Before Prophethood (1/2)

Historical Events

The proven reports about Muhammad's life before Prophethood tell us the following facts:

1. He was born into the noblest family among the Arabs, which was one of the noblest branches of Quraysh, namely Banu Haashim.

Quraysh was the noblest of Arab tribes, the purest in descent and the highest in status. It was narrated from Al-‘Abbaas that the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:

"Allah created mankind, and made me from the best of them, from the best of their two groups. Then He chose tribes and made me from the best tribe. Then He chose families and made me from the best family. So I am the best of them from the best family." [1]

Because of the high esteem in which noble descent was held among Quraysh, we find that among the things which Quraysh accused the Prophet (Peace be upon him) of, his descent is not mentioned, because his origins were well known among them. They accused him of many things that they made up, but this issue was not mentioned at all.

2. He grew up an orphan, for his father 'Abdullah died when his mother was only two months pregnant with him. When he reached the age of six, his mother Aaminah died too, so at a very early age he felt the bitterness of being deprived of his parents' love and compassion. After that, he was looked after by his grandfather 'Abdul-Muttalib, but he died when the Prophet (Peace be upon him) was eight years old. Then he was looked after by his paternal uncle Abu Taalib, until he grew up and became strong and mature. The Qur'an refers to his being an orphan when it says:

"Did He not find you [O' Muhammad] an orphan and gave you a refuge?" (Quran, Surah Ad-Duha, 93: 6)

3. The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) spent the first four years of his life in the desert, among Bani Sa'd, so he grew up strong and healthy, eloquent and brave, able to ride horses well at an early age. His talents flourished in the peace and fresh air of the desert.

4. His intelligence was apparent at an early age and could be seen in his features, which aroused the love of all those who saw him. When he was a young boy, the Messenger came and sat on his grandfather's bed. When he ('Abdul-Muttalib) sat on it, no one among his children (i.e., the paternal uncles of the Prophet) would sit on it with him. So his paternal uncles tried to make him move, but 'Abdul-Muttalib said, "Leave my son alone, for by Allah he has a future."

5. When he was a young man, the Prophet tended the sheep of the people of Makkah in return for a few pennies. It was narrated that he (Peace be upon him) said:

"There is no Prophet who was not a shepherd." They said, "Even you, O' Messenger of Allah?" He said, "Even me." According to another report he said, "Allah never sent any Prophet but he was a shepherd." His Companions said to him, "Even you, O' Messenger of Allah?"  He said, "Even me. I tended the sheep of the people of Makkah in return for a few pennies."

Then when he reached the age of twenty-five, he worked for Khadeejah bint Khuwaylid, doing business with her money in return for a salary that she paid him.

6. When he was a young man, he did not join his Makkan peers in their idle leisure pursuits. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) protected him from that. The books of Seerah state that when he was a young man, he heard singing in one of the houses of Makkah where a wedding party was taking place. He wanted to go to the party, but Allah caused him to fall asleep, and he was only woken up by the heat of the sun. He did not join his people in worshipping idols, he never ate the meat of any animals that were sacrificed to them, he never drank wine, he never gambled, and he never uttered foul speech or bad language.

7. He was known for his wisdom and sound reasoning. The incident when he put the Black Stone back in its place in the Ka'bah is indicative of that. The Ka'bah had been damaged by a flood which caused cracks in its walls, so the people of Makkah decided to knock it down and rebuild it. So they did that, but when they reached the place where the Black Stone was to go, a fierce dispute erupted as to who would have the honour of putting the Black Stone in place. Each tribe wanted to have this honour. The dispute reached the point where they were threatening to fight one another, then they agreed that the first person to come in through the gate of Bani Shaybah should judge amongst them. That person was the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him), and when they saw him, they said, "This is Al-Ameen (the trustworthy), we will accept his judgement." When they told him about that, he solved the problem in a manner that was approved of by all parties. He spread out his cloak, then he picked up the Stone and put it on his cloak. Then he told them that each tribe should take hold of one edge of the cloak and lift it up. When the Stone reached its place, he took it and put it there with his own hand, and they all approved of that. By means of his wisdom, Allah protected the blood of the Arabs from being shed in a feud that only Allah, the Exalted, the Almighty, knows its extent.

8. The Prophet was known among his people for being trustworthy and honest since his youth. He was well known among them for treating people kindly, keeping promises, living an upright life and having a good reputation. This is what made Khadeejah (may Allah be pleased with her) employ him to engage in trade using her money in the caravan that went to the city of Busra in Syria every year, and made her pay him double what she paid anyone from among her own people. When he came back to Makkah and her slave Maysarah told her how trustworthy and sincere he was, and she saw the great profits that had been made on that trip, she paid him double the sum that she had promised. She also wanted to marry him, and he agreed to marry her even though he was fifteen years younger than her. The best testimony to his good attitude before Prophethood is the fact that Khadeejah said to him when the revelation first came to him in the cave of Hiraa' and he began trembling, "No, by Allah, Allah will never forsake you, for you uphold the ties of kinship, you help the weak and poor, you honour your guests and you help others at times of crisis."

9. He traveled twice outside Makkah. The first time was with his paternal uncle Abu Taalib when he was twelve years old, and the second time was when he was twenty-five, when he went to engage in trade on Khadeejah's behalf, with her money. Both trips were to the city of Busra. On both occasions he heard the talk of the merchants and saw the towns of the lands through which he traveled, and the customs of their people.

10. A few years before his Prophethood, Allah made him like to go out to the cave of Hiraa' — which is a mountain on the north-west side of Makkah, close to the city — where he would stay alone for a month — during the month of Ramadaan — and think about the signs of Allah's creation and the greatness of His power. He continued to do this until the Revelation came to him with the Qur'an.

 (Continued)