In what city was the Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam, born? Who is the greatest man of all time? What is your Qibla

The Prophet Muhammad was born in 570, five centuries after Christ. This is the last “generally recognized” messiah who brought a new religion to the world. A Mormon still cannot claim such a status.

IN Saudi Arabia, where the prophet Muhammad was born, everyone knows this name. And not only there. Now the teachings of the prophet are known throughout the world.

Every Muslim and many representatives of other religions know in which city the Prophet Muhammad was born. Mecca serves as a place of pilgrimage annually for millions of devout Mohammedans.

Not everyone shares this belief, but it is difficult to find a person who has never heard of Muhammad and Islam.

The great teacher who brought new news to the world occupies the same place in the hearts of Muslims as Jesus occupies the same place in the hearts of Christians. Here lie the origins of the eternal conflict between the Muslim and Christian religions. Those who believed in Christ condemned the Judaizers who did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah and remained faithful to the old testaments of their ancestors. Muslims, in turn, accepted the teachings of the Messiah Muhammad and do not approve of the views of orthodox Christians, in their opinion, who did not listen to the good news.

Spelling options for the prophet's name

Every Muslim knows in which city the prophet Muhammad (Mohammed, Muhammad) was born.

This a large number of variants of reading the same name is explained by the fact that the pronunciation of the Arabs is somewhat different from that familiar to the Slavic ear, and the sound of the word can only be conveyed approximately, with errors. The “Mohammed” version is generally a classic Gallicism borrowed from European literature, that is, there was a double distortion.

However, one way or another, this name is recognizable in any version of the spelling. But “Muhammad” remains the classic, generally accepted option.

Islam, Christianity and Judaism

It should be noted that Muslims do not dispute the teachings of Christ. They revere him as one of the prophets, but believe that the coming of Muhammad changed the world just as Christ himself changed it 500 years ago. Moreover, Muslims consider not only the Koran, but also the Bible and the Torah as sacred books. It’s just that the Koran occupies a central place in this creed.

Muslims claim that even the prophecies of the Bible speaking about the coming of the Messiah did not mean Jesus, but Mohammed. They refer to the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 18, verses 18-22. It says that the messiah sent by God will be the same as Moses. Muslims point out the obvious inconsistencies between Jesus and Moses, even though the biographies of Moses and Muhammad are similar in certain ways. Moses was not just a religious figure. He was a patriarch, a prominent politician and a ruler in the literal sense. Moses was rich and successful, he had big family, wives and children. Indeed, in this respect Mohammed is much more like him than Jesus. Moreover, Jesus was conceived immaculately, which is not the case with Moses. The Prophet Muhammad was born in the city of Mecca, and everyone there knew that his birth was absolutely traditional - the same as that of Moses.

However, opponents of this theory note that it also says that the Messiah will come “from brothers,” and so the ancient Jews could only talk about fellow tribesmen. In Arabia, where the Prophet Muhammad was born, there were and could not be any Jews. Muhammad came from a worthy, respected Arab family, but he could not be a brother to the ancient Jews, as is directly stated in the same Old Testament.

Birth of a Prophet

In the 6th century in Saudi Arabia, where the Prophet Muhammad was born, the majority of the population was pagan. They worshiped numerous ancient gods, and only certain clans were convinced monotheists. It was in such a monotheistic Hochim clan, belonging to the Quraish tribe, that the Prophet Muhammad was born. His father died before the child was born, his mother died when the boy was only six. Little Muhammad was raised by his grandfather, Abd al-Mutallib, a respected patriarch, famous for his wisdom and piety. As a child, Muhammad was a shepherd, then he was taken in by his uncle, a wealthy merchant. Muhammad helped him conduct business, and one day, while making a deal, he met a rich widow named Khadija.

Annunciation

The young merchant turned out to be not only attractive in appearance. He was smart, honest, truthful, pious and benevolent. The woman liked Muhammad and she proposed marriage to him. The young man agreed. They lived for many years in happiness and harmony. Khadija bore six children to Muhammad, and he, despite polygamy traditional in those places, did not take other wives.

This marriage brought prosperity to Muhammad. He was able to devote more time to pious thoughts and often retired to think about God. To do this, he often left the city. One day he went to the mountain, where he especially loved to meditate, and there an angel appeared to the amazed man, bringing the revelation of God. This is how the world first learned about the Koran.

After this, Muhammad devoted his life to serving God. At first he did not dare to preach publicly, he simply talked with those people who showed interest in this topic. But later, Muhammad's statements became more and more bold, he spoke to people, telling them about the new good news. Where the Prophet Muhammad was born, he was known as an undoubtedly religious and honest person, but such statements did not find support. The words of the new prophet and unusual rituals seemed strange and funny to the Arabs.

Medina

Prophet Muhammad was born in the city of Mecca, but his homeland did not accept him. In 619, Khadizhda, Muhammad's beloved wife and loyal supporter, died. Nothing kept him in Mecca anymore. He left the city and headed to Yathrib, where convinced Muslims already lived. On the way, an attempt was made on the prophet's life, but he, being an experienced traveler and fighter, escaped.

When Muhammad arrived in Yathrib, he was greeted by admiring citizens and handed over supreme power to him. Muhammad became the ruler of the city, which he soon renamed Medina - the City of the Prophet.

Return to Mecca

Despite his title, Muhammad never lived in luxury. He and his new wives settled in modest huts, where the prophet spoke to people simply by sitting in the shade of a well.

For almost ten years, Muhammad tried to restore peaceful relations with his hometown, Mecca. But all negotiations ended in failure, despite the fact that there were already quite a few Muslims in Mecca. The city did not accept the new prophet.

In 629, the troops of Mecca destroyed the settlement of a tribe that was on friendly terms with the Muslims of Medina. Then Muhammad, at the head of a huge army of ten thousand at that time, approached the gates of Mecca. And the city, impressed by the power of the army, surrendered without a fight.

So Muhammad was able to return to his native place.

To this day, every Muslim knows where the Prophet Muhammad was born and where he is buried great person. The pilgrimage from Mecca to Medina is considered the highest duty of every follower of Mohammed.

Introduction

Islam is the third and last of the developed monotheistic religions. It originated in the Middle East, had its roots in the same soil, was nourished by the same ideas, and was based on the same cultural traditions as Christianity and Judaism.

This religious system, with its most strict and complete monotheism taken to the limit, developed on the basis of its two predecessors, so borrowings in terms of not only general cultural, but also purely theological, religious-cultural, are noticeable here at every step.

So, Islam arose in Western Arabia (Hejaz region) at the beginning of the 7th century. The founder of this religion is considered to be a resident of Mecca, Muhammad (570-632). At the age of 40 (about 610), Muhammad declared himself the messenger of the one God and Allah, who revealed his will to him through revelations, which, together with the sayings of Muhammad himself, were later written down in the Koran, the main holy book of Muslims. The basis of Islam is the restoration of the faith of Abraham, which Muhammad believed had been corrupted by the Jews. Many questions concerning the life and work of the Prophet Muhammad still remain controversial, and the authors did not consider themselves obliged to strictly follow any of the schools of Islamic studies when covering them. At the same time, in the traditions of Russian culture (V.S. Solovyov, V.V. Bartold), the authors considered Islam as an independent monotheistic religion, no less developed than, say, Christianity.

The purpose of the work is to characterize the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.

1. Life and work of the Prophet Muhammad

Prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca (Saudi Arabia) around 570 AD. e., in the Hashim clan of the Quraish tribe. Muhamed's father, Abdallah, died before the birth of his Son, and Muhamed's mother, Amina, died when He was only six years old, leaving the Son an orphan. Muhammad was raised first by His grandfather Abd al-Muttalib, a man of exceptional piety, and then by His uncle, the merchant Abu Talib.

At that time, the Arabs were inveterate pagans, among whom, however, a few adherents of Monotheism stood out, such as, for example, Abd al-Muttalib. Most Arabs lived a nomadic life in their ancestral territories. There were few cities. The main ones among them are Mecca, Yathrib and Taif.

