#14: Marriage to Sayyidah Khadijah رضی الله عنها

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْم
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ وَ الصَّلوٰةُ وَ السَّلَامُ عَلىٰ اَطْيَبِ خَلْقِ اللهِ نَسَبًا وَ حَسَبًا وَ صَهْرًا , سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَلىٰ آلِهِ وَ صَحْبِهِ وَ بَارِكْ وَ سَلِّمْ

In a marketplace dominated by the criminally corrupt leaders of a city rampant with Jahiliyyah (Ignorance), the doors of deceit open daily to the traders and clients of the Makkan marketplace. Some were there to survive, others simply for greed. Amidst the elite host of deceitfully successful tradesmen, there stood the trade counter of one honest and noble woman that strove to earn for her family, and her community. This was the case of Sayyidah Khadijah bint Khuwaylid رضی الله عنها. Her intelligence and business acumen led her to be one of the wealthiest traders in Makkah. Being a woman amidst a male-dominated market did not stop her from achieving such heights, as she continued to successfully trade with accuracy and precision.

Who was Sayyidah Khadijah رضی الله عنها?

Sayyidah Khadijah رضی الله عنها was of noble descent, sharing her ancestry with the Prophet ﷺ. She was the daughter of Khuwaylid ibn Asad, the leader of the Banu Asad faction of Quraysh. When she was a young girl, she had married a man by the name Abu Haala Hind ibn Zurarah At-Taymi, and became a mother to two sons. After some time, her husband Abu Haala passed away, and as she grew older, she married Ateeq ibn Aabid Al-Makhzoumi, and gave birth to a baby girl.

Her father was a celebrated leader, whilst her husband was extremely wealthy. She started being known as the princess of Quraysh. She was a woman of immense beauty, nobility, intellect, modesty and purity. She was amongst the few who were averse to idolatry and the practices of Jahiliyyah. Her older cousin – Waraqah ibn Nawfal – studied the scriptures of the Abrahamic faiths and affirmed his belief in them. Through the conclusion of his studies, he was in sincere anticipation of the final Prophet foretold as a beacon of guidance and rectification for the world at large.

Life began to change for her when her father was killed during the Harb Al-Fujjar (The Sacrilegious War), and her then husband – Ateeq – passed away shortly before that. She was left without a father, as a widowed, single-mother raising her children alone amidst the increasingly darkening society of Makkah. Allah سبحانه و تعالی had blessed her heart with immense strength, and trained her to remain calm, composed, and determined in the face of challenges. Using the wealth left-over by her deceased husband, she began providing for herself and her children by venturing into trade, in a market that was increasingly exploitive of every new trader, and even more exploitive of women.

A Decade in Trade

Now over ten years had passed – and Sayyidah Khadijah رضی الله عنها – had achieved great success through her perseverance and dedication. She had become one of the wealthiest, most-successful entrepreneurs in Makkah without ever-compromising her honesty, her dignity, her modesty or her children. In an industry filled with corrupt and exploitive men, she guarded her chastity to such an extent that she became known – throughout Makkah – as Al-Taahirah (The Pure Lady). She successfully operated her business from the comfort of her home. She conducted her dealings via a young apprentice – Maysarah – who was like a nephew to her, preventing any opportunity for corrupt men to even speak to her without her consent.

Yet, after all these years of success, she did not allow greed to consume her. She always placed her family, her children and her community first. No amount of wealth and business acumen removed her loving, motherly-nature towards her children. The more she earned, the more she gave back to the poor and needy, even marking the door of her home as a safe-haven for all those in need. She empowered the young-girls of her community, even paying for their needs and sponsoring their marriages, so every girl could have a wholesome wedding.

She was known for the radiance of her beauty, the warmth of her love, the nobility of her lineage, the excess of her wealth and the dignity of her repute. Many great leaders and men of stature wished to marry her and sent proposals. The likes of Abul Hakam ibn Al-Hisham (aka the infamous Abu Jahl), Uqbah ibn Abi Mu’ait and Abu Sufyaan RA were amongst the most-reputable men in Makkah, all of whom had proposed to her and were rejected. Her heart desired more than the material repute these men possessed. Neither their wealth, nor their status appealed to her. Allah سبحانه و تعالی protected her, for neither of these men were greater than the one her heart was destined for…

The Struggle for Honesty

One of her biggest struggles – even after all these years – was finding upright tradesmen to carry out her business-ventures outside of Makkah, those who possessed both honesty and proficiency in trade. Thus, it was a matter of time before she came to know of a newly-initiated trader that was incredibly successful and known as Al-Saadiq Al-Ameen (The Truthful & Trustworthy).

As Abu Taalib began facing financial difficulty and economic constraints, the Prophet ﷺ continued trading to support his uncle and aunt, and provided for his household as best as he could. Within a short-space of time, his honest yet successful venture into business granted him a rare and unique reputation. Thus, it was a matter of unstoppable fate that Sayyidah Khadijah RA earnestly sought the opportunity to hire this honourable young man that was a breath of fresh air amidst the smug market of Makkah. She sought to hire Muhammad ﷺ to carry out an official business envoy and trade on her behalf in the lands of Shaam. She displayed her keen determination to hire him by offering to pay him an even higher wage than normal.

The Prophet ﷺ trades on behalf of Sayyidah Khadijah رضی الله عنها

As the agreements were finalised, Sayyidah Khadijah رضی الله عنها dispatched her trusted employee – Maysarah – to accompany Muhammad ﷺ on this business trip. Throughout their travels, Maysarah could not help but admire his amazing companion. Maysarah was awe-struck watching the Prophet ﷺ work, watching him trade, seeing his refined nature, his moral-principles, his gentle character and his noble conduct amongst deceitful and quarrelsome traders. Maysarah enjoyed his ﷺ wholesome company and selfless nature, whether on road, on trade, on break or on lunch. He was seeing the man behind the revered reputation they had heard about.

During the journey Maysarah also witnessed wonderous incidents that occurred with the Prophet ﷺ; whether it was the reaction of Nasturah – a Syrian monk – upon seeing him ﷺ, or the solitary cloud that constantly hovered above him ﷺ, shading him from the scorching sun. Maysarah could not contain the flame that ignited within his heart, for he was mesmerised by Muhammad ﷺ. (Ibn Saa’d, Ibn Ishaaq)

A Yearning Heart

During her days in Makkah, Sayyidah Khadijah RA was slowly feeling a longing developing in her heart, a yearning for something she could not understand, nor express in words. Though she had been unmarried for a number of years, she knew the wish of her heart was more than the need for companionship.  The long line of great, handsome and reputable men waiting for her hand made no difference to her. Her heart wished for something greater, for someone greater.

Amidst a serene night in Makkah, Sayyidah Khadijah RA was attending a banquet with her friends. During this peaceful evening, the crowd of women were suddenly startled by a man screaming in fear and anguish. The man was a traveller from amongst the people of Abrahamic scripture, and had been informed through the astronomers, rabbis, scholars and the interpreters of signs, that the final Prophet had emerged in this very land they were passing through.

Startled and frightened, the women began pelting the man out of their gathering. The man began frantically repeating: “The Prophet is soon to emerge in your city! The Final Prophet is soon to emerge in your city!”. Whilst the rest of the women mocked his statement as the mumblings of a mad-man, there remained the one single heart of Al-Taahirah, that became ignited with a flame, as she prayed to become the wife of the Final Prophet of Allah. Allah سبحانه و تعالی endowed in her heart, the perception that his Final Prophet was indeed to emerge, and she now understood the longing she was experiencing in her heart. (Zurqani)

Al-Taahirah Meets Al-Ameen ﷺ

As their journey came to a conclusion, Maysarah and Our Master Muhammad ﷺ were on their way back, moments away from entering Makkah. As the afternoon sun reached its peak, Sayyidah Khadijah رضی الله عنها was in the upper floors of her home. As her eyes fell upon the lofty view of Makkah from her upper floor, she witnessed the glorious sight of the sun’s beaming rays glistening against the thick glossy hair of the Prophet ﷺ – which would bounce off his broad shoulders – as he majestically entered Makkah riding on his camel. She was instantly in awe whilst witnessing him being miraculously shaded amidst the scorching heat. (Ibn Saa’d, Ibn Ishaaq, Abu Nu’aym)

She was overwhelmed by the purity, innocence, sincerity, honesty and the indescribable light that emanated from his radiant face. Before she knew it, Maysarah was approaching her home with the Prophet ﷺ, impatiently waiting to run in and tell her all about the trip. Sayyidah Khadijah رضی الله عنها walked down to see to Maysarah, who could not contain himself whilst recalling how amazing Muhammad ﷺ was in every aspect. He could barely take a breath from the rush of words rolling off his tongue, with sheer excitement and admiration of this pure being. He momentarily accounted for the great success of their trade and the profits that had multiplied before returning back to how amazing his companion was. He continued until he said the shattering statement, that this wonderful man possessed the quality of a Prophet! These words arose the heart of Sayyidah Khadijah رضی الله عنها as her heart was in awe. She rushed to ensure that Maysarah gave double the agreed payment to the Prophet ﷺ as a token of her appreciation. (Ibn Saa’d, Ibn Ishaaq)

A Heart Captivated

As the rush of this moment came to calm, Sayyidah Khadijah رضی الله عنها found herself deep in thought. After hearing and witnessing the accounts of the journey, she felt convinced that there could be none other than him ﷺ, that possessed the worthiness of a Prophet. She recalled the statement of the traveller from the banquet and felt there was no other man in the whole city that aspired the notion of being a man of God, except Muhammad ﷺ. (Zurqani)

She thus went to her cousin Waraqah, whose seniority and knowledge put him in a fatherly-position to her. As one of the only individuals who was well-versed in the nature of the One True God, and the succession of His Prophets, she confided in him and mentioned what she had heard and witnessed. Waraqah affirmed that this Ummah is patiently waiting to be graced by a Prophet whose advent is imminent, and if what she says is true, this man certainly possesses the soul of a Prophet! (Uyoon Al-Athar)

These words furthered her realisation that Muhammad ﷺ was an exceptional man, unlike anyone she had ever known. Unlike youthful-tales and romanticised novels, she felt something pure and unique in her heart for this extraordinary being. She was indeed captivated by something that was more than just skin-deep, but rather something that was unique about the purity of his character.  

إنِّي قَدْ رَغِبْتُ فِيكَ لِقَرَابَتِكَ، وَسِطَتِكَ فِي قَوْمِكَ وَأَمَانَتِكَ وَحُسْنِ خُلُقِكَ، وَصِدْقِ حَدِيثِكَ

“Indeed, I am captivated towards you due to our close relativity, and your honourable repute amongst your people, your trustworthiness, the excellence of your character, and the integrity of your speech.” (Ibn Hisham, Bayhaqi)

Nafeesah – A Trusted Friend

She thus called her close friend Nafeesah, who was like a sister to her. She expressed all that was in her heart to her intimate friend – who took it upon herself to ease her heart amidst this elation. Nafeesah approached the Prophet ﷺ and first enquired as to his marital status. She approached this in an intelligent manner by asking him why he had not yet married? He ﷺ humbly replied: “I do not have the means to marry”. Relieved by this response, she had ascertained his availability and thus proceeded to the second enquiry, what does he ﷺ perceive about her friend Khadijah رضی الله عنها? For this she began by first anonymously asking in regards a woman who matched her description. She said: “But if you had the means, would you accept the proposal of one who possessed beauty, wealth, nobility and compatibility?” The Prophet ﷺ ingeniously replied by asking the question “Then who is she?”. Nafeesah realised she was outsmarted and answered by directly saying “Khadijah”.

Hearing her name, the Prophet ﷺ replied: “And how might I attain that?”, a response that brought great joy to Nafeesah who gladly replied: “Leave that to me….” (Ibn Saa’d)

The Proposal

Nafeesah rushed to tell her friend the amazing news of what transpired. As Sayyidah Khadijah رضی الله عنها heard the delightful response, her heart became enlightened. She calmly thought through her decision and after some time, she sent an official proposal to the Prophet ﷺ for marriage.

She did not share his ﷺ youth, nor he her wealth, but their hearts were connected and binded by the purity of their souls.

وَٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتُ لِلطَّيِّبِينَ وَٱلطَّيِّبُونَ لِلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ

“…and women of purity are for men of purity, and men of purity are for women of purity…” (Surah Al-Noor 24:26)

Upon the Prophet’s ﷺ interest in the proposal, they both discussed their intent with their elders. Though both their parents had passed away, the Prophet ﷺ and Sayyidah Khadijah RA honourably approached the parental-figures in their lives, from amongst their uncles, seeking their advice and counsel. The uncle of the Prophet ﷺ thus agreed the marriage with Amr ibn Asad Al-Makhzoumi – the uncle of Sayyidah Khadijah رضی الله عنها whom she had approached. With the blessing of their parental figures, the preparations for their marriage started taking shape.

A Blessed Wedding

On the day of their blessed wedding, the Prophet ﷺ set out towards the residence of Sayyidah Khadijah رضی الله عنها with his uncles Abu Taalib, Hamzah and other respected elders.

As the families gathered together, Abu Taalib then stood and initiated the wedding with the following Khutbah (Sermon):

محمد بن عبد الله، لا يوزن برجل إلا جح به، فإن كان في المال قل، فإن المال ظل زائل، وأمر حائل، ومحمد ممن قد عرفتم قرابته، وقد خطب خديجة بنت خويلد وبذل لها ما آجله

“Muhammad is a young man who, if weighed against any other youngster from the Quraysh, Muhammad will outweigh the other in nobility, eminence, intellect and graciousness. He may be lacking in wealth but wealth is after all a passing shadow and a trust to be ultimately surrendered. He is interested in getting married to Khadijah bint Khuwaylid and she also cherishes the same interest.” (Bayhaqi, Rawd Al-Anf)

Upon this, the respective uncle of Sayyidah Khadijah رضی الله عنها, as well as her cousin Waraqah responded with a similar gesture as they gave the hand of Sayyidah Khadijah RA into the marriage of Muhammad ﷺ

The Prophet ﷺ was now married – at the age of twenty-five – to Sayyidah Khadijah رضی الله عنها who was approximately forty-years of age. Whilst it undoubtedly must have been painful to see the absence of his parents, The Prophet ﷺ shared this emotional moment with his beautiful mothers, Sayyidah Umm Ayman رضی الله عنها, and also Sayyidah Haleemah رضی الله عنها

When Sayyidah Khadijah رضی الله عنها met with them, she saw the love and joy they bought to the heart of the Prophet ﷺ. Seeing this, her heart burst out of love for them, and she rushed to shower the likes of Sayyidah Haleemah RA with a great wealth of gifts. Seeing this only increased love for her in the heart of the Prophet ﷺ. (Suhayli, Rawd Al-Anf, Zurqani)

As their wedding day came to a close, the beautiful new bride and groom departed towards the house of Sayyidah Khadijah رضی الله عنها, which would now become their new home. The Prophet ﷺ was about to experience something truly emotional; returning to a ‘home’ he could call his own…

A New Chapter

From the moment his blessed mother closed her eyes at Abwa – when he ﷺ was only six years old – the Prophet ﷺ had spent the last nineteen years passing through hands of guardianship. But now, his marriage to Sayyidah Khadijah رضی الله عنها opened up a new chapter, one that was not simply about finding a spouse, or companion. The Prophet ﷺ now had a place to call home, and a loving family to come home to. A home that not only gave shelter, but gave love, care and a sense of belonging. Sayyidah Khadijah ra was the key to initiating the next chapters of his blessed life. From this moment onwards, her love would be so powerful, and her companionship so pivotal, that the Prophet ﷺ would describe it akin to the nourishment of life itself:

إِنِّي قَدْ رُزِقْتُ حُبَّهَا

“I was nourished by her love”

(Sahih Muslim)

May Allah سبحانه و تالی bless our mother Sayyidah Khadijah رضی الله عنها, for all the love, support and sacrifices she gave for Our Beloved Prophet ﷺ, and may Allah سبحانه وتعالی grant us all a lasting companionship like theirs…

Join us tomorrow as we continue in the blessed Seerah with our next article: “The Prophetic ﷺ Household

#13: The Most Beautiful Man ﷺ

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْم
الحمد لله رب العالمين الذي منّ علی المؤمنين اذ بعث فيهم رسولا من انفسهم يتلوا عليهم ايته و يزكيهم و يعلمهم الكتاب و الحكمة و ان كانوا من قبلُ لفي ضلال مّبين

After the events of the Harb Al-Fujjar (The Sacrilegious War) and the consequent coalition of Hilf Al-Fudhool (The Pact of the Virtuous), Makkah was slowly on the path to recovery. The Prophet ﷺ had now been living in the care of his uncle and aunt – Abu Taalib and Sayyidah Fatimah bint Asad رضی الله عنها – for almost ten-years, as they watched him ﷺ grow from his late-childhood, through to his formative teenage years. The Prophet ﷺ was now a young boy approaching the final years of his teenage life – from the age of seventeen onwards – entering into his early twenties. The next ten-years would see them witness the Prophet’s ﷺ transition – from a teenager – to an adult, maturing into manhood as his blessed mind, body and soul were developing towards their fullest form.

Allah سبحانه و تعالی developed the inner and outer traits of His beloved young Prophet ﷺ until both his “Khalq” (Physical Form) and his “Khuluq” (Character) reached the height of beauty and excellence. As a man, he ﷺ embodied the very essence of his name “Muhammad” (The Praiseworthy). No one in creation could match a single quality of his perfection, nor match a single word – with justice – to his excellence. Allah سبحانه و تعالی alone can praise the pinnacle of His creation: Muhammad ﷺ, the greatest man to ever grace this universe and all that flows beyond it.

