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All praise is due to Allaah who clarified for us the path of guidance, and
removed from us the darkness of misguidance. May He exalt the mention of the
chosen Prophet, our Prophet Muhammad, who was sent as a mercy to humanity
and an example to be followed, his family and all his companions, and those
who rightly follow them until the Day of Resurrection.
O Muslims! The best way to spend our time is by studying the biography of
the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. This will make us feel as though we
are living those great days with the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam which
the early Muslims lived, and imagine that we are amongst those honorable,
righteous people upon whose shoulders the great mansion of might and honor
was established.
Studying the biography of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam
enlightens the Muslim about the different qualities of the Prophet’s personality
and his ways in life, war, peace, and the propagation of Islam. In addition, a
Muslim will find out the reason behind victory and the causes for defeat, the
points of weakness and strength, and how to deal with arising events no matter
how great or difficult they may be. Moreover, studying his biography makes
Muslims regain self confidence, and become certain that Allaah is with them
and will support them if they perform their duties towards Him by fulfilling
servitude to Him and adhere to His legislation. Allaah says what means: “O you
who believe! If you help (in the cause of) Allaah, He will help you”
(Muhammad: 7) and also: "Verily, Allaah will help those who help His
(Cause). Truly, Allaah is All-Strong, All-Mighty" (Al-Hajj: 40).
The following pages are highlights about the biography of Prophet
Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and they are meant to pave the way
as an initial step for those who desire to deeply study his biography, Allaah says
what means: “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah” (Al-Fath: 29).
His lineage: He is Abu Al-Qaasim, Muhammad Ibn ‘Abdullaah Ibn ‘Abdul-
Lateef Ibn Haashim Ibn ‘Abdu Manaaf Ibn Qusai Ibn Kilaab Ibn Murrah Ibn
Ka’b Ibn Lu’ai Ibn Ghaalib Ibn Fahr Ibn Maalik Ibn An-Nadhr Ibn Kanaanah
Ibn Khuzaymah Ibn Madrakah Ibn Ilyaas Ibn Mudhar Ibn Nizaar Ibn Ma’d Ibn
‘Adnaan. No one disputed regarding the lineage of the Prophet sallallaahu
‘alayhi wa sallam and it is known that ‘Adnaan (the last name in his chain) is
the son of Prophet Ismaa’eel, peace be upon him.
His names: Jubayr Ibn Mat’am, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated
that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “I have different names, I
am Muhammad, Ahmad, Al-Maahi (the obliterator) by which Allaah
obliterates infidelity, Al-Haashir (the sign for resurrection) after whom people
will be resurrected (the Hour will come), and Al-‘Aaqib (the final) after which
there will be no other prophet.” (Al-Bukhaari & Muslim). Abu Moosaa Al-
Ash’ari, may Allaah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet sallallaahu
‘alayhi wa sallam informed us of his names saying: “I am Muhammad, Ahmad,
Al-Muqaffi (the final), Al -Haashir, the Prophet of repentance (i.e., he guided
people to repentance), and the prophet of mercy (i.e., he was sent with mercy)”
(Muslim).
The purity of his lineage: Dear Muslims! Know that the Prophet sallallaahu
‘alayhi wa sallam is above all creations in rank, and that Allaah protected his
forefathers from adultery and fornication. He sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was
born as a result of a sound pure marriage and not as a result of an illicit sexual
relation. Waathilah Ibn Al-Asqa’, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that
the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “Allaah the All Mighty selected
Ismaa’eel from amongst the children of Ibraaheem, and selected Kanaanah
from the descendants of Ismaa’eel, and selected Quraysh from the Kanaanah,
and selected the tribe of Haashim from Quraysh, and chose me from the tribe
of Haashim” (Muslim).
His birth: He sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was born on a Monday the
second of Rabee’ Al-Awwal, (other narrations say he was born on either the
eighth, the tenth or the twelfth) during the year of the elephant (when Makkaah
was attacked by the army riding elephants). His father died during his mother's
pregnancy according to the most authentic narrations.