From his youth, the Prophet was distinguished by exceptional piety and piety, believing, like His grandfather, in One God. First He tended the flocks, and then He began to participate in the trading affairs of His uncle Abu Talib. He became famous, people loved Him and, as a sign of respect for his piety, honesty, justice and prudence, they bestowed the honorary nickname al-Amin (Trustworthy).

Later, He conducted the trading affairs of a wealthy widow named Khadija, who, some time later, proposed to Muhammad to marry her. Despite the age difference, they lived a happy married life with six children. And although in those days polygamy among Arabs was common. The Prophet did not take other wives while Khadija was alive.

This newfound position freed up much more time for prayer and reflection. As was his custom, Muhammad retired to the mountains surrounding Mecca and secluded himself there for a long time. Sometimes His seclusion lasted several days. He especially fell in love with the cave of Mount Hira (Jabal Nyr - Mountains of Light), majestically rising above Mecca. On one of these visits, which occurred in the year 610, something happened to Muhammad, who was about forty years old at that time, that completely changed His entire life.

In a sudden vision, the angel Gabriel (Gabriel) appeared before Him and, pointing to the words that appeared from outside, ordered Him to pronounce them. Muhammad objected, declaring that he was illiterate and therefore would not be able to read them, but the angel continued to insist, and the meaning of these words was suddenly revealed to the Prophet. He was ordered to learn them and accurately pass them on to the rest of the people. This is how the first revelation of the sayings of the Book, now known as the Koran (from Arabic “reading”), was marked.

This eventful night fell on the 27th of the month of Ramadan, and was called Laylat al-Qadr. From now on, the life of the Prophet no longer belonged to him, but was given over to the care of the One who called him to prophetic mission, and he spent the rest of his days in the service of God, proclaiming His messages everywhere.

When receiving revelations, the Prophet did not always see the angel Gabriel, and when he did, the angel did not always appear in the same guise. Sometimes the angel appeared before Him in human form, eclipsing the horizon, and sometimes the Prophet only managed to catch his gaze on Himself. At times He heard only a voice speaking to Him. Sometimes He received revelations while deeply immersed in prayer, but in other cases they appeared completely “at random”, when Muhammad, for example, was busy worrying about business. Everyday life, either went for a walk or simply enthusiastically listened to a meaningful conversation.

At first, the Prophet avoided public sermons, preferring personal conversations with interested people and with those who noticed extraordinary changes in Him. A special path of Muslim prayer was revealed to him, and He immediately began daily pious exercises, which invariably caused a wave of criticism from those who saw him. Having received the highest order to begin a public sermon, Muhammad was ridiculed and cursed by the people, who thoroughly mocked His statements and actions. Meanwhile, many Quraysh became seriously alarmed, realizing that Muhammad's insistence on establishing faith in the One True God could not only undermine the prestige of polytheism, but also lead to the complete decline of idolatry if people suddenly began to convert to the faith of the Prophet. Some relatives of Muhammad turned into His main opponents: humiliating and ridiculing the Prophet himself, they did not forget to do evil against converts.

The Quraysh decided to ban all trade, business, military and personal connections with the Hashim clan. Representatives of this clan were strictly forbidden to appear in Mecca. Very difficult times came, and many Muslims were doomed to severe poverty.

In 619, the Prophet's wife Khadija died. She was His most devoted supporter and helper. In the same year, Muhammad’s uncle, Abu Talib, who defended Him from the most violent attacks from his fellow tribesmen, also died. Stricken with grief, the Prophet left Mecca and went to Taif, where he tried to find refuge, but was rejected there too.

The Prophet's friends betrothed a pious widow named Sauda as his wife, who turned out to be a very worthy woman, and also a Muslim.

In 619, Muhammad had the opportunity to experience the second most important night of his life - the Night of Ascension (Laylat al-Miraj). It is known that the Prophet was awakened and carried on a magical animal to Jerusalem. Over the location of the ancient Jewish Temple on Mount Zion, the heavens opened and a path opened that led Muhammad to the throne of God, but neither he nor the angel Gabriel accompanying him was allowed to enter the beyond. That night the rules of Muslim prayer were revealed to the Prophet. They became the focus of faith and the unshakable basis of Muslim life. Muhammad also met and talked with other prophets, including Jesus (Isa), Moses (Musa) and Abraham (Ibrahim). This miraculous event greatly consoled and strengthened the Prophet, adding confidence that Allah did not abandon Him and did not leave Him alone with his sorrows.

From now on, the fate of the Prophet changed in the most decisive way. He was still persecuted and ridiculed in Mecca, but the Prophet's message had already been heard by people far beyond the city's borders. Some of the elders of Yathrib persuaded Him to leave Mecca and move to their city, where He would be received with honor as a leader and judge. Arabs and Jews lived together in this city, constantly at war with each other. They hoped that Muhammad would bring them peace. The Prophet immediately advised many of His Muslim followers to migrate to Yathrib while He remained in Mecca, so as not to arouse unnecessary suspicion. After the death of Abu Talib, the emboldened Quraish could calmly attack Muhammad, even kill him, and he understood perfectly well that this would sooner or later happen.

The Prophet's departure was accompanied by some dramatic events. Muhammad himself miraculously escaped captivity thanks to his exceptional knowledge of the local deserts. Several times the Quraysh almost captured Him, but the Prophet still managed to reach the outskirts of Yathrib. The city was eagerly awaiting him, and when Muhammad arrived in Yasrib, people rushed to meet him with offers of shelter. Confused by their hospitality, Muhammad gave the choice to his camel. The camel stopped at a place where dates were drying, and it was instantly presented to the Prophet for building a house. The city received a new name - Madinat an-Nabi (City of the Prophet), now abbreviated as Medina.

The Prophet immediately began preparing a decree according to which He was proclaimed the supreme head of all the warring tribes and clans of Medina, who were henceforth forced to obey His orders. It established that all citizens were free to practice their religion in peaceful coexistence without fear of persecution or disgrace. He asked them only for one thing - to unite and repel any enemy who dared to attack the city. The former tribal laws of the Arabs and Jews were replaced by the basic principle of "justice for all", regardless of social status, skin color and religion.

Becoming the ruler of a city-state and gaining untold wealth and influence. The prophet, however, never lived like a king. His dwelling consisted of simple mud houses built for His wives; He never even had his own room. Not far from the houses there was a courtyard with a well - a place that from now on became a mosque where devout Muslims gather.

Almost the entire life of the Prophet Muhammad was spent in constant prayer and in the instruction of believers. In addition to the five obligatory prayers, which He conducted in the mosque, the Prophet devoted a lot of time to solitary prayer, and sometimes most He devoted his nights to pious reflections. His wives performed night prayer with Him, after which they retired to their chambers, and He continued to pray for many hours, falling asleep briefly towards the end of the night, only to wake up soon for the pre-dawn prayer.

In March 628, the Prophet, who dreamed of returning to Mecca, decided to make His dream come true. He set out with 1,400 followers, completely unarmed, wearing pilgrim attire consisting of two simple white veils. However, the followers of the Prophet were denied entry into the city, despite the fact that many citizens of Mecca practiced Islam. To avoid clashes, the pilgrims made their sacrifices near Mecca, in an area called Hudaibiya.

In 629, the Prophet Muhammad began plans for the peaceful capture of Mecca. The truce concluded in the town of Hudaibiya turned out to be short-lived, and in November 629 the Meccans attacked one of the tribes that was in a friendly alliance with the Muslims. The Prophet marched on Mecca at the head of 10,000 men, the largest army to ever leave Medina. They settled near Mecca, after which the city surrendered without a fight. The Prophet Muhammad entered the city in triumph, immediately went to the Kaaba and performed a ritual circuit around it seven times. Then He entered the shrine and destroyed all the idols.

It was not until March 632 that the Prophet Muhammad made His only full-fledged pilgrimage to the shrine of the Kaaba, known as Hajat al-Wida (The Last Pilgrimage). During this pilgrimage, revelations were sent to Him about the rules of Hajj, which all Muslims follow to this day. When the Prophet reached Mount Arafat to “stand before Allah,” He proclaimed His last sermon. Even then, Muhamed was seriously ill. He continued to lead prayers in the mosque as best he could. There was no improvement in the disease, and He fell ill completely. He was 63 years old. It is known that His last words were: “I am destined in Paradise to remain among the most worthy.” His followers found it difficult to believe that the Prophet could die like a common man, but Abu Bakr reminded them of the words of revelation spoken after the Battle of Mount Uhud:

“Muhamed is only a messenger. There are no longer any messengers who once were before him; if he dies or is killed, will you really turn back?” (Quran, 3:138).

2. The teachings of Muhammad. Koran

Muhammad was not a deeply original thinker. As the founder of a new religion, he was clearly inferior in this regard to others, such as the semi-legendary Buddha, Jesus, Lao Tzu or the very real Confucius. At first, Muhammad did not insist at all that he was creating a new teaching, advocating the recognition of a single god, somewhat akin to the Christian or Jewish, although at the same time related to the highest divine symbol of the Kaaba. He openly borrowed all the dogma of his teaching, including the prophets from Abraham to Jesus, from the Bible. It is interesting that in the first years of the spread of the young religion, Muhammad even prayed, turning his face to the holy city of Jews and Christians - Jerusalem. Only after the Jews began to openly ridicule the mistakes of the illiterate Muhammad, the prophet ordered to turn the face towards Mecca during prayer.

Having created the cult of one Allah, Muhammad called on his followers to pray to him daily, accompanying the prayer with ablution, as well as to fast and contribute zakat to the common treasury of the faithful in favor of the poor.

From their Bibles, Muhammad borrowed the idea of ​​the Last Judgment, the idea of ​​heaven and hell, Satan (Shaitan), demons (jinn) and much more. At first, he actively spoke out in support of the poor and against oppression by merchants. Muhammad in Medina. The number of Muhammad's followers in Mecca was increasing, and this was met with growing resistance from the wealthy Quraish merchants, the most influential residents of the city. The Quraish, who relied on the sanctuary and gods of the Kaaba, did not see the point in the new religion and even feared the strengthening of its supporters. The death of Khadija and Abutalib deprived Muhammad of internal support in Mecca, and in 622 the prophet, along with his few followers, went to neighboring Medina, which competes with Mecca.

Medina, hostile to the Quraysh, readily accepted Muhammad (his mother was from Yathrib), and the presence of a large Jewish community in Medina made them more prepared to accept his teachings. Soon after Muhammad's arrival in Medina, almost the majority of the population of this city joined the ranks of the faithful. It was a huge success, almost a triumph, so the year 622, the year of migration, began to be considered the first year of the new Muslim era (Hijra in Arabic).

Muhammad transformed from a simple preacher into a political leader of a community that at first included not only Muslims. His autocracy is gradually established in Medina. The main support of Muhammad were the Muslims who came with him from Mecca - the Muhajirs and the Medina Muslims - the Ansars.

Muhammad also hoped to find religious and political support from the Jews of Yathrib; he even pointedly chose Jerusalem as the qibla. However, they refused to recognize Muhammad as the non-Jewish messiah; moreover, they ridiculed the Prophet of Allah and even came into contact with the enemies of Muhammad - the Meccans. They were joined by some other Yathribs from pagans, Jews and Christians, who initially willingly accepted Islam, but then opposed Muhammad. This internal Medina opposition is repeatedly condemned in the Qur'an under the name of "hypocrites" (munafikun).

In Medina, the first mosque, the house of Muhammad, was built, the foundations of Muslim ritual were established - the rules of prayer, ablution, fasting, the call to prayer, collections for pious needs, etc. In Muhammad's sermons, the rules of community life began to be recorded - the principles of inheritance, division of property, marriages. Bans are announced on wine, pork and gambling.

The position of Muhammad as the messenger of Allah begins to stand out. In the “revelations” there appear demands for special respect for Muhammad; exceptions from certain prohibitions that are obligatory for others are “sent down” to him. Thus, in Medina, Muhammad formed the basic principles of religious teaching, ritual and community organization.

The Medina Muslim community developed its own charter, its own organizational forms, the first laws and regulations in the field of not only ritual and cult, but also the norms of everyday life. By developing all these laws, Muhammad noticeably deepened the differences between his teachings and the teachings of Christians and Jews, which made it possible to take a significant step towards the formation of a new religion from others, even if related to it.

This step was also facilitated by the prophet’s break with the Jewish colony in Medina, which acted in alliance with Mecca against the Muslims. Soon, almost all of southern and western Arabia submitted to the influence of the Islamic community in Medina.

The basic ideas and principles of Muhammad's doctrine are recorded in the Koran, the holy book of Muslims. According to the accepted tradition in Islam, the text of the Koran was revealed to the prophet by Allah himself through the mediation of Jabrail (the biblical Archangel Gabriel, who served as an intermediary between God and people). Allah has repeatedly conveyed his sacred commandments through various prophets - Moses, Jesus, and finally Muhammad. This is how Islamic theology explains the numerous coincidences between the texts of the Koran and the Bible: the sacred text transmitted through earlier prophets was distorted by Jews and Christians, who did not understand much in it, missed something, distorted it, therefore only in their own latest version, authorized by the great prophet Muhammad, the faithful can have the highest and indisputable divine truth.

This legend of the Koran, if purified of divine intervention, is close to the truth. The main content of the Koran is as closely related to the Bible as Islam itself is close to Judeo-Christianity. But everything is explained much more simply than Muslim theology tries to do. Muhammad himself did not read books, including the Bible. However, having entered the path of the prophet, through intermediaries he very diligently became acquainted with the content of the sacred Judeo-Christian texts, which told about the same one and omnipotent god, whom Muhammad began to worship under the name of Allah.

Processing them in his mind and skillfully combining them with the Arab national-cultural tradition, Muhammad built his first sermons on this basis, which, being then written down by his secretaries-scribes, formed the basis of the Koran. Muhammad's nervous psyche greatly contributed to the fact that in the eyes of his followers, the prophet really looked like a kind of heavenly messenger, speaking on behalf of the highest deity. His sayings, most often in the form of rhymed prose, were perceived as divine truth and it was in this capacity that they were then included in the consolidated text of the Koran.

According to one of the best experts on Arab culture, Academician I. A. Krachkovsky, who specially studied and translated the Qur'an into Russian, in the text of the Qur'an, despite the differences in the language and style of its individual chapters, one can feel a certain unity of the main content, the main idea, going back to preachings of Muhammad. Experts distinguish two main groups among the chapters (surahs) of the Koran - the Meccan one, dating back to the sermons of Muhammad, who began his prophetic journey before the Hijra, when few people recognized him as a teacher of faith, and the Medina one, based on the sayings of the already widely recognized and revered founder of Islam. The text of the Koran is abrupt and often contradictory, although within a single chapter one can feel the desire to preserve the unity of theme and plot.

Conclusion

There is a general consensus in modern scholarship that Muhammad actually lived and acted, uttered a significant part of the words that make up the Koran, and founded the Muslim community, first in Mecca, then in Yathrib. In the biography of Muhammad (sira), in legends about his words and deeds (hadith), in commentaries to the Koran (tafsir), etc. Along with historically reliable information, there are many later additions, speculations and legends. All together they make up the biography of the Prophet known to all Muslims. Islam, in principle, does not endow Muhammad with any supernatural traits. The Koran repeatedly emphasizes that he is a person like everyone else.

However, a cycle of legends about miracles gradually arose around his figure. Some of them develop allusions from the Qur'an, such as the legend that angels cut the young Muhammad's chest and washed his heart, or the legend of his night journey on the magical animal al-Buraq to Jerusalem and subsequent ascension to heaven. A number of legends have developed about the miracles performed by Muhammad - in his presence a milking sheep gives milk, a small amount of food is enough for many people, etc. In general, however, there is relatively little such material in the legends about Muhammad.

