Sirah: The Prophet Muhammad’s Life – SS1 Islamic Studies Lesson Note (First Term)

Sirah is the life story of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), from his birth to his death.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. explain the meaning of Sirah
2. describe the birth, childhood and youth of Prophet Muhammad
3. narrate how the first revelation came and how he began to preach Islam
4. explain why the Hijrah happened and why it is important
5. list the main events in Madinah, including the battles, the Treaty of Hudaybiyah and the conquest of Makkah
6. state lessons Muslims can learn from the life of the Prophet

Why do Muslims study the Sirah?

Muslims study the Sirah to learn how to follow Islam correctly through the example of the Prophet.

• Way of life: it shows how the Prophet lived and worshipped.
• Dealing with people: it shows how he treated family, friends, strangers and enemies.
• Facing problems: it shows how he stayed patient and firm in hardship.

What were the early years of Prophet Muhammad like?

Muhammad was born in Makkah around 570 CE, in the Year of the Elephant, and grew up as an orphan known for honesty.

Birth and childhood

• Birth: he was born in Makkah in the Year of the Elephant (around 570 CE).
• Parents: his father Abdullah died before he was born. His mother was Aminah.
• Halimah: as a baby he was sent to live with a desert woman named Halimah. This was common in Arabia.
• Reason for desert life: the air was clean and children learned pure Arabic.
• Loss of his mother: Aminah died when he was six years old.
• Abdul Muttalib: his grandfather then took care of him.
• Abu Talib: when his grandfather died two years later, his uncle Abu Talib became his guardian.
• Character: he was honest and trustworthy, and he never worshipped idols.

Youth and early adulthood

• Work: he worked as a shepherd, then became a trader who travelled with caravans to Syria and other places.
• Al-Amin: people called him “Al-Amin” (The Trustworthy) and left valuables with him when they travelled.
• Khadijah: a wealthy businesswoman, Khadijah, hired him to manage her trade. She was impressed by his honest work and good character.
• Marriage: Khadijah proposed to him. She was about 15 years older, but he accepted.
• Married life: they had a happy marriage of 25 years.

How did Muhammad become a Prophet?

Muhammad became a Prophet at the age of 40, when the angel Jibril (Gabriel) brought him the first revelation in the cave of Hira.

What happened at the first revelation?

1. Muhammad often went to the cave of Hira to think and pray.
2. One night in Ramadan, the angel Jibril came and said, “Read!”
3. Muhammad replied, “I cannot read.”
4. The angel hugged him tightly and repeated, “Read!” This happened three times.
5. The angel then taught him the first verses of the Quran (Surah 96:1-5).
6. Muhammad was frightened and ran home to Khadijah, shivering. He asked her to cover him.
7. Khadijah comforted him and took him to her cousin Waraqah, who knew about earlier holy books.
8. Waraqah told him that he had been chosen as Allah’s messenger.

The first verses taught were: “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.”

How did the Prophet begin to preach?

The Prophet preached secretly for three years, then openly after Allah commanded him.

• Secret preaching: for three years he told only close family and friends.
• Open preaching: Allah then commanded him to preach to everyone.
• Safa hill: he stood on Safa and called the tribes of Makkah.
• His question: “If I told you an army was behind this mountain coming to attack you, would you believe me?”
• Their answer: they said yes, because they knew he never lied.
• His message: he told them about Islam and warned them about the Day of Judgement.

Who were the first Muslims?

The first four believers were Khadijah, Ali, Abu Bakr and Zaid.

• Khadijah: his wife.
• Ali: his cousin.
• Abu Bakr: his close friend.
• Zaid: his adopted son.

Why did the people of Makkah persecute the Muslims?

The Makkan leaders persecuted the Muslims because they feared Islam would end their idol worship and the trade it brought.

• Idols: the Makkans worshipped idols.
• Money: they earned money from pilgrims who came to visit the idols.
• Fear: they thought Muhammad’s message would ruin their business.

What did the Makkan leaders do to stop him?

• Bribery: they offered him money and power if he would stop preaching.
• Mockery: they made fun of him and called him names.
• Thorns and dirt: they put them on his path.
• Stoning: they threw stones at him until he bled.
• Animal stomach: they put a heavy animal stomach on his back while he prayed.
• Boycott: they boycotted his clan, so no one could buy from them or sell to them.

The Prophet did not give up. He kept calling people to Islam with kindness and patience.

What was the migration to Madinah (Hijrah)?

The Hijrah was the Prophet’s migration from Makkah to Madinah in 622 CE to escape persecution.

What led to the Hijrah?

• Abyssinia: as persecution grew, some Muslims went to Abyssinia (Ethiopia). The Christian king there gave them safety.
• Yathrib: people from Yathrib (later renamed Madinah) came to Makkah and accepted Islam.
• Invitation: they invited Muhammad and his followers to live in their city.

How did the Hijrah happen?

1. The Makkan leaders planned to kill Muhammad. They chose one young man from each tribe to attack him together at night.
2. Allah informed Muhammad of the plan.
3. He asked his cousin Ali to sleep in his bed.
4. Muhammad and Abu Bakr escaped and hid in a cave for three days.
5. The Makkans searched but did not find them. Traditional accounts say a spider’s web and birds’ nests at the cave mouth made the searchers think it was empty.
6. After three days, they travelled on to Madinah.

