Sirah: The Prophet Muhammad’s life SS1 Islamic Studies Lesson Note

Sirah means the life story of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Learning about his life helps Muslims understand how to follow Islam correctly. The Sirah shows us how the Prophet lived, how he treated people, and how he faced problems.

Early Life

Birth and Childhood

Prophet Muhammad was born in Makkah in the Year of the Elephant (around 570 CE). His father, Abdullah, died before he was born. His mother’s name was Aminah.

When Muhammad was a baby, he was sent to live with a desert woman named Halimah. This was a common practice in Arabia. Children would grow up in the desert, where the air was clean and they could learn pure Arabic.

When Muhammad was six years old, his mother died. His grandfather, Abdul Muttalib, then took care of him. When his grandfather died two years later, Muhammad’s uncle Abu Talib became his guardian.

As a child, Muhammad was known for being honest and trustworthy. He never worshipped idols like most people in Makkah did.

Youth and Early Adulthood

As a young man, Muhammad worked as a shepherd. Later, he became a trader. He would travel with caravans to Syria and other places to buy and sell goods.

People in Makkah trusted Muhammad so much that they gave him the nickname “Al-Amin” (The Trustworthy). They would leave their valuable things with him when they traveled.

When Muhammad was 25 years old, a wealthy businesswoman named Khadijah hired him to manage her trade. She was impressed by his honest work and good character. Later, Khadijah proposed marriage to Muhammad. Even though she was 15 years older than him, he accepted, and they had a happy marriage for 25 years.

Becoming a Prophet

The First Revelation

When Muhammad was 40 years old, he often went to a cave called Hira to think and pray. One night in the month of Ramadan, the angel Jibril (Gabriel) came to him and said, “Read!” Muhammad replied, “I cannot read.” The angel hugged him tightly and repeated, “Read!” This happened three times.

Then the angel taught him the first verses of the Quran: “Read in the name of your Lord who created. Created man from a clinging substance. Read, and your Lord is the most generous. Who taught by the pen. Taught man what he did not know.”

Muhammad was scared and ran home to his wife Khadijah. He was shivering and asked her to cover him. Khadijah comforted him and took him to her cousin Waraqah, who knew about previous holy books. Waraqah told Muhammad that he had been chosen as Allah’s messenger.

Early Preaching

For the first three years, Muhammad only told his close family and friends about Islam. The first people to believe in his message were:

– His wife Khadijah

– His cousin Ali

– His friend Abu Bakr

– His adopted son Zaid

After three years, Allah commanded Muhammad to preach openly to everyone. He stood on a hill called Safa and called all the tribes of Makkah. He asked them, “If I told you there was an army behind this mountain coming to attack you, would you believe me?” They all said yes because they knew he never lied. Then he told them about Islam and warned them about the Day of Judgment.

Hardship and Persecution

When Muhammad started preaching publicly, many people in Makkah became angry. They worshipped idols and made money from pilgrims who came to visit these idols. They were afraid that Muhammad’s message would ruin their business.

The leaders of Makkah tried many ways to stop Muhammad:

– They offered him money and power if he would stop preaching

– They made fun of him and called him names

– They put thorns and dirt on his path

– They threw stones at him until he bled

– They put a heavy animal stomach on his back while he was praying

– They boycotted his clan, so they couldn’t buy or sell anything

Despite all this, Muhammad never gave up. He continued to tell people about Islam with kindness and patience.

Migration to Madinah (Hijrah)

As the persecution got worse, Muhammad sent some of his followers to Abyssinia (Ethiopia) where they found safety with the Christian king there.

Later, some people from a city called Yathrib (later renamed Madinah) came to Makkah and accepted Islam. They invited Muhammad and his followers to come live in their city.

The leaders of Makkah found out about this plan and decided to kill Muhammad. They chose one young man from each tribe to attack him together at night. But Allah informed Muhammad of their plan. He asked his cousin Ali to sleep in his bed, while he and Abu Bakr escaped.

Muhammad and Abu Bakr hid in a cave for three days. The people of Makkah searched for them but couldn’t find them. A spider had made a web at the entrance of the cave, and birds had built nests there, so the searchers thought no one could be inside.

After three days, Muhammad and Abu Bakr continued their journey to Madinah. This journey is called the Hijrah, and it marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar.

Life in Madinah

Building a Community

When Muhammad arrived in Madinah, the first thing he did was build a mosque. This mosque was not just for prayer but also served as a community center, school, and meeting place.