List of used literature

1. Vasiliev S. History of Eastern religions. - M.: graduate School, 2002. - 304 p.
2. Grundman V., Ellert G. Jesus of Nazareth, Muhammad - the prophet of Allah. - M.: Phoenix, 2004. - 743 p.
3. Fundamentals of Religious Studies. / Edited by I. N. Yakovlev. - M.: Higher School, 2004. P. 302..

© Sadra LLC, 2016

Introduction

Arabia, which was also called the “scorched earth,” was hot deserts, endless sandy valleys and hills. Arabia is a waterless land, a land where nothing grew except desert thorns, which they called “vegetation.” The dwellings of the Arabs, if they could be called dwellings, were more like crypts in which creatures called “people” swarmed and spent their meager lives, feeding on dates and stale water.

Wars and civil strife were commonplace in public life that time. Mecca was a temple of idols. Its inhabitants were traders and moneylenders who bought human souls for dirhams and dinars.

The tribal way of life and cattle breeding, coupled with the cruel oppression of the dispossessed, were an integral part of the social structure of Arabia. The spiritual crisis that arose in Arabia was only part of that world spiritual crisis, one of the evidences of which was the strengthening of oppression that destroyed the peace and social order in society.

A group of rich people and moneylenders engaged in trade in Mecca acquired enormous wealth through illegal means, exploiting the lower strata of society. Usury and harsh exploitation only contributed to increasing contradictions and intensifying the spiritual impoverishment of the population.

The Arab tribes, due to their ignorance, worshiped natural phenomena or idols. The Kaaba was turned into a pagan temple 1
“Nahj al-balagha”, Allame Khoi, volume 2, page 173; "Tarikh jamei adyan", trans. Ali Askar Hikmat, page 479.

Undecent customs and the very way of life destroyed the greatness of an entire nation. The depravity of the Arabs before the Islamic period led to a situation about which history says: “Its fruits were moral corruption and crime, its food was carrion, its slogan was fear, its logic was the sword...”

According to their customs, the Arabs recognized as more worthy and preferable in communication only those who came from Arabs, in whom Arab blood flowed. In other words, in the era of original ignorance (jahiliyya) 2
If you are interested in the topic of ignorance modern world, then read the Persian translation of the book “Jahiliyyat al-Qarn al-Ishrin” written by Muhammad Qutb.

Nationalism, well known to the 20th century, was the cult of pre-Islamic Arabia. Each tribe was proud of the fact that it possessed certain qualities, considering this a distinctive criterion for itself.

Raids, robberies, barbarism, oppression, aggression, and treachery characterized the priorities of the Arabs of that time.

They regarded murder as a manifestation of true valor and courage!..

A daughter in a family meant shame, and often humiliating extreme poverty forced an Arab to abandon the child, killing or burying an innocent child alive in a grave. When the pagan Arab was announced about the birth of his daughter, his face turned black with indignation. The father secluded himself and kept thinking about what to do with the baby: accept the shame, leaving him, or bury him alive in the ground and “thus not tarnish his dignity, because sometimes the presence of even one girl in the family was considered reprehensible.” 3
Taken from Holy Quran, 16:58–59; 17:31. Tafsir Al-Mizan, Volume 12, Page 294 was also used.

Thus, based on the above, it follows that Arab people lived in a deep quagmire of debauchery and spiritual decline. The Arabs turned into ferocious people and robbers. They, like many other peoples of the world, followed superstitions, invented legends, which served as the basis of their “religion.”

It is quite obvious that a thorough transformation of such a society was necessary. But this movement of revival had to be led by a divine man, guided by the Almighty himself, since only in this case could mistakes and miscalculations be avoided. On the path to achieving the improvement of society, such a person will not be guided by greed. While destroying his personal opponents, he will not pursue his own interests, doing this under the guise of “filtering” elements that disobey him. On the contrary, such a person will try to change these people into better side. He will follow the path of Allah and work for the good of the people. For one thing is clear: a leader devoid of moral and moral qualities is not able to correct society and lead it to salvation. This is given exclusively to divine leaders. It is with the help of inspiration from above that they are able to deeply and comprehensively transform individual and social aspects of human life.

And now it’s time to look at the new world leader, his personality and the changes he brought with him...

Birth and childhood of His Lordship Muhammad (S) 4
Short form - may Allah bless him and his family.

Mecca was plunged into darkness and the heavy stupor of night. There were no traces of life or manifestations of any activity. Only high in the sky the moon slowly rose from behind the mountains, shedding its dim light on simple houses among the sands.

After midnight, an intoxicating breeze swept over the hot lands of the Hijaz, preparing them for a short rest. At the same time, the stars joined in this simple celebration of the night, giving it brilliance, splendor and modest animation. They looked down and smiled at the sleeping people of Mecca.

As soon as dawn broke, the singing of birds awakening early in the morning was heard in that heavenly air, as if pouring out their souls.

Morning came, but still a vague silence reigned in the city. Everyone was immersed in sleep, and only Amina was awake. She felt the pain she had been waiting for... Little by little the pain intensified... Suddenly, she noticed in her room several unfamiliar and radiant women, from whom a fragrance emanated. The woman in labor was amazed. Who are they? How did you get through the closed doors?! 5
"Bihar al-Anwar", volume 15, page 325.

A little time passed, and a baby dear to Amina’s heart was born. After long months of waiting, in the early morning of the seventeenth Rabbi'al-Awwal, her eyes lit up with a miracle - the birth of a child.

Everyone was happy about the appearance of little Muhammad (C). But at the same time, as the baby illuminated Amina’s lonely bedchamber, she was not next to her young spouse Abdullah. For fate so happened that, returning from a trip to Syria, he died in Medina and was buried there, leaving Amina forever 6
“Kamil at-tawarikh”, p. 10; "Tabakat", volume 1, p. 61; "Bihar al-Anwar", volume 15, page 125.

Muhammad (S) – an extraordinary baby

The birth of the Prophet Muhammad (C) was accompanied by a number of unusual phenomena, which were observed in the sky and on the ground. In particular, they were discovered in the East, considered at that time the cradle of civilization.

Since this baby was born to save nations from depravity, spiritual decline and corruption and to lay a new foundation for the progress and prosperity of mankind, already at the time of the birth of Muhammad (C), events occurred in the world that prompted man to wake up from the sleep of ignorance and oblivion.

The palace of Anushirvan, filled with greatness, was in the eyes of people a symbol of eternal power and authority. But that night the castle shook and fourteen battlements of its wall collapsed 7
"Bihar al-Anwar", volume 15, page 257.

Suddenly the fire went out in the Zoroastrian temple of Fars, the flame of which had been burning for a thousand years... 8
Ibid., pp. 258–263.

Halima - nurse of Muhammad (S)

In the old days, it was a common custom among the Arabs to give newborn children to be raised by a wet nurse living in the vicinity of the city, since in this case the child not only grows up in the clean and fresh air of the desert, but also learns the best, authentic Arabic dialect, which could only be found in the desert vastness of Arabia 9
Siree Halbiye”, volume 1, page 99.

So, following this ancient custom and in view of the fact that Amina had no milk, Abd al-Mutallib, the grandfather and guarantor of Muhammad (C), intends to hire for his beloved grandson (the only reminder of his son Abdullah) a respectable and reliable woman who took care of about him. After preliminary searches, he chooses Halima from the Bani Sa'd tribe, which was famous among the Arabs for its valor and eloquence, as a wet nurse. Halima was one of the most chaste and noble women of her time. She returned with Muhammad (C) to her native tribe and took care of him as if she were her own child.

