[Style Mantra]

Bismillah-i-rahman-i-raheem...Is thread mein main ap sab ko aisi personalities se taaruf karwaon ga jo k hum mein se kisi na kisi ki favourite hain...is thread mein unki life history un k works sab kuch ki info dun ga Inshallah jahan tak k main un personalities ko janta hoon...I'll start 4m our Holy Prophet Hazrat Mohammad SAWW da 1 n only unmatchable human being ever born...unki tareef unki shaan bayan karnay k liyai aj tak ka har lafz chota sabit hua hai...unki tareef karna sooraj ko chiragh dikhanay se kam nahi aur yaqeenan woh hum sab k ideal hain aur favourite personailty b hain kyun k unka mad-o-muqabil na koi hai na ki ho sakta hai...

[Style Mantra]

"Wama Arsalnaka Illa Rehamtallil Aalameen"

Muhammad SAWW ibn ‘Abd Allāh (c. 570 Makkah - June 8, 632 Madina),was the founder of Islam and is regarded by Muslims as the last messenger and prophet of God. Muslims do not believe that he was the creator of a new religion, but the restorer of the original, uncorrupted monotheistic faith of Adam, Abraham and others. They see him as the last and the greatest in a series of prophets.

Sources on Muhammad SAWW’s life concur that he was born ca. 570 CE in the city of Makkah in Arabia.He was orphaned at a young age and was brought up by his uncle, later worked mostly as a merchant, and was married by age 26. At some point, discontented with life in Makkah, he retreated to a cave in the surrounding mountains for meditation and reflection. According to Islamic tradition, it was here at age 40, in the month of Ramadan, where he received his first revelation from God. Three years after this event, Muhammad SAWW started preaching these revelations publicly, proclaiming that "God is One", that complete "surrender" to Him (lit. islām) is the only religion (dīn),acceptable to God, and that he was a prophet and messenger of God, in the same vein as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, and other prophets.

Muhammad SAWW gained few followers early on, and was largely met with hostility from the tribes of Makkah; he was treated harshly and so were his followers. To escape persecution, Muhammad SAWW and his followers migrated to Yathrib (Medina) in the year 622. This historic event, the Hijra, marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar. In Medina, Muhammad SAWW managed to unite the conflicting tribes, and after eight years of fighting with the Makkahn tribes, his followers, who by then had grown to ten thousand, conquered Makkah. In 632, on returning to Medina from his 'Farewell pilgrimage', Muhammad SAWW fell ill and died. By the time of his death, most of Arabia had converted to Islam.

The revelations (or Ayats, lit. Signs of God), which Muhammad SAWW reported receiving till his death, form the verses of the Qur'an, regarded by Muslims as the “word of God”, around which the religion is based. Besides the Qur'an, Muhammad SAWW’s life (sira) and traditions (sunnah) are also upheld by Muslims.

Etymology

The name Muhammad SAWW literally means "Praiseworthy".Within Islam, Muhammad SAWW is known as Nabi (Prophet) and Rasul (Messenger). Although the Qur'an sometimes declines to make a distinction among prophets, in Surah 33:40 it singles out Muhammad SAWW as the "Seal of the Prophets". The Qur'an also refers to Muhammad SAWW as "Ahmad" (Surah 61:6) (Arabic :أحمد), Arabic for "more praiseworthy".

Biography

Genealogy

Muhammad SAWW was born into the Quraysh tribe. He was the son of Abd Allah, son of Abd al-Muttalib (Shaiba) son of Hashim (Amr) ibn Abd Manaf (al-Mughira) son of Qusai (Zaid) ibn Kilab ibn Murra son of Ka'b ibn Lu'ay son of Ghalib ibn Fahr (Quraysh) son of Malik ibn an-Nadr (Qais) the son of Kinana son of Khuzaimah son of Mudrikah (Amir) son of Ilyas son of Mudar son of Nizar son of Ma'ad ibn Adnan, whom the northern Arabs believe to be their common ancestor. Adnan in turn is said to have been a descendant of Ishmael, son of Abraham.

Childhood

Muhammad SAWW was born into the family of Banu Hashim, one of the better class families of Makkah but the family seems to have not been prosperous during Muhammad SAWW's early lifetime. Tradition places Muhammad SAWW's birth in the Year of the Elephant, commonly identified with 570. Western historians hitherto had accepted the Year of the Elephant to be 570, however according to Watt some new discoveries suggest that the Year of the Elephant might have been 569 or 568. Welch on the other hand holds that the Year of the Elephant should have taken place considerably earlier than 570 and further argues that Muhammad SAWW may have been born even later than 570.

Muhammad SAWW's birthday is considered by Sunni Muslims to have been the 12th day of the month of Rabi'-ul-Awwal, the third month of the Muslim calendar. Shi'a Muslims believe it to have been the dawn of 17th of the month of Rabi'-ul-Awwal.

Muhammad SAWW's father, Abdullah, died almost six months before he was born. According to the tradition, soon after Muhammad SAWW's birth, he was sent to live with a Bedouin family in the desert as the desert-life was considered healthier for infants. Muhammad SAWW stayed with her foster-mother, Halimah bint Abi Dhuayb, and her husband until he was two years old. Some western scholars of Islam have rejected the historicity of this tradition. At the age of six, Muhammad SAWW lost his mother Amina to illness and he became fully orphaned. He was subsequently brought up for two years under the guardianship of his paternal grandfather Abd al-Muttalib, of the Banu Hashim clan of the Quraysh tribe. When he was eight years of age, his grandfather also died. Muhammad SAWW now came under the care of his uncle Abu Talib, the new leader of the Hashim clan of Hashim tribe. According to Watt, because of the general disregard of the guardians in taking care of the weak members of the tribes in Makkah in sixth century, "Muhammad SAWW's guardians saw that he did not starve to death, but it was hard for them to do more for him, especially as the fortunes of the clan of Hashim seems to have been declining at that time."

Makkah was a thriving commercial center. There was an important shrine in Makkah (now called the Kaaba) that housed statues of many Arabian gods. Merchants from various tribes would visit Makkah during the pilgrimage season, when all inter-tribal warfare was forbidden and they could trade in safety.[citation needed] While still in his teens, Muhammad SAWW began accompanying his uncle on trading journeys to Syria gaining some experience in commercial career; the only career open to Muhammad SAWW as an orphan.

Middle years

Little is known of Muhammad SAWW during his youth, and from the fragmentary information that we have, it is hard to separate history from legend. It is known that he became a merchant and "was involved in trade between the Indian ocean and the Mediterranean Sea." He was given the nickname "Al-Amin" (Arabic: الامين), meaning "faithful, trustworthy" and was sought out as an impartial arbitrator. His reputation attracted a proposal from Khadijah, a forty-year-old widow in 595.Muhammad SAWW consented to the marriage, which by all accounts was a happy one.

Ibn Ishaq records that Khadijah bore Muhammad SAWW six children: two sons named Al Qasem and Abdullah (who is also called Abdullah Al Tayeb or Abdullah Al Taher), and four daughters: Zainab, Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthum, and Fatima. Muhammad SAWW was called Abu Al-Qasim (father of Qasim) after his eldest son Qasim, according to Arab customs. All of Khadija's children were born before Muhammad SAWW reported receiving his first revelation. Both of Muhammad SAWW's sons died in childhood, with Qasim dying at the age of two.

