The Prophet Muhammad Pocket Guide

The monk invited the whole caravan to his monastery and asked Abu Talib, “In what way are you related to this child?” He said, “He is my son.” Bahirah said, “This cannot be. His father should not be alive.” Then Abu Talib informed him that his father was deceased. Bahirah advised him to return with his nephew immediately and to protect him from enemies. He said, “By God, if he is recognised, he will surely be harmed.” By the time Muhammad reached adulthood, he was well-known in Makkah for his good morals, gentle disposition and sincerity. He was called Al-Amin (trustworthy) and As-Sadiq (truthful) by his compatriots. When Muhammad was twenty-five, a rich 40-year old widow, Khadijah, entrusted him with the management of her business. She used to employ men to engage in trading on her behalf, and rewarded them with a share of the profits. Muhammad was so honest in all his dealings that she was deeply impressed by his virtues and expressed her desire to marry him. After consultations with his uncle, Muhammad accepted the proposal of marriage. Revelations Begin With the passing of years Muhammad became less and less interested in business and devoted more and more of his time to the search for truth by means of reflection and meditation. He would often go to mount Hira, three miles from Makkah, where he stayed in the cave there lost in thoughts for hours. He sought answers to the mysteries of life. What is man’s true role in life? What does the Lord require of us, as His servants? From where does man come and where will he go after death? This phase of Muhammad’s life is referred to in the Quran in this verse. “Did He not find you wandering and give you guidance?” (Al-Duha, 93:7). At the age of 40, the angel of the Lord appeared before him bringing the first message from God. The angel said to him “Read.” The Prophet replied, “I do not know how to read.” Then Muhammad felt that his body was being squeezed hard. Then the angel released him and repeated the same command. Again Muhammad replied that he did not know how to read. Then the angel again squeezed him and then released him for the third time and said: “Read!” Then the angel Jibril revealed to him the chapter Al-Alaq. “Read! In the name of your Lord, who created: created man from a clot (of blood); Read! Your Lord is the Most Bountiful One who taught by the pen, taught man what he did not know.” (Al-Alaq, 96:1-5) The Prophet trembled in fear at what he had seen and heard in the cave. The revelation had been a totally new experience for him. Immediately after the disappearance of the angel, he set off home. On arrival, the Prophet asked Khadijah to wrap him in blankets. He was shivering with high fever. When he calmed down, he related the whole incident to her. Khadijah, being very kind and understanding, tried her best to reassure him. Khadijah then suggested that they should go and consult her cousin Waraqa ibn Nawfal, who had become a Christian hermit. Waraqa heard the whole account from Muhammad and said: