Prophet Muhammad (SAW) Basic 4 Islamic Studies Lesson Note

His Qualities Before Prophethood

Early Life (Birth to Age 40)

Birth and Childhood:

• Born in Makkah in the Year of the Elephant (570 CE)
• His father Abdullah died before he was born
• His mother Aminah died when he was 6 years old
• He was raised by his grandfather Abdul-Muttalib, then his uncle Abu Talib

Physical Appearance:

• He was of medium height with a beautiful face
• He had black hair and eyes
• He was strong and healthy
• People said he was the most handsome man they had ever seen

Character Qualities Before Prophethood

As-Sadiq (The Truthful):

• He never told a lie in his entire life
• People trusted him completely when he spoke
• Even his enemies knew he always told the truth
• He was known for keeping his word and promises

Al-Amin (The Trustworthy):

• People gave him their valuable things to keep safe
• Everyone in Makkah trusted him with their belongings
• He was honest in all his business dealings
• Even those who later opposed him admitted his trustworthiness

Kind and Compassionate:

• He was gentle with children and loved to play with them
• He helped poor people and orphans
• He was kind to animals and never hurt them
• He cared about everyone’s feelings and needs

Just and Fair:

• He always treated people equally
• He stood up for what was right
• He helped solve disputes between people
• He never took sides unfairly

Wise and Thoughtful:

• He was known for giving good advice
• People came to him to solve their problems
• He thought carefully before making decisions
• Even as a young man, he was respected for his wisdom

Generous:

• He shared what he had with those in need
• He was never greedy or selfish
• He helped his family and neighbors
• He gave food to hungry people

His Business Life

Working as a Trader:

• He worked as a merchant (businessman)
• He traveled to different countries to buy and sell goods
• He was known for being honest in all his business
• He never cheated or lied to customers

Marriage to Khadijah:

• Khadijah was a wealthy businesswoman who hired him
• She was impressed by his honesty and good character
• She proposed marriage to him when he was 25 years old
• They had a very happy marriage and she supported him greatly

Reputation in Makkah:

• Everyone in Makkah respected him
• They called him “As-Sadiq Al-Amin” (The Truthful and Trustworthy)
• People asked him to judge their disputes
• He was considered one of the best men in the city

His Spiritual Nature

Love for Meditation:

• He often went to the cave of Hira to think and pray
• He didn’t like the idol worship of his people
• He believed there was only one God
• He spent time reflecting on the meaning of life

Helping the Needy:

• He always helped poor and orphaned children
• He was part of “Hilf al-Fudul” – a group that helped oppressed people
• He stood against injustice and oppression
• He cared about making society better

His Life from Prophethood to Establishment of Islamic Ummah in Medinah

The Beginning of Prophethood (Age 40)

The First Revelation:

• At age 40, while meditating in Cave Hira, Angel Jibril (Gabriel) came to him
• The angel said “Read!” but Muhammad (SAW) said “I cannot read”
• This happened three times, then the angel taught him the first verses of the Quran
• The first revelation was from Surah Al-Alaq: “Read in the name of your Lord who created”

His Reaction:

• He was frightened by this amazing experience
• He ran home to his wife Khadijah and told her what happened
• Khadijah comforted him and said Allah would not let any harm come to him
• She became the first person to believe in his message

Early Support:

• Khadijah (his wife) was the first to accept Islam
• Ali ibn Abi Talib (his young cousin) was the first child to believe
• Abu Bakr (his close friend) was the first adult man to accept Islam
• Zaid ibn Harithah (his adopted son) also became Muslim early

The Secret Period (First 3 Years)

Private Preaching:

• For the first three years, he taught Islam secretly
• He shared the message with close family and friends
• Small groups of people began to accept Islam
• They met in secret places to pray and learn

The Message:

• Worship Allah alone and reject idol worship
• Be honest, kind, and just
• Help the poor and needy
• Prepare for the Day of Judgment

Public Preaching (Years 4-13 in Makkah) 

The Public Call:

• Allah commanded him to preach openly to all people
• He climbed Mount Safa and called the people of Makkah
• He told them to worship Allah alone and stop worshipping idols
• Most people rejected his message and became angry

Opposition from Quraish:

• The leaders of Makkah strongly opposed Islam
• They feared losing their power and wealth
• They tried to bribe him with money and offers of marriage
• When he refused, they began to persecute him and his followers

Persecution of Muslims:

