Lesson 88Lesson 88Up to the Revelation Up to the Revelation

[[1010 ] ]The Prophet’s manners before The Prophet’s manners before prophethoodprophethood

As we knew, Allah (As we knew, Allah (SWTSWT) blessed Halîmah As-) blessed Halîmah As-Sa`diyyah, who suckled the Prophet (SAWS), Sa`diyyah, who suckled the Prophet (SAWS),

and her familyand her family . .

Allah (Allah (SWTSWT) turned their hardship into easiness, ) turned their hardship into easiness, sated their sheep with food, and gushed out the sated their sheep with food, and gushed out the milk from their udders in a year of barrenness milk from their udders in a year of barrenness

and distressand distress . .

Allah (Allah (SWTSWT) also blessed the Prophet’s uncle, ) also blessed the Prophet’s uncle, Abu-Tâlib, when he was under his Abu-Tâlib, when he was under his

guardianship, although Abu-Tâlib was poorguardianship, although Abu-Tâlib was poor . .

Allah (Allah (SWTSWT) also assigned a cloud to shade the ) also assigned a cloud to shade the Prophet (SAWS) alone from the sun heat in his Prophet (SAWS) alone from the sun heat in his

trip to Syria. It ran only over him excluding trip to Syria. It ran only over him excluding other people in the caravanother people in the caravan..

Allah (Allah (SWTSWT) inspired him to the right path, and ) inspired him to the right path, and guided him to virtues and noble deeds in guided him to virtues and noble deeds in

everythingeverything . .

When he was young, he (SAWS) used to hide When he was young, he (SAWS) used to hide himself far away from people to relieve himself far away from people to relieve

himself. Allah (himself. Allah (SWTSWT) honored him with the ) honored him with the salutation of stones and trees to himsalutation of stones and trees to him . .

On hearing their salutations, the Prophet On hearing their salutations, the Prophet (SAWS) would turn to the right and left, but (SAWS) would turn to the right and left, but

he could see noonehe could see noone..

Jewish and Christian scholars, monks and rabbis, Jewish and Christian scholars, monks and rabbis, knew the time of the Prophet (SAWS), from knew the time of the Prophet (SAWS), from what is mentioned about him in what is mentioned about him in TawrTawrââhh (The (The

Torah), and what `Îsâ, Jesus (SAWS) had Torah), and what `Îsâ, Jesus (SAWS) had mentionedmentioned . .

Therefore they were asking about his birth and Therefore they were asking about his birth and his emergence. Many of them knew him when his emergence. Many of them knew him when

they saw him, or when they heard about his they saw him, or when they heard about his deeds or his descriptiondeeds or his description..

The Prophet (SAWS) grew up to be The Prophet (SAWS) grew up to be distinguished by his perfect morals, distinguished by his perfect morals,

unconcerned with the trivialities that occupied unconcerned with the trivialities that occupied his fellow childrenhis fellow children . .

When he became a grown-up, he was the wisest, When he became a grown-up, he was the wisest, the most discerning, the most virtuous, the the most discerning, the most virtuous, the

most truthful, the most honest, and the most most truthful, the most honest, and the most righteousrighteous . .

His people called him “the trustworthy”, and His people called him “the trustworthy”, and they saved their charges and deposits with they saved their charges and deposits with

himhim..

Allah (Allah (SWTSWT) saved him from the evils of ) saved him from the evils of Al-Al-JâhiliyyahJâhiliyyah (The pre-Islamic period). He (The pre-Islamic period). He

detested the idols since his childhooddetested the idols since his childhood . .

He had never sworn by them, respected them, He had never sworn by them, respected them, attended their feasts, nor eaten from the attended their feasts, nor eaten from the

offerings slaughtered on offerings slaughtered on the altars (Al-Ansâbthe altars (Al-Ansâb, , stones erected for idols)stones erected for idols) . .

People used to slaughter sheep on stones, pour People used to slaughter sheep on stones, pour their blood on these stones, and then worship their blood on these stones, and then worship

themthem..

The Prophet (SAWS) was a placid person, who The Prophet (SAWS) was a placid person, who sympathized with the poor. He never sympathized with the poor. He never

disgraced a poor person for their poverty, nor disgraced a poor person for their poverty, nor did he awe kings for their powerdid he awe kings for their power . .

He never drank wine, though it was a prevalent He never drank wine, though it was a prevalent habit among his people then. He did not habit among his people then. He did not

commit adultery, steal, or kill; but he adhered commit adultery, steal, or kill; but he adhered to the noble manners based on honesty, to the noble manners based on honesty,

sincerity, and faithfulnesssincerity, and faithfulness . .

