Birth and Early Life (570 CE)
The Year of the Elephant (‘Am al-Fil): Muhammad (SAW) was born in approximately 570 CE — the year Abraha, the Abyssinian king of Yemen, marched on Mecca with elephants to destroy the Ka’ba. Allah miraculously repelled this army with birds dropping stones (sijjil), as narrated in Surah al-Fil (105). This event was recent memory when the Prophet was born — marking his birth year as cosmically significant.
Early life: His father ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib died before his birth. His mother Amina sent him to be nursed by Halima al-Sa’diyya in the desert — a common custom for city children, for the purity of desert air and Arabic. At age 6, his mother Amina died. He was then cared for by his grandfather ‘Abd al-Muttalib, who died when Muhammad was 8. His uncle Abu Talib then took him in and became his lifelong protector.
The Chest Opening (Shaqq al-Sadr): Narrated by Muslim — during childhood with Halima, two angels came, opened his chest, removed and cleansed his heart, and returned it. This miracle is understood as the preparation of the prophetic vessel.
The Syrian journey: At age 12, Muhammad accompanied Abu Talib to Syria on a trade caravan. The monk Bahira recognized the signs of prophethood and advised Abu Talib to protect the boy.
Al-Amin — The Trustworthy: By his 20s, Muhammad had earned the title al-Amin (the Trustworthy) from the Meccans — indicating a reputation for absolute honesty. When the clans of Mecca quarreled about who should reinstall the Black Stone after rebuilding the Ka’ba, they agreed to let al-Amin decide — and he placed the stone on a cloth for all clans to jointly lift.
Marriage to Khadijah (595 CE): The wealthy widow Khadijah bint Khuwaylid had observed his honesty in trade and proposed marriage. She was approximately 40, he was 25. Their marriage was one of deep love and partnership — the Prophet (SAW) said he was never given better than Khadijah: “She believed in me when people disbelieved; she supported me with her wealth when people abandoned me; Allah gave me children through her when others gave me none.” (Ahmad) They had six children: two sons (Qasim and ‘Abdullah, both died in infancy) and four daughters (Zaynab, Ruqayya, Umm Kulthum, Fatimah).
The Revelation: Hira’ and the Beginning of Prophethood (610 CE)
At age 40, Muhammad (SAW) had developed a practice of tahannuth (withdrawal for worship) in the Cave of Hira’ on Jabal al-Nur. During Ramadan, the Angel Jibril appeared and commanded: “Iqra’!” (Read/Recite!). The Prophet (SAW) replied: “I cannot read.” Jibril embraced him twice more with the same command, then recited the opening of what would become Surah al-‘Alaq (96:1-5).
The Prophet (SAW) returned to Khadijah trembling: “Cover me!” He told her what happened and said: “I fear for myself.” Khadijah’s response is among the most beautiful moments in Islamic history: “By Allah, Allah would never humiliate you. You maintain family ties, you bear the burden of others, you earn for the destitute, you honor guests, and you support the truthful.” (Bukhari, Muslim) She took him to her cousin Waraqah ibn Nawfal, a Christian scholar, who confirmed: “This is the Namus (Spirit of Revelation — Jibril) that Allah sent to Musa. I wish I were young enough to live to see when your people drive you out.” The Prophet asked: “Will they drive me out?” Waraqah replied: “No man has ever come with what you have brought without being treated with hostility.”
The Meccan Da’wa (610-622 CE): Building the First Community
The three years of secret da’wa: The first Muslims were Khadijah (first adult woman), ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (first child — approximately 10 years old), Zayd ibn Haritha, and Abu Bakr, who quickly brought Uthman, ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Awf, Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas, Zubayr ibn al-‘Awwam, and Talha ibn Ubaydillah to Islam.
The open call at Mount Safa (613 CE): When Allah commanded “Warn your closest kinsmen” (26:214), the Prophet (SAW) gathered the Quraysh at Mount Safa and said: “If I told you that an army was behind this mountain, would you believe me?” They said yes — for he was al-Amin. He said: “Then I warn you of a severe punishment.” Abu Lahab said: “Perdition to you! Did you gather us for this?” — and Surah al-Masad (111) was revealed about him.