As the famous American poet Amir Sulaiman beautifully articulates:

“You a shoreless sea; a night-less day!”

– Amir Suleiman

The Beauty of the Prophet ﷺ

Both Abu Taalib and Sayyidah Fatimah bint Asad رضی الله عنها, as well as the wider populous of Makkah could not help but stop in awe as they witnessed the perfection of his ﷺ beauty forming by the day. As the Prophet ﷺ walked through the streets of Makkah, he passed not a single person, except that he caught their eye. Rather, their sights were captivated to the point that they wished his vision would not leave their frame of view, as they yearned to endlessly gaze upon his beautiful smile.

He ﷺ was an equilibrium of perfection and balance in every aspect and detail. Nothing about him ﷺ was extreme, nor was it underwhelming. Those who saw him would struggle to find words beautiful enough to describe him, and eventually realise they could not do justice saying:

لَمْ أَرَ قَبْلَهُ، وَلا بَعْدَهُ مِثْلَهُ

I have never seen the like of him, neither before him nor after him.” (Tirmidhi)

One of the most beautiful examples of the captivating vision of his ﷺ beauty and conduct comes from Sayyidah Umm Maa’bad رضی الله عنها, whose words etch that vision in our yearning hearts as she says:

رَأَيْتُ رَجُلًا ظَاهَرَ الْوَضَاءَةِ أَبْلَجَ الْوَجْهِ حَسَنَ الْخَلْقِ لَمْ تَعِبْهُ ثُحْلَةٌ، وَلَمْ تُزْرِ بِهِ صَعْلَةٌ وَسِيمٌ فِي عَيْنَيْهِ دَعَجٌ وَفِي أَشْفَارِهِ وَطَفٌ وَفِي صَوْتِهِ صَهَلٌ، وَفِي عُنُقِهِ سَطَعٌ، وَفِي لِحْيَتِهِ كَثَاثَةٌ، أَزَجُّ أَقْرَنُ، إِنْ صَمَتَ فَعَلَيْهِ الْوَقَارُ، وَإِنْ تَكَلَّمَ سَمَاهُ وَعَلَاهُ الْبَهَاءُ، أَجْمَلُ النَّاسِ وَأَبْهَاهُ مِنْ بَعِيدٍ، وأَحْلَاهُ وَأَحْسَنُهُ مِنْ قَرِيبٍ، حُلْوُ الْمِنْطَقِ، فَصْلٌ لَا هَذِرٌ وَلَا تَزِرٌ، كَأَنَّ مَنْطِقَهُ خَرَزَاتٌ نَظْمٌ يَتَحَدَّرْنَ، رَبْعٌ لَا يَأْسَ مِنْ طُولٍ، وَلَا تَقْتَحِمُهُ عَيْنٌ مِنْ قِصَرٍ، غُصْنٌ بَيْنَ غُصْنَيْنِ فَهُوَ أَنْضَرُ الثَّلَاثَةِ مَنْظَرًا، وَأَحْسَنُهُمْ قَدْرًا، لَهُ رُفَقَاءُ يَحُفُّونَ بِهِ، إِنْ قَالَ أَنْصَتُوا لِقَوْلِهِ، وَإِنْ أَمَرَ تَبَادَرُوا إِلَى أَمْرِهِ، مَحْفُودٌ مَحْشُودٌ لَا عَابِسٌ وَلَا مُفَنَّدٌ

“I saw a man of visible radiance, His appearance beautiful, His face bright – handsome and fair. His eyes were deep black, and His eyelashes lush. His voice was mellow and soft. The whiteness of His eyes was bright and the pupils of His eyes were black. His neck was long, His beard full. When He was silent, He appeared dignified. When He spoke, He was eminent, and crowned with magnificence. His speech was sweet, his words precise, like a string of pearls flowing down. He was the most striking and beautiful of people when seen from afar, and the fairest of them when seen from up close. He was of medium height, not too tall nor too short.” (Haakim, Bayhaqi, Tabarani)

Brighter than the Sun, More Radiant than the Moon

He ﷺ walked through the streets of Makkah, outshining the sun with his beautiful face. He was a sun of guidance, nobility, purity, excellence, truth, uprightness and justice. In the clear skies of a moon-lit night, his face would be more radiant and beautiful than the full moon.

Sayyidinaa Jaabir رضی الله عنه narrates: “I once saw the messenger of Allah ﷺ on the night of a full moon. On that night he wore red (striped) clothing. At times I looked at the full moon and at times at the Messenger of Allah. Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was more handsome, beautiful and more radiant than the full moon.” (Tirmidhi)

The Most Beautiful in Creation

The parable of him ﷺ walking through Makkah – captivating sights, hearts and minds – is a kin to the Qur’aanic description of Sayyidinaa Yusuf علیه السلام when he had reached manhood in the minister’s quarters. Sayyidinaa Yusuf علیه السلام was bestowed with beauty equivalent to half of all beauty (Sahih Muslim). Those of Zulaikha’s (the minister’s wife) companions who saw him whilst cutting fruit sliced into their hands in awe of his beauty. But, if this was the effect of seeing Sayyidinaa Yusuf علیه السلام, how would it be if they had seen Our Master Muhammad ﷺ? The answer is eloquently articulated in two lines of poetry – often ascribed to Sayyidah Aa’ishah رضی الله عنها – which exemplify the reality of this comparison:

لوائم زليخا لو رأين جبينه
لآثرن فى القطع القلوب على اليد

“If the companions of Zulaikha were to see his ﷺ countenance too,
They would not have cut their hands, but even their hearts in two!”
(Rooh Al-Ma’aani, Zurqani)

Subhaanallah! The depth in these verses display that the captivation of Sayyidinaa Yusuf’s علیه السلام beauty overcame their senses to the extent of momentarily overshadowing their heightened sensation of pain. However, this captivation still seized when the pain had overcome it. But for the lasting captivation of Our Master Muhammad’s ﷺ beauty, even if a person reached the extent of human sensory function, even if life itself came to a halt, it still would not overcome the magnitude of his ﷺ sight.

A Portrait of Perfection

Thus, as the Prophet ﷺ developed into manhood, his uncle and aunt would see their beloved son-like nephew rise to the morning dew, as his thick, wavy locks rolled down towards his shoulders. His glossy black hair glistening in the reflection of the scorching sun. His wide, masculine forehead giving way to his perfectly-arched eyebrows. His long, lush eyelashes lifting up and revealing his striking white eyes that surrounded his deep pupils. His perfectly aquiline nose sitting between his smooth, silky cheeks. His beautifully wide and articulate smile lifting up his dense, full-bodied beard that beautifully contrasted his perfectly-toned skin. A tone which was neither completely deprived of colour, nor intensely absorbed by it, but radiated a beautiful wheat-like hue of the “Badr Moon” (The Full Moon on the 14th / 15th).


They would see His long, radiant neck holding his perfectly-sized head, on his perfectly-formed body that was neither too short, nor too tall, but at the balanced height of four arm-lengths (approximately 6.3ft per modern metric-calculations). They would gaze at His strong, deep shoulders holding his well-built arms that merged with his fully-fleshed hands and smooth palms. The upper-width of his wide-plated chest converging inwards towards his slender-waist. His perfectly-formed abdominal-muscles glistening with pearl-like beads of sweat to reveal his lean, athletic-physique. His strong, muscular thighs connected to his well-formed legs that lifted up his beautiful, fully-fleshed feet. With simple white-attire he ﷺ outmatched the beauty of even the most lavishly-dressed youngsters in his generation, whilst also surpassing the masculinity of their fathers. He ﷺ was growing into the most beautiful man the world had ever seen, or ever will see…

Physical Strength & Physique

In addition to the beauty that was visible to the eye, his physique was also immaculate and his strength unmatched. The vigour of his walk allowed him to trail tall-mountains with ease (Sahih Al-Bukhari), whilst his fluid agility allowed him to scale-down tall trees as though walking (Sahih Muslim).

The Prophet ﷺ was immensely pro-active. He ate little and rested adequately, but productively engaged in physically exerting tasks. He ﷺ used to work with his hands whether at home, in the kitchen, or with his companions collecting wood for fire. He would practice horse-riding and train in various forms of combat.