His breastfeeding: Thuwaybah the servant of Abu Lahab breast fed him for a
few days, then his family sought another breast feeding lady from the tribe of
Banu Sa’d. Thereafter, Haleemah As-Sa’diyyah breast fed him and he stayed
with her amongst the tribe of Banu Sa’d until he was four years of age, where
his heart was opened (by the angel Jibreel) and was purified from the effects of
Satan. Haleemah returned him sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam to his mother after
that.
When he sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam turned six, his mother died during a
trip returning to Makkah from an area named Al-Abwaa’ (later, after he became
a prophet, when he was passing by this area, he asked permission from his Lord
to visit the grave of his mother, so Allaah granted him the permission, and he
visited her grave and cried until he made the people around him cry, then he
said: “Visit the graves because they remind you of death” (Muslim).
After his mother died, Umm Ayman (a servant his father owned) cared for him
and his grand father ‘Abdul-Muttalib financially supported and looked after him
until he sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam reached the age of eight. At that time, his
grand father died and instructed before his death that his uncle Abu Taalib
should support him and look after him. His uncle took good care of him,
protected and supported him when he received the message even though he
remained as an infidel until death, and due to this support and protection Allaah
reduced his punishment in Hell as the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam
stated.
The protection of Allaah over him from any evil act during the pre-Islamic
era: Allaah protected the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam during his youth
and purified him from the filth and evil which people practiced during the pre-
Islamic era. Allaah granted him noble manners until he was known amongst the
people as "The Trustworthy" from the honesty, purity and truthfulness they
observed in his character.
His marriage: Khadeejah,, may Allaah be pleased with her, married him
when he sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was twenty five after he returned from a
business trip with her merchandise to Shaam along with Maysarah, a slave of
Khadeejah who observed his impressive qualities, and the honesty and
truthfulness with which he dealt with people. Upon their return Maysarah,
informed Khadeejah, may Allaah be pleased with her, with that which made her
want to marry him and she subsequently proposed to him.
Khadeejah, may Allaah be pleased with her, died three years before the
migration of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam to Madeenah and he
sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam did not marry any other wife during his time with
her. After her death, he sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam married Sawdah Bint
Za’ah, may Allaah be pleased with her, and then ‘Aa’ishah the daughter of Abu
Bakr, may Allaah be pleased with her and her father, who was the only virgin
amongst all his wives. After her, he sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam married
Hafsah the daughter of ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allaah be pleased with her
and her father; then Zaynab Bint Khuzaymah, may Allaah be pleased with her;
then Umm Salamah (Hind Bint Umayyah), may Allaah be pleased with her; then
Zaynab Bint Jahsh, may Allaah be pleased with her; then Juwayriyyah Bint
Haarith, may Allaah be pleased with her. Then he sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa
sallam married Umm Habeebah (Ramlah (in another narration Hind) Bint Abu
Sufyaan), may Allaah be pleased with her; then after the conquest of Khaybar
he sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam married Safiyyah Bint Huyay Ibn Al-Akhtab,
may Allaah be pleased with her; then he married his last wife Maymoonah Bint
Al-Haarith, may Allaah be pleased with her.
His Children: All the children of the prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam
were from Khadeejah, may Allaah be pleased with her, except Ibraahem, may
Allaah be pleased with him, who was his son from Mariyah Al-Qibtiyyah who
was given to him as a gift by Al-Muqawqas. His sons were, Al-Qaasim, who
lived for just a few days, At-Taahir and At-Tayyib. There is a narration which
says that the last two are nicknames to a son whom he named ‘Abdullaah.
Regarding his son Ibraaheem, he was born in Madeenah and lived for twenty
two months. His daughters were: Zaynab (the oldest), may Allaah be pleased
with her, who married her maternal cousin Abu Al-‘Aas Ibn Ar-Rabee’, may
Allaah be pleased with him; Ruqayyah, may Allaah be pleased with her, who
married ‘Uthmaan Ibn ‘Affaan, may Allaah be pleased with him; Faatimah, may
Allaah be pleased with her, who married ‘Ali Ibn Abu Taalib, may Allaah be
pleased with him. She gave birth to Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn, may Allaah be
pleased with them, the masters of young men amongst the dwellers of Paradise;
and Umm Kalthoom, may Allaah be pleased with her, who married ‘Uthmaan
Ibn ‘Affaan, may Allaah be pleased with him, after the death of Ruqayyah, may
Allaah be pleased with her. Imaam An-Nawawi, may Allaah have mercy upon
him, said: "There is no doubt that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam had
four daughters and three sons according to the most authentic narrations."
