Muhammad before the mission
his birth
Muhammad, the founder of Islam, was born in Mecca in the Year of the Elephant, which is estimated at approximately 571 AD according to some studies. His father, Abdullah bin Abdul Muttalib, married Amna bint Wahb, and she became pregnant with Muhammad. Abdullah died when he was about 25 years old, leaving behind his pregnant wife and limited resources.
Muhammad was born on a Monday, either the 8th, 9th, 12th (according to Sunni tradition) or 17th (according to Shia tradition) of Rabi’ al-Awwal. There are conflicting stories about his birth. Some say that he was born circumcised, while others say that he was circumcised on the seventh day after birth.
His early years were marked by the death of his parents. His mother, Amina, died when he was only six years old, while they were returning from relatives visiting his mother. After her death, his grandfather Abdul Muttalib took care of him. When his grandfather died, Muhammad was placed in the care of his uncle Abu Talib, who became his guardian.
In his early years, Muhammad was breastfed by various women, including Thuwaybah, Abu Lahab’s slave girl, and Halimah bint Abi Dhu’ayb, a woman from Banu Sa’d ibn Bakr, in the desert. He lived with Halima and her family until he was about two years old. However, he was returned to his mother due to a barren year in the desert. When he was about four or five years old, an incident occurred where his chest was split open, and a leech was said to have been removed from his heart. This incident was mentioned in some accounts and denied by others.
Despite the difficulties and losses early in his life, Muhammad grew up under the care of his extended family and community in Mecca, and eventually became a central figure in the development of Islam later in his life.
his upbringing
During Muhammad's early years, he was cared for by various individuals due to the loss of his parents. One of the women who breastfed him was Thuwaiba, a slave woman of Abu Lahab, who had been set free. She breastfed Muhammad for a few days after he had been breastfed by his mother. Muhammad was also breastfed by Halima bint Abi Dhu’ib, a woman from the Bani Saad bin Bakr tribe. He lived with Halima in the desert for two years, during a time of barrenness in the region. Under Halima's care, Muhammad thrived, and her household experienced blessings and prosperity.
When Muhammad was around four or five years old, an incident occurred where his chest was cleft open. According to a narration, while he was playing with other boys, the angel Gabriel appeared, seized him, split open his chest, extracted his heart, and removed a leech-like clot, symbolizing the removal of Satan's influence. The heart was cleansed with Zamzam water and placed back in his chest. This incident left a mark on his chest that Anas, a companion of Muhammad, could later see.
When Muhammad was six years old, his mother, Amina, died while returning from a visit to his maternal relatives. After her death, Umm Ayman, a woman close to his family, embraced him and carried him to his grandfather, Abd Al-Muttalib. Following his grandfather's death in Muhammad's eighth year, his uncle, Abu Talib, took over his guardianship.
This period of Muhammad's early life was marked by multiple caregivers, including his biological mother, foster mothers, and other individuals, each playing a significant role in his upbringing after the loss of his parents.
his youth
In his youth, Muhammad faced the loss of his parents at an early age and was taken care of by his extended family. After his mother Amina's death when he was six years old, Muhammad was embraced by Umm Ayman and then brought to his grandfather, Abd Al-Muttalib, for sponsorship. When his grandfather passed away in Muhammad's eighth year, he was placed under the guardianship of his uncle, Abu Talib.
Growing up in Mecca, Muhammad became known for his honesty and integrity. He earned the nickname "Al-Amin," meaning the trustworthy, due to his reputation for honesty and reliability. He assisted his uncle Abu Talib in his trade as a merchant, gaining valuable skills and experiences in commerce.
Despite the hardships he faced, Muhammad's youth was marked by his virtuous character, earning him respect among his peers and the people of Mecca. His upbringing in a supportive and respected family, along with his own qualities, laid the foundation for his future role as the Prophet of Islam.
His marriage to Khadija
Khadija bint Khuwaylid, a wealthy and honorable merchant woman, heard of Muhammad's reputation for trustworthiness and offered him the opportunity to conduct a business venture on her behalf. She sent him with her servant, Maysarah, to trade in the Levant. During their journey, a monk named Nestor observed them and remarked that only a prophet had ever taken shelter under the tree where they rested. Additionally, Maysarah witnessed two angels shading Muhammad from the intense sun while he was on his camel.
Upon their return to Mecca, Muhammad successfully multiplied Khadija's wealth, impressing her with his business acumen. Khadija, through her friend Nafisa bint Muniya, proposed marriage to Muhammad, who accepted the proposal. His uncle Hamza bin Abdul Muttalib accompanied him to formalize the engagement, which was either with her uncle Amr bin Asad or arranged by Abu Talib. Muhammad married Khadija when he was either twenty-five, forty, or twenty-eight years old, according to different accounts.
Khadija was Muhammad's first wife, and he remained exclusively married to her until her death twenty-five years later. She was the mother of all his children, except for Ibrahim. Muhammad also freed his foster mother, Umm Ayman, upon his marriage to Khadija. Later, he married her to Ubaid bin Zaid from Bani Al-Harith, and she bore him a son named Ayman. Umm Ayman accompanied Muhammad during his prophethood and tragically died either on the day of Hanin or Khaybar, which was five months after Muhammad's death.
Missionaries near his resurrection
Muslims believe that before the Prophet Muhammad was sent on his mission, there were signs and prophecies about his coming in the religious texts of various communities, including Jews, Christians, and Arabs. According to Islamic tradition, rabbis among the Jews, monks among the Christians, and soothsayers among the Arabs had mentioned the arrival of a prophet in their scriptures and prophecies.
One account mentions that the Jews of Khaybar sought victory over their enemies with a supplication invoking the name of the Prophet Muhammad, whom they believed would come at the end of times to support them. Similarly, a monk informed Salman Al-Farsi, a companion of the Prophet, about the coming of a prophet in the land of the Arabs, following the religion of Abraham. Salman Al-Farsi later embraced Islam and became a close companion of the Prophet Muhammad.
There are also accounts of individuals like Zaid bin Amr bin Nufail, who anticipated the arrival of a prophet from the descendants of Ismail and the sons of Abd al-Muttalib bin Hashem. Zaid described the future prophet's physical appearance and mentioned his name as Ahmad. He believed in this prophecy and expressed his anticipation of the coming of this prophet.
Additionally, before his prophethood, Muhammad himself had experiences where he saw signs and heard things that indicated his special status. He would recognize stones and places in Mecca that seemed to greet him even before his mission. He had visions and was aware of specific locations in Mecca, and he experienced a heightened awareness of his surroundings. These experiences continued until the angel Gabriel came to him in the cave of Hira, marking the beginning of his prophetic mission according to Islamic belief.