According to the Muslim tradition, the young Muhammad SAWW played a role in the restoration of the Kaaba, after parts of it had been destroyed by one of Makkah's frequent flash floods. When the reconstruction was almost done, disagreements arose as to who would have the honor of lifting the Black Stone into place and different clans were about to take up arm against each other. One of the elders suggested they take the advice of the first one who entered the gates of the Haram. This happened to be Muhammad SAWW. He spread out his cloak, put the stone in the middle and had members of the four major clans raise it to its destined position. The cloak became an important symbol for later poets and writers.

The Beginnings of the Qur'an

Muhammad SAWW often retreated to Mount Hira near Makkah. Islamic tradition holds that the angel Gabriel began communicating with him here in the year 610 and commanded Muhammad SAWW to recite the following verses:

Proclaim! (or read!) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created- Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood: Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful,- He Who taught (the use of) the pen,- Taught man that which he knew not.(Surah 96:1-5)

Upon receiving his first revelations he was deeply distressed. When he returned home he related the event to his wife Khadijah, and told her that he contemplated throwing himself off the top of a mountain.He was consoled and reassured by Khadijah and her Christian cousin, Waraqah ibn Nawfal. Waraqah was immediately enthusiastic, but Khadijah proceeded more cautiously, and was only satisfied that the revelations had indeed come from a good source after the conclusion of a test she had devised to determine that very thing.[citation needed][clarify] This was followed by a pause of three years during which Muhammad SAWW had gave himself up further to prayers and spiritual practices. When the revelations resumed he was reassured and commanded to begin preaching (Surah 93:1-11).

According to Welch, these revelations were accompanied by mysterious seizures as the reports are unlikely to have been forged by later Muslims. Muhammad SAWW was confident that he could distinguish his own thoughts from these messages.

Early years in Makkah

According to the Muslim tradition, Muhammad SAWW's wife Khadija was the first to believe he was a prophet. She was soon followed by Muhammad SAWW's ten-year-old cousin Ali ibn Abi Talib, close friend Abu Bakr, and adopted son Zaid. The Identity of first male Muslim is very controversial.

Around 613, Muhammad SAWW began to preach amongst Makkahns most of whom ignored it and a few mocked him, while some others became his followers. There were three main groups of early converts to Islam: younger brothers and sons of great merchants; people who had fallen out of the first rank in their tribe or failed to attain it; and the weak, mostly unprotected foreigners.

According to Ibn Sad, in this period, the Quraysh "did not criticize what he [Muhammad SAWW] said... When he passed by them as they sat in groups, they would point out to him and say "There is the youth of the clan of Abd al-Muttalib who speaks (things) from heaven." According to Welch, the Qur'anic verses at this time were not "based on a dogmatic conception of monotheism but on a strong general moral and religious appeal". Its key themes include the moral responsibility of man towards his creator; the resurrection of dead, God's final judgment followed by vivid descriptions of the tortures in hell and pleasures in Paradise; use of the nature and wonders of everyday life, particularly the phenomenon of man, as signs of God to show the existence of a greater power who will take into account the greed of people and their suppression of the poor. Religious duties required of the believers at this time were few: belief in God, asking for forgiveness of sins, offering frequent prayers, assisting others particularly those in need, rejecting cheating and the love of wealth (considered to be significant in the commercial life of Makkah), being chaste and not to kill new-born girls.

Opposition in Makkah

According to Ibn Sad, the opposition in Makkah started when Muhammad SAWW delivered verses that "spoke shamefully of the idols they [the Makkahns] worshiped other than ...[God] and mentioned the perdition of their fathers who died in disbelief."According to Watt, as the ranks of Muhammad SAWW's followers swelled, he became a threat to the local tribes and the rulers of the city, whose wealth rested upon the Kaaba, the focal point of Makkahn religious life, which Muhammad SAWW threatened to overthrow. Muhammad SAWW’s denunciation of the Makkahn traditional religion was especially offensive to his own tribe, the Quraysh, as they were the guardians of the Ka'aba.

The great merchants tried (but failed) to come to some arrangements with Muhammad SAWW in exchange for abandoning his preaching. They offered him admission into the inner circle of merchants and establishing his position in the circle by an advantageous marriage. Some western scholars suggest that the opposition became an open breach after the incident of the satanic verses (see below).

Tradition records at great length the persecution and ill-treatment of Muhammad SAWW and his followers.Sumayya bint Khubbat, a slave of Abū Jahl and a prominent Makkahn leader, is famous as the first martyr of Islam, having been killed with a spear by her master when she refused to give up her faith. Bilal, another Muslim slave, was tortured by Umayya ibn khalaf who placed a heavy rock on his chest to force his conversion.Apart from insults, Muhammad SAWW was protected from physical harm due to belonging to the Banu Hashim.

In 615, some of Muhammad SAWW's followers emigrated to the Ethiopian Kingdom of Aksum and founded a small colony there under the protection of the Christian Ethiopian king. While the traditions view the persecutions of Makkahns to have played the major role in the emigration, William Montgomery Watt states "there is reason to believe that some sort of division within the embryonic Muslim community played a role and that some of the emigrants may have gone to Abyssinia to engage in trade, possibly in competition with prominent merchant families in Makkah."

The earliest biographies describe Muhammad SAWW at this time delivering what Western scholars have dubbed the "satanic verses", which recognized the existence of three Makkahn goddesses considered to be the daughters of Allah. Muhammad SAWW later retracted the verses saying Gabriel had instructed him to do so. Islamic scholars vigorously objected to the historicity of the incident as early as the tenth century CE. The relations between the Muslims and their pagan fellow-tribesmen rapidly deteriorated.

According to the tradition, the leaders of Makhzum and Abd Shams, two important clans of Quraysh, declared a public boycott against the clan of Banu Hashim, their commercial rival in order to put pressure on the clan. The boycott lasted for three years.

Last years in Makkah

In 619, the "year of sorrows," both Muhammad SAWW's wife Khadijah and his uncle Abu Talib died. The relationship between Muhammad SAWW's followers and Muhammad SAWW's own Quraysh tribe, already bad, further worsened.

Muhammad SAWW then tried to establish himself in another important city in Arabia, Ta'if, but his effort failed and further brought him into physical danger. Muhammad SAWW returned to Makkah. A Makkahn man named Mut'im b. Adi made it possible for him safely to re-enter his native city.Many people were visiting Makkah on business or as pilgrims to the Kaaba. Muhammad SAWW took this opportunity to look for a new home for himself and his followers. After several unsuccessful negotiations, he found hope with some men from Yathrib (later called Medina). The Arab population of Yathrib were somewhat familiar with monotheism because a Jewish community existed in that city.

Isra and Mi'raj

Some time in 620, Muhammad SAWW told his followers that he had experienced the Isra and Miraj, a miraculous journey said to have been accomplished in one night along with the angel Gabriel. In the first part of the journey, the Isra, he is said to have travelled from Makkah to "the farthest mosque" (in Arabic: masjid al-aqsa), which Muslims usually identify with the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. In the second part, the Miraj, Muhammad SAWW is said to have toured heaven and hell, and spoken with earlier prophets, such as Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. Ibn Ishaq, author of first biography of Muhammad SAWW, presents this event as a spiritual experience while later historians like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir present it as a physical journey.Those Muslims subscribing to the latter view consider the Foundation Stone under the Dome of the Rock to be the site from which Muhammad SAWW ascended to heaven on the Buraq.