Bravery & Combat Skills

The people of Makkah applauded bravery and the skill of weaponry, training their children from a young-age. Whilst the developing young men in his ﷺ age-group were mastering swords, spears and a blood-thirsty nature for killing, Allah سبحانه و تعالی placed His Messenger ﷺ on the path of higher-ethic and well-refined nature. He ﷺ outmatched all his sword-yielding peers in bravery, but did so without losing an iota of his calm-composure, his intellect, his humanity, his mercy or his love. He ﷺ was a master of sword-based combat and a skilled horse-rider, but excelled further into the rarer and more complex skill of Archery. Allah سبحانه و تعالی nurtured his beloved young Prophet ﷺ to master the bow and arrow, a form of combat that calmed the nerves, refined the mind and required a much greater level of concentration and co-ordination. Coupled with his perfect eyesight that could spot distant stars, he ﷺ possessed focus and perfection in his aim, and the ability to never lose sight of his target, whether in the field of combat or in the field of life.

An example of his physical precision and skill can be seen when he ﷺ was faced by an on-coming combatant, galloping on his horse at blazing-speed to attack him on the day of Uhud. The Prophet ﷺ – even in a severely wounded state – quickly took a spear and instantly aimed it so perfectly and precisely that he ﷺ was able to achieve his aim by the sharp-tip of the spear ever-so-perfectly grazing the desired area of the opponent’s neck with pin-point precision and throwing him off his horse. (Al-Bidayah w. Al-Nihayah)

An Exalted Character

No matter how brave, or how strong he ﷺ became, his heart remained the mildest of all, filled with love and mercy for all who passed his way. He ﷺ was intensely kind, gentle and merciful. He possessed the greatest perfection of character, such that there existed not a single-soul who did not admire him.

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍۢ

And indeed, you, are on an exalted standard of character.” (Surah Al-Qalam 68:4)

His smile enlightened lives, his hands lifted the burden of the weak and his feet worked hard to assist his uncle and his family. Surrounded by the many apostles of darkness and greed that hovered over Makkah, He ﷺ stood out distinctly, and became known as a dignified, polite, young man. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ remained perfectly chaste when society around him was immoral. He ﷺ stayed away from conflict in a society that would have wars over minor inconveniences. He ﷺ remained truthful in a society riddled with lies and corruption. He ﷺ remained trustworthy in a society filled with cheating and deceit.

Shepherding: The Occupation of the Prophets

As a young man, he ﷺ did not sit around and engage in frivolous entertainment like his peers. He began working hard to support his uncle and aunt by earning whatever he could, even if it meant working long, intense-shifts for little pay. The Prophet ﷺ thus began earning a livelihood by shepherding goats and sheep – an occupation He ﷺ would later say is the occupation of every prophet:

“‏ مَا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ نَبِيًّا إِلاَّ رَاعِيَ غَنَمٍ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ لَهُ أَصْحَابُهُ وَأَنْتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ وَأَنَا كُنْتُ أَرْعَاهَا لأَهْلِ مَكَّةَ بِالْقَرَارِيطِ ‏”‏

“Allah has not sent any Prophet but he was a shepherd.” His Companions said to him: “Even you, O Messenger of Allah?” He said: “Even me, I used to tend the sheep of the people of Makkah for a few Qeerats (a coin weighing approximately 0.2g of Silver)” (Sunan Ibn Majah)

This occupation was no easy feat. With goats remaining unpredictable, or suddenly darting off in any given direction, a shepherd must constantly and patiently remain watchful, keeping a keen eye on every member of the herd; ensuring none are attacked or killed by nearby predators. In addition to this, the task of herding, navigating, guiding, training and teaching a species that could not be communicated with by words required a great level of care and patience. It would be in Allah’s سبحانه و تعالی perfectly prepared plan that these years of tending to goats would be a preparation for him ﷺ tending to mankind. As he ﷺ was reported to have said:

كُلُّكُمْ راعٍ وكلُّكُمْ مَسْؤُوْلٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ

“All of you are shepherds, and all of you will be questioned regarding your flock.”
(Abu Dawood)

Just as a goat tends to bolt from its shepherd, so does a human being from his Prophet. The Shayaateen (Devils) are always preying to lure man away from the truth, and the mission of the Prophets is to protect them from these lures. Guiding, teaching and navigating those who would turn a deaf ear to the word of Allah, required bringing them to the truth with love and patience when words had no effect. This further trained the Prophet ﷺ in his tolerance and determination and also increased his ability to give individual love, care and attention to each member of his Ummah, just as he individually identified with each sheep in an otherwise identical-looking herd.

Al-Ameen: A Man of His ﷺ Word

As a young man dealing with people on various levels, the Prophet ﷺ quickly became known as Al-Ameen (The Trustworthy) and As-Saadiq (The Truthful). There was not an individual in Makkah, except they felt the honour and integrity of his being. People would rush to leave their most valuable belongings in his care, knowing there was no one more trustworthy.

The Prophet ﷺ was also highly punctual, and always fulfilled his word. He ﷺ did not need to take an oath or a promise, but would strive to honour his every word as though it was the highest of oaths. Thus a man once confirmed a meeting with the Prophet ﷺ at a specific time and location. True to his word, The Prophet ﷺ arrived on location, punctual as per the agreed time. The man however, was not present, and did not show up even after a long period of time. The man had forgotten and did not manage to fulfil his agreement. Three days later that very man passed by the agreed location, only to see that the Prophet ﷺ was still waiting there – even after the three days – to fulfil his agreement. (Abu Dawood)

Subhaanallah! Such was the esteemed nature of the Prophet ﷺ. In his later years we see that Allah سبحانه و تعالی would fulfil and honour the word of his Beloved Prophet ﷺ, even if it meant halting the sun due to his ﷺ statement. (Al-Khasaais Al-Kubra)

As-Saadiq: An Honest Young Man Enters the World of Trade

As the Prophet ﷺ grew older, the Prophet ﷺ followed in the footsteps of his father – Sayyidina Abdullah رضی الله عنه – and his uncle – Abu Taalib – as he ventured into the occupation of trade. Whilst this was a field that took mild-mannered men into the depths of dishonesty, greed and exploitation, the Prophet ﷺ entered into trade gaining the title of “As-Saadiq” (The Truthful). His honesty and integrity not only stood firm in the face of deceitful tradesmen, but also destroyed the notion that honest trade would result in failure and loss. He ﷺ quickly surpassed others to become one of the most-sought after trade-partners in the whole of Makkah.

A Masterpiece of Perfection

The Prophet ﷺ had now entered into his early twenties, and began embracing adulthood. He ﷺ was now walking in the streets of Makkah as a young man, the most virtuous of them all, and the most handsome. His wisdom, his intellect, his beauty and his eloquence continued to develop as he grew older. As he supported his household, enlightened the streets of Makkah, elevated the art of combat, braced his bow, uplifted the weak and defenceless, refreshed the marketplaces and trade-routes, steered his horse in grandeur and herded sheep with patience, he ﷺ had become the masterpiece of perfection in all of Allah’s creation.

Even fourteen-hundred years later, every author who attempted to compile a book on his ﷺ blessed Shamaail (The Prophetic Description), found themselves captivated beyond measure. Each of these authors would journey through twenty, thirty, forty, if not a hundred chapters, detailing every aspect about him ﷺ, only to find themselves wishing there was more to compile. They did not wish to conclude their works, just so they could keep their minds captivated in the awe of his beauty. And thus, in the end they felt the same yearning-pain of Imaam Tirmidhi رحمة الله علیه – and coped with that desperation the same way he did, by finally concluding their works… on the chapter of “Dreaming” of him ﷺ! A sincere intent of loving-desperation, seeking that their hearts be blessed to witness all that they have compiled, so they too could remain in the captivation of his beauty, just as the people of Makkah had now become…

May Allah سبحانه و تعالی bless us all with his ﷺ beautiful vision in our dreams and in our awakened states! Ameen Yaa Rabbal ‘Aalameen.

Join us tomorrow as we continue the blessed Seerah with our next article: “Marriage to Sayyidah Khadijah رضی الله عنها

#12: Hilf Al-Fudhool: Rebuilding Makkah

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْم
الحمد لله رب العالمين الذي منّ علی المؤمنين اذ بعث فيهم رسولا من انفسهم يتلوا عليهم ايته و يزكيهم و يعلمهم الكتاب و الحكمة و ان كانوا من قبلُ لفي ضلال مّبين

In the aftermath of the Harb Al-Fujjar (The Sacrilegious Wars), Makkah was left in an even greater paradox. On the one hand, a vast majority of lives were negatively impacted and left amidst the post-war ruins. Whilst on the other hand, the rich and elite continued to enjoy their lives of luxury. Just as they ravished their extravagant meals without the slightest consideration for the blood, sweat and toil of the slaves who prepared them, they were also completely oblivious of the consequences and suffering that resulted from their feuds and battles.

Amidst, the blood-shed, broken homes, suspended livelihoods, elevated poverty levels, numerous orphans and countless widows, Makkah was desperately in need of a welfare system to restore families and re-build lives. These were the circumstances amidst which the Prophet ﷺ was entering into his youth, during the latter-half of his teenage years.

