THE EARLY LIFE OF PROPHET OF MOHAMMAD.

INTRODUCTION

If there was ever anything that was ever bigger than the world, that which could not have possibly been traded for the sun of a new dawn and moon of the dark night, then such treasure would be the “message of Allah” which is the seed of the present day Islamic religion, whose tentacles of existence has had an immeasurable number of faithful followers that are living the legacy and mission status of their spiritual father and guide; “Prophet Muhammad” whose past labour amidst toils of difficulty, dangers of persecution, and snares from sworn enemies against  the practice of Islam, was still able to yield abundant fruits in the fields of Islamic religion.

In this piece of writing, basic aspects of the development of Islam will be scrupulously looked at, such as; the birth of Muhammad, his childhood experiences, his life as a destined orphan, the trip to Syria (that which was a partial fulfillment as a Messenger of Allah), the prophet’s marriage to Khadija, the contributions of Muhammad’s early life to His prophetic ministry, and lastly the sense of the ending which is the conclusion. The central idea of this paper is to underscore how “the early life of Prophet Muhammad contributed to his prophetic ministry” as its content would be sequentially discussed in subsequent pages.

THE BIRTH OF MUHAMMAD (PROPHET AND MESSENGER OF ALLAH)

From the mouths of the sage (known as the hermit) who lived in the desert to the ears of the Arab tribes who hailed from Mecca, was a revelation given saying: “Allah would soon send a prophet, one who would come from their people. His name would be Muhammad and he would guide them to a new way of life.”[1]

This revelation explicitly proclaimed from the mouths of the hermit became a starting point of significant change and moment of religious development and transformation for the people of Quraysh in the year 570 A.D. It came to pass in the “year of the Elephant” on Monday, the twelfth day of Rabi al-Awwal. Amina the wife of the late Abdallah (who was the youngest out of the ten sons of Abdal-Muttalib) gave birth to a son.

This was no tale of fictional stories as the birth of a prophet, “the messenger of Allah” was born. Owing to the outward visible signs that showed forth and took possession of the universe sent by Allah when one of His chosen prophet was born, and truly such signs did animate into reality as some renowned scholars and learned men of abundant wealth of knowledge were all witnesses to this signs. One out of the many signs witnessed was when one of the learned men in Yathrib, who saw a brilliant new star he had never seen before as he studied the heavens that night.[2] On seeing this, he became marveled at the sight of such radiant light that illuminated from the star (which of course is universally known to be an astronomical object visible as a small bright point of light in the night sky) and called the people within his neighborhood and in an attempt to share with them what he had seen, he pointed directly to the star saying: “A prophet must have been born.”[3]

After been relieved from the intense pangs of childbirth, Amina considered it appropriate according to the practiced customs and as tradition demands to send the news of the birth of her son to Abdal-Muttalib (her father-in-law). On hearing this great news, his spirit flamed up with joy and happiness, and at once he began to think of a name for his grandson. Of course, an ordinary name commonly used by the people of Quraysh would not be satisfactorily suitable. This made Abdal-Muttalib to think through indecisively for six days, for he never came up with any name. But on the seventh day while he fell asleep close to the Ka’bah, Abdal-Muttalib dreamt that he should give the baby an unusual name, a name that has never been heard and used among the people of Quraysh. The name was “Muhammad” which means “the Praised One.”

Eventually, when he informed the leaders of Quraysh about these recent happenings concerning the name he gave his grandson, many among them arguably questioned his decision asking him; “Why did you not choose the sort of name that is used by our people?” He replied unhesitatingly, “I want him to be praised by Allah in the heavens and praised by men on earth.”[4]

PROPHET MUHAMMAD’S CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES

The account of the happenings and event surrounding Prophet Muhammad’s childhood experiences is like the transition of every child born in a state of weakness and timidity to the height strength and manhood. Like every other child, Muhammad was sent to the desert to nurture and grow into a stronger child as it was what was believed to be best for a child in attaining a healthy living. He was raised by Halima a Bedouin woman who was from the tribe of Bani Sad and a wet-nurse by occupation. Though from a very poor family background and in the midst of a very severe famine having little or nothing for her son and husband, she still took it upon herself nothing minding how they would all survive, and took in Muhammad. No sooner had Muhammad been taken in than Halima’s entire family became beneficiaries of the harvest of plenty, as everything began to change for the better. 

