بسم الله الرحمان الرحيم
In the Name of Allah,
the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Under his Uncle's care
After the death of Abdul Muttalib, his son Abu Talib
took Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم under his care. Abu Talib
and Abdullah, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم 's father, were
brothers, both born of the same mother. Abu Talib was not
a wealthy man, but Muhammad brought Allah's blessings with
him, and suddenly Abu Talib found that he could support his
family easily with a small sum of money.
Bahira's warning
When Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم was twelve years old (
some sources specify that he was twelve years, two months
and ten days old ), Abu Talib decided to take Muhammad
صلى الله عليه وسلم with him.
Once the caravan reached Basra on the border of Syria, the
travelers broke journey for a short stay. A Christian monk by
the name of Bahira lived in this city, and he came to welcome
the caravan. He walked past all the travelers approached the
young Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم. Holding Muhammad
صلى الله عليه وسلم 's hand, he said :
''This is the chief of the world and the Messenger of the Lord.
God has sent him as a mercy for all mankind.''
''Why do you say this ?'' the people inquired of him.
Bahira explained :
''When he came this side of the pass, stones and trees bowed
in prostration. They do not prostrate for anyone other than a
Prophet. Moreover, I recognized him from the Seal of Prophet-
hood, which lies like an apple on the soft bone below his shoulders.
It is mentioned in our Scriptures.''
Bahira then held a feast in honor of the caravan. Later he took Abu
Talib aside and pleaded with him not to take Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم
any further. He urged him to send the boy back. He feared that the
Jews and Romans might recognize him as the Promised Messenger,
in which case, he felt, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم 's life would be
endangered. Abu Talib heeded the monk's warnings and, concerned
for his nephew's safety, sent Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم back to
Makkah.
Coming of age in Makkah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم played an
active role in his society and participated in some significant events
in the community, two of which are recounted below.
The Battle of Fijar
When Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم was twenty years old, a battle
broke out at the Fair of 'Okaz in the month of Dhul Qa'dah. The
warring tribes were the Quraysh and Kinana on one side and the
Qays Ghilan on the other. The fighting was fierce, and several people
on both sides were killed.
At last they made peace on condition that whichever side had suffered
the most casualties would get blood money ( recompense for unlawful
killing ). This battle was the fourth and most deadly in a series of skirm-
ishes that had erupted each of the previous three years. It would, how-
ever, be the last. It came to be known as the Battle of Fijar ( Arabic for
immorality ) as it took place in a sacred month when fighting was prohi-
bited and violates the sanctity of a sacred month with bloodshed.
As a member of the Quraysh, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم was also
present in the battle. His role was to collect the enemy's arrows and
hand them over to his uncles.
Hilf Al- Fudool
In the wake of the Battle of Fijar, later that month a covenant, was
agreed upon among the five tribes of the Quraysh. It was known as
Hilf Al- Fudool, and ifs signatories were Banu Hashim, Banu Abdul
Muttalib, Banu Asad, Banu Zahra, and Banu Taym.
This covenant was born in response to a shameful denial of justice
to a sranger. A man came from Zabid to sell his merchandise in
Makkah. A local resident by the name of Aas bin Wayel took all
of the stranger's goods, but refused to pay for them. The helpless
stranger approached the people of Banu Abdul Dar, Banu Makh-
zoom, Banu Jamah, Banu Sahm and Banu Adiy, all of whom igno-
red his cry for redress. In desperation, he climbed atop a hill called
Jabal Abu Qays and informed everyone of how all his goods had
been stolen. Then he implored his listeners to come forward to help
him. His plea was answered by Zubayr bin Abdul Muttalib, who
volunteered to help the unfortunate stranger.
Zubayr called on representatives of all the clans to assemble in the
house of Abdullah bin Jad'an of Banu Taym. At this assembly, the
tribal leaders agreed that henceforth they would stand up for any-
one who had suffered injustice, regardless of his tribal affiliation.
They then forced Aas bin Wayel to return the merchandise he had
taken.
Muhammad was also present with his uncles during the institution
of the covenant, which he regarded as an honorable pact. Long
after Allah had made him a prophet, he was to declare :
In the Name of Allah,
the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Under his Uncle's care
After the death of Abdul Muttalib, his son Abu Talib
took Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم under his care. Abu Talib
and Abdullah, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم 's father, were
brothers, both born of the same mother. Abu Talib was not
a wealthy man, but Muhammad brought Allah's blessings with
him, and suddenly Abu Talib found that he could support his
family easily with a small sum of money.