The persecution of the believers: The Quraysh’s opposition was economic (their income depended on the Ka’ba and its pilgrims), social (Islam challenged tribal hierarchy), and theological (tawhid threatened their pantheon of 360 idols). They persecuted the early Muslims systematically:
- The weak (Bilal al-Habashi, ‘Ammar ibn Yasir and his parents Yasir and Sumayya, Khabbab ibn al-Aratt) were tortured
- Sumayya became the first martyr in Islam, killed by Abu Jahl
- Bilal was laid on hot desert sand with a heavy rock on his chest, repeating: “Ahad! Ahad!” (One! One!)
The Hijra to Abyssinia (615 CE): Unable to protect the Muslims, the Prophet (SAW) advised the community to emigrate to the Christian king Negus (al-Najashi) of Abyssinia, who was just. Two waves emigrated. When the Quraysh sent emissaries to demand their return, Ja’far ibn Abi Talib recited the opening of Surah Maryam to the Negus — who wept and gave the Muslims refuge.
The Boycott (617-619 CE): The Quraysh imposed a complete social and economic boycott on the Banu Hashim and Banu Muttalib (the Prophet’s clans). For three years, the entire community was confined to the valley of Abu Talib, facing near-starvation. The boycott ended when some Qurayshi men broke ranks.
The Year of Sorrow (‘Am al-Huzn): 619 CE
Within weeks of the boycott’s end, both Khadijah and Abu Talib died. The Prophet (SAW) called it the Year of Sorrow.
Khadijah’s death: The mother of all believers, his first and greatest supporter. The Prophet (SAW) said: “I was given her love.” (Muslim) After her death, he would still slaughter animals and send meat to her friends in her memory.
Abu Talib’s death: His uncle had protected him for decades despite not accepting Islam. On his deathbed, the Prophet (SAW) urged him to say the shahada; Abu Talib died without doing so. The verse was revealed: “You cannot guide whom you love, but Allah guides whom He wills.” (28:56)
Without Khadijah’s support and Abu Talib’s political protection, the Prophet (SAW) was increasingly vulnerable. He went to Ta’if to seek support — and was met with jeering crowds who pelted him with stones until his feet bled. He made du’a from the valley below Ta’if: “O Allah, to You I complain of my weakness, my inadequacy… You are the Lord of the weak and You are my Lord…” — one of the most heart-wrenching supplications in the Seerah.
Shortly after, Allah gave him the Isra’ and Mi’raj (see [[israa-miraj]]) — the spiritual compensation for the lowest point of the Meccan years.
The Hijra: Departure from Mecca (622 CE)
When delegations from Yathrib (Medina) at the Hajj season pledged allegiance at ‘Aqaba, the Prophet (SAW) commanded the Meccan Muslims to emigrate. He remained in Mecca waiting for divine permission.
The Quraysh, fearing his departure would establish a power base elsewhere, plotted to assassinate him — gathering one man from each tribe so the blood guilt would be distributed among all. Jibril warned the Prophet (SAW.) He left his cousin ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib in his bed (as a decoy — ‘Ali had voluntarily accepted the risk), and departed with Abu Bakr. They hid in the Cave of Thawr for three days while the Quraysh searched with a reward of 100 camels for his capture. When a tracker found the cave’s entrance and the Quraysh approached, Abu Bakr said: “O Messenger of Allah, if they look at their feet they will see us.” The Prophet (SAW) replied: “O Abu Bakr, what do you think of two when Allah is their third?” (9:40)
When they reached Madinah, a new era began — the Medinan period of prophethood and state-building. The Hijra marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar (1 AH).
See also: Prophet Muhammad, Israa Miraj, Kaaba Ibrahim, Ibrahim Al Khalil, Tawhid Divine Unity, Five Pillars Of Islam, Misaak Ceremony