A New Generation Forms

Born of noble and aristocratic blood, the Prophet ﷺ was classed as part of the new generation of elites forming. Lavish silk-brocades, designer-apparel and imported accessories adorned the privileged sons of Makkah’s nobles and chieftains. From a host of servants, extravagant meals, and luxury-conveyances, they lived in the spoils of their father’s riches, inheriting their pride, their arrogance and their elitist mindset. They would spend their days enjoying frivolous sports and material-pleasures, riding through Makkah on expensive stallions without a care or concern. Their sole concern – besides indulging themselves into the ways of their fathers – was to grow into the family business of self-centred leadership, dishonest trade and relentless exploitation. They had no concern for the needs of those devoid of their riches and status, and their charitable endeavours were covered by their father’s “public displays” of generosity.

However, there still remained – amongst this new generation – a group of youths that were silently distinct from the spectacle of the rest. Those who – at varying grades – did not completely walk in the shade of their fathers, possessing an air of humility and sincerity as the traits of Kufr and Jahiliyyah (Ignorance) had not cemented within their hearts.

Beyond them all, Our Beloved Master Muhammad ﷺ was uniquely different from each and every one of them. Allah سبحانه و تعالی ensured His beloved ﷺ was completely free from all of the negative traits that adorned the youth of his generation. His heart was absolutely pure, filled with humility and sincerity. He lived in simplicity with his uncle and aunt, grateful and appreciative of whatever food and clothing was available. He worked hard and brought a great sense of Barakah to their household. His intellect reached a level of maturity and sensibility that exceeded all in his age-range, a quality that he ﷺ displayed since infancy as Sayyidah Haleemah رضی الله عنها narrates. (Al-Khasaais Al-Kubra, Mawaahib Al-Ladunniyyah)

Despite also being from the aristocratic families of Makkah, the Prophet ﷺ would never look down upon the poor and destitute. In a time where people were discriminated due to race, tribe, social-class and wealth, he ﷺ would treat all with mercy, equity and justice. He ﷺ would never take the right of another, but rather strive to fulfil the rights and needs of others.

Hilf Al-Fudhool: “The Pact of the Virtuous”

A brilliant example of his ﷺ unique excellence over the entirety of his generation is seen during the immediate aftermath of the sacrilegious wars. Whilst the Prophet ﷺ had shown no support to the injustice and motives of the conflict – with some narrations reporting his total exclusion from engaging at any level – he ﷺ was at the forefront when it came to restoring the lives destroyed by it.

Zubair ibn Abdul-Muttalib – the uncle of the Prophet ﷺ – led the initiation of a special conference after the post-war situation of Makkah, to discuss the need for a welfare system that could protect the honour and rights of the oppressed.

The conference was held at the vast quarters of Abdullah ibn Jad’aan, who was an extremely wealthy and generous individual. A coalition was formed between the various tribal leaders and representatives to ensure that justice would always be served in the right of the oppressed, whether they be from Makkah or not. This pact was then known as “Hilf Al-Fudhool” (The Pact of the Virtuous).

Whilst all of these senior leaders, wealthy statesmen and wise elders came together, a young teenage boy stood amidst them to witness the formation of this virtuous endeavour.

The Prophet ﷺ stood – as a teenager – amidst great, wealthy elders, without possessing any form of wealth or position, only a world full of mercy and ambition brimming from his young heart. He ﷺ was determined to empower the weak and impoverished, to protect the rights of the innocent, and to uphold justice in the face of the exploitation Makkah’s elite practiced all too freely.

He ﷺ said in regards to this:

لَقَدْ شَهِدْت فِي دَارِ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ جُدْعَانَ حِلْفًا، مَا أُحِبّ أَنّ لِي بِهِ حُمْرَ النّعَمِ وَلَوْ أُدْعَى بِهِ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ لَأَجَبْت”

“I witnessed a pact in the quarters of Abdullah ibn Jad’aan, I would not (even) love (to have) Red Camels in exchange for (my witnessing) it, and were I to be invited to it in Islam (i.e now after Nuboowwah), I would certainly accept!” (Ibn Ishaaq)

Here the reference to “Red Camels” is the seventh-century equivalent of what we may now refer to as the sleekest new “Red-Speedster”. Thus, the Prophet ﷺ is powerfully stating that he would even reject an entire group of the most expensive commodities, just so he ﷺ could take part in aiding and assisting others.

Subhaanallah! Such was the heart of the Prophet ﷺ. In a world full of greed, a hoard of Red Camels meant nothing to the one who was indeed sent as a mercy for the worlds. From this we can see that even from an early age, the Prophet ‎ﷺ was deeply concerned about upholding justice, fulfilling the rights of others, and assisting those in need…

May Allah سبحانه و تعالی bless the pure heart of Our Prophet ﷺ, and bestow us with hearts that live to uphold justice, fulfil the rights we owe, and assist those in need… Ameen Yaa Rabbal ‘Aalameen.

Join us tomorrow, as we continue with our next article in the blessed Seerah: “The Most Beautiful Man

#11: Harb Al-Fujjar: Wars & Jahiliyyah

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْم
الحمد لله رب العالمين الذي منّ علی المؤمنين اذ بعث فيهم رسولا من انفسهم يتلوا عليهم ايته و يزكيهم و يعلمهم الكتاب و الحكمة و ان كانوا من قبلُ لفي ضلال مّبين

Our Prophet ﷺ continued to grow and develop in his teenage years, living in the home and care of Abu Taalib and Sayyidah Fatimah bint Asad رضی الله عنها. Outside their loving home, he ﷺ would also be accompanied by his extended family, especially the likes of his young uncles; Sayyidinaa Hamzah ibn Abdul Muttalib رضی الله عنه and Sayyidinaa Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib رضی الله عنه, both of whom were also growing up alongside the Prophet ﷺ.

This was however, a time when Arabia – and the world at large – was amidst a dark-age of Jahiliyyah (Ignorance). Over half a millennium had passed since the last mighty Prophet of Allah; Sayyidinaa ‘Isa علیه السلام had been raised to the heavens, and the perils of disbelief had bought the world to its knees. The people of Makkah had particularly become deeply-rooted in this darkness of ignorance.

The Age of Ignorance

The pure Tawheed (Oneness) of Allah that Makkah was founded upon by Sayyidinaa Ibrahim علیه السلام was overshadowed and forgotten to such an extent, that the remaining few became known as outcasts and labelled the “Muwahhidoon” (The Proclaimers of One God). Shirk (Paganism/Polytheism) and idol-worship had contaminated its now built-up streets, whilst the pure Kaa’bah was surrounded by three-hundred and sixty gruesome idols. The hearts of its people had been shackled by fear, superstition, and false-beliefs concocted by its corrupt leaders.

Honesty and integrity were mere facades, portrayed by hearts that only sought to exploit. Hayaa (Modesty) was stripped to the toe, in men and women alike. Women had been made commodities of pleasure without right. Daughters were buried alive, children were sold and bought, and human-trafficking was an open-sport.

The rich and elite chieftains conducted a monopoly over every aspect of governance, ensuring their needs were suited. The rich were enriched and the poor impoverished. They ensured people would only do, say and believe as they wish. From open-drinking to a limitless count of wives, they strove to enjoy every luxury possible. Their table-spreads could not contain the masses of food they indulged in and wasted. Wine flowed like water, and meat was prepared more abundantly than grains. All whilst the remaining majority of the city starved and survived on scraps, sleeping on the streets and working hard throughout the day.

Tribalism and nationalism were ingrained in their blood. The concept of superiority deluded their hearts to endless pursuit. Racism, prejudice and apartheid were glorified and instilled in one and all, as though it was an indisputable birth-right of the self-proclaimed “racially and socially elite” to be served and revered by those they classed as inferior.

Greed and oppression were rampant throughout the city. The rights of the weak and defenceless were relentlessly trampled upon. Slaves and servants were starved and tortured, women mercilessly beat, customers exploited and fierce wars fought like harmless sport. Yet there was no single system of justice or welfare to protect the rights of any individual, only the corrupt chieftains that had assumed the role of judge, jury and executioner, however their flame filled eyes saw fit.

Mean whilst, there also existed a paradox amidst these evils, whereby these same individuals displayed virtuous and praise-worthy traits. Hospitality, generosity, respect, integrity, moral obligation and the honour of one’s word would be extensively upheld, but only for the sake of glory and self-repute, competing with others in the most in-sincerest of manners.

However, the innocent eyes of the Prophet ﷺ grew up witnessing such a world, whilst his pure heart was filled with absolute repulsion for all of these atrocities. He ﷺ grew up in this corrupted environment while being free from any such influence. Even in these dark streets, the Prophet ﷺ was protected upon the pure fitrah of Sayyidinaa Ibrahim علیه السلام. His ﷺ heart saw mercy for such a society contaminated by ignorance and oppression.

