Seerah – Part 5
(April 9, 2021)
الحمد لله رب العالمين والصلاة والسلام على سيد المرسلين وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين
In the last weekly session of the seerah, we came to know of a few events in the early years of the Prophet’s life. Some of these stories related to the time he spent as a toddler with his foster mother Halima. Another story was about his encounter with Bahira – the monk, who told Abu Talib, the Prophet’s uncle, about the young boy Muhammad (S), whose description matched the signs of the Prophet to be sent after Jesus (‘Isa ibn Maryam) as mentioned in the ancient manuscripts. Another story was about how Muhammad (S) when he was about to enter a house in Makkah where a wedding celebration with music and dancing was going on, a deep sleep overtook him and thus Allah protected him from something that was frivolous. We also learned about the incident of the Harb ul-Fijar or the sacrilegious war, and how Muhammad (S) was pleased when the peace treaty was signed which stated that the Quraysh would live in peace with everyone and help the poor and needy.
The League of the Virtuous (Hilf Al-Fudul – حلف الفضول)
In today’s episode of the seerah, we’ll learn about another important event that took place during the early years of the Prophet’s life. There was an alliance or pact called Hilf Al-Fudul, meaning “the league of the virtuous” created by the Makkans in the year 590 CE to establish justice for all, through collective action, even for those who had no connections to the powerful.
Why was this pact created? There is a story behind it. There was a man who came from Yemen to do business in Makkah. His merchandise was taken by a rich businessman of Makkah by the name of Al-‘Aas Bin Wa‘il, who promised to pay him back, but later refused to pay him. Al-‘Aas expected that this man being a foreigner would just walk away. Nobody would help him. But the man stood up for his right.
He went to a public place in Makkah and started calling the people of Quraysh. He called out emotionally, “I have been oppressed in your land. Are you going to stand up for my rights? Will you allow this oppression to take place in you land?” Some of the clans of Quraysh decided to meet together to bring about an agreement on protecting the rights of the oppressed and the weak in Makkah, and among these families of Quraysh was the family of Prophet (S) – his uncles. Prophet (S) at that time was a young boy of 17. He is reported to have said. “My uncles took me with them to attend this meeting.”
The meeting was held in the house of ‘Abdullah Ibn Jud‘an, an honorable person of Makkah. An agreement was reached to stand together to protect the rights of the oppressed and the weak in Makkah regardless whether they were locals or foreigners. This pact was made among the polytheists (mushrikeen) before Prophethood. Later, Prophet (S) said, “I witnessed a pact of justice in the house of Abdullah ibn Jud’an that was more beloved to me than a herd of expensive red camels. If I were called to it now in the time of Islam, I would respond.”
Even in his youth, Muhammad (S) was known for his truthfulness and honesty. Instead of calling him Muhammad, many people called him as-Sadiq (the truthful) or al-Amin (the trustworthy). When he said something, people believed him. They trusted him so much that they left their money and valuable things in his care. They knew that he was wise in dealing with difficult matters.
Marriage of Prophet (S) and Khadija
The next important event in the life of Muhammad (S) was his marriage to Khadija bint Khuwaylid, a rich, beautiful, kind, and highly respected lady of Quraysh. She was a widow. She carried out her own business by hiring men to do business on her behalf. When she heard about the reputation of the Prophet (S), she wanted to hire him. They met to discuss the business proposal and she offered him twice the amount of commission she had offered anyone else. The Prophet (S) agreed to work for her.
It is said that Khadija convinced Abu Talib to allow the Prophet (S) to travel on business to Syria with her slave Maisarah. Although no one treated slaves kindly, Muhammad (S) treated Maisarah as if he were his own brother. Maisarah watched Muhammad (S) carefully. He found him to be kind, just, and truthful. On the trip, Maisarah noticed some interesting things. They stopped in the same area that was earlier inhabited by Bahira the monk, as this was the usual rest area for the caravans of the Quraysh. However, another monk was resident at that time. The Prophet (S) sat under a tree. The monk came to Maisarah and enquired about the man under the tree. The monk reported that no man would sit under that tree at that time except a Prophet. Maisarah also noticed that the Prophet (S) seemed very calm despite the extreme heat. Looking up, Maisarah saw that Muhammad (S) was covered by shade as he travelled, as if two angels were providing the shade.