The land became green, and the trees, one of their main sources of food, gave lots of fruit. Even the sheep and their old she-camel began to give plenty of milk. As the text from the Holy Quran 94: 1-3 says: “Did we not open your breast for you, and lift from the burden which was weighing on your back?”[5] Without being told Halima and her husband knew that Muhammad was a child of fortune and blessing, as they loved and cared for him as one of their own. On one occasion, Halima discovered “two angels came to Muhammad and washed his heart with snow. In this way Allah made his heart pure for He intended Muhammad to be greater than any man ever born and to become the Seal of the Prophets.” When Halima finally took Muhammad back to Amina, he was of good health and of sound physical condition.

THE DESTINED ORPHAN

After spending part of his childhood years in the household of Halima and her family, Muhammad returned home to his mother (Amina) in Mecca. Amina decided to take her son on a visit to Yathrib to see one of his uncles. It was of no doubt that Muhammad enjoyed every moment of the trip, but a single incidence led to the collapse of his joy, as his mother on their return journey from Mecca took ill and eventually passed away. This brought a heavy blow of sadness upon Muhammad’s heart as he was left all alone in a strange but yet unfamiliar world. Amina was buried in al-Abwa a village a little distance away from Yathrib. Muhammad began his journey to Mecca with a sad heart having lost both parents within a space of six years, living him an orphan. (This brought the fulfillment of the long written prophecy in the old ancient manuscript as the Prophet and Messenger of Allah, one who would come after Jesus, was destined to be an orphan).

Two years later, shortly after the death of his mother, Muhammad lost his grandfather Abdal Muttalib, but before his death he instructed one of his sons, Abu Talib to take Muhammad as his very own and all that he wished for concerning the welfare of his grandson was accurately carried out as the duty of taking care of Muhammad became the sole responsibility of Abu Talib.

A TRIP TO SYRIA (THE FULFILMENT OF THE CHOSEN MESSENGER OF ALLAH)

Muhammad moved in with his uncle and within a short space of time, he got himself acquainted to a new different lifestyle and family. It was believed that Muhammad accompanied his uncle on a trip to Syria, and this was where the legendary meeting with the monk Bahira took place. On getting to Syria, where the Romans used to come and trade with the Arabs,[6]close to this marketplace lived a monk named Bahira whose cell has been frequently used by several generations of monks before him and it contained the ancient manuscripts.[7]

The caravan of Abu Talib was given a warm welcome with an enviable touch of unusual hospitality by Bahira which took the Arabs aback by such unusual gesture. He prepared them a meal and invited them over, having them treated as royal guest. All this due to what Bahira has supposedly seen from his hermitage, as he sighted the Messenger of God when the caravan was near, and he was shaded by a cloud. When they came up and camped in the shade of a nearby tree, he saw the cloud overshadowing the tree and the branches of the tree bending down over the Messenger of God to give him shade.[8]

At the course of the meal, after Bahira has ordered that everyone both old and young, slave and free man, should be honored at the table, then he saw Muhammad one whom it has been spoken of to come after Jesus to be the bearer and preacher the message of Allah to the world, without further delay, he began asking him questions to confirm the validity of the signs that were long written in the ancient manuscripts.

Later on he took him aside and asked Muhammad many questions. He soon found out how he felt about the idols (al-Lat and al-Uzza) in the Ka'bah. When Bahira tried to make him swear by them, as the Arabs used to do, Muhammad immediately expressed his aversion for them, as he retorted, “Do not ask me by al-Lat and al-Uzaa, for they are most detestable to me.” They talked together about Allah and about his life and family. What was said made Bahira certain that this was indeed the Prophet who was to come after Jesus.