War, and the Struggle for Peace

In addition to the daily brand of corruption, many awful events unfolded before his ﷺ blessed eyes as he was growing up. During the teenage life of the Prophet ﷺ, when he was approximately fifteen years of age, a well-known battle named “Harb Al-Fujjar” (The Sacrilegious War) took place. It was given its name due to its inception being the result of unethical and unjust events that occurred in and violated the code of the “Ash-hur Al-Huram” (The Sacred Months).

The people of Makkah had still upheld some of the most salient features of the Abrahamic tradition – albeit with a twisted dilution that suited their corrupt agendas. From amongst these, was the practice of Hajj and the observance of the four sacred months; Muharram, Rajab, Dhul Qa’dah and Dhul Hijjah. The sanctity and observance of these months involved a number of restrictions with absolute Hurmah (Prohibition) that could not be violated at any cost. This included many forms of war and battle. However, on the occasion of the Harb Al-Fujjar, major incidents occurred during these months and their sanctity was violated through this war.

This ‘Cold War’ style conflict took place between the clans of Qays and Quraysh, as a result of a trade-related dispute. The heated dispute concluded with the murder of one individual at the hands of the other party. The culture of the Arabs dictated that the supporting clans would ally to defend against the ‘honour-seeking opposition’ instead of settling the issue with alternative means, such as retribution or blood money. The years that followed was a type of stalemate, as neither party wanted a full-scale war, thus only five days of total-warfare occurred.

Due to the central involvement of the Quraysh, the immediate family of the Prophet ﷺ was also in danger of the cross-fire and had to rise to the defence. Whilst the Prophet ﷺ had shown no support to the injustice and motives of the conflict – with some narrations reporting his total exclusion from engaging at any level – it is related that he bravely rose to the challenge when it came to defending his family. Although he ﷺ was too young to participate, he assisted his uncles by collecting fallen arrows from the opposing enemy for re-use.

The aftermath of these incidents had left the society of Makkah in an extremely war-torn state, with countless blood-shed, broken homes, suspended livelihoods, elevated poverty levels, numerous orphans and countless widows. Makkah and its people – now more than even – were in desperate need of a system of welfare that could help restore families and re-build Makkah from the post-war ruins it was facing.

Join us tomorrow as we continue with our next article: “Hilf Al-Fudhool: Rebuilding Makkah

#10: Bahira: The Monk

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْم
الحمد لله رب العالمين الذي منّ علی المؤمنين اذ بعث فيهم رسولا من انفسهم يتلوا عليهم ايته و يزكيهم و يعلمهم الكتاب و الحكمة و ان كانوا من قبلُ لفي ضلال مّبين

As the years passed, the Prophet ﷺ continued to live in the care of his dear uncle; Abu Taalib, and their bond continued to develop as time went on. He ﷺ had now grown up from his initial year of childhood and had entered into adolescence, almost approaching his teenage years.  During this time – when the Prophet ﷺ was approximately twelve years old – Abu Taalib had planned to travel outside of Makkah to the distant lands of Shaam on a trade-journey. Due to the dangerous and harsh nature of desert-bound travel, children would not accompany such journeys for their own protection and comfort. Thus, the Prophet ﷺ was to remain in Makkah whilst Abu Taalib went on this business trip.

This would be the first time Our Prophet ﷺ would part from his beloved uncle since the death of his ﷺ grandfather almost four years ago. When the day of departure came, Abu Taalib and his fellow tradesmen began loading their conveyances and bidding farewell to their families. As Abu Taalib mounted upon his conveyance to set-off, he saw Our Beloved Prophet ﷺ, standing amidst the crowd. Our Prophet ﷺ lost his father amidst a trade journey, and witnessed his mother leave this world during a journey. Seeing Abu Taalib departing like this was extremely difficult. His beautifully large, innocent eyes flowed with tears as he gazed upon the closest thing he had to a father departing Makkah.   

As soon as Abu Taalib caught sight of his beloved nephew’s tears, his heart was inflamed by the immense love he possessed for him. He instantly decided that he could not bear to depart Makkah without his dear nephew, and ensured that he ﷺ would accompany him throughout this journey. Thus, the Prophet ﷺ departed from Makkah with Abu Taalib as they journeyed to the lands of Shaam.

Bahira: The Monk and the Monastery

Between Makkah and the distant lands of Shaam, there was a monastery in the vicinity of Howran, Busra, an Arab region which was under Roman domain at the time. This monastery was home to a Christian monk known as “Bahira”. He had dedicated his life to worship, meditation and the study of ancient, sacred scriptures, the rarest of which were housed in his monastery. He lived an ascetic lifestyle, abstaining from worldly pleasures of all kinds and surviving on the bare essentials. Through his extensive study, he had become well-versed in the signs and prophecies foretold in regards to the emergence of the Final Prophet.

Owing to the location of his quarters, the scene that canvased his windows was inclusive of many trade caravans passing by. However, today was different, for Bahira’s eyes suddenly caught sight of a trade caravan approaching in the distance, that completely captivated him. He rushed – amazed and bewildered – to ensure the caravan was sought and a meal was prepared for them in his monastery. As the caravan approached towards his monastery and parked their conveyances, his excitement grew and he could not wait to meet them.

The inhabitants of the caravan flowed into his home, welcomed by his hospitality as he seated them upon a table-spread of food. As the last person was seated and the door was closed, Bahira began scanning through each individual, closely analysing them whilst he enquired as to who they were and what tribe they belong to. They replied by informing him that they were from the land of Makkah, and belonged to the faction of Quraysh. This was none other… than the group of Abu Taalib and the Prophet ﷺ.

Bahira continued analysing each individual as though he was distinctly searching for something, or for someone. Abu Taalib and his fellow tradesmen – now sat upon the table-spread and awaiting to initiate the meal – watched Bahira in confusion and intrigue. Bahira concluded his search in an unsettled state, as though he failed to find what he was looking for. He quickly rushed to enquire if every member of their group was present, or was someone still absent? They responded by informing Bahira that all were present, except for a little boy that was kept outside with their conveyances, as they doubted the appropriation of bringing a child to such an invitation. No sooner could they complete their sentence that Bahira rushed to the door and walked outside, scanning from left to right for this child.

As Abu Taalib quickly followed behind Bahira, he emerged from the doorstep to find him in a frantic state. Bahira turned to Abu Taalib and informed him why an otherwise mundane scene of passing caravans arose his excitement to this level. He said: “As your caravan passed, there was not a single boulder or tree, except that they responded to your caravan by bowing/prostrating their forms, and a distinct cloud hovered above your caravan, shading you amidst the scorching heat of a clear sky”. He then added that this was something that Allah سبحانه و تعالی would only cause to occur for likes of a Prophet, as entailed in the various scriptures of the previous Prophets and nations that he had studied.

But his amazement was far from being concluded. As he stepped out of his monastery and panned his vision across the various camels, trees and stations of shade in his courtyard, his attention suddenly became drawn to a tree which he had known all too well. This tree – like all the others – had been visible to him for years and had maintained its appearance, and yet it was suddenly unrecognisable to him. His jaw then dropped in amazement as he witnessed its large branches curving before his sight, and as he gained the courage to look beneath them… he saw none other than the child he was searching for. His heart raced as he gazed upon the beautiful face of the Prophet ﷺ – as a twelve-year-old boy – sitting beneath this tree, and Subhaanallah; as he raised his sight above this tree, he saw that same solitary cloud, hovering directly above it, continuing to shade the Prophet ﷺ.

Bahira started pointing out this marvellous scene to Abu Taalib in excitement, highlighting the tree and the clouds as he rushed towards the Prophet ﷺ. Abu Taalib’s concerns were raised and he began rushing behind Bahira. As Bahira stood in the presence of the Prophet ﷺ, he could not contain himself and began talking rapidly and hysterically. Having seen the marvels that had already transpired, he intended to identify the remaining signs and traits he had read and studied about. However, before he could do so, he needed to ascertain the religious background of this blessed child, for he knew that Makkah was a town overtaken by paganism and idol-worship. He thus began by initiating his quest for answers with an imploration of the well-known idols worshipped in Makkah saying: “O Boy! I implore you by Al-Laat and Al-Uzza (the names of two of the most commonly concocted pagan idols) to inform me of that which I ask you!”