Muhammad (S) returned to Makkah with a big profit. Khadija (RA) was very pleased. She sat with Maisarah, who recounted the interesting events and amazing character of the Prophet (S). He told her how kind and gentle Muhammad (S) was. “Muhammad (S) makes good profits because people trust him,” he said. “They know he is honest and truthful and does not cheat them.” The Prophet (S) engaged in more business deals with similar successful results.
Khadija (RA) was very impressed by Muhammad (S). The respect she felt grew into love. She wanted to marry this noble man. She spoke to Waraqah, her cousin, who encouraged her to pursue the proposal. She explained the reasons why she would like to marry him, which were primarily based on his good character, his good relationships with people, his honesty, and his truthfulness. She also spoke to her friend Nafisa, who offered to discuss the situation with the Prophet (S). Nafisa asked Muhammad (S) if he would consider Khadija for marriage, and he confirmed that he would if Khadija was interested in marrying him. Nafisa asked him his opinion of Khadija, and he praised her dignified character and her position as an honorable lady of Quraysh.
Khadija (RA) sent the official marriage proposal and called the Prophet (S) to meet her side of the family. The brother and uncle of Khadija (RA) oversaw the marriage process between them. Others say her father was involved. The uncles of the Prophet (S) accompanied Muhammad (S) to Khadija’s house and the nikah was performed. It is said that Khadija (RA) was aged forty and the Prophet (S) twenty-five. The mahr (marriage gift) was 20 goats. Some say it was 20 camels. By the standards of that time, it was a respectable mahr, but not extravagant. The Prophet (S) did not come from a very wealthy family, but he was still the grandson of ‘Abdul Muttalib. The mahr should be an expression of love, so it should be given in accordance with a person’s means.
The Prophet (S) remained married to Khadija (RA) for the next 25 years, until the time she passed away. He did not marry any other woman till she lived, even though polygamy was common practice at that time. Together, they had six children: two sons and four daughters. The two sons were Qasim and Abdullah. They both died in childhood. Their four daughters were Zaynab, Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthum and Fatimah. The three older daughters passed away during the lifetime of the Prophet (S). The youngest daughter, Fatimah witnessed the passing of the Prophet (S), and passed away six months afterwards. There was another child called Ibrahim, born later from Muhammad (S)’s wife Maria al-Qibtiyya. He died while still an infant.
Prophet (S)’s Love for Khadija
Prophet (S) kept his loyalty to Khadija even after she passed away. He would always remember her, always mention her name, and that sometimes would cause jealousy among the other wives of Prophet (S). But Prophet (S) had so much love and admiration for Khadija and so much respect for her because she was the one who stood up for him and supported him even when others opposed him. Prophet (S) used to at times slaughter a sheep and say, “Send it to the friends of Khadija.” So not only did Prophet (S) always remember her, but he kept on maintaining a relationship with the friends of Khadija.
Ayesha who was the most beloved to Prophet (S) after Khadija would sometimes feel this jealousy. A narration in Sahih Muslim says that Ayesha said, “I did not become jealous of any of the wives of the Prophet except Khadija, and I have not even seen her.”
Putting the Black Stone in the Ka’bah
There is another important event that took place during the period before the Prophethood of Muhammad (S). When he was 35 years old, the walls of the Ka’bah had weakened due to heavy rains and wind. The Quraysh decided to rebuild it. Taking part in its rebuilding was considered a great honor. The families of the Quraysh divided up the work. The Ka’bah was soon rebuilt.
Then came the time to set the black stone (Al-Hajar al-Aswad) in its place. Everyone wanted to have this honor. An argument began. Various members of the Quraysh tribe were about to fight each other over it. For four days they quarreled. On the fifth day, Abu Umayya bin Mughirah one of the men amongst the Quraysh, respected for his age and wisdom suggested, “Wait until morning. Then let the first person who enters the Ka’bah through a particular gate decide the matter.” Everyone agreed to this suggestion.