Hijra to Medina

A delegation from Medina, consisting of the representatives of the twelve important clans of Medina, invited Muhammad SAWW as a neutral outsider to Medina to serve as the chief arbitrator for the entire community. There was fighting in Yathrib mainly involving its Arab and Jewish inhabitants for around a hundred years before 620. The recurring slaughters and disagreements over the resulting claims, especially after the battle of Bu'ath in which all the clans were involved, made it obvious to them that the tribal conceptions of blood-feud and an eye for an eye were no longer workable unless "there was one man with authority to adjudicate in disputed cases."

By 622, Muhammad SAWW then emigrated to Medina, then known as Yathrib, a large agricultural oasis. This Hijra or emigration (traditionally translated into English as "flight") marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar. The Muslim calendar counts dates from the Hijra, which is why Muslim dates have the suffix AH (After Hijra). Other Muslims followed Muhammad SAWW and emigrated to Medina. Following the emigration, the Makkahns seized the properties of the Muslim emigrants in Makkah.

Among the things Muhammad SAWW did in order to settle down the longstanding grievances among the tribes of Medina was drafting a document known as the Constitution of Medina (date debated), "establishing a kind of alliance or federation" among the eight Medinan tribes and Muslim emigrants from Makkah, which specified the rights and duties of all citizens and the relationship of the different communities in Medina (including that of the Muslim community to other communities specifically the Jews and other "Peoples of the Book").

Beginnings of armed conflict

Economically uprooted and with no available profession besides that of arms, the Muslim migrants turned to raiding Makkahn caravans for their livelihood, thus initiating armed conflict between the Muslims and Makkah.Muhammad SAWW delivered Qur'anic verses permitting the Muslims to fight the Makkahns (see Qur'an 22:39-40). These attacks provoked and pressured Makkah by interfering with trade, and allowed the Muslims to acquire wealth, power and prestige while working toward their ultimate goal of inducing Makkah's submission to the new faith. In March of 624, Muhammad SAWW led some three hundred warriors in a raid on a Makkahn merchant caravan. The Muslims set an ambush for the Makkahns at Badr. Aware of the plan, the Makkahn caravan eluded Muslims. Meanwhile a force from Makkah was sent to protect the caravan. The force did not return home upon hearing that the caravan was safe. The battle of Badr began in March of 624.Though outnumbered more than three to one, the Muslims won the battle, killing at least forty-five Makkahns and taking seventy prisoners for ransom; only fourteen Muslims died. They had also succeeded in killing many of the Makkahn leaders, including Abu Jahl. Muhammad SAWW himself did not fight, directing the battle from a nearby hut alongside Abu Bakr. In the weeks following the battle, Makkahns visited Medina in order to ransom captives from Badr. Many of these had belonged to wealthy families, and were likely ransomed for a considerable sum. Those captives who were not sufficiently influencal or wealthy were usually freed without ransom. Muhammad SAWW's decision was that those who were wealthy but did not ransomed themselves should be killed.Muhammad SAWW ordered the immediate execution of two men without entertaining offers for their release.One of the men, Uqba ibn Abu Mu'ayt, had written verses about Muhammad SAWW, and the other had said that his own stories about Persians were as good as the tales of the Qur'an.

The raiders had won much booty, and the battle helped to stabilize the Medinan community. Muhammad SAWW and his followers saw in the victory a confirmation of their faith. Muhammad SAWW also moved against critics in Medina, ordering the assassination of first the poetess Asma bint Marwan, then the poet Abu Afak. "After these events we may assume that there was little overt opposition to Muhammad SAWW among the pagans," Watt states. Muhammad SAWW expelled from Medina the Banu Qaynuqa, one of the three main Jewish tribes. He also made mutual-aid alliances with a number of Bedouin tribes to protect his community from attacks from the northern part of Hijaz.

Conflict with Makkah

The attack at Badr committed Muhammad SAWW to total war with Makkahns, who were now anxious to avenge their defeat. To maintain their economic prosperity, the Makkahns needed to restore their prestige, which had been lost at Badr. The Makkahns sent out a small party for a raid on Medina to restore confidence and reconniter. The party retreated immediately after a surprise and speedy attack but with minor damages; there was no combat. In the ensuing months, Muhammad SAWW led expeditions on tribes allied with Makkah and sent out a raid on a Makkahn caravan. Abu Sufyan subsequently gathered an army of three thousand men and set out for an attack on Medina. They were accompanied by some prominent women of Makkah, such as Hind bint Utbah, Abu Sufyan's wife, who had lost family members at Badr. These women provided encouragement in keeping with Bedouin custom, calling out the names of the dead at Badr.

A scout alerted Muhammad SAWW of the Makkahn army's presence and numbers a day later. The next morning, at the Muslim conference of war, there was dispute over how best to repel the Makkahns. Muhammad SAWW and many of the senior figures suggested that it would be safer to fight within Medina and take advantage of its heavily fortified strongholds. Younger Muslims argued that the Makkahns were destroying their crops, and that huddling in the strongholds would destroy Muslim prestige. Muhammad SAWW eventually conceded to the wishes of the latter, and readied the Muslim force for battle. Thus, Muhammad SAWW led his force outside to the mountain of Uhud (where the Makkahns had camped) and fought the Battle of Uhud on March 23.

Although the Muslim army had the best of the early encounters, indiscipline on the part of strategically placed archers led to a Muslim defeat, with 75 Muslims killed. However, the Makkahns failed to achieve their aim of destroying the Muslims completely. The Makkahns did not occupy the town and withdrew to Makkah because they could not attack on Muhammad SAWW's position again for military loss, low morale and possibility of Muslim resistance in the town. There was also hope that Abd-Allah ibn Ubayy leading a group of Muslims in Medina could be won over by diplomacy. Following the defeat, Muhammad SAWW's detractors in Medina said that if the victory at Badr was proof of the genuineness of his mission, then the defeat at Uhud was proof that his mission was not genuine. Muhammad SAWW subsequently delivered Qur'anic verses ([Qur'an 3:133] and [Qur'an 3:160]) indicating that the loss was partly a punishment for disobedience and partly a test for steadfastness.

In attempting to quash the opposition of the Muslims in Medina, Abu Sufyan established alliances with Bedouin tribes to secure sufficient support. Muhammad SAWW also contracted alliances with some groups and attacked others, increasing the wealth of himself and his followers with booty. He expelled the Jewish Banu Nadir, confiscating their land and a large amount of military gear. On some of the raids against outlying tribes, the Muslims captured women. One of the women captured from the Banu al-Mustaliq tribe, Juwayriyya, Muhammad SAWW married. She had agreed to this marriage after her captor refused to ransom her.