Even though Bahira had approached him ﷺ in a startling and abrupt manner, as soon as he mentioned the names of these idols, the Prophet ﷺ powerfully proclaimed:

لا تسلني باللات والعزى، فو اللَّه ما أبغضت شيئا بغضهما

“Do not ask me by Al-Laat and Al-Uzza! For By ALLAH! I do not despise anything as I despise them!” (Ibn Saa’d)

Bahira was delighted by this powerful statement that came from the heart of the Final Messenger ﷺ of Allah سبحانه و تعالی, a heart that could never have anything other than Allah سبحانه و تعالی within it, and could not tolerate anything to be associated with the one true Creator, Cherisher, Sustainer and Lord of the Worlds: Allah! سبحانه و تعالی

Bahira then quickly corrected himself and implored him ﷺ in the name of Allah سبحانه و تعالی, to which the Prophet ﷺ agreed to answer his questions. Bahira then questioned the Prophet ﷺ in regards to himself in great detail. Then he abruptly grabbed hold of the Prophet ﷺ, and frantically inspected his blessed body, searching for another sign he had read about. He kept searching until he uncovered the shirt of the Prophet ﷺ and stared at – and immediately kissed – the blessed emblem, known as “The Seal of Prophethood” positioned on his back, between his shoulder blades. At this point, Bahira was beyond elation and was convinced of his judgement. His heart quickly raced with fear and he rushed to Abu Taalib, pleading him not to take this blessed child any further towards the lands of Roman occupation, wherein many groups from the people of previous scriptures may recognise him ﷺ by these signs and attempt to harm him.

This entire ordeal was fearsome enough for Abu Taalib, but hearing this additional statement had ignited his protective concern for his beloved nephew, as Abu Taalib recalled the many such incidents that had taken place from the night of his ﷺ birth till the present day, whenever people of previous Abrahamic scripture had come to Makkah. Thus, Abu Taalib ensured that the Prophet ﷺ was safely returned to Makkah, wherein he ﷺ would be protected from the sight and attention of such individuals.

(Ibn Hisham, Ibn Saa’d, Abu Nu’aym, Tirmidhi)

The Blessed Tree: A Living Sahaabi

As time went on, this region of Busra – wherein Bahira’s monastery resided – slowly began to wither away, and now – over fourteen-hundred years later – the land (now part of modern-day Jordan) is completely derelict, neither the monastery, nor its settlements remain. For miles, the region is covered in a terrain of dry, cracked earth so densely affected by drought, that cars are unable to drive upon its tract. Not a single living being, nor an animal, nor a plant can be seen for miles, due to the centuries of reported drought with little to no rain. However, between the vastness of this dry, dead land, one beautiful tree stands tall, alive and healthy, with beautifully thick, strong branches – still curved down to this day – and lush leaves. This blessed tree remains alive with a beautiful pond of water at its base, through the Barakah from the touch of the Prophet ﷺ. This is the tree where the Prophet ﷺ is reported to have sat outside the courtyard of Bahira, and thus it is lovingly called; “The Living Sahaabi (Companion) of Our Beloved Prophet ﷺ.

Join us tomorrow as we continue with our next article: “Harbul Fujjar: Wars & Jahiliyyah”

#9: In the Guardianship of Abu Taalib

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْم
الحمد لله رب العالمين الذي منّ علی المؤمنين اذ بعث فيهم رسولا من انفسهم يتلوا عليهم ايته و يزكيهم و يعلمهم الكتاب و الحكمة و ان كانوا من قبلُ لفي ضلال مّبين

After entering into this world without his ﷺ father, and witnessing the burial of his mother as a six-year-old child, Our Beloved Prophet ﷺ was now only eight-years-old and had also witnessed the funeral procession of his ﷺ grandfather; Abdul-Muttalib. Our Beloved Prophet ﷺ was now living in this world, without a home of his own, without anything or anyone to call his own. At this young and tender age, it felt as though he ﷺ had now become alone this world, living as a transitory guest in the home of relatives. It was experiences like these that prepared the Prophet ﷺ to internalise the fleeting reality of this world, and never get attached to its temporary luxuries. Our Beloved Prophet ﷺ is reported to have said:

كُنْ فِي الدُّنْيَا كَأَنَّكَ غَرِيْبٌ أَوْ عَابِرُ سَبِيْلٍ

“Be in this world as though you were a stranger or a traveller.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

It also prepared the Prophet’s ﷺ pure heart to truly feel the sorrow of those who feel alone and abandoned in this world. A heart that would never allow orphans to feel they had no one to care for them. A heart that would never let those who were weak and impoverished feel hopeless. A heart that would attend to those whom society had singled out in the heat of prejudice and superiority. A heart that knew what it was like for them to feel they had no one to say انَا لهم  “I am here for them”.

But it was those beautiful souls that Allah سبحانه و تعالی had chosen to enter into the life of his Habeeb Al-Mustafa ﷺ, with hearts full of love and care for him. Those who would show him what it felt like to have someone come to your aid in times of fear and uncertainty, and say – when it feels like there is no one out there for you – انا له “I am here for him ﷺ”. It was these experiences that fortified the pure heart of the Prophet ﷺ with such ambition, that throughout his entire life, he would never allow anyone to feel alone in his presence. An ambition that transcends beyond this earth and beyond this time of ours, to the final hour when all of humanity will say نفسی نفسی “I need to care for myself, for myself!”, and the entire Ummah will be in a state of fear and uncertainty. At that critical hour, it will only and only be his ﷺ heart, that will rise and say انا لها “I am here for them!”.

Imaam Busairi رحمة الله علیه beautifully mentions this in his Burdah:

يَـا أَكْرَمَ الْخَلْقِ مَا لِي مَنْ أَلُوذُ بِهِ
سِـوَاكَ عِنْـدَ حُلُولِ الْحَادِثِ الْعَمِمِ

“O Most Noble of All Creation!, what refuge do I have but you!
When it’s the coming of the universal tragedy?

وَلَنْ يَضِيقَ رَسُـولَ اللهِ جَاهُكَ بِي
إِذَا الْكَرِيمُ تَجَلَّى بِــاسْمِ مُنْتَقِـمِ

O Messenger of Allah, your rank will not reduce for me.
even when The Generous manifests His punishing quality

(Qaseedah Burdah)

Abu Taalib – the Prophet’s ﷺ Dear Uncle

From amongst those whom Allah سبحانه و تعالی had chosen to give him ﷺ special care and love, was the Prophet’s ﷺ uncle Abu Taalib, and his wife Sayyidah Fatimah bint Asad رضی الله عنها. They were parents of the great legions of this Ummah, such as Sayyidinaa ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib RA, and Sayyidinaa Jaa’far ibn Abi Taalib RA. In his final moments, the grandfather of the Prophet ﷺ had bequeathed the responsibility of his ﷺ guardianship to Abu Taalib, who took upon this responsibility with all his heart and soul for the rest of his life. From this point onwards, Abu Taalib would sincerely take it upon himself to be the primary guardian, father-figure, protector, and friend to the Prophet ﷺ for the next 42 years.

Abu Taalib took the Prophet ﷺ into his home and loved him dearly, even more than his own children. He would keep the Prophet ﷺ by his side at all times, give him preference over his own family and his own self, feed him with love and clothe him with compassion. The Prophet’s ﷺ presence into Abu Taalib’s home brought great barakah and bounty. The household of Abu Taalib would not eat without the Prophet ﷺ, saying that they found such increase and barakah in his presence, and they would feel satiated in their meals when he ﷺ ate with them. (Ibn Saa’d)

Abu Taalib would endeavour to support and assist his beloved nephew at any cost, and serve his mission to the extent that every true believer would yearn to be accepted for such service and assistance to the Prophet ﷺ.

Mercy Descends upon the skies of Makkah

During this time, Makkah was faced by a drought and the people were desperate for rain. Abu Taalib was approached by a group of people to arrange a mass prayer for rain in the Masjid Al-Haram. Abu Taalib agreed, and as he walked out with the procession, some people began gazing upon the face of the Prophet ﷺ who was walking alongside Abu Taalib. The countenance of his face was so striking – filled with an angelic innocence and purity – that the travelers began wondering: “Who is this beautiful child?”.

As they entered the haram and approached the Kaa’bah, the people began flowing in until the haram was filled. Abu Taalib then initiated the supplication for rain and the people followed suit. After earnestly supplicating and imploring for a period of time, there was still no rain, and the people began losing hope. As they started lowering their hands from supplication, a man amongst them suddenly saw a small cloud forming in the sky, and when he looked directly beneath it, he was amazed to see that Abu Taalib’s nephew had raised his beautiful face to the sky. As the man looked back and forth between the rapidly forming cloud and the face of this pure child gazing up to the heavens, he was completely taken aback.

The clouds began to multiply as the people looked up in amazement, uplifted from their disheartened states. Within moments the clouds had turned grey, and raindrops began descending. Abu Taalib looked up in shock and then looked down to see the beautiful face of his nephew honoring the heavens with his gaze. The rain then began pouring down profusely, and continued until streams began to form around Makkah. In awe of this sight those, who had witnessed the underlying factor of this blessed rain rushed to Abu Taalib, enquiring as to who this special child was, whose face had captivated the heavens. It was in regards to this that Abu Taalib had compiled some poetic stanzas about his beloved nephew:

وأبيض يَسْتَسْقِي الْغَمَام بِوَجْهِهِ
ثمال الْيَتَامَى عصمَة للأرامل

“The clouds are irrigated by his ﷺ illuminated face,
He ﷺ is a beacon for orphans and for widows.”

