Praise be to
Allaah.
Differences
and disputes arose among the Children of Israel. They introduced
alterations and changes in their beliefs and laws. Thus truth was
extinguished and falsehood prevailed, oppression and evil became
widespread, and people needed a religion that
would establish truth, destroy
evil and guide people to the straight path, therefore Allah sent
Muhammad
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) as Allaah said
(interpretation of the meaning):
And
We have not sent down the Book (the Quraan) to you (O Muhammad, except
that you may explain clearly unto them those things in which they
differ, and (as) a guidance and a mercy for a folk who believe
[al-Nahl
16:64]
Allaah
sent all the Prophets and Messengers to call for the worship of Allah
alone, and to bring people from darkness to light. The first of these
Messengers was Nooh and the last of them was Muhammad
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) as Allaah said
(interpretation of the meaning):
And
verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger
(proclaiming): Worship Allaah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from)
Taaghoot (all false deities, i.e. do not worship Taaghoot besides
Allaah)
[al-Nahl
16:36]
The
last of the Prophets and Messengers is Muhammad
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), so there is no Prophet
after him, as Allaah said:
Muhammad
is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allaah
and the last (end) of the Prophets
[al-Ahzaab
33:40]
Every
Prophet was sent exclusively to his own people, but Allaah sent His
Messenger Muhammad
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to all of mankind as Allaah
said (interpretation of the meaning):
Allaah
revealed to His messenger the Quraan by which to guide people And
We have not sent you (O Muhammad) except as a giver of glad tidings and
a Warner to all mankind, but most of men know not
[Saba
34:28]
Allaah
sent the Quraan to His Messenger, to guide people and bring them forth
from darkness to light by the will of their Lord. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
(This
is) a Book which We have revealed unto you (O Muhammad) in order that
you might lead mankind out of darkness (of disbelief and polytheism)
into light (of belief in the Oneness of Allaah and Islâmic
Monotheism) by their Lords Leave to the path of the All Mighty, the
Owner of all praise
[Ibraaheem
14:1]
The
messenger of Allaah, Muhammad ibn Abd-Allaah ibn Abd al-Muttalib
al-Haashimi al-Qurashi was born in Makkah in the year of the Elephant,
the year when the companions of the Elephant came to Makkah to destroy
the Kabah, but Allaah destroyed them. His father died before he was
born, and after he was born, Haleemah al-Sadiyyah nursed him. When he
was six years old, he visited his maternal uncles in Madeenah with his
mother Aaminah bint Wahb. On the way back to Makkah, his mother died in
al-Abwaa. Then his grandfather Abd al-Muttalib became his guardian.
But Abd al-Muttalib died when Muhammad was eight years old. Then his
paternal uncle Abu Taalib became his guardian. He took care of him,
treated him kindly and defended him for more than forty years, but when
Abu Taalib died he had not come to believe in the religion of Muhammad
lest he be reproached by Quraysh for abandoning the religion of his
forefathers
When
he was young, Muhammad used to tend sheep for the people of Makkah, then
he traveled to Syria to do business on behalf of Khadeejah bint
Khuwaylid, and he made a good profit. Khadeejah was impressed with his
character, and his sincerity and honesty, so he married her when he was
twenty-five, and she was forty, and he did not marry any other woman
until after she died.
Allaah
made Muhammad grow in a good manner, and Allaah took care of him, so he
was the the best of his people in physical wellbeing and in attitude, he
was the most generous, the most patient, the most truthful, the most
sincere and the most honest, so his people called him al-Ameen
(the trustworthy) .
Then
he was given an inclination towards solitude, so he used to spend many
days and nights alone in the cave of Hiraa, worshiping and praying to
his Lord. He hated idols, alcohol and promiscuous conduct, so he never
paid any attention to them all his life
When
Muhammad reached the age of thirty-five he took part in the rebuilding
of the Kabah, which had been destroyed by a flood. A dispute arose
concerning who should put the Black Stone back in its place, and they
appointed him as an arbitrator to resolve the dispute, so he called for
a garment and placed the stone on it then he told the tribal chiefs to
hold the garment at the edges so that all of them could lift it
together, then Muhammad put it in place and put stones and mortar around
it.
The
people of the Jaahiliyyah used to have some good characteristics such as
generosity, loyalty and courage, and they used to follow some teachings
of the religion of Ibraaheem, such as venerating the Kabah and making
Tawaaf around it, performing Hajj and Umrah, and offering sacrifices.
But besides that they used to have some bad habits and traditions, such
as fornication, drinking alcohol, consuming ribaa (usury or interest),
killing their daughters, oppression and worshiping idols.
The
first one to introduce changes in the religion of Ibrahim, and to call
for the worship of idols was Amr ibn Luhayy al-Khuzaai, who brought
idols to Makkah and other places, and called people to worship them.