During this period, Muhammad SAWW's wife Aisha was accused of *****ery. Chief among her accusers was Muhammad SAWW's rival Ibn Ubayy. Muhammad SAWW was initially unsure whether or not she was guilty. Soon after Muhammad SAWW revealed verse [Qur'an 24:11] which exonerated Aisha, and stated that those who had falsely accused her would receive eighty lashes. This completed Ibn Ubayy's loss of political influence; he had been losing stature for some time.

Further assassinations had relieved Muhammad SAWW of the problems of influential enemies, and the expulsion of the Banu Nadir and neutralization of Ibn Ubayy secured his control of Medina. Abu Sufyan had not been idle, however, and had mustered a force much larger than the one Muhammad SAWW could command. In April 627, Abu Sufyan led this army in an attack on Medina. In the Battle of the Trench, he could not overcome the defenders who had fortified the city by erecting a large embankment from dirt they had unearthed in the creation of a large ditch. Abu Sufyan's troops were unprepared for the fortifications they were confronted with, and after an ineffectual siege, the coalition decided to go home.

Jewish tribes of Medina

After his migration to Medina, Muhammad SAWW's attitude towards Christians and Jews changed. Norman Stillman states:

During this fateful time, fraught with tension after the Hidjra [migration to Medina], when Muhammad SAWW encountered contradiction, ridicule and rejection from the Jewish scholars in Medina, he came to adopt a radically more negative view of the people of the Book who had received earlier scriptures. This attitude was already evolving in the third Makkahn period as the Prophet became more aware of the antipathy between Jews and Christians and the disagreements and strife amongst members of the same religion. The Qur'an at this time states that it will "relate [correctly] to the Children of Israel most of that about which they differ" ( XXVII, 76).

Jewish opposition "may well have been for political as well as religious reasons".On religious grounds, the Jews were skeptical of the possibility of a non-Jewish prophet, and also had concerns about possible incompatibilities between the Qur'an and their own scriptures. The Qur'an's response regarding the possibility of a non-Jew being a prophet was that Abraham was not a Jew. The Qur'an also stated that it was "restoring the pure monotheism of Abraham which had been corrupted in various, clearly specified, ways by Jews and Christians". According to Peters, "The Jews also began secretly to connive with Muhammad SAWW's enemies in Makkah to overthrow him."

After each major battle with the Medinans, Muhammad SAWW accused one of the Jewish tribes of treachery (see Surah 2:100). After the battle of Badr, the Jewish tribe of Banu Qaynuqa, after Uhud the tribe of Banu Nadir were expelled from Medina. After the Battle of the Trench in 627, the Muslims accused the Jews of Banu Qurayza of conspiring with the Makkahns, then beheaded the ***** male members of the Banu Qurayza. The females and children were sold as slaves.

Two types of explanations are given for Muhammad SAWW's treatment of the Jews of Medina: theological and political. The theological explanation given by some Arab historians and biographers is that:"the punishment of the Medina Jews, who were invited to convert and refused, perfectly exemplify the Quran's tales of what happened to those who rejected the prophets of old." Others offered a political explanation. F.E. Peters, a western scholar of Islam, states that Muhammad SAWW's treatment of Jews of Medina was essentially political being prompted by what Muhammad SAWW read as treasonous and not some transgression of the law of God. Peters adds that Muhammad SAWW was possibly emboldened by his military successes and also wanted to push his advantage. Economical motivations according to Peters also existed since the poorness of the Makkahn migrants was a source of concern for Muhammad SAWW. Peters argues that Muhammad SAWW's treatment of the Jews of Medina was "quite extraordinary", "matched by nothing in the Qur'an", and is "quite at odds with Muhammad SAWW's treatment of the Jews he encountered outside Medina."

Truce of Hudaybiyya

Although Muhammad SAWW had already delivered Qur'anic verses commanding the Hajj, the Muslims had not performed it due to the enmity of the Quraysh. In the month of Shawwal 628, Muhammad SAWW ordered his followers to obtain sacrificial animals and to make preparations for a pilgrimage (umra) to Makkah, saying that God had promised him the fulfillment of this goal in a vision where he was shaving his head after the completion of the Hajj. According to Lewis, Muhammad SAWW felt strong enough to attempt an attack on Makkah, but on the way it became clear that the attempt was premature and the expedition was converted into a peaceful pilgrimage.Andrae disagrees, writing that the Muslim state of ihram (which restricted their freedom of action) and the paucity of arms carried indicated that the pilgrimage was always intended to be pacific. Upon hearing of the approaching 1,400 Muslims, the Quraysh sent out a force of 200 cavalry to halt them. Muhammad SAWW evaded them by taking a more difficult route, thereby reaching al-Hudaybiyya, just outside of Makkah.

Negotiations commenced with emissaries going to and from Makkah. While these continued, rumors spread that one of the Muslim negotiators, Uthman bin al-Affan, had been killed by the Quraysh. Muhammad SAWW responded by calling upon the pilgrims to make a pledge not to flee (or to stick with Muhammad SAWW, whatever decision he made) if the situation descended into war with Makkah. This pledge became known as the "Pledge of Good Pleasure" (Arabic: بيعة الرضوان , bay'at al-ridhwān) or the "Pledge under the Tree." News of Uthman's safety, however, allowed for negotiations to continue, and a treaty scheduled to last ten years was eventually signed between the Muslims and Quraysh. The main points of treaty were the following:

1. The two parties and their allies should desist from hostilities against each other
2. Muhammad SAWW, should not perform Hajj this year
3. They may come next year to perform Hajj (unarmed) but shall not stay in Makkah for more than three days
4. Any Muslim living in Makkah cannot settle in Medina, but Medinan Muslims may come and join Makkahns (and will not be returned).[citation needed]

Many Muslims were not satisfied with the terms of the treaty. However, the Qur'anic sura "Al-Fath" (The Victory) (48:1-29) assured the Muslims that the expedition from which they were now returning must be considered a victorious one. The Muslims did benefit following the treaty; the men of Makkah and Medina could now meet in peace and discuss Islam. Hence, during the following two years the community of Islam more than doubled.[Quotation from source requested on talk page to verify interpretation of source] Some opposition among the more enthusiastic Muslims to this apparently inconclusive result was deflected by an attack on the Jewish oasis of Khaybar.

According to Muslim tradition, after the signing of the truce, Muhammad SAWW sent letters to many rulers of the world, asking them to convert to Islam. Hence he sent messengers (with letters) to Heraclius of the Byzantine Empire (the eastern Roman Empire), Chosroes of Persia, the chief of Yemen and to some others.

Conquest of Makkah

The truce of Hudaybiyya had been enforced for two years. The tribe of Khuz'aah had a friendly relationship with Muhammad SAWW, while on the other hand their enemies, the Banu Bakr, had an alliance with the Makkahns. A clan of the Bakr made a night raid against the Khuz'aah, killing a few of them. The Makkahns helped their allies (i.e., the Banu Bakr) with weapons and, according to some sources, a few Makkahns also took part in the fighting. After this event, Muhammad SAWW sent a message to Makkah with three conditions, asking them to accept one of them. These were the following

1. The Makkahns were to pay blood-money for those slain among the Khuza'ah tribe, or
2. They should have nothing to do with the Banu Bakr, or
3. They should declare the truce of Hudaybiyya null.

