The life of the Prophet ﷺ
We have provided a very short glimpse into the life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. In time, we will provide videos and lectures covering his life and teachings in greater detail, allowing you to learn more about the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the example he left for us.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was the final Messenger of Allah, sent to mankind with the same fundamental message brought by all the Prophets before him: to worship Allah alone and reject all forms of associating partners with Him. His life was an example of faith, patience, perseverance, mercy and complete submission to Allah. His biography provides Muslims with an understanding of how the final Messenger ﷺ lived, taught and conveyed the message of Islam.
Muhammad ﷺ was born in Makkah into the noble tribe of Quraysh, from the family of Banu Hashim. His father, Abdullah, passed away before his birth, and his mother, Aminah, died when he was still a young child. He was subsequently cared for by his grandfather, Abdul-Muttalib, and later by his uncle, Abu Talib. From an early age, Muhammad ﷺ experienced the loss of those closest to him, yet Allah prepared him for the great responsibility that would later be placed upon him.
As a young man, Muhammad ﷺ became known throughout Makkah for his honesty, trustworthiness and excellent character. He was known as As-Sadiq Al-Amin, meaning the truthful and trustworthy. He worked as a shepherd and later became involved in trade. His reputation for honesty led Khadijah bint Khuwaylid رضي الله عنها to entrust him with her business affairs. She was impressed by his character and conduct, and they later married. Khadijah رضي الله عنها would become the first person to believe in his Prophethood.
Before receiving revelation, Muhammad ﷺ rejected the idolatry and practices of the people around him. He would regularly withdraw from the society of Makkah and spend time in the Cave of Hira, worshipping Allah and reflecting upon His creation. At the age of forty, while he was in the Cave of Hira, the Angel Jibril عليه السلام came to him with the first revelation from Allah. He commanded Muhammad ﷺ to read, and the first verses of revelation from Surah Al-'Alaq were revealed. This marked the beginning of his Prophethood and the mission that would continue until his death.
Khadijah رضي الله عنها was the first person to believe in him. Others soon accepted Islam, including Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه, Ali رضي الله عنه and Zayd ibn Harithah رضي الله عنه. In the beginning, the Muslims worshipped Allah privately while Muhammad ﷺ taught them the foundations of Islam. After this period, Allah commanded him to openly call his people to the worship of Allah alone. He called the people of Makkah away from idolatry and towards Tawheed, warning them of the Hereafter and calling them to righteousness.
The Quraysh strongly opposed his message, and the Muslims faced years of persecution, torture and hardship. Despite this opposition, the Prophet ﷺ remained patient and continued calling people towards Allah. Some of the companions migrated to Abyssinia to protect their faith. During this difficult period, the Prophet ﷺ also experienced the loss of his wife Khadijah رضي الله عنها and his uncle Abu Talib. He later travelled to Ta'if seeking support, but was rejected and attacked. Despite these difficulties, he continued his mission and remained patient.
Among the great signs Allah granted the Prophet ﷺ was the Night Journey and Ascension. Allah took him by night from Al-Masjid Al-Haram in Makkah to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem, and from there he was taken through the heavens. This event was a significant honour for the Prophet ﷺ and included the obligation of the five daily prayers for the Muslim Ummah.
As opposition in Makkah continued, a number of people from Yathrib accepted Islam and pledged their support to the Prophet ﷺ. Allah then permitted the Muslims to migrate. Muhammad ﷺ eventually migrated with Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه to Yathrib, which became known as Madinah. This migration, known as the Hijrah, marked a major turning point in the history of Islam.
In Madinah, the Prophet ﷺ established a Muslim community based upon faith, worship, brotherhood and justice. He established the mosque as the centre of the community and formed bonds of brotherhood between the Muhajirun and the Ansar. The Muslims continued to face opposition, leading to several major battles, including Badr, Uhud and the Battle of the Trench. Through these trials, the Prophet ﷺ taught his companions patience, obedience, courage and reliance upon Allah.
As the Muslim community became stronger, the Prophet ﷺ continued to call people towards Islam and established treaties with different groups. The Treaty of Hudaybiyyah provided a period of relative peace in which the message of Islam spread more widely. Eventually, the Muslims returned to Makkah, where the Prophet ﷺ entered the city with his companions. The idols surrounding the Ka'bah were removed and the worship of Allah alone was restored. Despite the years of persecution he and his companions had suffered, the Prophet ﷺ forgave many of those who had previously opposed him.
During the final years of his life, Islam continued to spread throughout Arabia. In the tenth year after the Hijrah, the Prophet ﷺ performed his Farewell Pilgrimage and taught the Muslims important principles concerning their faith and their responsibilities towards one another.
After returning to Madinah, the Prophet ﷺ became seriously ill. Despite his illness, he remained concerned for his Ummah and continued to advise and guide his companions. Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه was instructed to lead the prayer during the Prophet's ﷺ illness. Muhammad ﷺ eventually passed away in Madinah at the age of sixty-three, having completed the mission entrusted to him by Allah. He was buried in the room of Aishah رضي الله عنها, where he had passed away.
The life of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the life of a Messenger who remained devoted to Allah through ease and hardship, victory and difficulty, happiness and sorrow. He taught mankind how to worship Allah, how to treat others and how to remain patient upon the truth. His character reflected the teachings of the Qur'an, and his Sunnah provides Muslims with guidance on how to practise their faith.
Allah says: “Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example for whoever has hope in Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah often.” (Qur'an 33:21)
May Allah's peace and blessings be upon His final Messenger, Muhammad ﷺ, and may Allah be pleased with all of his companions.