position of Islam, and spreading its message.

How to eat and drink according to Sunnah in Islam

Wash your hands before taking your meals. It is keeping with the rules of cleanliness and neatness that your mind should be satisfied about the cleanliness of your hands before starting the meal.

Before you start your meal, Say
(Bismilla hirrahhama nirrahim)
Translation: In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent ; the Most Merciful

Should you forget this, then say
(Bismillahi avaluhu va aa khiru hu)
As soon as you realise the oversight during the meal. Remember, the meal which is not consecrated by the Name of Allah is made lawful by the devil for himself.

Do not lean against anything when sitting down for a meal. Sit in a humble position with your knees raised or legs crossed or with one knee prostrate and the other one raised. The Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h) used to sit for meals. in this posture.

Always eat with your right hand. However, the left hand may be used simultaneously with the right hand, if needed.

Use three fingers while eating. If required, use four fingers except the little finger. Do not put your fingers in the food up to their roots.

Do not take a big morsel, nor a small one. Put the second morsel into your mouth only after swallowing the first one.

Do not wipe your fingers with bread. This is a filthy habit.

Avoid brushing off the loaves and refrain from knocking them about also.

Eat out of the plate from the edge which is nearest to you. Do not put your hand in the middle of the plate nor extend your hand to eat from that edge of the plate which is nearer to other diners.

If the morsel drops from your hands pick it up and eat it after cleaning or washing it.

Eat in company. Dining in company promotes cordiality and love and is a source of blessing.

Do not find fault with the food. Leave it if you don't like it.

Do not eat while the food is piping hot or simmering.

Avoid breaking into guffaws or indulging in too much conversation during dinner.

Do not sniff the food needlessly, It is bad habit. Do not often open your mouth so wide during dinner that the other people may see the food you are munching between your teeth, nor should you pick your teeth repeatedly in the course of eating. The other diners will find this habit disgusting.

Sit Down to eat and sit down also while taking a drink of water.

If some soup is left over in the plate, drink it ; otherwise clear the sediments from the plate with a finger and lick the finger.

Do not blow on the articles of food. The breath that we exhale is polluted and poisonous.

Take three breathing pauses while drinking water and recite Bismillah before hand each time. By this method you can drink according to your need and get full satisfaction. Beware, drinking all the water three is in the container in one breath may be harmful.

While eating in company pay due regard to the needs of the slow diners as well as those who eat at a rapid pace and rise only when all others have stopped eating.

When you have finished eating, lick your fingers and then wash your hands.

Do not pick up two pieces or slices at once time while eating fruit.

Do not drink water from the spout of a water pot or a goblet etc. Drink from such a container that you may clearly see the water that you are pouring into your mouth on order that no filth harmful substance goes into your stomach.

Say this prayer at the end of the meal :
(Alhamdu lillahil-ladhi at'amana wa saqana wa ja'alana min-al-Muslimin)
Translation: "Praise be to God Who fed us and gave us drink and made us Muslims."

Islamic Way to Sleep

Islamic Sleep Posture

Islam has strict rules on how you sleep. Firstly, you cannot sleep on your stomach. Sunaan
Tirmidhi (1226) writes that Allah does not like your lying on your stomach. Another hadis (ibid,
1228) says if you lie on your stomach Allah will send you to hell.
A Muslim must sleep like a prophet. It means to lie with belly up. Ghazali (p.2.20) writes that to
lie with belly up is to sleep like the prophets.

Another ritual for Islamic sleep is that you must do ablution before going to bed, and lie on your right side then recite Allah’s name and glorify Him. If you die in this state then you die in Islam (Sahih Muslim, 35.6544, 6546, 6551).,/P>
The reason why a Muslim must do ablution before sleep is this: when you sleep, the ring muscle

of your anus is loosened, so you must perform ablution before sleeping (Sunaan Tirmidhi, 122).