The Makkahns replied that they would accept only the third condition. However, soon they realized their mistake and sent Abu Safyan to renew the Hudaybiyya treaty, but now his request was declined by Muhammad SAWW. Muhammad SAWW began to prepare for a campaign.

In 630, Muhammad SAWW marched on Makkah with an enormous force, said to number more than ten thousand men. With minimal casualties, Muhammad SAWW took control of Makkah. He declared an amnesty for past offences, except for ten men and women who had mocked and made fun of him in songs and verses. Some of these were later pardoned. Most Makkahns converted to Islam, and Muhammad SAWW subsequently destroyed all of the statues of Arabian gods in and around the Kaaba, without any exception. Henceforth the pilgrimage would be a Muslim pilgrimage and the shrine was converted to a Muslim shrine.

Conquest of Arabia

The capitulation of Makkah and the defeat of an alliance of enemy tribes at Hunayn effectively brought the greater part of the Arabian peninsula under Muhammad SAWW's authority. However, this authority was not enforced by a regular government, as Muhammad SAWW chose instead to rule through personal relationships and tribal treaties. The Muslims were clearly the dominant force in Arabia, and most of the remaining tribes and states hastened to convert to Islam.

Death

In 632, Muhammad SAWW fell ill and suffered for several days with head pain and weakness. He succumbed on Monday, June 8, 632, in the city of Medina. He is buried in his tomb (which previously was in his wife Aisha's house) which is now housed within Mosque of the Prophet in Medina.

Marriages and children

Muhammad SAWW's life is traditionally defined into two epochs: pre-hijra (emigration) in Makkah, a city in northern Arabia, from the year 570 to 622, and post-hijra in Medina, from 622 until his death in 632. All but two of his marriages were contracted after the [migration to Medina].

He married 11 or 13 women depending upon the differing accounts of who his wives were. At the age of 25, Muhammad SAWW married Khadijah which lasted for 25 years. This marriage is described as "long" and "happy," and he relied upon Khadija in many ways. Muhammed did not enter into marriage with another woman during his marriage with Khadija. After her death, friends of Muhammad SAWW advised him to marry again, but he was reluctant to do so. It was suggested to Muhammad SAWW by Khawla bint Hakim, that he should marry Sawda bint Zama, a Muslim widow, or Aisha. Muhammad SAWW is said to have asked her to arrange for him to marry both. Later, Muhammad SAWW married additional wives, most of them widows, to make for a total of eleven, of whom nine or ten survived him.

In Arabian culture, marriage was generally contracted in accordance with the larger needs of the tribe and was based on the need to form alliances within the tribe and with other tribes. Virginity at the time of marriage was emphasized as a tribal honor. Scholars such as Watt and Esposito hold that some of the marriages were based on the Arabian custom and aimed at strengthening political ties, while those marriages with widows were aimed at providing a livelihood to them.

The status of several of Muhammad SAWW's wives is disputed by scholars. Maria al-Qibtiyya may have been a slave, a freed slave, or a wife.[citation needed] Aisha was six or seven years old when betrothed to Muhammad SAWW. She stayed in her parents' home until the age of nine, when the marriage was consummated.

Only two of Muhammad SAWW's wives bore him children. Khadijah is said to have borne him four daughters and two sons, though only one daughter, Fatima and her children survived her father. Maria al-Qibtiyya bore him a son, but the child died when he was ten months old. Some say that his daughter Zainab, mother to a daughter called Amma or Umama, survived him as well.[citation needed] Shi'a Muslims dispute the number of Muhammad SAWW's children, stating that he had only one daughter, and that the other "daughters" were step-daughters.

Descendants of Muhammad SAWW are known as sharifs شريف (plural: ِأشراف Ashraaf) or sayyid.

In the Islamic prayer, Muslims end with the second tashahhud asking God to bless Muhammad SAWW and his descendants just as Abraham and his descendants were blessed.

Children of Khadijah:

Sons:

* Abd-Allah ibn Muhammad SAWW
* Qasim ibn Muhammad SAWW

Daughters:

* Ruqayyah bint Muhammad SAWW
* Umm Kulthum bint Muhammad SAWW
* Zainab bint Muhammad SAWW
* Fatima Zahra

Children of Maria:

* Ibrahim ibn Muhammad SAWW

Companions

The term Sahaba (companion) refers to anyone who meets three criteria: to be a contemporary of Muhammad SAWW, to have heard Muhammad SAWW speak on at least one occasion, and to be a convert to Islam. Companions are considered the ultimate sources for the oral traditions, or hadith, on which much of Muslim law and practice are based. The following are a few examples in alphabetic order:

* Abdullah ibn Abbas
* Abu Bakr
* Abu Dharr
* Ali ibn Abi Talib
* Ammar



* Bilal
* Hamza
* Khalid ibn al-Walid
* Sa'd
* Zayd



* Salman the Persian
* Talha
* Umar
* Uthman
* Zubair

[Style Mantra]

Important dates and locations in the life of Muhammad SAWW
c. 569 Death of his father, `Abd Allah
c. 570 Possible date of birth, April 20: Makkah
576 Death of Mother
578 Death of Grandfather
c. 583 Takes trading journeys to Syria
c. 595 Meets and marries Khadijah
610 First reports of Qur'anic revelation
c. 610 Appears as Prophet of Islam
c. 613 Begins spreading message of Islam publicly
c. 614 Begins to gather following in Makkah
c. 615 Emigration of Muslims to Ethiopia
616 Banu Hashim clan boycott begins
c. 618 Medinan Civil War
619 Banu Hashim clan boycott ends
619 The year of sorrows: Khadijah and Abu Talib die
c. 620 Isra and Miraj
622 Emigrates to Medina (Hijra)
624 Battle of Badr: Muslims defeat Makkahns
624 Expulsion of Banu Qaynuqa
625 Battle of Uhud: Makkahns defeat Muslims
625 Expulsion of Banu Nadir
626 Attack on Dumat al-Jandal (Syria)
627 Battle of the Trench
627 Destruction of Banu Qurayza
627 Subjugation of Dumat al-Jandal
628 Treaty of Hudaybiyya
c. 628 Gains access to Makkahn shrine Kaaba
628 Conquest of the Khaybar oasis
629 First hajj pilgrimage
629 Attack on Byzantine empire fails: Battle of Mu'tah
630 Attacks and bloodlessly captures Makkah
c. 630 Battle of Hunayn
c. 630 Siege of Taif
630 Conquest of Makkah
c. 631 Rules most of the Arabian peninsula
c. 632 Attacks the Ghassanids: Tabuk
632 Farewell hajj pilgrimage
632 Death (June 8): Medina

[Style Mantra]

1. When was the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) born?
He was born on Monday, 9th Rabi Al Awwal, April 22nd, 571 AC.

2. Where was the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) born?
In Makkah

3. What is the name of the Prophet's father?
Abdullah Ibn Abdul Muttalib.

4. What is the name of the Prophet's mother?
Aminah Bint Wahhab Ibn Abd Manaf Ibn Zahrah.

5. When and where did his (prophet's) father die?
He died in Makkah before Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) was born.

6. What is the name of the Prophet's grandfather?
Abdul Muttalib.

7. What was his grandfather’s position?
He was the chief of his clan Bani Hashim.

8. What is the Prophet's (p.b.u.h.) lineage up to his fifth ancestor?
He is Muhammad Ibn Abdullah Ibn Abdul Muttalib Ibn Hashim Ibn Abd Manaf Ibn Qusai Ibn Kilab.