In general, Allah (In general, Allah (SWTSWT) saved him from faults ) saved him from faults before prophethood as well as after itbefore prophethood as well as after it..

He (SAWS) wore turbans, shirts, drawers, and He (SAWS) wore turbans, shirts, drawers, and long loincloths. He wore cotton clothes, and long loincloths. He wore cotton clothes, and

sometimes wool or linen clothessometimes wool or linen clothes..

. .He wore slippers, sandals, and sometimes He wore slippers, sandals, and sometimes walked barefoot. He rode horses, mules, walked barefoot. He rode horses, mules,

camels, and donkeyscamels, and donkeys . .

He slept on mattresses, straw mats, beds, or He slept on mattresses, straw mats, beds, or sometimes on the floor; and he sat on the floor. sometimes on the floor; and he sat on the floor. He mended his shoes, and patched his clothes He mended his shoes, and patched his clothes . .

He had sheep, slaves, and bond-maids only as far He had sheep, slaves, and bond-maids only as far as his household needs. His way of eating was as his household needs. His way of eating was

that he never refused the food available, nor that he never refused the food available, nor sought unavailable foodsought unavailable food..

[[1111 ] ]The Prophet’s life before the revelationThe Prophet’s life before the revelation

You knew that he is Muhammad, son of `Abdul-You knew that he is Muhammad, son of `Abdul-Muttalib, son of Hâshim. His grandfather, Muttalib, son of Hâshim. His grandfather,

Hâshim, was the master of Quraysh, the most Hâshim, was the master of Quraysh, the most honored Arab tribehonored Arab tribe . .

They settled in Makkah and its suburbs. They They settled in Makkah and its suburbs. They earned money from trading in clothes, earned money from trading in clothes, upholstery, and other consumer needsupholstery, and other consumer needs . .

They had two commercial trips, to Syria in They had two commercial trips, to Syria in summer and to Yemen in winter. They summer and to Yemen in winter. They

possessed large numbers of camels and sheep, possessed large numbers of camels and sheep, to ride, and benefit from their milk, wool, and to ride, and benefit from their milk, wool, and

hairhair..

When the Prophet (SAWS) was grown up When the Prophet (SAWS) was grown up enough to work and earn money to pay for his enough to work and earn money to pay for his

expenses, he started working as a shepherdexpenses, he started working as a shepherd ; ;

for this was Allah’s custom with his messengers for this was Allah’s custom with his messengers in order to teach them how to treat people in order to teach them how to treat people

kindly, just like being kind with sheepkindly, just like being kind with sheep . .

He earned money from grazing sheep, then He earned money from grazing sheep, then afterwards from trading in Quraysh's trade. afterwards from trading in Quraysh's trade. He (SAWS) worked only to fulfill his needsHe (SAWS) worked only to fulfill his needs ; ;

he was neither greedy nor did he renounce the he was neither greedy nor did he renounce the world, to be prepared by Allah (world, to be prepared by Allah (SWTSWT) for a ) for a prescribed mission, an utter devotion to call prescribed mission, an utter devotion to call

for Islamfor Islam..

[[1212 ] ]The Prophet's worship before prophet-The Prophet's worship before prophet-hoodhood

Some of the Arabs before Islam followed Some of the Arabs before Islam followed Judaism, while others followed Christianity, Judaism, while others followed Christianity, both of which were changed and distorted both of which were changed and distorted from the original messages of Moses and from the original messages of Moses and

JesusJesus .. ..

The rest of the Arabs worshipped idols. Most of The rest of the Arabs worshipped idols. Most of the people in Quraysh were doing so except a the people in Quraysh were doing so except a few of them who reproached their people for few of them who reproached their people for

worshipping these idolsworshipping these idols..

Prophet, Muhammad son of `Abdullâh (SAWS), Prophet, Muhammad son of `Abdullâh (SAWS), had a pure heart and virtuous soul by naturehad a pure heart and virtuous soul by nature . .

Allah created him that way in order to make him Allah created him that way in order to make him fully capable to receive his pure fully capable to receive his pure ShariaSharia

(Islamic law) and teach it to all mankind in the (Islamic law) and teach it to all mankind in the best and most perfect waybest and most perfect way..

For that reason, his pious soul was directed to For that reason, his pious soul was directed to the truth, not knowing other than it, and not the truth, not knowing other than it, and not

accepting anything elseaccepting anything else . .