It should be noted that the people of the Bani Sa'd tribe experienced drought for a long time. The arid desert expanses and moisture-deprived sky were the reason for the aggravation of their sad, disastrous situation. But from the day Muhammad (C) came to Halima's house, grace descended on her: life, which had been spent in poverty, now began to improve, and the pale faces of the woman and her children acquired freshness, Halima's breast, which had little milk, became full . The pastures of those regions where herds of sheep and camels usually grazed were covered with greenery. But before Muhammad (C), this tribe was going through difficult times!

Compared to other children, Muhammad (C) grew faster, was the fastest in running, and also spoke well. Happiness and prosperity accompanied him, which was immediately understood by the people around him. Haris, Halima’s husband, even once said to her: “Do you know what kind of blessed child fate has given us?.. 10
"Sira", Ibn Hisham, volume 1, page 159.

Muhammad (S) in the whirlpool of events

When Muhammad (C) was six years old, his mother Amina, taking him with her, left Mecca and headed to Medina to see her relatives. There is also a version that she went to visit the grave of her husband Abdullah. But she was not destined to return. Amina died on the way back and was buried in a place called Abva 11
Ibid., p. 168.

Thus, Muhammad (C) loses his parents at an age when every child needs fatherly love and motherly affection more than ever.

Image of Muhammad (C)

Just as the birth of the Prophet of Islam (S) and the events following it were amazing and spoke of his extraordinary personality, his lordship's speech and behavior as a child distinguished him from his peers, so much so that even his grandfather Abd al-Mutallib appreciated it and showed him the deepest respect 12
"Bihar al-Anwar", volume 15, pp. 382, ​​402, 366.

The Prophet’s uncle, Abu Talib, said: “I never saw Muhammad lie or commit obscene and rash acts, nor heard any inappropriate laughter or useless conversations. He spent most of his time alone." 13
Right there.

Muhammad (C) was seven years old when this amazing incident happened. One day the Jews cooked a stolen chicken and sent it to Abu Talib. Everyone tasted this meat, and only Muhammad (C) did not touch it. When the others wanted to know the reason, he replied: “Meat was forbidden, but God protects me from everything forbidden...”

Another time, Jewish rabbis took a chicken from their neighbors, promising to pay after. But the Prophet (C) still did not touch the meat, saying that he doubted the permissibility of this food.

Then the Jews confirmed: “This child has great superiority.” 14
Ibid., p. 336.

Several cases from childhood and adolescence

The childhood of the Prophet Muhammad (C), accompanied by the bitterness of orphanhood, passed under the tutelage of his generous grandfather Adb al-Mutallib and affectionate uncle Abu Talib. As if these years, when any sadness tormented his subtle soul, were a necessary condition for the further formation great personality Prophet (C). The orphan, who was destined to become a Messenger and benefactor, had to know all the sorrows and suffering from childhood; he needed to have firmness and fortitude in order to bear the difficult burden of the divine message. Despite the fact that the future Prophet (C) was deprived of the kindness of his mother and the tender love of his father, he was not abandoned. Abu Talib, in accordance with the will of his brother, as well as at the urgent request of his father, Abd al-Mutallib, took Muhammad (C) under his care and protection. In fact, the nephew replaced Abu Talib's son and was the memory of his brother Abdullah and his father Abd al-Mutallib. Abu Talib was to Muhammad (C) an affectionate father, a devoted uncle and a compassionate and sympathetic guardian. Uncle and nephew were so attached to each other that it seemed that their lives were intertwined with an inextricable thread. Because of his great affection, Abu Talib never parted with Muhammad (C) and even took him with him to such large bazaars as Akkaz, Majanna, Zil Majaz. When Abu Talib left Mecca to trade in Syria, he, unable to withstand separation, took him with him on the road. Sitting on a camel, Muhammad (C) covered the long journey to Syria... 15
Sira", Ibn Hisham, volume 1, page 180.

Meeting of Muhammad (S) with the monk Bahira

On the day when the Quraish caravan approached the city of Busra 16
A small town in Syria.

A certain monk named Bakhira, leading a hermit life, was in his cell. Suddenly he noticed a caravan in the distance and a cloud that followed it and protected the travelers from the scorching rays of the sun.

Bakhira left his cell and ordered his servant: “Go and tell those people that today they are our guests.”

Everyone came except Muhammad (C), who remained to guard the things. Seeing that the cloud remained over the camels, Bahira asked: “Are all the travelers present here?” “Yes, except for one boy,” came the answer.

The monk asked for the boy to be brought, and when he came, the cloud also followed him. Bahira looked at Muhammad (C) very carefully and then said to him: “I will ask you for the sake of Lat and Uzza.” 17
The most revered idols of the Meccan pagans.

“Don’t ask me anything for the sake of Lat and Uzza.” I swear by Allah, I hate nothing more than the two of them.

“Answer me then for the sake of Allah.”

- Ask.

After a short conversation with Muhammad (C), the monk fell to his feet and hands and, kissing them, said: “If it is given to me to live in your time (the time of your prophecy), then I will be one of the first to fight your enemies. Truly, you are a great man..."

Then Bakhira asked who this child belonged to. They pointed him to Abu Talib, saying that he was his father.

“This boy should not have a living father,” Bakhira objected.

“He is my brother’s son,” admitted Abu Talib.

Then Bakhira turned to him:

“This boy has a great future ahead of him.” But if the Jews see him and know what I know, they will try to kill him. Keep him away from them!

– But what does he have to do, and what do the Jews have to do with this? – asked Abu Talib.

- He will be a Prophet. The Angel of Revelation will descend to him. God will not leave him alone! 18
Bihar al-Anwar”, volume 15, pp. 193–204.

Shepherding

Despite the fact that Abu Talib was one of the noble Quraysh, there was still not enough money for the heavy expenses of his family. Muhammad (C), having reached maturity, was inclined to take up the matter and thereby help Abu Talib.

But what profession should he choose so that it corresponds to his spiritual world?

In view of the fact that Muhammad (C) had to become a great Prophet and a noble leader, and also face the stubborn and unbridled Arabs, fight the fanatical Jews and the wrong traditions of the era of ignorance, lay the foundations of an exalted palace of justice and bring happiness and prosperity to the world, he prefers shepherding.

Muhammad (C) grazed the cattle of his relatives and Meccans in the steppes located in the vicinity of the city of Mecca. He gave the money he received for his work to his uncle. In addition, deserted spaces, remote from the bustle of the world, were a good opportunity to move away from a society mired in depravity and ignorance.

Moral purity of Muhammad (S)

At a time when previously hidden natural instincts and abilities are manifested and formed in a person, children enter a new stage - unpredictable and tremulous. They see themselves in another world. At this very important moment in life young man it is necessary to keep and balance his momentary desires and spiritual aspirations. Various types of deviations, depravity and depravity, can engulf youth and cast them into a terrible abyss of misfortune.

Muhammad (S) lived in a society whose atmosphere was polluted with immorality. Not only the youth, but also the elderly people of Hijaz, in an obscene and shameful manner, inclined towards debauchery and sexual perversion. In every alley, a black flag fluttered over some of the houses - a sign of depravity, inviting similar depraved people.

So Muhammad (C) spent his childhood and teenage years in such a low society. However, having not created a family until he was twenty-five, he still did not fall under the negative influence of his environment. During this period of the life of the great Prophet Muhammad (S), even the slightest indecent act cannot be traced to him. In any case, the Prophet (S), unlike the others, achieved perfection in all moral qualities and manners: generosity, kindness, nobility, patience and endurance, honesty, reliability, good neighborliness and distance from vices. In this regard, even before the prophetic mission, he was called “Muhammad Amin”, which translates as “faithful and trustworthy man” 19
"Sira", Ibn Hisham, volume 1, page 183.

Both friends and enemies agree with this and highlight his high spiritual qualities.

Panegyric works written by poets during the marriage of the Prophet (S) to Saint Khadija (A) 20
Short form - peace be upon her.