9. Who suckled the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.)?
First Thuyeba, the freed slave girl of his uncle Abdul Uzza known as Abu Lahab, then Haleema Bint Abu Dhuaib, best known as Haleema Al Sadiyah.

10. Who named the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.)?
Abdul Muttalib.

11. What did Muhammad's (p.b.u.h.) mother name him?
Ahmad.

12. Why did she (the Prophet's mother) choose this name?
Because she saw an angel in a dream calling the new-born baby Ahmad.

13. How old was Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) when his mother died?
Six years old.

14. Where did his mother take him?
She took him to Yathrib (Madinah) to visit her relatives.

15. Where did his mother die?
On her way back to Makkah, she died at Abwa and was buried there.

16. Who brought Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) back to Makkah?
His father's slave girl, Umm Aiman (May Allah be pleased with her).

17. Who took the charge of his care?
His grandfather Abdul Muttalib.

18. How long did The Prophet's grandfather take care of the Prophet Muhammad?
For two years.

19. How was his (Abdul Muttalib's) behavior with Muhammad (p.b.u.h.)?
He loved him very much and preferred him to his own sons.

20. What did Abdul Muttalib foretell about his grandson?
That he would hold a prestigious position.
21. Who took care of the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) after the death of Abdul Muttalib?
His uncle Abu Talib.

22. How old was Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) when his grandfather Abdul Muttalib died?
About eight years old.

23. When did Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) travel to Syria and with whom?
He went to Syria with his uncle Abu Talib when he was twelve years old.

24. Who was Khadijah (May Allah be pleased with her)?
She was a wealthy merchant of Makkah.

25. Why did she (Khadijah) want to marry Muhammad (p.b.u.h.)?
Because of his truthfulness and good conduct.

26. When did she (Khadijah) marry Muhammad (p.b.u.h.)?
When she was 40 years old.

27. How old was Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) at the time of the marriage?
He was 25.

28. What did he (the Prophet) give her (Khadijah) as Mahr (dowry)?
Twenty camels.

29. Was Khadijah (May Allah be pleased with her) a widow?
Yes. The Prophet (p.b.u.h.) was her third husband.

30. How was Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) known in the society?
He was known as Al Ameen (Truthful) and Al Sadiq (trustworthy).

31. Did he get any sort of education?
No, he was illiterate.

32. What should one say when the Prophet's (p.b.u.h.) name is mentioned?
One should say "SALLALLAHO ALAIHE WASALLAM" (May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

33. How many times is the name of Muhammad mentioned in the Holy Quran?
Four times.

34. What are the names of the Prophet's (p.b.u.h.) uncles?
They are: Harith, Zubair, Abu Talib, Hamzah (May Allah be pleased with him), Abu Lahab, Ghidaq, Maqwam, Safar and Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him).

35. Did his uncle Abu Talib accept Islam?
No, he died a polytheist.

36. In the New Testament by what name was the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) mentioned?
By the name of Paraclete.

37. What is Kabah?
It is the oldest house of worship on the earth.

38. Who built it?
The Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismael (May Allah be pleased with them).

39. How did Quraish arrange rebuilding of Kabah?
They divided the work among various tribes. Each tribe was responsible for rebuilding a part of it.

40. Who laid the stones?
A Byzantine mason called Baqum.
41. Where did the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) go into seclusion?
To the Cave of Hira.

42. What was the fist stage of the revelation?
True dreams.

43. When did the first revelation come down to him?
On Monday, 21st of Ramadan, at night (August 10th, 610 AC). He was forty years then.

44. Who brought it?
Jibrael.

45. Who were the first to embrace Islam?
Four persons: Khadijah his wife, Zaid Ibn Haritha his freed slave, Ali Ibn Abi Talib his cousin and Abu Bakr his friend (May Allah be pleased with them).

46. Who accepted Islam at the instance of Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him)?
Uthman Ibn Affan, Zubair Ibn Awwam, Abdur Rahman Ibn Awf, Sad Ibn Abi Waqqaas, Talha Ibn Ubaidullah and Saeed Ibn Zaid (Umar's son-in-law) (May Allah be pleased with them).

47. Who were the ladies to accept Islam at first?
Abbas's wife Ummaul Fadl, Abu Bakr's wife Asma Bint Umais, his daughter Asma Bint Abi Bakr and Fatimah Bint Al Khattab Umar's sister (May Allah be pleased with them).

48. How was the Dawah done in the beginning?
It was done in secret.

49. How many people embraced Islam in the early stage?
About forty.

50. How many years did the call in secret continue?
For three years.

51. During this period, where would the Muslims gather secretly?
They would gather secretly in the house of a Muslim called Arqam to learn about Islam and the revelations sent down to the Prophet (p.b.u.h.).

52. When did the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) start to preach Islam openly?
After three years when he received the revelation to that effect.

53. What was the impact of his public preaching?
The people accepted Islam increasingly.

54. What was the main miracle of the Prophet (p.b.u.h.)?
The Holy Quran.

55. Did the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) perform other miracles?
Yes, the splitting of the moon was one of them.

56. Who was Abu Jahl?
One of the Prophet's (p.b.u.h.) uncles.

57. Name some of the disbelievers of Makkah who supported the Prophet (p.b.u.h.), but did not embrace Islam until the end.
Abu Talib, Mutim Ibn Adi and Abul Bukhtari.

58. How long did Abu Talib protect the Prophet (p.b.u.h)?
For 42 years - from the Prophet's childhood until he himself died.

59. Who was Mutim Ibn Adi?
A chief of Makkah.

60. When did he (Mutim Ibn Adi) give protection to the Prophet (p.b.u.h.)?
When the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) returned from Taif and wanted to enter Makkah.
61. When did he (Mutim Ibn Adi) die?
He was killed in the Battle of Badr.

62. Who was Abul Bukhtari?
He was a poet.

63. How did he (Abul Bukhtari) support the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.)?
He spoke out against the social boycott.

64. What lead the Muslims to emigrate to Abyssinia?
Their growing persecution at the hands of Quraish.

65. Which Surah lead to this emigration?
Surah Az Zumar.

66. When was Abul Bukhtari killed?
In the battle of Badr.

67. Who was then the King of Abyssinia?
The King of Abyssinia, known as Najjashi (the Negus), during the time of the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) was As'hama.

68. When did the first group of Muslims leave for Abyssinia?
In Rajab, in the fifth year of Prophethood.

69. How many persons were there in the group?
12 men and 4 women.

70. How were the emigrants received in Abyssinia?
They were received warmly and hospitably.

71. When did the second group of emigrants leave for Abyssinia?
In the fifth year of Prophethood.

72. How many people formed the group?
83 men and 18 women.

73. Name a prominent companion included in this group.
Ja'far Ibn Abi Talib (May Allah be pleased with him).

74. What did Quraish do?
They despatched two envoys to Abyssinia to demand the extradition of the emigrants.

75. How did the King respond?
He refused to extradite the Muslims and assured them of his full protection.

76. When did Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) accept Islam?
At the age of 27.

77. Who was Bilal Ibn Rabah (May Allah be pleased with him)?
He was a slave of Umayyah Ibn Khalaf.

78. What was his (Bilal Ibn Rabah's) origin?
He was of Abyssinian decent.

79. What was the name of Bilal's mother?
Hamama.

80. Who was Yaser (May Allah be pleased with him)?
He was a slave of Abu Jahl.
81. Who was Sumayyah (May Allah be pleased with her)?
She was Yaser's (a slave of Abu Jahl) wife.