Among these idols were Wudd, Suwaa, Yaghooth, Yaooq, and Nasra.
Later
on, the Arabs also worshipped other idols such as the idol of Manaat in
a place called Qadeed, and al-Laat in al-Taaif, al-Uzza in Wadi
Nakhlah, Hubal inside the Kabah, and other idols around the Kabah, and
idols in their homes. People used to consult soothsayers, fortunetellers
and magicians to judge between them.
When
shirk and corruption became so widespread, Allaah sent Muhammad
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), when he was forty years
old, to call the people to worship Allaah Alone and to give up
idol-worship. Quraysh denounced him for that and said:
Has
he made the aalihah (gods) (all) into One Ilaah (God Allaah). Verily,
this is a curious thing!
[Saad
38:5 interpretation of the meaning]
These
idols continued to be worshipped instead of Allaah until Allaah sent His
Messenger Muhammad
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) with the Message of Tawheed
(Oneness of Allaah). So he and his Companions (may Allaah be pleased
with them) broke them and destroyed them, truth prevailed and falsehood
was vanquished:
And
say: Truth (i.e. Islamic Monotheism or this Quraan or Jihaad against
polytheists) has come and Baatil (falsehood, i.e. Satan or polytheism)
has vanished. Surely, Baatil is ever bound to vanish
[al-Israa
17:81 interpretation of the meaning]
The
first revelation that was sent down to the Prophet
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was in the cave of Hiraa
where he used to go to worship, when Jibreel came to him and commanded
him to read. The Messenger
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, I am not a reader.
This happened again, and on the third time, he said to him:
Read!
In the Name of your Lord Who has created (all that exists).
He
has created man from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood).
Read!
And your Lord is the Most Generous
[al-Alaq
96:1-3 interpretation of the meaning]
The
Messenger went back home, his heart pounding. He entered upon his wife
Khadeejah and told her what had happened, saying I feared for myself.
She calmed him down and said, By Allaah, Allaah will never forsake you,
for you uphold the ties of kinship, help the weak, honour your guests,
give in charity and help when some one is stricken with calamity. Then
she went with him to her cousin Waraqah ibn Nawfal, who had become a
Christian. When he told him what had happened, he gave him glad tidings
and told him, this is the Naamoos whom Allaah sent to Moosa. He
encouraged him to be patient if his people persecuted him and expelled
him. Then the wahy stopped for a while, and the Messenger
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was saddened by that. Then
whilst he was walking one day, he saw the angel again, between the
heavens and the earth. He went back to his house and wrapped himself in
his blanket. Then Allaah revealed the words (interpretation of the
meaning):
O
you (Muhammad) enveloped in garments!
Arise
and warn!
[al-Muddaththir
74:1-2]
After
that, revelations came one after another to the Messenger
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
The
Prophet stayed in Makkah for thirteen years, calling for the worship of
Allaah alone, in secret then openly, when Allaah commanded him to
proclaim the truth. So he called them in a gentle and kind manner,
without fighting. He called his clan and closest relatives, then he
warned his people and those around them, then he warned all the Arabs,
then he warned all of mankind. Then Allaah said:
Therefore
proclaim openly (Allaahs Message
Islamic Monotheism) that which you are commanded, and turn away from Al
Mushrikoon (polytheists, idolaters, and disbelievers)
[al-Hijr
15:94]
A
few people, rich people, nobles, the weak and poor, men and women,
believed in the Messenger. All of them were persecuted for their faith.
Some were tortured and some were killed. Some of them migrated to
Abyssinia, fleeing from the persecution of Quraysh, and some of them
were persecuted with the Messenger
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), until Allaah caused His
religion to prevail.
When
the Messenger reached the age of fifty and ten years of his mission had
passed, his uncle Abu Taalib, who had protected him from the persecution
of Quraysh, died. Then his wife Khadeejah, who had been his consolation,
also died, and the persecution of his people intensified. They harrassed
him and persecuted him with all kinds of torments, and he bore it with
patience, seeking the reward of Allaah. May the blessings and peace of
Allaah be upon him.
When
the persecution of Quraysh became too intense, he went out to al-Taaif
and called its people to Islam but they did not respond; instead they
insulted him and threw stones at him, until his heels started to bleed.
He went back to Makkah and continued to call his people to Islam during
Hajj and at other times.