His nature disdained falsity, and recognized the His nature disdained falsity, and recognized the truth. Therefore, he did not follow any of the truth. Therefore, he did not follow any of the bad customs of his own people, neither did he bad customs of his own people, neither did he

beautify falsity nor demonize an accepted beautify falsity nor demonize an accepted truthtruth..

This was the nature of his father Ibrâhîm This was the nature of his father Ibrâhîm (SAWS) even before his prophethood. (SAWS) even before his prophethood.

Likewise, it was the nature of all the Prophets Likewise, it was the nature of all the Prophets (Peace be upon them)(Peace be upon them) . .

Allah created them such as to devote themselves Allah created them such as to devote themselves for His Almightyfor His Almighty . .

Even before their prophethood, their good spirits Even before their prophethood, their good spirits refused the false beliefs and the wrong refused the false beliefs and the wrong

customs and worship that prevailed among customs and worship that prevailed among their peopletheir people..

The Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) came into The Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) came into being devoted to Allah purely with all his being devoted to Allah purely with all his

heartheart . .

Polytheism did not approach his pious heart. His Polytheism did not approach his pious heart. His nature despised the idols, and detested these nature despised the idols, and detested these

false godsfalse gods . .

He did not attend the festivals made for them, He did not attend the festivals made for them, and he did not approach or care about themand he did not approach or care about them . .

He only worshipped the Creator of the universe, He only worshipped the Creator of the universe, to Whom he devoted his sincere servitude to Whom he devoted his sincere servitude

through contemplation and glorificationthrough contemplation and glorification..

He (SAWS) used to circumambulate around the He (SAWS) used to circumambulate around the Ka`bah and make pilgrimage like all the Ka`bah and make pilgrimage like all the

people who made pilgrimage following the people who made pilgrimage following the creed of Ibrâhîm (SAWS)creed of Ibrâhîm (SAWS) . .

It was not confirmed by a single sound narration It was not confirmed by a single sound narration that he followed the worship of any other that he followed the worship of any other

previous Prophet (SAWS).previous Prophet (SAWS).

It was reported that Prophet Muhammad It was reported that Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) used to seek seclusion in the Cave of (SAWS) used to seek seclusion in the Cave of Hirâ' for an entire month every year (this used Hirâ' for an entire month every year (this used

to coincide with the month of Ramadan)to coincide with the month of Ramadan) , ,

where he worshipped Allah by contemplation. where he worshipped Allah by contemplation. He also used to feed the poor with the food he He also used to feed the poor with the food he

brought for the period of his seclusionbrought for the period of his seclusion..

It was reported that he (SAWS) took along It was reported that he (SAWS) took along provisions of cakes and oil, and when he run provisions of cakes and oil, and when he run out of supplies he returned back to his family out of supplies he returned back to his family to take more provisions then he returned backto take more provisions then he returned back . .

When he completed his seclusions, he used to When he completed his seclusions, he used to circumambulate around the Ka`bah seven circumambulate around the Ka`bah seven

rounds before returning back homerounds before returning back home..

Hirâ' is also called the mountain of light, and it is Hirâ' is also called the mountain of light, and it is situated on the left side of the road to the situated on the left side of the road to the

mountain of `Arafah, and it contains the cave mountain of `Arafah, and it contains the cave in which the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) in which the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS)

worshippedworshipped . .

The cave's entrance is narrow. Its area is about 3 The cave's entrance is narrow. Its area is about 3 square meters. In that cave, the Prophet square meters. In that cave, the Prophet

(SAWS) received the revelation for the first (SAWS) received the revelation for the first timetime..

It is said that his grandfather, `Abdul-Muttalib, It is said that his grandfather, `Abdul-Muttalib, used to worship in Hirâ'; and was followed, in used to worship in Hirâ'; and was followed, in

worshipping there, by Waraqah ibn Nawfal worshipping there, by Waraqah ibn Nawfal and Abu Umayyah ibn ul-Uzzâand Abu Umayyah ibn ul-Uzzâ..

Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) liked seclusion Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) liked seclusion from his childhood to his prophethood, when from his childhood to his prophethood, when Allah (Allah (SWTSWT) sent him as a mercy to mankind) sent him as a mercy to mankind . .

Right before his prophethood, Prophet Right before his prophethood, Prophet Muhammad’s dreams became as obvious and Muhammad’s dreams became as obvious and clear as the morning light, they would come clear as the morning light, they would come

true when he wakes up, exactly as he saw them true when he wakes up, exactly as he saw them in his sleep. This was an early sign of his in his sleep. This was an early sign of his

prophethoodprophethood..