His Prophethood sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam: The Prophet sallallaahu
‘alayhi wa sallam received revelation when he was forty years old. Jibreel
came down to him while he was in the cave of Hiraa’ on Monday the
seventeenth of Ramadhaan, and whenever he sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam
would receive revelations, his facial expression would change.
When Jibreel came down to him sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, he said to the
Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam: "Recite!" The Prophet sallallaahu
‘alayhi wa sallam replied: “I do not know how to recite.” Then the angel
squeezed him until he sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam became extremely
exhausted. Jibreel said to the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam again,
‘Recite!" The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam replied: “I do not know
how to recite” three times, then Jibreel recited to him the verses where Allaah
says what means, “Read! In the Name of your Lord Who has created (all that
exists). He has created man from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood).
Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous. Who has taught (the writing) by
the pen. He has taught man that which he knew not.” (Al-‘Alaq: 1-5). Then the
Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam returned to Khadeejah, may Allaah be
pleased with her, shivering out of fear and informed her with what happened;
thereupon she consolidated him saying: ‘"Glad tidings to you, I swear by
Allaah! Allaah will never disgrace you; You maintain good ties with kinfolks,
you always speak the truth, you bear the burden of the weak, and you help other
during adversities".
The revelations paused for a period that Allaah willed until he sallallaahu
‘alayhi wa sallam felt depressed and longed to receive it again. Then he
sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam saw in the horizon an angel on a chair between the
heavens and earth who gave glad tidings that he was truly the messenger of
Allaah, and when he saw him, he sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam became very
scared and went to Khadeejah, may Allaah be pleased with her, and said:
“Cover me! Cover me!” Then Allaah revealed upon him the verses where
Allaah says what means: “O you (Muhammad) enveloped in garments!” O you
(Muhammad) enveloped in garments! And magnify your Lord (Allaah)! And
purify your garments!” (Al-Muddaththir: 1-4). In these verses Allaah
commanded him to warn his people and call to Allaah, so he shouldered the
responsibility and obeyed Allaah in a perfect and a complete manner; he started
calling people to Allaah, old and young, slaves and free people, men and
women, black and white.
His perseverance: The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam faced much
difficulty and harm from his people, yet he persevered hoping for the reward
from his Lord, and he commanded his companions to leave for Ethiopia in order
to escape oppression and torture. Imaam Bukhaari and Muslim reported that
while the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was praying once some people
from Quraysh placed the bowels of a slaughtered animal next to him, then
‘Uqbah Ibn Abu Ma’eet took them and placed on his back while he sallallaahu
‘alayhi wa sallam was prostrating. The Prophet’s daughter Faatimah, may
Allaah be pleased with her, removed them and the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi
wa sallam finished his prayer and supplicated to Allaah saying: “O Allaah!
Punish the elite of Quraysh”. One day ‘Uqbah Ibn Abu Ma’eet held the Prophet
sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam by his shoulder, twisted his neck and shook him
until Abu Bakr, may Allaah be pleased with him, came and pushed him away
saying: "Will you kill a man just because he says that my Lord is Allaah? (Al-
Bukhaari)."
His mercy with his people: After the death of his wife Khadeejah, may
Allaah be pleased with her, and his uncle Abu Taalib, people applied more
pressure on the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and harmed him, so he
went out of the boundaries of Makkah and headed towards Taa’if and called the
tribes of Thaqeef, but they were stubborn and refused his message and mocked
and harmed him sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. They threw rocks at him until
his feet started bleeding, so he set out on the way back to Makkah. The Prophet
sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “I took off from Taa’if depressed, wearied
and grieved heedless of anything around me until I suddenly realized I was in
Qarn Ath-Tha`aalib. There, I looked up and saw a cloud casting its shade on
me, and Gabriel addressing me saying: Allaah has heard your people's words
and sent you the angel of mountains to your aid so you may command him
with whatever you wish. The angel of mountains called and gave me his
greetings and said: O Muhammad! Allaah has heard your people's words and
I am the angel of mountains Allaah has sent me to your aid so you may
command him with whatever you wish; if you wish I will bury Makkah
between two mountains flanking Makkah’ The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa
sallam said, No! I hope that Allaah will bring from their offspring those who
would worship Allaah alone” (Al-Bukhaari & Muslim).