82. Who was Ammar (May Allah be pleased with him)?
He was Yaser and Sumayyah's only son.

83. How did Summaya (May Allah be pleased) die?
Abu Jahl murderded her with a bayonet.

84. Who was Zaid Ibn Haritha (May Allah be pleased with him)?
He was a slave.

85. Who purchased him (Zaid Ibn Haritha)?
Khadijah's nephew Hakim Ibn Hizam purchased him and presented him to her.

86. What did Khadijah do with Zaid Bin Haritha?
She presented him to the Prophet who set him free.

87. Did Zaid Bin Haritha want to go to his parents?
No, he preferred to live with the Prophet (p.b.u.h.).

88. To whom was Zaid Bin Haritha married?
To Umma Aiman (May Allah be pleased with her).

89. Who was Ja'far?
He was the elder brother of Ali Ibn Talib (May Allah be pleased with him).

90. Where did he (Ja'far) emigrate?
To Abyssinia.

91. Who was Ali (May Allah be pleased with him)?
He was the son of Abu Talib and cousin of the Prophet (p.b.u.h.).

92. When did Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) accept Islam?
When he was 19.

93. What was he (Ali) called for his bravery?
The "Lion of Allah".

94. Whom did Ali first marry?
He first married the Prophet's (p.b.u.h.) daughter Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her).

95. How many sons did Ali have from her?
Two sons: Hasan and Husain (May Allah be pleased with them).

96. When did Sa'd bn Abi Waqqas (May Allah be pleased with him) become a Muslim?
When he was 19.

97. Where did Sa'd (May Allah be pleased with him) die?
He died in Al Madinah.

98. What was Sa'd's advice to Muslims?
To stand united.

99. Who was Abu Bakr's father (May Allah be pleased with him) and did he accept Islam?
He was Uthman (May Allah be pleased with him) (Abu Quhafah). Yes, he accepted Islam during the Conquest of Makkah.

[t3xPeRt]

Mashallah............... n Jazak Allah AJ

bht hi khobsurat thread......... tum ney to yahan wo Peronality k barey meinpost kiya hey............. k jink barey mein sab hi arzoo hey kuch na kuch likhney ki...........:) ....... keep sharing dear................ inshallah mein b share karon gi.. per EID k bad :)

[Style Mantra]

Originally Posted by Texpert Appii

Mashallah............... n Jazak Allah AJ

bht hi khobsurat thread......... tum ney to yahan wo Peronality k barey meinpost kiya hey............. k jink barey mein sab hi arzoo hey kuch na kuch likhney ki...........:) ....... keep sharing dear................ inshallah mein b share karon gi.. per EID k bad :)

Shukria aapi zaroor zaroor share ki jiyega abhi tu yeh silsala shoro hua hai bas hum sab ki bht si favourite personalities ki life ap sab se share krun ga...

Hazrat Muhammad SAWW k baray mein tu waqayi sab ki hi khawaish hoti hai k Ap SAWW ka koi na koi waaqiya aisa zaroor share krain jo k sab k liyai aik sabaq rakhta hai Ap SAWW ki tu koi baat aisi hai hi nahi jis mein hum sab k liyai koi na koi faida posheeda na ho...

sab members se request hai k isko copy paste na samjh k ignore na kar dain maine yeh material jama karnay mein bht mehnat ki hai aur iska aik aik lafz kayi dafa para hai k kaheen koi ikhtilaf wali baat na ho...Inshallah ab Hazrat Muhammad SAWW k companions uns bepanah muhabbat aur ishq rakhnay walay sathiyun ki zindgiyun ki dastaan samnay laon ga Inshallah...Allah Tallah humain un sab k naqsh-o-kadam peh chalnay ki taufeeq ata farmayai Amen

[Style Mantra]

Well my friends here is the life of our Honorable Caliph Hazrat Abu Bakar Siddique R.A. one of the best companions of our gr8 Prophet Hazrat Muhammad SAWW...

[dil2dil]

Jazak Allah
mind blowing,superb,xcllnt,fantastic,fab.,gr8 thread God bless ya AJ;)

[Style Mantra]

Starting Life

"No one has been a better companion to me than Abu Bakr" said the holy Prophet in his last sermon.

A great reward indeed! Abu Bakr had earned it. All his life he stood by the side of the Prophet. He did not care for his life. He did not care for his riches. He did not care for what others said about him. His only ambition was to serve the Prophet more than anyone else. The cost did not matter. The ambition was fulfilled. And Abu Bakr got his reward in full. The Messenger of Allah was well pleased with him. He gave him the first place among the Companions. Abu Bakr was to be the first man to fill the place of the Prophet. He was also to lie in eternal rest by the prophet's side.

Abu Bakr was two years younger than the Prophet. His parents named him Abdul Kaaba, which means the servant of the Kaaba. When he became a Muslim, the Prophet changed his pagan name to Abdullah. Howevr, in early youth he had adopted the surname of Abu Bakr. He had come to be known by this name among people. Even to this day, the world generally knows him as Abu Bakr.

The name of Abu Bakr's father was Uthman, but he was known as Abu Qahafa. Salma was Abu Bakr's mother. She was also known as Umm-ul-Khair. Abu Bakr belonged to a branch of the Quraish.

From early years, Abu Bakr was known for good and upright nature. He was honest and truthful. He came of a noble family. These things won him respect among the people. His goodness also won him the friendship of young Muhammad (Peace be Upon him). The two became fast friends in early boyhood. The friendship was to prove lifelong and history-making.

When he grew up, Abu Bakr became a rich merchang. But he used to be very kind-hearted. When he saw someone in trouble, his heart melted. He did his best to help him. If his money could remove suffering, he did not care home much he had to spend. Once he gave away thirty-five dirhams out of his total fortune of forty thousand. He was so honest in his dealings that people kept their money with him. Above all, Abu Bakr had a sincere heart and a firm will. Nothing could stop him from doing what he thought was the right thing to do.

These great qualities were soon to serve the noblest cause known to the world. Abu Bakr was to become the strongest supporter of the Redeemer of mankind. He was to become the first among the Companions. He was to make Arabia and thereby the world safe for Islam after the Prophet has passed away.

Service to the Prophet First among Men

Abu Bakr was always very close to the holy Prophet. He knew him better than any other man. He knew how honest and upright his friend had always been. So he was the first among men to believe in the Prophet's mission. He was the first ***** male to accept Islam. After the first revalation, the holy Prophet told him what had happened at Mount Hira. He told him that Allah had made him His Messenger. Abu Bakr did not stop to think. He at once became a Muslim. Once the holy Prphet himself remarked, "I called people to Islam. Everybody thought over it, at least for a while. But this was not the case with Abu Bakr. The moment I put Islam before him, he accepted it without any hesitation."