Why is the Hijrah important?

• Safety: it gave the Muslims a safe home.
• Community: it allowed the first Muslim community and state to be built in Madinah.
• Calendar: the Islamic calendar counts its years from the Hijrah (AH means “after Hijrah”).

What happened in Madinah?

In Madinah the Prophet built a mosque, united the people, defended the city and later returned to Makkah in peace.

How did the Prophet build the community?

• Mosque: the first thing he built. It was used for prayer and also served as a community centre, school and meeting place.
• Brotherhood: he joined the Muhajirun (immigrants from Makkah) with the Ansar (helpers from Madinah).
• Sharing: each Ansar took a Muhajir as his brother and shared his wealth and home with him.
• Constitution: he wrote a constitution for Madinah that gave rights to all people, including non-Muslims. It is often described as the first written constitution.

What were the main battles?

The Makkans still wanted to destroy Islam and sent armies against Madinah, leading to three major battles.

• Battle of Badr: the Muslims had only 313 fighters against more than 1,000 Makkans. They won with Allah’s help.
• Battle of Uhud: the Muslims were winning at first. Some archers left their positions, and the Makkans attacked from behind. Many Muslims died, including the Prophet’s uncle Hamza.
• Battle of the Trench: about 10,000 soldiers came against Madinah. The Prophet had a trench dug round the city. The enemy could not cross and went home without fighting.

What was the Treaty of Hudaybiyah?

The Treaty of Hudaybiyah was a peace agreement between the Muslims and the Makkans in the sixth year after Hijrah.

1. Muhammad dreamed that Muslims were performing Umrah (minor pilgrimage) in Makkah.
2. He set out with about 1,400 Muslims to perform it.
3. The Makkans refused to let them enter the city.
4. Both sides made a treaty. Some terms seemed unfair to the Muslims, but Muhammad accepted them.
5. The treaty brought a period of peace, and many people learned about Islam.

How did the conquest of Makkah happen?

The conquest of Makkah was the Muslims’ peaceful entry into Makkah in the eighth year after Hijrah.

1. The Makkans broke the treaty by attacking a tribe allied with the Muslims.
2. Muhammad gathered an army of 10,000 Muslims and marched to Makkah.
3. The Makkans saw they could not win and surrendered without a fight.
4. Muhammad entered peacefully and went to the Kaaba.
5. He removed the idols, saying, “Truth has come, and falsehood has vanished.”
6. He forgave the people of Makkah, even those who had harmed Muslims for years. He said, “Go, for you are free.”

This shows his great mercy and forgiveness.

What are the key dates in the Sirah?

What happened in the final years of the Prophet?

In his final years the Prophet performed his only Hajj, gave the Farewell Sermon and then died in Madinah.

What was the Farewell Pilgrimage?

The Farewell Pilgrimage was the Prophet’s only Hajj, performed in the tenth year after Hijrah with a very large crowd of Muslims.

In his last sermon, the Farewell 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, “Have I conveyed the message?” The people answered, “Yes!” He replied, “O Allah, bear witness.”

How did the Prophet die?

1. After returning from the pilgrimage, he became ill with a high fever and severe headaches.
2. He continued to lead prayers when he could.
3. On 12 Rabi al-Awwal, in the 11th year after Hijrah (632 CE), he passed away in his wife Aisha’s house.
4. His last words were, “To the highest companion in Heaven.” He was 63 years old.
5. Some Muslims could not believe he had died. Abu Bakr told them, “Whoever worshipped Muhammad, Muhammad is dead. But whoever worships Allah, Allah is alive and will never die.”
6. He was buried in Aisha’s room, which is now part of his mosque in Madinah.

What lessons can we learn from the Prophet’s life?

The Prophet’s life teaches Muslims to be honest, kind, patient and brave.

• Patience in hardship: he lost his parents young and was mocked and hurt, yet he never gave up or turned to anger.
• Kindness to all: he was kind even to people who were unkind to him. A popular story tells of an old woman who threw rubbish on him daily. When she stopped, he visited her in case she was sick.
• Simple living: he could have lived like a king but lived simply. His house was small, his bed was a mat of palm leaves, and he sometimes went hungry. He gave away most of what he had.
• Love for children: he greeted children, played with them and carried them on his shoulders. He taught parents to raise children with love.
• Respect for women: he taught respect for women when women had few rights. He said, “The best of you are those who are best to their wives.” He consulted his wives and defended women’s rights to education, property and respect.
• Following his example: by copying his honesty, kindness, patience and courage, Muslims become better people and build a better world.

Evaluation

1. What is the meaning of Sirah?
2. Describe how the first revelation came to Prophet Muhammad in the cave of Hira.
3. State four ways the leaders of Makkah tried to stop Muhammad from preaching.
4. What is the Hijrah, and why is it important?
5. Name the three major battles fought between the Muslims and the Makkans.

Assignment

Write a short account of the conquest of Makkah and explain what it teaches us about forgiveness. Give one example of how you can practise forgiveness at school or at home.