His migration to Madeenah: After that, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa
sallam set out towards Madeenah along with Abu Bakr may Allaah be pleased
with him. He headed to the cave called Thawr and stayed therein for three days,
and Quraysh was unable to trace them, then he entered into Madeenah and was
received with great joy and hospitality from the residents of Madeenah, and he
built his mosque and home there.
His battles: Ibn ‘Abbaas may Allaah be pleased with him, said: "When the
Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam left Makkah, Abu Bakr said: 'They
(Quraysh) forced their Prophet out, I swear by Allaah they will be destroyed,’ so
Allaah revealed what means: “Permission to fight (against disbelievers) is
given to those (believers) who are fought against, because they have been
wronged” Al-Hajj: 39) and it was the first verse to be revealed regarding
Jihaad."
The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam fought twenty seven battles, were
he led nine of them, which were: Badr, Uhud, Al-Muraysee’, Al-Khundaq,
Quraythah, Khaybar, The conquest of Makkah, Hunayn, and Taa’if.
His pilgrimage: The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam did not perform
Hajj (pilgrimage) after his migration to Madeenah except once, which was his
farewell pilgrimage, and he performed four ‘Umrah (minor pilgrimage) all were
during the month of Thul-Qi’dah, except the one he performed during his
farewell Hajj.
His physical description: The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was
neither tall nor short; his face was rosy in color; full hair on his head, very black
eyes, he had no hair on his chest and stomach except for a vertical line of hair
coming down from his chest to his stomach.
His manners: The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was the most
generous of all people; truthful; lenient; gentle; kind. Allaah says what means:
“And verily, you (O Muhammad ) are on an exalted (standard of) character”
(Al-Qalam: 4). H e sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was the bravest person;
humble; bashful; he accepted gifts and returned them with that which was better;
he refused charity and never consumed it; he never became angry for a personal
issue, but only when it was related to adhering to the commandments of Allaah;
he used to eat whatever was available and ready; he never ate leaning down; two
months would pass without a fire for cooking being lit in his houses; he used to
sit with the poor and needy, visit the sick and accompany funerals.
His Virtues: Jaabir Ibn ‘Abdullaah, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated
that the sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “I was given five things which no
one was given before me, I am victorious by virtue of fear (the enemy fearing
him) from as far a distance as a month’s journey; war-booty has been made
lawful for me while it was not before me; all the earth is made as a pure place
for me to pray, so whenever the time for prayer comes upon any man from my
nation then let him pray wherever he may be; I was granted intercession; all
Prophets were sent specially to their people, but I was sent to all mankind”.
(Al-Bukhaari & Muslim).
Anas, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that he sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa
sallam said: “I am the first to intercede to people on the Day of resurrection;
and I am the one with the most followers amongst all Prophets on the Day of
resurrection; and I am the first to enter the gate of Paradise”. (Muslim).
Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the sallallaahu
‘alaihi wa sallam said, “I am the master of the sons of Aadam on the Day of
Resurrection, I will be the first to be resurrected on the Day of Resurrection; I
am the first to seek permission to intercede and the first to intercede.”
(Muslim).
His devotion in worship and his lifestyle: ‘Aa’ishah, may Allaah be pleased
with her, said that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam used to pray the
night supererogatory prayer until his feet would crack open, so he was asked
about the reason behind that and he replied: “Shouldn’t I be a grateful slave?"
(Al-Bukhaari & Muslim) She, may Allaah be pleased with her, also said: " His
mattress on which he used to sleep was made out of animal leather stuffed with
fibers." Ibn ‘Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: "I saw the Messenger
sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam having stomach pain out of hunger and not even
finding the worst type of dates to eat.".
All that he faced during his lifetime did not harm him in the least, because he
remains to the master of all creation in this life and in the Hereafter. We thank
Allaah for making us from amongst his nation.