• Early Muslims faced terrible treatment
• They were beaten, tortured, and boycotted
• Some were forced to lie on hot sand in the desert
• The Prophet (SAW) and his followers endured great suffering

Protection by Abu Talib:

• His uncle Abu Talib protected him from his enemies
• Though Abu Talib didn’t accept Islam, he loved his nephew
• The Quraish couldn’t harm the Prophet while Abu Talib lived
• This protection allowed him to continue preaching

Major Events in Makkah

The Year of Sadness (10th year of Prophethood):

• His beloved wife Khadijah died
• His uncle and protector Abu Talib also died
• This made life very difficult for the Prophet and Muslims
• The persecution increased after losing these two supporters

The Night Journey (Isra and Mi’raj):

• Allah took the Prophet on a miraculous journey at night
• He traveled from Makkah to Jerusalem, then up to the heavens
• He met previous prophets and spoke with Allah
• This journey strengthened him for the challenges ahead

The Search for New Support:

• After Abu Talib’s death, he needed new protection
• He went to the city of Taif to ask for support
• The people of Taif rejected him and threw stones at him
• He returned to Makkah under the protection of Mut’im ibn Adi

The Migration to Madinah (Hijrah)

The Invitation from Madinah:

• People from the city of Yathrib (later called Madinah) visited Makkah
• They heard the Prophet’s message and many accepted Islam
• They invited him to come to their city where he would be safe
• This was Allah’s plan to establish Islam in a new place

The Secret Plan:

• The Quraish planned to kill the Prophet to stop Islam
• Allah revealed their plan to the Prophet
• He and Abu Bakr secretly left Makkah at night
• They hid in the cave of Thawr for three days

The Journey:

• After three days, they continued their journey to Madinah
• The people of Madinah welcomed them with great joy
• This migration (Hijrah) marked the beginning of the Islamic calendar
• It was the year 622 CE

Establishment of Islamic Ummah in Madinah

Building the First Islamic Community:

• The Prophet established the first Islamic state in Madinah
• He built the first mosque (Masjid an-Nabawi)
• He created laws based on Islamic teachings
• He united the different tribes under Islam

The Constitution of Madinah:

• He wrote a constitution that guaranteed rights for all citizens
• Muslims, Jews, and other tribes were protected equally
• Everyone had religious freedom
• All citizens had duties and rights

Brotherhood Between Muhajirun and Ansar:

• Muhajirun: Muslims who migrated from Makkah
• Ansar: Muslims of Madinah who helped the migrants
• The Prophet made them brothers to each other
• The Ansar shared their homes and wealth with the Muhajirun

Key Achievements in Madinah:

Religious Establishment:

• Regular prayers were established with the call to prayer (Adhan)
• The direction of prayer (Qiblah) was changed from Jerusalem to Makkah
• Zakat (charity) system was organized
• Fasting in Ramadan was made obligatory

Social Reforms:

• Women’s rights were protected and improved
• Slavery was discouraged and freeing slaves was encouraged
• Justice system was established based on Islamic law
• Education and learning were promoted

Economic System:

• Fair trade and business practices were established
• Interest (Riba) was forbidden
• Wealth distribution through Zakat helped the poor
• The economy was based on justice and fairness

Political Structure:

• The Prophet became the leader of the Islamic state
• Laws were based on Quranic teachings
• Different tribes united under Islamic brotherhood
• A just and fair government was established

The Growing Muslim Community

Increasing Numbers:

• More people in Madinah accepted Islam
• Delegations came from other tribes to learn about Islam
• The Muslim community grew stronger each year
• Islam began to spread beyond Madinah

Challenges and Growth:

• The community faced attacks from Makkah and other enemies
• Through various battles, Muslims defended their new state
• Each challenge made the community stronger and more united
• The Islamic principles were tested and proven successful

The Foundation of Islamic Civilization:

• The basic principles of Islamic society were established
• Education, justice, charity, and brotherhood became central values
• The model created in Madinah would inspire Muslims for centuries
• This was the beginning of Islamic civilization

Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

1. Before becoming a prophet, Muhammad (SAW) was known as _______ and _______.
2. He received his first revelation at the age of _______.
3. The first person to believe in Islam was _______.
4. The migration to Madinah is called _______.

Exercise 2: True or False

1. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was known for his honesty before becoming a prophet. _____
2. He could read and write before receiving revelation. _____
3. Abu Talib was the first adult man to accept Islam. _____
4. The Islamic calendar begins with the Hijrah to Madinah. _____