MARRIAGE TO KHADIJA

By the time Muhammad was twenty-five he was famous for his honesty. He was respected by everyone, even the elders of Mecca. The purity of his nature increased with the years. It seemed he had an inner knowledge that other people did not have. He believed in one God- Creator of the world-and he worshipped Him with all his heart and with all his soul. Muhammad was the finest of his people, the most kind, truthful and reliable person in Mecca. He was known among Quraysh as “the trustworthy” (al-Amin) because of the good qualities Allah had given him. He spent many quiet hours in a cave in Mount Hira, not far from Mecca, thinking about Allah. Among Quraysh was a respected and wealthy woman named Khadijah (who was in her forties). She was involved in trade and on hearing of Muhammad’s reputation, she sent for him and asked him to take her goods and trade with them in Syria. Muhammad agreed and left for Syria with one of Khadijah's caravans. The trading was very successful and Muhammad made more profit for Khadijah than she had ever received before. Shortly after this, Muhammad and Kadijah tied the knots and where happily blessed with children. They shared sad and joyful moments together and the marriage was a well suited one.[9]

THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF MUHAMMAD’S EARLY LIFE TO HIS PROPHETIC MINISTRY

Having looked at Muhammad’s early life from stages of his birth, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, one could obviously have a glimpse of what he was called to be from the cradle of his conception and the role he had to play in the life of humanity. His “call to prophethood” evidently depicts volumes of notion and sense of understanding of who, and what, he was called to be, and how effectively he was able to imbibe what has long been inculcated into his entire being by Allah his Creator.

Making reference to such contributions, the several experience and encounter he faced growing up into a man, gave him the opportunity to be more conscious about the religious life of his people which was dominated by the condemnable act of idolatry. For he was the one selected among all others, as this was seen in few occasions when Muhammad was driven with the sole purpose of pursuing his fleshly desires, as there was always some kind unexpected occurrence of events that came into play to overshadow such intention.

More so, his life of solitude and seclusion from the trivial affairs of life, always gave him a balanced mind and getting him readily in touch with the mysteries of the natural forces surrounding his existence. Most especially the quite reflective moments he spent on the Mount of Hira close to the Ka’bah, helped shaped his inner ability of capturing God’s voice within the deepest recesses of his heart.

Also to mention, was his childhood encounter with Christian monks which is believed to have possibly given him the attitude of love for prayer and solitude. This aspect rendered an immense contribution to his “prophetic stirring” as it was when he was in solitude in the cave at Mount Hira that he got his revelation through the overwhelming but yet spirit filled encounter he had with angel Gabriel. As this became the benchmark in his active response to his “Prophetic call,” as a Messenger of Allah whose primary apostolic mission was to bear witness to the truth by bringing the lost souls of the world to the right path, letting the “message of Allah flow through their heart like an ever flowing stream.” Muhammad’s mission was also of a chief concern; “To bring the people to knowledge of the one true God: Allah.”

CONCLUSION

In any Islamic historical account, it would not be out of place to posit that any of such informative piece of writing represented through books, journals, articles, and other related materials, without the emphatic mentioning of the early life of the Prophet Muhammad, remains an incomplete cycle of reference and consultation in the annals of Early Islam.

A close study has been chronologically given in this paper beginning from Muhammad’s conception, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, that which is seen to be the very beginning of his active response to his “prophetic calling” as the chosen Messenger of Allah. Eventually, as he accepted this mantle of apostleship, the message which is the “victorious truth” is no other task than to know clearly and worship devotedly without doubt the one true God (Allah) who is great in might, glorious and faithful in all His deeds, and supreme over all creatures.                                                                                                                   

Bibliography

1.      Kennedy, Joseph. Early Islam. Ibadan: Dominican Publications, 1997.

2.      Leila Azzam, and Aisha Gouvernuer, The Life of Prophet Muhammad, http://www.masjidibrahim.com/Read_The_Life_Of_Prophet_Muhammad.pdf

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[1] Leila Azzam, and Aisha Gouvernuer, The Life of Prophet Muhammad, http://www.masjidibrahim.com/Read_The_Life_Of_Prophet_Muhammad.pdf

[2] Ibid, p. 13.

[3] Ibid, p. 13.

[4] Ibid, p. 14.

[5] Joseph Kennedy, Early Islam (Ibadan: Dominican Publications, 1997), p. 12.

[6]Leila Azzam, and Aisha Gouvernuer, The Life of Prophet Muhammad, p. 18.

[7]Joseph Kennedy, Early Islam, p. 13.

[8] Ibid, p. 12.

[9]  Leila Azzam, and Aisha Gouvernuer, The Life of Prophet Muhammad, p. 19.