They remind him of his most beautiful qualities, such as chastity. Addressing Khadija, the poet says: “...Oh, Khadija (A)! Among the people of the whole world, you have reached the highest level, you alone have received this honor.” (i.e. you are the only woman who was awarded the honor of marriage with Muhammad (C)) 21
"Bihar al-Anwar", volume 16, page 74.

Another poet in his poems expresses himself as follows: “If you compare Ahmad (C) with all creations, he will surpass them. Indeed, his virtues are clear to the Quraish." 22
Ibid., page 75.

Marriage

According to legend, Saint Khadija (A) was the first woman to convert to Islam. On her father's and mother's side she belonged to the Quraish tribe.

Khadija's father is Khuwaylid ibn Assad, mother is Fatima bint Za'd ibn Assam. Thus, the pedigree of Saint Khadija (A), the Mother of the Faithful on both the paternal and maternal lines, goes back to a noble Arab family.

Khadija (A) had pure soul and received a religious education. Even before the emergence of Islam, she was known under the name “Tahira”, which means “pure, immaculate,” and was considered the best woman tribe of Quraish.

There is a version that before becoming the wife of the Prophet (S), Her Grace Khadija (A) was married and had children, but biographers hardly mention them. The reason for this omission is that in their books they begin by describing life path Khadija only from the time she received the honor of becoming the wife of the Prophet (S).

After the death of her husband, Khadija (A) did not marry, although representatives of the most noble Quraish tribes wooed her. By the grace of Allah, she was honored to become the wife of the Messenger of God and the great Prophet (S). Khadija (A) was his first wife and his life partner for 25 years.

Being a rich woman, she annually equipped a trading caravan, which was equal in number to all the Quraish caravans combined. She hired people to conduct the trade affairs of the caravan. The news of the nobility of Muhammad (C) spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula. Khadija (A) decided to invite him to conduct her trading affairs.

One day Khadija (A) shared her secret with her friend Nafisa, sister of Yali ibn Umayya. She wanted her friend to talk to Muhammad (C) about a sensitive topic.

Ibn Sa'd narrates from the words of Nafisa: “Khadija (A) - the daughter of Khuwaylid ibn Abdulaz ibn Kasa - was a very intelligent, practical, rich woman and superior in noble origin to all the Quraish. And all her relatives sent matchmakers to her, since if she agreed, it could go to them great fortune. When a trade caravan led by the honest and trustworthy Muhammad (C) returned from Syria, Khadija (A) called me to her and said: “I have chosen you for a serious matter.” To which I replied: “I belong to you to the tips of my fingers and am always at your service.” Khadija (A) said: “Talk about me to Muhammad (C).” I went to Muhammad ibn Abdullah (C) and asked him: “Why don’t you choose a wife for yourself?” He apologized and said that he did not have sufficient funds to start a family, to which I replied: “What will you do if I point you to a woman who has beauty, wealth and is equal to you in origin?”

- Who are you speaking about?

– About Khadija (A).

After this incident, a little time passed, and Muhammad (C), along with his uncle Hamza, went to make a match. Addressing Khadija's uncle Amr ibn Asad ibn Abdulazi Al-Fakhri, Hamza said: "Muhammad (C) is superior to all the young men of the Quraish tribe in his nobility, honor, merit and intelligence, and he wishes to marry Khadija..."

So, a wedding took place, the witnesses and participants of which were all the Quraish nobility.

The Prophet (S) spoke about Khadija (A): “I swear to God, I did not have a better wife than Khadija. In those days when everyone was an infidel, she was the first to accept Islam, when everyone rejected me, she believed me. She did not spare her property for me..."

The Great Prophet of Islam (S), even after the death of Khadija (A), always remembered her with warmth.

From the story of Ibn Abbas: “One day the Prophet drew four lines on the ground and said: “Do you know what these lines mean?” They answered: “God and His Messenger know more than us.” To which the Prophet (S) said: “These are the best of the women of paradise: Khadija (A), daughter of Khuwaylid, Fatima, daughter of Muhammad, Maryam, mother of Jesus, and Asiya, daughter of Mazahem.”

In the early years of the prophetic mission, the Quraysh provided high pressure on the Prophet of Islam (S), and he was forced to move and live with his relatives and associates in the mountain gorge Sha'b Abu Talib. Khadija (A) followed him and was always with the Prophet during those difficult years.

Historians write: “The Prophet and Khadija (A) lost all their wealth. But faith in the Almighty gave them the strength to endure hunger, persecution and all the difficulties that they had to face. All this affected her health. Khadija (A) became very weak and soon after returning to Mecca, without recovering, she left this mortal world.”

In the same year, the Prophet’s uncle, Abu Talib, also died, and since the Prophet (S) lost his closest and dearest people who were his reliable support in life, in history this year was called the year of “sorrow and sorrow.”

For Muslims, the most significant religious figure is the Prophet Muhammad, thanks to whom the world saw and read the Koran. Many facts from his life are known, which gives a chance to understand his personality and significance in history. There is a prayer dedicated to him that can work miracles.

Who is Prophet Muhammad?

Preacher and prophet, messenger of Allah and founder of Islam - Muhammad. His name means "The Praised One." Through him, God transmitted the text of the holy book for Muslims - the Koran. Many are interested in what the Prophet Muhammad was like in appearance, so, according to the scriptures, he differed from other Arabs in his lighter skin color. He had a thick beard, broad shoulders and big eyes. Between the shoulder blades on the body there is a “seal of prophecy” in the shape of a relief triangle.

When was the prophet Muhammad born?

The birth of the future prophet occurred in 570. His family came from the Quraish tribe, who were the guardians of ancient religious relics. Another important point is where the Prophet Muhammad was born, so the event took place in the city of Mecca, where modern Saudi Arabia is located. I didn’t know Muhammad’s father at all, and his mother died when he was six years old. He was raised by his uncle and grandfather, who told his grandson about monotheism.

How did the prophet Muhammad get the prophecy?

Information about how the prophet received the revelations to write the Qur'an is minimal. Muhammad never spoke in detail or clearly on this topic.

1. It was established that Allah communicated with the prophet through an angel whom he calls Jibril.
2. Another one interesting topic- at what age did Muhammad become a prophet, so according to legend, an angel appeared to him and said that Allah had chosen him as his messenger when he was 40 years old.
3. Communication with God took place through visions. Some researchers believe that the prophet fell into a trance, while there are scientists who are sure that the reason was the weakness of the body due to prolonged fasting and lack of sleep.
4. One of the proofs that the Prophet Muhammad wrote the Qur'an is believed to be the fragmentary nature of the book and this, according to historians, is due to the inspiration of the preacher.

Parents of the Prophet Muhammad

The mother of the founder of Islam was the beautiful Amina, who was born in rich family, which gave her a chance to get a good upbringing and education. She got married at the age of 15, and the marriage with the father of the Prophet Muhammad was happy and harmonious. During the birth, a white bird descended from the sky and touched Aminu with its wing, which freed her from her existing fears. There were angels around who took the child into the world. She died of illness when her son was five years old.

The father of the Prophet Muhammad, Abdullah, was very handsome. One day his father, that is, the grandfather of the future preacher, made a vow before the Lord that he would sacrifice one son if he had ten of them. When the time came to fulfill the promise and the lot fell on Abdullah, he exchanged it for 100 camels. Many ladies were in love with the young guy, and he married the most beautiful girl in the city. When she was two months pregnant, the father of the Prophet Muhammad died. At that time he was 25 years old.

Prophet Muhammad and his wives

There are different information regarding the number of wives, but official sources traditionally present 13 names.

1. The wives of the Prophet Muhammad could no longer marry after the death of their spouse.
2. They must hide their entire body under clothing, while other women can expose their face and hands.
3. It was possible to communicate with the wives of the prophet only through a curtain.
4. They received double reward for everything they did.