(Ibn Asakir, Khasaais Al-Kubra)

Such was the nobility of his beautiful face, and the reality of the beautiful clouds that formed upon his gaze throughout his life, whenever drought struck – as the narrations report – on multiple occasions. Rather, this was something that transcended beyond his physical worldly life. Years after the Prophet ﷺ had passed away, the people of Madinah Al-Munawwarah faced a drought and sought rain. They expressed their concern to Sayyidah Aa’ishah رضی الله عنها – seeking a solution – and she رضی الله عنها said:

انْظُرُوا قَبْرَ النَّبِيِّ  صلى الله عليه وسلم  فَاجْعَلُوا مِنْهُ كِوًى إِلَى السَّمَاءِ حَتَّى لاَ يَكُونَ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ سَقْفٌ

“Look at the grave of the Prophet ﷺ and make an opening facing the sky, so that there will be no barrier between him and the sky.”

Once they did this, Allah سبحانه و تعالی showered his mercy upon the people of Madinah with bountiful rain, until their plants flourished and their camels grew exceedingly fat, and it was called the year of the exceedingly fat animals. (Musnad Ad-Daarimi)

Sayyidah Fatimah bint Asad رضی الله عنها

In addition to Abu Taalib, his wife Sayyidah Fatimah bint Asad رضی الله عنها also showed great love and motherly care to the innocent child she felt immense mercy for, even above her own children. She would feed the Prophet ﷺ and clothe him ﷺ with such love, that it became etched in his blessed heart for the rest of his life. He ﷺ would find comfort in her arms and a world of love in her heart. Decades later, when she رضی الله عنها passed away, the Prophet ﷺ displayed just how deeply she touched his blessed heart. Our Prophet ﷺ, rose to the news of her passing with an aching heart and tears flowing from his blessed eyes. During her burial, he ﷺ took his blessed shirt – which touched his pure skin – and made it as a shroud for her to be blessed and protected in her grave. He ﷺ painfully sat by her head side and emotionally stated:

رحمك الله يا أمي، كنت أمي بعد أمي وتشبعيني وتعريني وتكسيني وتمنعين نفسك طيِّبًا وتطعميني، تريدين بذلك وجه الله والدار الآخرة

“May Allah have mercy upon you, O My Mother! You were my mother after my own mother. You stayed hungry but fed me, you stayed without clothes but clothed me. You deprived yourself of luxuries to feed me, intending by that the pleasure of Allah, and the abode of the hereafter” (Tabarani)

Before her burial, the Prophet ﷺ lay down in her grave and sincerely made Du’aa, beseeching Allah سبحانه و تعالی for her.

May Allah سبحانه و تعالی shower us with his mercy and assistance, through our connection with the beautiful face of his Habeeb Al-Mustafa ﷺ!

Join us tomorrow for our next article: “Bahira: The Monk”

#8: The Grandfather of The Prophet ﷺ


بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْم
الحمد لله رب العالمين الذي منّ علی المؤمنين اذ بعث فيهم رسولا من انفسهم يتلوا عليهم ايته و يزكيهم و يعلمهم الكتاب و الحكمة و ان كانوا من قبلُ لفي ضلال مّبين

After the Prophet’s ﷺ blessed mother passed away, Sayyidah Umm Ayman رضی الله عنها brought our Beloved Prophet ﷺ back to Makkah, and into the care of his ﷺ grandfather Abdul-Muttalib.

Abdul-Muttalib personally took responsibility for the care and upbringing of his grandson, who he dearly loved since birth. Over time his love became apparent to all, until he could not bear to let the Prophet ﷺ out of his sight. He would take his beloved six-year-old grandson with him everywhere, and his face would light up with love every time he gazed upon the Prophet ﷺ. Abdul-Muttalib would place the Prophet ﷺ next to him on his special seating in the shade of the Kaa’bah, whilst all the elders and nobles of Makkah – including Abdul-Muttalib’s own sons – watched how this innocent child was honored to sit where no one else could, caressed with love by the senior leader of Quraish, and the entire of city of Makkah.

Who was Abdul-Muttalib?

The Prophet’s ﷺ grandfather was an extremely honorable and dignified individual. He was extremely handsome and well-refined. He earned and demanded respect, whilst also being kind and generous. He was exceedingly hospitable and cared greatly for the rights and welfare of people. He would defend the weak and shelter the impoverished. He would fight the unjust practices of Jahiliyyah, to the extent, that he would protect innocent baby girls from being buried alive by their fathers, and would raise them and pay for their needs with love and dignity.

His real name was Shaybah ibn Hashim, and he was originally from the city of Yathrib. He became an orphan at a young age and his uncle ‘Muttalib’ brought him to Makkah riding behind him on his camel. It was from this moment he was given the name ‘Abdul-Muttalib’ by the inhabitants of Makkah. As he grew older, he eventually took upon the responsibility of his uncle and grandfather to lead Makkah and take custodianship of the Kaa’bah, as well as the responsibility of tending to the needs of its people and the needs of its pilgrims. Allah سبحانه و تعالی chose him for many great, noble tasks; among them was the instruction to unearth the well of Zam Zam which he was shown in a dream. He fulfilled this task with his son by the will and permission of Allah سبحانه و تعالی. Above of all, he was selected by Allah سبحانه و تعالی to be the bearer of the light of His Final Messenger ﷺ as it passed through his lineage.

إِنَّ اللّٰهَ اصْطَفٰى كِنَانَةَ مِنْ وَلَدِ إِسْمَاعِيْلَ، وَاصْطَفٰى قُرَيْشًا مِنْ كِنَانَة، وَاصْطَفٰى هَاشِمًا مِنْ قُرَيْش، وَاصْطَفَانِي مِنْ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ

“Indeed, Allah سبحانه و تعالی chose (the clan of) Kinanah from among the descendants of Isma’eel علیه السلام, and He chose )the tribe of) Quraysh from among (the sons of ) Kinanah, and He chose (the sons of) Hashim from among tribes of Quraysh, and me from among the sons of Abdul-Muttalib” (Sahih Muslim, Tirmidhi)

Fulfilment of Purpose

As well as having great love for his grandson, Abdul-Muttalib also had a great reverence for him ﷺ. He recognized the unique qualities his grandson possessed, as well as the immense Khair and Barakah that surrounded him ﷺ. Whenever a difficult task arose, he would assign his grandson to carry out that task, knowing he could reach the fulfillment of purpose through the Barakah that lied within his grandson.

Once a man had come to Makkah to perform Hajj. When he entered upon the haram, he found Abdul-Muttalib earnestly performing tawaf around the Kaa’bah, supplicating for the safe return of his beloved grandson – Muhammad ﷺ. Upon further inquiry the man was told:

“This is ‘Abdul-Muttalib. He had just sent his grandson in search of some lost camels. Whenever he sends his grandson on an errand, the child returns successful. However, on this latest task, the young boy was taking longer than usual”

Shortly after, the Prophet ﷺ returned with the lost camels, successfully fulfilling what others would have failed to do. As soon as Abdul-Muttalib saw him ﷺ, he rushed to embrace him and told him how worried he was over his safety and well-being. Abdul Muttalib then vowed that he would never let the Prophet ﷺ part from his sight ever again. (Ibn Hisham)

Abdul-Muttalib Passes Away

Our Beloved Prophet ﷺ enjoyed the deep love and care of his grandfather in the painful absence of his parents, and he ﷺ grew up under his supervision till he was eight-years old. Then Abdul-Muttalib had fallen severely ill and called upon all of his children. After witnessing the death of his ﷺ mother, he had barely spent two-years settling in with his grandfather before seeing him lay on his death-bed. In his final moments Abdul-Muttalib showed how much he cared for his beloved grandson, ensuring that he bequest that his son Abu Talib – the full brother of Sayyidinaa Abdullah رضی الله عنه, the father of the Prophet ﷺ – take complete responsibility of his grandson and never ever leave his side. (Ibn Hisham, Ibn Ishaq)

Sayyidah Umm Ayman رضی الله عنها recalls the painful moment when the grandfather of the Prophet ﷺ had passed away and was being taken for burial.

رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – يَوْمَئِذٍ يَبْكِي خَلْفَ سَرِيرِ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ

“I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on that day, in tears, crying behind the funeral procession of Abdul-Muttalib” (Ibn Saa’d)

May Allah سبحانه و تعالی bless the innocent heart of Our Beloved Prophet ﷺ, and fill it with happiness and joy, in a manner that is befitting His generosity in giving and the majesty of his treasures. Ameen Yaa Rabbal ‘Aalameen

Join us tomorrow as we continue in the next article: “In the Guardianship of Abu Talib”