Learning about the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) - QFatima

THE FIRST FORTY YEARS (570-610 CE)
This period was spent preparing the grounds of declaration of Prophet hood. He had to be
able to establish his credentials i.e. his excellent character. In fact he established that he
was both Truthful (Sadiq) and Trustworthy (Amin). The people of Arabia although being a
tribal community accepted him for his excellent Akhlaq.
Childhood
He was born in Makka on the 17 th Rabiul Awwal in the Year of the Elephant.
His father Hazrat Abdullah had died before he was born and as was customary, he was sent
to the countryside. The Prophet spent 5 years of his life in the desert among his wet nurse
- Halima's people (tribe of Bani Sa'd). During this time Halima took him to visit his mother
twice or thrice and then eventually returned him to her.
Sayyida Amina decided that she would take the Prophet to visit the grave of his father
Hazrat Abdullah in Yathrib. With Umme Ayman they went and on the way back to Makka,
Sayyida Amina died at a place called Abwa where she is buried. He was then looked after
by his grandfather Abdul Muttalib who then died a few years later and this hurt the
Prophet (SAW) greatly.
All these tragedies in his younger life prepared him for the hardships to come.
Youth
Abu Talib took the guardianship of the Prophet after Abdul Muttalib. (He was Abdullah's
brother and Imam Ali's father).
He showed his bravery, and strength in the battles of Fujjar (unjust battles).
He showed his justice and leadership in the Covenant of the Youths (Hilful Fuzul ). This was
drawn to ensure the welfare of the oppressed.
He worked as a shepherd for the people of Makka
Abu Talib took him when he went to trade in Syria and Yemen and his skills were noted by
all.
Sayyida Khadija on hearing of his trade skills employed the Prophet to accompany her
trade caravans as her manager. The first trip proved more successful than any other that
Sayyida Khadija had known.
She asked her friend Nafisa to ask the Prophet whether he would marry her. He agreed
and they were married in 595 CE. They were very happy and had two sons - Qasim &
Abdullah (also called Tayyib & Tahir) - both of whom died in infancy and one daughter,
Sayyida Fatima Zahra (AS)
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) used to spend a lot of time in the cave of
Hira on the mountain of light meditating and praying.
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