Prophet Muhammad married the following women:

1. Khadija. The first wife to convert to Islam. She bore the Messenger of Allah six children.
2. Sauda. The prophet married her a few years after the death of his first wife. She was devout and pious.
3. Aisha. She married Muhammad at age 15. The girl told people many of her sayings famous husband related to personal life.
4. Umm Salamah. She married Muhammad after the death of her husband and lived longer than his other wives.
5. Maria. The Egyptian ruler gave the woman to the prophet, and she became a concubine. They legalized the relationship after the birth of their son.
6. Zainab. She was in the status of a wife for only three months, and then she died.
7. Hafsa. The young girl was distinguished from others by her explosive character, which often angered Muhammad.
8. Zainab. The girl was first the wife of the prophet's adopted son. The other wives did not like Zainab and tried to present her in a bad light.
9. Maimuna. She was the sister of the prophet's uncle's wife.
10. Juwayriyah. This is the daughter of the leader of a tribe that opposed the Muslims, but after marriage the conflict was resolved.
11. Safia. The girl was born into a family that was at enmity with Muhammad, and she was captured. Her future husband freed her.
12. Ramlya. This woman's first husband changed his faith from Islam to Christianity, and after his death she married a second time.
13. Raihana. At first the girl was a slave, and after accepting Islam, Muhammad took her as his wife.

Children of the Prophet Muhammad

Only two wives gave birth to the Messenger of Allah and, interestingly, all his descendants died at an early age. Many people are interested in how many children the Prophet Muhammad had, so there were seven of them.

1. Qasim - died at the age of 17 months.
2. Zainab was married to her father's cousin and gave birth to two children. She died young.
3. Rukia - was married off early and died young, without surviving the illness
4. Fatima - she was given in marriage to the prophet's cousin, and only she left the offspring of Muhammad. She died after the death of her father.
5. Ummu Kulthum - was born after the advent of Islam and died at a young age.
6. Abdullah - was born after the prophecy and died at an early age.
7. Ibrahim - after the birth of his son, the prophet made a sacrifice to Allah, shaved his hair and distributed donations. He died at the age of 18 months.

Prophecies of the Prophet Muhammad

There are about 160 confirmed prophecies that were fulfilled both during his life and after his death. Let's look at a few examples of what the prophet Muhammad said and what came true:

1. He predicted the conquest of Egypt, Persia and confrontation with the Turks.
2. He said that after his death Jerusalem would be conquered.
3. He argued that Allah will not give people a specific date, and they must understand that the Day of Judgment can come at any time.
4. He told his daughter Fatima that she was the only one who would survive him.

Prayer of the Prophet Muhammad

Muslims can turn to the founder of Islam using a special prayer - salavat. It is a manifestation of obedience to Allah. Regularly turning to Muhammad has its advantages:

1. Helps to cleanse yourself of hypocrisy and save yourself from the fire of Hell.
2. The Messenger Prophet Muhammad will intercede on the Day of Judgment for those who pray for him.
3. Prayer requests are a way of cleansing and atonement for sins.
4. Protects from the wrath of Allah and helps not to stumble.
5. You can ask for fulfillment through it.

When did the prophet Muhammad die?

There are a huge number of versions related to the death of the Messenger of Allah. Muslims know that he died in 633 AD. from a sudden illness. At the same time, no one knows what the Prophet Muhammad was sick with, which gives rise to many doubts. There are versions that he was actually killed with poison, and this was done by his wife Aisha. Disputes on this matter continue. The preacher's body was buried in his house, which was located near the Prophet's Mosque, and over time the room was expanded and became part of it.

Facts about the Prophet Muhammad

A huge amount of information is associated with this figure in Islam, while some facts are little known to many.

1. There is an assumption that the Messenger of Allah suffered from epilepsy. In ancient times he was thought to be possessed due to unusual seizures and clouding of consciousness, but these are common symptoms of the epileptic condition.
2. The morals of the Prophet Muhammad are considered an ideal, and every person should strive for them.
3. The first marriage was Great love and the couple lived in happiness for 24 years.
4. Many people are interested in what the prophet Muhammad was doing when he began to prophesy events. According to legend, the first feelings were doubt and despair.
5. He was a reformer because the revelations demanded social and economic justice, which the elite did not agree with.
6. The merits of the Prophet Muhammad are enormous; it is known that throughout his entire life he did not offend or defame anyone, while he avoided dishonest people and gossip.

This article presents the biography of the Prophet Muhammad, the most important figure in the Muslim world. It was to him that Allah handed over the Koran - the Holy Scriptures.

The biography of the Prophet Muhammad begins around 570 AD. e., when he was born. This happened in Saudi Arabia (Mecca), in the Quraish tribe (Hashim clan). Abdullah, Muhammad's father, died before he was born. And the mother of the Prophet Muhammad, Amina, passed away when he was only 6 years old. She was the daughter of the leader of the Zurkha clan from the local Quraish tribe. One day, the mother of the Prophet Muhammad decided to go to Medina with her son in order to visit the grave of Abdullah and her relatives. After staying here for about a month, they went back to Mecca. Amina became seriously ill along the way and died in the village of al-Abwa. This happened around 577. Thus, Muhammad remained an orphan.

The childhood of the future prophet

The future prophet was first raised by Abd al-Muttalib, his grandfather, a man of exceptional piety. Then the upbringing was continued by the merchant Abu Talib, Muhammad's uncle. The Arabs at that time were inveterate pagans. However, some adherents of monotheism stood out among them (for example, Abd al-Muttalib). The bulk of the Arabs lived in the territories that originally belonged to them, living a nomadic life. There were few cities. The main ones include Mecca, Taif and Yathrib.

Muhammad becomes famous

From his youth, the Prophet was distinguished by exceptional piety and piety. He, like his grandfather, believed in one God. Muhammad first tended his flocks and then began to take part in the trading affairs of Abu Talib, his uncle. Gradually Muhammad became famous. People loved him and gave him the nickname al-Amin (meaning "trustworthy"). This is what the Prophet Muhammad was called as a sign of respect for his piety, prudence, justice and honesty.

Muhammad's marriage to Khadija, children of the prophet

Later, Muhammad conducted the trading business of a wealthy widow named Khadija. She invited him after some time to marry her. The couple lived happy life, despite the significant age difference. They had six children. All the children of the Prophet Muhammad were from Khadija, except Ibrahim, who was born after her death. In those days, polygamy was common among the Arabs, but Muhammad remained faithful to his wife. Other wives of the Prophet Muhammad appeared to him only after the death of Khadija. This also says a lot about him as a honest man. The children of the prophet Muhammad had the following names: his sons are Ibrahim, Abdullah, Kasim; daughters - Ummukulsum, Fatima, Ruqiya, Zainab.

Prayers in the mountains, Gabriel's first revelation

Muhammad, as usual, retired to the mountains surrounding Mecca and retired there for a long time. His seclusion sometimes lasted several days. He especially liked the cave of Mount Hira, towering majestically above Mecca. It was here that the Prophet Muhammad received his first revelation. A photo of the cave is presented below.

On one of his visits, which took place in 610, when Muhammad was about 40 years old, an amazing event happened to him that completely changed his life. In a vision that came suddenly, the angel Gabriel (Jabrail) appeared before him. He pointed to the words that appeared from outside and ordered Muhammad to pronounce them. He objected, saying that he was illiterate, so he could not read them. However, the angel insisted, and suddenly the meaning of the words was revealed to the prophet. The angel ordered him to learn them and pass them on exactly to the rest of the people.

This was the first revelation of the book known today as the Koran (from Arabic word"reading"). This night, full of events, fell on the 27th of Ramadan and became known as Laylat al-Qadr. It is the most important event for believers, which marks the history of the Prophet Muhammad. From now on, his life no longer belonged to him. She was given over to the care of God, in whose service he spent the rest of his days, proclaiming his messages everywhere.

Further revelations

The Prophet, receiving revelations, did not always see the angel Gabriel, and when this happened, he appeared in different guises. Sometimes Gabriel appeared before the prophet in human form, which darkened the horizon. Sometimes Muhammad could only catch his gaze on him. The Prophet heard at times only a voice speaking to him. Muhammad sometimes received revelations while deep in prayer. However, in other cases, words appeared completely “randomly” when, for example, the prophet was engaged in daily activities, went for a walk, or listened to a meaningful conversation. At first, Muhammad avoided public sermons. He preferred personal conversation with people.