Abu Bakr did more than that. As soon as he became a Muslim, he began to preach Islam to others. He had many friends. The friends knew that Abu Bakr was sincere and truthful. They knew he would never support a wrong cause. He called them to Islam and they became Muslims. Among them were men like Uthman, Zubair, Talha, Abdur Rahman bin Auf and Saad bin Waqqas. These men later became the pillars of Islam.

The holy Prophet called at Abu Bakr's house every day. The two sad down and thought out ways of spreading Islam. Together they went to people and places and delivered the message of Allah. Wherever the holy Prophet went, Abu Bakr went with him.

Risks His Life

The messge of Islam made the people of Makkah very angry. The idols were their gods. The holy Prophet openly mocked at these gods. He declared they could do neither any good nore harm. Among the chiefs of Makkah was one Abu Jahl. He became the greatest enemy of the holy Prophet. He was always on the lookout to hurt him or even kill him, if he could. Abu Bakr kept an eye on this man, lest he should do a grave harm to Islam.

One day the holy Prophet was saying his prayers in the Kaaba. He was totally lost in the thoughts of Allah. Abu Jahl and some other chiefs of Makkah were sitting in the courtyard of the Kaaba. "I must finish with Muhammad today," said Abu Jahl. So saying, he took a long piece of cloth. He put it around the holy Prophet's neck. Then he twisted it hard. He was going to strangle the Messenger of Allah to death. The other chiefs looked on and laughed.

Abu Bakr happened to see this from a distance. He at once ran to the help of the Prophet. He pushed Abu Jahl aside and took off the cloth from around the holy Prophet's neck. Thereupon Abu Jahl and other enemies of Islam came down upon Abu Bakr. They beat him very much. Indeed, the beating was so severe that Abu Bakr fell down senseless. He was carried home. He could not regain his senses till after several hours. And when he did come to himself, the first question he asked was, "Is the Prophet un-hurt?" Abu Bakr did not care for his own suffering. He was glad that he was able to save the Prophet's life. Abu Bakr knew full well that if any harm came to the Prophet, the only hope of mankind would be gone. This made him risk everything he held dear, for the safety of the Prophet and for the spread of his message.

Liberation of Slaves

As years went by, the people of Makkah became more and more hard upon the Muslims. They made life difficult for them. Muslim slaves who had non-Muslim masters were the worst sufferers. They could not run away from their cruel masters, nor would they give up their faith. The heartless masters tried all kinds of torture to make them give up Islam. They made them lie, all naked, on burning sand. Then they put big stones on their chests. The poor slaves silently bore this all. They had no way of escape. Some of them found escape only in death.

Abu Bakr's wealth came to the rescue of many helpless Muslim slaves. He bought them from their inhuman masters and set them free. Bilal, the negro, was one of such slaves. He was the slave of Omayya bin Khalaf. Omayya was a heartless man. He would strip Bilal of all clothes, make him lie on the burning sand at mid-day and then lash him mercilessly. Despite this torture Bilal would go on saying, "Allah is one! Allah is one!" One day Abu Bakf happened to pass by. He was greatly moved by the sight. "Why are you so cruel to this helpless man?" he asked Omayya. "If you feel for him, why don't you buy him?" retored Omayya. So Abu Bakr at once bought Bilal at a heavy price and set him free. Bilal afterwards became the well-known "Muazzin" [ one who gives the call for prayer ] at the Prophet's Mosque.

Migration to Abyssinia

When Muslims found life difficult at Makkah, they thought of going to some other land. With the permission of the holy Prophet, a part of them went to Abyssinia. here they lived in peace. So many more Muslims followed them.

Being the first man to go over to Islam, Abu Bakr had brought upon himself the special anger and hatred of the Makkahn chiefs. Soon he felt hard pressed and asked permission of the Holy Prophet to go to Abyssinia. The permission was granted and Abu Bakr set off on his journey.

On the way he met the chief of Qara, Ibn-ud-Daghna. "What place are you bound for, Abu Bakr?" he asked.

"The people of Makkah have cast me out," replied Abu Bakr. "I am going to Abyssinia. There I will be able to worship the Lord the way I want to."

"A man like you should not be cast out," said Ibn-ud-Daghna. "You help the poor. You are kind to those in trouble. You are so nice to your guests. I will take you back to Makkah on my own responsibility."

So Abu Bakr ws back at Makkah. Ibn-ud-Daghna declared to the people that Abu Bakr was under his protection, so no one was to harm him. The Makkahns said that they would let Abu Bakr alone, only if he did not preach his faith publicly.

Abu Bakr could not act on this condition very long. Soon he was preaching Islam as openly as ever. The Makkahns complained to Ibn-ud-Daghna. He requested Abu Bakr not to make his position difficult. To this Abu Bakr replied, "I do not need your protection. Allah is enough for me."

The Title of "Siddique"

I n the tenth yer of his mission, the holy Prophet had the Miraj of Ascension. One night the angel Gabriel came with the word that Allah the Almighty wanted the holy Prophet to come all the way up to the highest heaven. The holy Prophet undertook the journey.

In the morning, after the ascension had taken place, the holy Prophet talked to people about the Miraj. This drew the jeers of his enemies.

"Look!" the howled out, "what nonsense he talks! Surely, now his followers too will laugh at him. Who is going to believe in such a midsummer night dream?"

The talk was going on when Abu Bakr came up. "Do you know, Abu Bakr, what news your friend has for you in the morning?" said one of the mean. "He says he was on the highest heaven last night, having a talk with Allah, the Almighty. Would you believe it?"

"I would believe anything that the Messenger of Allah says," replied Abu Bakr

When the holy Prophet learnt of this, he at once said, "Abu Bakr is the `Siddique'." `Siddique' is a person so sincere of heart that doubts never mar his love. Abu Bakr earned this title because of his faith was too strong to be shaken by anything.

Migration to Medina

W hen the Makkahns were intent on putting out, once and for all, the light of Islam, Allah commanded the holy Prophet to move to Medina. In the burning heat of the midday sun, there was a knock at Abu Bakr's door. He ran to the door and found the Messenger of Allah standing outside. "I must leave for Medina tonight," said he.

"Will I also have the honor of going with you?" asked Abu Bakr eagerly.

"Of course," came the reply. "Set about getting things ready."

Abu Bakr was beside himself with joy. "I have been looking forward to this day for months," he exlaimed. "I have specifically kept two camels to carry us to Medina."

It was Abu Bakr who made all the arrangements for the historic journey. for three days he and the Prophet lay hidden in the Thaur cave. Abu Bakr's slave tended the flocks of goats near the cave all day and supplied them fresh milk for food. His son, Abdullah, brought news about what the Makkahns were doing.

The Makkahns were searching for the holy Prophet like mad hounds. Once they came right to the mouth of the cave. Abu Bakr grew pale with fright. He feared, not for himself, but for the Prophet. However, the holy Prophet remained perfectly calm. "Do not fear," he said to Abu Bakr, "certainly Allah is with us."

Of all the companions, Abu Bakr had the honor of being with the Prophet during the most critical days of his life. Abu Bakr knew full well what this honor meant. And he did full justice to the trust put in him.

Participation in Battles

A bu Bakr took part in all the battles that the holy Prohpet