Muhammad also created a brotherhood between the Muhajirun (immigrants from Makkah) and the Ansar (helpers from Madinah). Each person from Madinah took a person from Makkah as his brother and shared his wealth and home with him.

Muhammad wrote a constitution for Madinah that gave rights to all people, including non-Muslims. This was the first written constitution in the world.

The Battles

The people of Makkah were still angry with Muhammad and wanted to destroy Islam. They sent armies to attack Madinah several times.

The first major battle was the Battle of Badr. The Muslims had only 313 fighters, while the Makkans had over 1,000. Despite being outnumbered, the Muslims won this battle with Allah’s help.

The next year, the Makkans attacked again at the Battle of Uhud. At first, the Muslims were winning, but when some archers left their positions, the Makkans were able to attack from behind. Many Muslims were killed, including Muhammad’s uncle Hamza.

The biggest battle was the Battle of the Trench. The Makkans gathered 10,000 soldiers to attack Madinah. Muhammad dug a trench around Madinah to keep them out. The Makkans couldn’t cross the trench and eventually went home without fighting.

Treaty of Hudaybiyah

In the sixth year after Hijrah, Muhammad had a dream that Muslims were performing Umrah (minor pilgrimage) in Makkah. He set out with 1,400 Muslims to perform Umrah, but the Makkans wouldn’t let them enter the city.

Instead, they made a treaty called the Treaty of Hudaybiyah. Some of the terms seemed unfair to Muslims, but Muhammad accepted them. This treaty brought peace for a while and allowed many people to learn about Islam.

The Conquest of Makkah

Two years after the Treaty of Hudaybiyah, the Makkans broke the treaty by attacking a tribe that was allied with the Muslims. Muhammad gathered an army of 10,000 Muslims and marched to Makkah.

The Makkans saw that they couldn’t win, so they surrendered without a fight. Muhammad entered Makkah peacefully. He went to the Kaaba and broke all the idols inside, saying, “Truth has come, and falsehood has vanished.”

Muhammad forgave all the people of Makkah, even those who had hurt him and his followers for many years. He said to them, “Go, for you are free.” This shows his great mercy and forgiveness.

Final Years

Farewell Pilgrimage

In the tenth year after Hijrah, Muhammad performed his only Hajj (pilgrimage). About 124,000 Muslims joined him. During this pilgrimage, he gave his last sermon, known as the Farewell Sermon.

In this sermon, he reminded Muslims to:

– Worship Allah alone

– Treat women kindly

– Leave behind racial pride

– Take care of their families

– Follow the Quran and his example

He asked the people, “Have I conveyed the message?” They all answered, “Yes!” Then he said, “O Allah, bear witness.”

Death

After returning from the Farewell Pilgrimage, Muhammad became ill. He had a high fever and severe headaches. During his illness, he continued to lead prayers when he could.

On the 12th of Rabi al-Awwal, in the 11th year after Hijrah (632 CE), Prophet Muhammad passed away in his wife Aisha’s house. His last words were, “To the highest companion in Heaven.” He was 63 years old.

The Muslims were very sad when they heard about his death. Some couldn’t believe it. Abu Bakr told them, “Whoever worshipped Muhammad, Muhammad is dead. But whoever worships Allah, Allah is alive and will never die.”

Muhammad was buried in Aisha’s room, which is now part of his mosque in Madinah.

Lessons from the Prophet’s Life

Patience in Hardship

Muhammad faced many difficulties in his life. He lost his parents when he was young. People made fun of him and hurt him. But he never gave up or became angry. He was patient and kept teaching people about Islam.

Kindness to All

Muhammad was kind to everyone, even people who were mean to him. Once, an old woman used to throw garbage on him every day when he walked by her house. When she didn’t throw garbage one day, he went to check on her because he was worried she might be sick.

Simple Living

Even though Muhammad could have lived like a king, he chose to live simply. His house was small, his bed was made of palm leaves, and sometimes he went hungry. He gave away most of what he had to people who needed it more.

Love for Children

Muhammad loved children and was very gentle with them. He would greet children, play with them, and carry them on his shoulders. He taught parents to be kind to their children and to raise them with love.

Respect for Women

Muhammad taught people to respect women at a time when women had few rights. He said, “The best of you are those who are best to their wives.” He consulted his wives on important matters and defended women’s rights to education, property, and respect.

The Sirah of Prophet Muhammad teaches us how to live as good Muslims. His life shows us how to be honest, kind, patient, and brave. By following his example, Muslims can become better people and build a better world. Prophet Muhammad’s message of peace, justice, and compassion continues to inspire millions of people around the world today.