What about Islam ?

Muhammad ﷺ: The Life And Legacy of The Last Prophet

When the name Muhammad is mentioned, Islam invariably comes to mind, and rightfully so. The Prophet of what is projected to become the largest world religion in the next 50 years, is a man with high morals for all to revere as an inspiration deserving immense respect. In short, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is a man worth knowing.

Early Years And Marriage
Born in Mecca, Arabia, in the year 570, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was orphaned at a young age. His father died shortly before he was born, and his mother died when he was around 6 years old. His grandfather cared for him until his death when Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was around 8 years old. After the death of his grandfather, he went to live with his uncle who was of the powerful Meccan tribe Quraysh. During his lifetime, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ never learned to read or write, yet he earned a reputation for trustworthiness and generosity. He was also known to be deeply spiritual and highly self critical of the Meccan people’s worship of idols rather than belief in one God.

In his early years, Muhammad ﷺ tended to his uncle’s flocks. Years later, in his early 20’s, he was hired by a successful entrepreneur and business owner named Khadejah to act as the agent for her trade caravan sent to Syria. Upon his return, she was impressed by his honesty, integrity and trading skills, so she proposed marriage to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and he accepted. Together they had four daughters and two sons, however both boys died before the age of 3. Their marriage was a happy one that lasted about 25 years. During the duration of their marriage, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ never married another woman. When she died, he was extremely bereaved. Years after her death, he came across a necklace she once wore. When he saw it, he remembered her and began to cry. His devotion and love for her was so deep and apparent, that on another occasion, he was asked if Khadijah had been the only woman worthy of his love. The Prophet replied:

“SHE BELIEVED IN ME WHEN NO ONE ELSE DID; SHE ACCEPTED ISLAM WHEN PEOPLE REJECTED ME; AND SHE HELPED AND COMFORTED ME WHEN THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE TO LEND ME A HELPING HAND.” [SAHIH BUKHARI]

Throughout the course of several years after Khadijah’s death, he married several women, including Aishah. Regarding Khadijah, Aishah said:

“I did not feel jealous of any of the wives of the Prophet ﷺ as much as I did of Khadijah though I did not see her, but the Prophet ﷺ used to mention her very often, and when ever he slaughtered a sheep, he would cut its parts and send them to the women friends of Khadijah. When I sometimes said to him, “(You treat Khadijah in such a way) as if there is no woman on earth except Khadijah,” he would say, “Khadijah was such-and-such, and from her I had children.” [Sahih Bukhari]

The final wife he wed, Maria, gave birth to a son, but he died in infancy. No other children were born to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

Prophethood at a Glance
When he was 40, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ visited a cave he often frequented to reflect and worship. There he was visited by the Angel Gabriel and received the first Quranic verse. He was shaken and shocked by this experience and rushed home to his wife Khadijah, whom he confided in about what happened. She comforted and assured him when he told her what he saw and heard in the cave. Hence, Khadijah became the first convert to Islam.

Over the following 23 years, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ would continue to receive divine revelations. These revelations, the Quran, were eventually gathered and recorded. In the beginning of the Prophet’s purpose to share Islam, people slowly accepted Islam, but it was not without consequence. They suffered terrible persecution for their beliefs, so in the year 622 Muslims were given permission by God to move to the city of Madina, approximately 260 miles north of Mecca. This Muslim migration marks the start of the Islamic calendar.

During his time in Madina, Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ influence grew along with the number of converts to Islam. With strength in numbers, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his followers were able to return to Mecca several years later and forgive those who rose against them.