Condemnation of Muhammad by the people

A special way of performing Muslim prayer was revealed to him, and Muhammad immediately began pious exercises. He did them daily. This caused a whole wave of criticism from those who saw it. Muhammad, having received the highest order to carry out a public sermon, was cursed and ridiculed by the people, who mocked his actions and statements. Many Quraysh, meanwhile, became seriously alarmed, realizing that the persistence with which Muhammad asserted faith in one God could undermine the prestige of polytheism, as well as lead to the decline of idolatry when people began to convert to the faith of Muhammad. Some of the prophet's relatives became his main opponents. They ridiculed and humiliated Muhammad, and also committed evil against converts. There are many examples of abuse and mockery of people who have accepted a new faith.

Migration of the first Muslims to Abyssinia

The short biography of the Prophet Muhammad continued with a move to Abyssinia. Two large groups of early Muslims moved here in search of refuge. Here the Christian negus (king), who was very impressed with their way of life and teaching, agreed to patronize them. The Quraish imposed a ban on all personal, military, business, and trade relations with the Hashim clan. It was strictly forbidden for representatives of this clan to appear in Mecca. Very difficult times came; many Muslims were doomed to severe poverty.

Death of Khadija and Abu Talib, new marriage

The biography of the Prophet Muhammad was marked at this time by other sad events. Khadija, his wife, died in 619. She was his most devoted assistant and supporter. Abu Talib, Muhammad's uncle, died that same year. Namely, he protected him from the fierce attacks of his fellow tribesmen. The Prophet, stricken with grief, left Mecca. He decided to go to Taif and find refuge here, but was rejected. Muhammad's friends betrothed the pious widow Sauda as his wife, who turned out to be a worthy woman and, moreover, a Muslim. Aisha, young daughter Abu Bakr, his friend, knew and loved the prophet all her life. And although she was still very young for marriage, according to the customs of that time, she nevertheless entered the family of Muhammad.

The essence of Muslim polygamy

The wives of the Prophet Muhammad are a separate topic. Some people are confused by this part of his biography. The misconception that exists among people who do not understand the reasons for polygamy in the Muslim world should be dispelled. At that time, a Muslim who took several women as wives at once did this out of a sense of compassion, providing them with shelter and his protection. Men were also encouraged to help the spouses of their friends killed in battle and to provide them with separate houses. They should have been treated as close relatives (of course, in the case of mutual love, everything could have been different).

Ascension Night

The biography of the Prophet Muhammad was marked by another important event. In 619, the Prophet had to experience the second amazing night of his life. This is Laylat al-Miraj, the Night of Ascension. It is known that Muhammad was awakened and then transported to Jerusalem on a magical animal. On Mount Zion, over the site of an ancient Jewish temple, the heavens opened. Thus the path opened that led to the throne of the Lord. However, neither he nor the angel Gabriel, who accompanied Muhammad, was allowed to enter the beyond. This is how the ascension of the Prophet Muhammad took place. That night, the rules of prayer were revealed to him, which became the focus of faith, as well as the unshakable basis of life of the entire Muslim world. Muhammad also met other prophets, including Moses, Jesus and Abraham. This wonderful event greatly strengthened and consoled him, adding confidence that Allah had not abandoned him and left him alone with his sorrows.

Preparing to move to Yathrib

The fate of Muhammad from now on changed decisively. He was still ridiculed and persecuted in Mecca, but his message had already been heard by many people outside the city. Several elders of Yathrib persuaded the prophet to leave Mecca and move to their city, where he would be received with honor as a judge and leader. Jews and Arabs lived together in Yasrib, constantly at odds with each other. They hoped that Muhammad would bring them peace. The Prophet immediately advised many of his followers to go to this city while he himself remained in Mecca in order not to arouse suspicion. After all, after Abu Talib died, the Quraish could easily attack the prophet, even kill him, and Muhammad understood perfectly well that sooner or later this was bound to happen.

Muhammad arrives in Yathrib

Some dramatic events accompany the biography of the Prophet Muhammad during his departure. Muhammad managed to miraculously avoid captivity only thanks to his excellent knowledge of the local deserts. The Quraysh almost captured it several times, but Muhammad still managed to reach the outskirts of Yathrib. He was eagerly awaited in this city. When Muhammad arrived, people flocked to him with offers to settle with them. The Prophet, embarrassed by such hospitality, gave his camel the right to choose. The camel decided to stop at a place where dates were drying. The Prophet was instantly given this place to build a house. The city received a new name - Madinat an-Nabi (translated as “city of the prophet”). It is known today in short form as Medina.

Muhammad's reign in Yathrib

Muhammad immediately began preparing a decree, according to which he was proclaimed in this city the supreme head of all clans and tribes that were at war with each other. From now on they had to obey the orders of the prophet. Muhammad established that all citizens were free to practice their religion. They must coexist peacefully without fear of the highest disfavor or persecution. Muhammad asked only for one thing - to unite in order to repel any enemy who dared to attack Medina. The tribal laws of the Jews and Arabs were replaced by the principle of “justice for all,” that is, regardless of religion, skin color and social status.

Life of the Prophet Muhammad in Yathrib

The Prophet, having become the ruler of Medina and taking possession of great wealth and influence, never lived like a king. His home consisted of simple clay houses that were built for his wives. The life of the Prophet Muhammad was simple - he never even had his own room. A courtyard with a well was located not far from the houses - a place that has now become a mosque, where devout Muslims gather to this day. Almost the entire life of Muhammad was spent in constant prayer, as well as in the instruction of believers. In addition to the five obligatory prayers performed in the mosque, he devoted a lot of time to solitary prayer, sometimes devoting most of the night to pious reflections. His wives performed night prayer with him, after which they retired to their chambers. And Muhammad continued to pray for many hours, falling asleep briefly towards the end of the night, only to wake up soon for the pre-dawn prayer.

Deciding to return to Mecca

The Prophet, who dreamed of returning to Mecca, decided in March 628 to make his dream come true. He gathered 1,400 of his followers and set off with them, completely unarmed, in robes consisting of only 2 white veils. The followers of the prophet, despite this, were denied entry into the city. Even the fact that Islam was practiced by many citizens of Mecca did not help. The pilgrims, in order to avoid possible clashes, made their sacrifices near Mecca, in an area called Hudaibiya. Muhammad in 629 began plans to conquer Mecca peacefully. The truce concluded at Hudaibiya turned out to be short-lived. The Meccans again attacked a tribe allied with the Muslims in November 629.

Entry of Muhammad into Mecca

At the head of 10 thousand people, the largest army ever to leave Medina, the prophet marched towards Mecca. She settled down near the city, after which Mecca surrendered without a fight. The Prophet Muhammad entered in triumph, went straight to the Kaaba and performed a ritual circuit around it 7 times. After this, the prophet entered the shrine and destroyed all the idols.

Hajat al-Wida, death of Muhammad

Only in 632, in March, the only full-fledged pilgrimage to the Kaaba, known as the Last Pilgrimage (Hajjat ​​al-Wida), was made by the Prophet Muhammad (a photo of the Kaaba in its current form is presented below).

During this pilgrimage, revelations about the rules of the Hajj were sent to him. To this day all Muslims follow them. When, in order to appear before Allah, the prophet reached Mount Arafat, he proclaimed his last sermon. Muhammad was already seriously ill at that time. To the best of his ability, he continued to lead prayers in the mosque. There was no improvement in the illness, and the prophet finally fell ill. He was 63 years old at the time. This ends the biography of the Prophet Muhammad. His followers could hardly believe that he died as a simple man. The story of the Prophet Muhammad teaches us spirituality, faith, and devotion. Today it interests not only Muslims, but also many representatives of other faiths from different parts of the world.