Life of Prophet

 A brief insight into aspects of his birth, childhood and adulthood

The birth of our Beloved Prophet ﷺ together with Its miracles have been transmitted to us by his beloved blessed mother Sayyidah Amina, may Allah be pleased with her, and those in attendance.

As our beloved Prophet ﷺ was born a radiant light accompanied him and he lifted his head towards the heavens and the mother of Sayyidina Uthman ibn Abil-As’s witnessed stars lowering themselves and a light so bright appeared that she could see nothing other than light.

Sayyida Ash Shifa, the mother of Sayyidina Abdur Rahman ibn Awf attended his birth and tells us, “When he dropped into my hands he sneezed, and I heard a voice saying, ‘May Allah have mercy upon you!’ The entire horizon became illuminated for me whereby I was able to see the castle of the Greeks.”[2]

On the night of his birth, the palace of Chosroes, King of Persia shook, and its balconies collapsed, the waters of Tiberius receded and the perpetual flame of Persia, that had never once been extinguished for a thousand years became extinguished.

Not long after his birth it was decided that he should be raised in the desert and Allah choose Sayyida Halima who was very poor to be his foster mother and wet-nurse. Sayyida Halima and her husband Sayyidina Abi Kabshah were immediately aware of the blessings that constantly came their way. Before fostering him, her breast milk had been insufficient to satisfy her own baby, but when she agreed to take her new charge her breasts filled with an abundance of milk, and her she-camel that was old produced milk and her sheep became fertile. They noticed the Prophet’s ﷺ maturity, his exceptional strength and growth and how he surpassed that of their own children.

Shortly after his return to Makkah his mother passed away whilst returning from visiting family members in Madinah and he went to live with his uncle Sayyidina Abu Talib. Sayyidina Abu Talib was aware of the blessings that came to his family after he and his wife had taken the young Prophet Muhammad ﷺ into their care. When he was with them their food and drink satisfied them, but on the occasions when he was absent, they would eat and drink but remain unsatisfied.

Sayyidina Abu Talib had several sons and when they woke up in the morning their appearance was unkempt, however, the appearance of the Prophet ﷺ was always neat, his hair oiled and there was Surma (colour) around his eyes. The mother of Sayyidina Ayman, who was his nurse, also commented, “There was never a time, either as a child or when he reached adulthood, that I heard him complain of hunger or thirst.”[3]

Before the Prophet ﷺ advent the satans and jinn would journey to the heavens and eavesdrop upon the events destined for mankind, then use it to their advantage. In some cases, they gave news to fortune-tellers who became consultants for their clients. Upon the Prophet’s ﷺ birth the heavens became guarded by meteors that chase would-be eavesdroppers away and thereby prevent the mischief of the satans and jinn.

The Prophet ﷺ aversion to the idols was inherent in him, and he was never party to the evil that constituted daily life during the “Time of Ignorance”. His modesty was protected by Allah and the story has reached us regarding this protection during the rebuilding of Ka’ba. It was customary for the Quraysh when they built to carry the stones in their robes and more often than not their private parts became exposed. When the Prophet ﷺ took part in the rebuilding of Ka’ba, he was about raise his robe to do the same, but he was prevent by the heaven from its doing. When his uncle asked what had stopped him, he replied, “I have been prevented from exposing my modesty.”[4]

There are many reports that speak of clouds or trees that shaded him during his travels. Before he married Sayyidah Khadijah, may Allah be pleased with her, he undertook to trade on her behalf. Just before his return, Sayyida Khadijah happened to glance up into the sky, and tells us that angels were seen by herself and others shading him.[5]

On one of his journeys, he dismounted from his ride to rest under a dead tree. The area around the tree was blessed by his presence and became green, as did the tree that now flourished, spread and lowered its branches to shade him. As for the normal shadows that are cast by either the light of the sun or moon, he had none because he himself was radiant with his own light. Flies did not alight on either his clothes or body.

Until he was raised to the Prophethood and Messengership, his love to withdraw himself from the world was innate.

As his death approached he told those dear to him of its nearness and that his tomb would be in his house in Madinah. The rooms of his wives opened into the Mosque and the area between his room, later to become his resting place, and the pulpit are part of the Meadows of the Garden of Paradise.

Shortly before he passed away, Allah gave the Prophet ﷺ a choice. He gave an indication of this choice to his Companions amongst whom was Sayyidina Abu Bakr who immediately understood and wept. He told them, “There is a worshiper among the worshipers of Allah to whom Allah has given the choice between this world or that which is with Him. The worshiper has chosen that which is with Allah.”

Allah honoured His Prophet ﷺ even at the moment of death and from these signs we are yet again able to have a glimpse into his nobility. As death approached, Allah sent the Angel of Death to him who asked for his permission to take his soul away. The angel had never before asked the permission of anyone to do this, and when the time came the angels prayed over his precious body. As his Companions were about to prepare him for his funeral a voice was heard saying, “Do not remove the shirt from him when he is washed.” It has been reported that after his passing Sayyidina Al Khidr (the Man in Green) and the angels visited his family and consoled them.

[1] Ash-Shifa, Part One, Chapter Four, Miracles of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), section 29. P204.

[2] Abu Nu’aym. Ash-Shifa, Part One, Chapter Four, Miracles of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), section 29. P204.

[3] Ibn Sa’ad. Abu Nu’aym. Ash-Shifa, Part One, Chapter Four, Miracles of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), section 29. P205.

[4] Al-Bukhari. Muslim. Ash-Shifa, Part One, Chapter Four, Miracles of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), section 29. P205.

[5] Ibn Sa’ad. Ash-Shifa, Part One, Chapter Four, Miracles of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), section 29. P205.