Part One: SEERAH (Biographical Sketch) CHAPTER

C:\Users\Admin\Dropbox\The Message - Material of Maulana\16. Books and Review\Apa's Books\Life And 29 This pact dictated by the Prophet granted full religious freedom to the Jews. The Muslims and the Jews had to live in peace and amity together as brothers, helping one another in times of need. After the conclusion of this treaty, Islam found a safe home in Yathrib. The Prophet’s Family The Prophet had a large family. He married twelve other wives after the death of Khadijah. Most of them were widows, two of his wives were Jewish, one was a Christian. In those days, polygamy was prevalent. Islam restricted the number of wives to four. In those days, when men were often killed in battle the women who were left behind had to be looked after. So taking several wives was like taking helpless refugees into one’s home. They were treated kindly and generously. Muslim men were encouraged to look after the widows of friends who had died in battle, give them separate homes, and treat them equally in every respect. The Prophet’s wives shared his pious way of life. They made great personal sacrifices, bearing patiently with all kinds of hardship in the path of God. So they became known as the mothers of the faithful. All the Prophet’s sons had died in infancy. But four daughters borne by Khadijah survived infancy, grew to adulthood, married and bore children. They were Fatimah, Umm Kulthum, Ruqayyah and Zaynab. Jihad The Prophet was a man of peace and reconciliation. He urged his companions to ask God for peace. For the Prophet’s main task was the communication of the divine message to the people. And an atmosphere of peace and goodwill was essential to perform this duty. But the Quraysh did not allow him to work in peaceful conditions. When they saw that the Muslims were becoming increasingly stronger, they resolved to wage war and crush them altogether. The Battle of Badr The Quraysh marched to Madinah with a thousand strong army. They camped at Badr, about eighty miles from Madinah. It was the month of