Early next morning, Muhammad (S) came to the Ka’bah to pray. Everyone was happy to see him. They knew Muhammad (S) would be a fair judge. He would do what was right and would bring peace. They explained the problem to Muhammad (S). He listened to them carefully. Then he said, “Let each family select a representative.” The families did what he asked. Then he spread his own shawl on the ground and placed the Black Stone on it. He asked all the representatives of Quraysh to take hold of the shawl and lift it up. When the shawl had been lifted high enough, Muhammad (S) himself put the stone in its place. Everyone liked his way of settling the argument. All the families were satisfied. They were happy because they had shared in the honor of putting the black stone in its place. This story shows how all Quraysh respected and trusted Muhammad (S) and how, by his wisdom and good sense, he benefited people.
Muhammad’s (S) marriage to Khadija (RA) had made him wealthy. He could have become wealthier by continuing in business after his marriage. But he was not interested in making money. He was concerned with other matters. He loved to do good and help other people.
His uncle Abu Talib had fallen into distress through his endeavors to maintain the old position of his family. Muhammad (S), being rather rich at this time by his alliance with Khadijah, tried to discharge part of the debt of gratitude and obligation which he owed to his uncle by undertaking the bringing up of his son ‘Ali. A year later he adopted ‘Aquil, another of his uncle’s sons.
There was yet another amazing example of kindness performed by Muhammad (S). Khadijah had made him a present of a young slave named Zaid ibn Haritha, who had been brought as a captive to Makkah and sold to Khadija. When Haritha heard that Muhammad (S) possessed Zaid, he came to Makkah and offered a large sum for his ransom, whereupon Muhammad (S) said, “Let Zaid come here, and if he chooses to go with you, take him without ransom, but if his choice is to stay with me why should I not keep him.” Zaid was brought into the presence of his father and Muhammad (S). He declared that he would stay with his master, who treated him as if he were his own son. No sooner Muhammad (S) heard this, he took Zaid by the hand and led him to the black stone of Ka’bah where he publicly adopted him as his son, to which the father happily agreed and returned home well satisfied. Henceforth, Zaid was called the son of Muhammad (S).
Muhammad (S) goes to the cave of Hira
Muhammad (S) was now approaching his fortieth year, and his mind was ever engaged in profound contemplation and reflection. At that time, there were very few Arabs who believed in one God, and who were trying to practice the monotheistic religion of Ibrahim (AS). Muhammad (S) was one of them. He hated the worship of idols. Not once showing any interest in the idols of the Makkans or those of the many other Arab tribes, he reached the conclusion of the futility of worshipping idols, by way of reason and conscience. He was very unhappy about the evil ways of the Arabs and their belief in many gods. Slowly he lost interest in business. He began to take pleasure in withdrawing into solitude. He would often leave the crowded city and go to the cave of Hira in a mountain a few miles from Makkah. He went to this cave for prayer and meditation, sometimes alone and sometimes with his family. There, he often spent whole nights in deep thought and close association and spiritual union with the unseen and yet the all-knowing God of the universe.
It was during one of those retirements and in the still hours of the night, when he was all alone that an angel came to him to tell him that we was the Messenger of Allah sent to reclaim a fallen people to the knowledge and service of their Lord – Allah (SWT).
We’ll conclude here. InshaAllah, in our next session, we’ll see how Muhammad (S) became Allah’s last Prophet and Messenger.
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Resources and References:
Imam Ibn Kathir – Stories of the Prophets
Leila Azzam & Aisha Gouverneur – the Life of the Prophet Muhammad
Anwar Al-Awlaki – The Life of Muhammad (Makkan Period) & The Life of Muhammad (Medina Period): https://www.kalamullah.com/muhammad.html
Aisha Stacey – The Religion of Islam (islamreligion.com)