Bahira's warning
When Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم was twelve years old (
some sources specify that he was twelve years, two months
and ten days old ), Abu Talib decided to take Muhammad
صلى الله عليه وسلم with him.
Once the caravan reached Basra on the border of Syria, the
travelers broke journey for a short stay. A Christian monk by
the name of Bahira lived in this city, and he came to welcome
the caravan. He walked past all the travelers approached the
young Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم. Holding Muhammad
صلى الله عليه وسلم 's hand, he said :
''This is the chief of the world and the Messenger of the Lord.
God has sent him as a mercy for all mankind.''
''Why do you say this ?'' the people inquired of him.
Bahira explained :
''When he came this side of the pass, stones and trees bowed
in prostration. They do not prostrate for anyone other than a
Prophet. Moreover, I recognized him from the Seal of Prophet-
hood, which lies like an apple on the soft bone below his shoulders.
It is mentioned in our Scriptures.''
Bahira then held a feast in honor of the caravan. Later he took Abu
Talib aside and pleaded with him not to take Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم
any further. He urged him to send the boy back. He feared that the
Jews and Romans might recognize him as the Promised Messenger,
in which case, he felt, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم 's life would be
endangered. Abu Talib heeded the monk's warnings and, concerned
for his nephew's safety, sent Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم back to
Makkah.
Coming of age in Makkah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم played an
active role in his society and participated in some significant events
in the community, two of which are recounted below.
The Battle of Fijar
When Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم was twenty years old, a battle
broke out at the Fair of 'Okaz in the month of Dhul Qa'dah. The
warring tribes were the Quraysh and Kinana on one side and the
Qays Ghilan on the other. The fighting was fierce, and several people
on both sides were killed.
At last they made peace on condition that whichever side had suffered
the most casualties would get blood money ( recompense for unlawful
killing ). This battle was the fourth and most deadly in a series of skirm-
ishes that had erupted each of the previous three years. It would, how-
ever, be the last. It came to be known as the Battle of Fijar ( Arabic for
immorality ) as it took place in a sacred month when fighting was prohi-
bited and violates the sanctity of a sacred month with bloodshed.
As a member of the Quraysh, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم was also
present in the battle. His role was to collect the enemy's arrows and
hand them over to his uncles.
Hilf Al- Fudool
In the wake of the Battle of Fijar, later that month a covenant, was
agreed upon among the five tribes of the Quraysh. It was known as
Hilf Al- Fudool, and ifs signatories were Banu Hashim, Banu Abdul
Muttalib, Banu Asad, Banu Zahra, and Banu Taym.
This covenant was born in response to a shameful denial of justice
to a sranger. A man came from Zabid to sell his merchandise in
Makkah. A local resident by the name of Aas bin Wayel took all
of the stranger's goods, but refused to pay for them. The helpless
stranger approached the people of Banu Abdul Dar, Banu Makh-
zoom, Banu Jamah, Banu Sahm and Banu Adiy, all of whom igno-
red his cry for redress. In desperation, he climbed atop a hill called
Jabal Abu Qays and informed everyone of how all his goods had
been stolen. Then he implored his listeners to come forward to help
him. His plea was answered by Zubayr bin Abdul Muttalib, who
volunteered to help the unfortunate stranger.
Zubayr called on representatives of all the clans to assemble in the
house of Abdullah bin Jad'an of Banu Taym. At this assembly, the
tribal leaders agreed that henceforth they would stand up for any-
one who had suffered injustice, regardless of his tribal affiliation.
They then forced Aas bin Wayel to return the merchandise he had
taken.
Muhammad was also present with his uncles during the institution
of the covenant, which he regarded as an honorable pact. Long
after Allah had made him a prophet, he was to declare :
''I was present when a covenant was agreed upon in the
house of Abdullah bin Jad'an, and I would not accept even
a red camel in lieu of it. Had I been asked to uphold it even
in the days of Islam, I would have agreed.''
Extracts from When the Moon Split
by Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri
by Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri
Comments
Post a Comment