The advent of Prophet Muhammad:

A blessed gift to mankind

By Mohammed NAALIR

Prophet Muhammad was sent to this world as a blessed gift to mankind. His emergence caused momentous social changes not only in the Arabian peninsula, but in the entire world.

Pilgrims engaged in thawaf

The Prophet was born in Makkah in Saudi Arabia nearly 1450 years ago to show the correct path to a society in which vicious and anti-social activities had become the norm. There was hardly any room for humanity.

The advent of the Prophet created a tremendous renaissance in the Arabian peninsula. A society which violated women’s rights became a society which taught women’s rights to the world. Those who buried female children, considering them a burden and misery, started protecting them as a treasure. The Arabian peninsula became the asylum of love and kindness, showing sympathy to the poor, and a nation of humanity.

The Holy Prophet received prophecy in his 40th year from Allah via the leader of the Angels Jibreel (Alai) when the Prophet was engaged in meditation in Jabal Hira (Hira mountain). Before the prophecy, the chosen Prophet used to visit Jabal Hira and beg the Almighty Allah to reform the society which was inhuman and gave prominence to vicious and anti-social activities.

The Prophet’s Da’wa campaign (propaganda) continued for 23 years; 13 years in Makkah and 10 years in Madina until he passed away.

Allah revealed the Al-Qur’an to the Prophet over 23 years, from time to time, as and when society needed it, in small versions and chapters.

Torture, humiliation

The then society, which was not aware of Islam and its features, caused obstacles to prevent the Prophet’s Da’wa campaigns, causing physical and mental torture to the Prophet. The people took every effort to prevent Islam from spreading in the Arabian peninsula.

Amidst their torture and humiliation the Prophet engaged himself and his followers in the Da’wa campaign for 13 years in Makkah. As the Da’wa campaign of the Prophet continued, even amidst the anti-propaganda campaign by the team led by Abu Jahl, they decided to assassinate the Prophet. This was the reason for the Prophet to leave Makkah to Madina on Hijrah.

The order to leave Makkah on Hijrah came from the Almighty via Angel Jibreel (Alai). No sooner he received the message, he left Makkah with his companion Aboobakr (Ral) to Madina.

According to history, no prophet was sent to the world between the era of Eesa (Alai) (Prophet Jesus) and Prophet Muhammad. This era is identified by historians as Aiyyamul Jahiliyya (the era of ignorance).

During this era there was no one to guide humanity on the correct path. The people of this era were addicted to liquor and prostitution. Their prestige was measured by the oldest stock of liquor. They saved more and more liquor for their festivals.

They spent their lives aimlessly. Caste wars were prominent in that society. The people of this era fought fatally with each other over simple reasons. The strong people put the weak into slavery. The people who were unable to resettle a loan had to work for the person to whom they owed money until they settled the loan. If the debtor failed to settle the loan, his son had to work for him until the loan was repaid.

Final prophet

After over 500 years had passed since the advent of Eesa (Alai) (the Prophet Jesus), the Holy Prophet was sent to the world as the final prophet. The era between the end of Eesa (Alai) (the Prophet Jesus) and the beginning of Prophet Muhammad is known as the Era of Fitna (Confusion).

When the Prophet was born in the Arabian peninsula, there was no room for humanity. There was no harmonious relationship among the people. They lived according to the dictates of their minds. There was hardly any relationship between parents and children, wives, relatives, brothers and sisters or neighbours.

The era before the advent of Prophet Muhammad is called Aiyamul Jahiliyya (the era of ignorance). The people in that era mainly gave prominence to the activities which were the gateway for destruction. There was no monotheism (one god policy) in that society. They worshipped idols, without any religion. They were intellectually blind. They were not aware of religion.

When compared to men, the women had no rights at all. The fundamental rights of women had been violated by men. The birth of a baby girl was considered a shame for the family and society. If a boy was born, they celebrated it in a big way.

Madina Munawara

According to them, the birth of a baby boy would protect their generation. Until the emergence of Prophet Muhammad female children were considered as a misery to the family. They thought female children could make no contribution to the family. They buried female children without any mercy. If they suspected that a baby to be born would be a girl they cut the abdomen of that woman.

Waging war

For simple reasons they waged war against other tribes, even though they were neighbours. They did not live amicably. According to history, they waged war against other tribes for hundreds of years to ‘show’ their family pride and to avenge a prior incident. War took place on the basis of families and tribes. The cruel mentality of the people was protected and passed to the next generation. One who was defeated by another tribe would direct his son to take revenge on that tribe. This was the usual practice in that era. This mentality of the community continued from generation to generation.

The Prophet’s family was the only family which lived a well- mannered life without becoming addicted to bad habits. Allah protected that family from idolatry for 21 generations. That was the prime reason why Prophet Muhammad’s family was selected for the birth of a holy prophet.

Prophet Muhammad was born as the son of Abdullah. He lost his father even before his birth and lost his mother Amina during his childhood. At the age of eight he lost his grandfather who tended to him. After his demise the Prophet’s uncle Aboothalib looked after the child Muhammad.

During the time of Islamic propaganda, Prophet Muhammad faced many obstacles caused by the people of that era. He was subjected to untold torture.

Even amidst their criticism and torture the Prophet carried out his Da’wa campaign, calling the people to embrace Islam.Despite the problems and attacks, the Holy Prophet approached the people and preached them of Islam and its practices in a non-violent way. Now, it is an authenticated religion in the world, based on the Holy Qur’an and the way of Prophet Muhammad.