Then
Allaah took His Messenger on the Night Journey from al-Masjid al-Haraam
in Makkah to al-Masjid al-Aqsaa (in Jerusalem), riding on al-Buraaq,
accompanied by Jibreel. He stopped and led the Prophets in prayer, then
he was taken up into the lowest heaven, where he saw Adam, with the
souls of the blessed to his right and the souls of the doomed to his
left. Then he was taken up to the second heaven where he saw Eesa and
Yahyaa; then to the third heaven where he saw Yoosuf; then to the fourth
heaven where he saw Idrees; then to the fifth heaven where he saw
Haroon; then to the sixth heaven where he saw Moosa; then to the seventh
heaven where he saw Ibraaheem. Then he was taken up to Sidrat
al-Muntaha (the Lote-tree of the utmost boundary), and his Lord
spoke to him and enjoined fifty prayers upon him and his ummah each day
and night. Then that was reduced to five prayers to be performed, with a
reward for fifty, and the prayer was confirmed to be five prayers each
day and night for the ummah of Muhammad
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Then he returned to Makkah
before dawn came, and he told them what had happened to him. The
believers believed him but the kaafirs did not.
Glorified
(and Exalted) be He (Allaah) [above all that (evil) they associate with
Him]
Who
took His slave (Muhammad) for a journey by night from AlMasjid
AlHaraam (at Makkah) to Al Masjid Al Aqsaa (in Jerusalem), the
neighbourhood whereof We have blessed, in order that We might show him
(Muhammad) of Our Ayaat (proofs, evidences, lessons, signs, etc.).
Verily, He is the All Hearer, the All Seer
[al-Israa
17:1 interpretation of the meaning]
Then
Allaah sent to His Messenger
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) people who would help and
support him. During the Hajj season, he met a group from the tribe
of Khazraj in Madeenah. They embraced Islam, then they went back to
Madeenah and spread Islam there. The following year, they were over ten
people, whom the Messenger
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) met, and when they left he
sent Musab ibn Umayr with them to teach them the Quraan and Islam.
Many people became Muslim through him, including the leaders of the
tribe of Aws, Sad ibn Muaadh and Usayd ibn Hudayr.
The
following year when the Hajj season came, more than seventy men from
al-Aws and al-Khazraj came and invited the Messenger of Allaah
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to come to Madeenah after
the people of Makkah had persecuted him and boycotted him. During the
night of one of the days of Tashreeq, the Messenger made an appointment
to meet them at Aqabah. When one third of the night had passed, they
came out to meet him and found the Messenger of Allaah
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), accompanied by his uncle
al-Abbaas, who was not a believer, but he wanted to take care of his
nephews affairs. Al-Abbaas, the Messenger and the people spoke
together in a pleasant manner, then the Messenger
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) accepted their oath
of allegiance on the basis that he would migrate to them in Madeenah and
they would protect him, support him and defend him, and Paradise would
be theirs in return. They gave their oath of allegiance, one by one,
then they left. Quraysh found out about them, so they set out in pursuit
of them. But Allaah saved them from them, and the Messenger
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) remained in Makkah for a
while:
Verily,
Allaah will help those who help His (Cause). Truly, Allaah is All
Strong, All Mighty
[al-Hajj
22:40 interpretation of the meaning]
Then
the Messenger commanded his companions to migrate to Madeenah, so they
migrated in groups except for those who were prevented from doing so by
the mushrikeen. Then there were no Muslims left in Makkah apart from the
Messenger of Allaah, Abu Bakr and Ali. When the mushrikeen realized
that the companions of the Messenger of Allaah
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) had migrated to Madeenah,
they feared that he would join them and become strong. So they agreed to
kill him. Jibreel told the Messenger of Allaah about that, so the
Messenger commanded Ali to sleep in his bed, and he returned the things
that had been entrusted to the Messenger
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to their owners. The
mushrikeen spent the night at the door of the Messenger, waiting to kill
him when he came out, but he came out in the midst of them and went to
the house of Abu Bakr, after Allaah had saved him from their plot. And
Allaah revealed the words (interpretation of the meaning):
And
(remember) when the disbelievers plotted against you (O Muhammad) to
imprison you, or to kill you, or to get you out (from your home, i.e.
Makkah); they were plotting and Allaah too was plotting; and Allaah is
the Best of those who plot
[al-Anfaal
8:30]
Then
the Messenger of Allaah
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) resolved to migrate to
Madeenah, so he and Abu Bakr set out to the cave of Thawr and stayed
there for three nights. They hired Abd-Allaah ibn Abi Urayqit, who was
a mushrik, as their guide, and the ylet him lead their camels.
Quraysh were alarmed when he left, and they looked for him everywhere,
but Allaah protected His Messenger. When the search for them died down,
they travelled to Madeenah. When Quraysh despaired of finding them, they
offered to anyone who could bring one or both of them to them two
hundred camels. So the people intensified their search and on the way to
Madeenah, Suraaqah ibn Maalik found them; he was a mushrik and he set
out after them, so the Messenger
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) prayed against him and his
horses legs sank into the ground. So he realized that the Messenger of
Allaah
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was protected, so he asked
the Messenger to pray for him and said that he would not harm him. So
the Messenger
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) prayed for him and Suraaqah
went back, and diverted the people away from them. Then he became Muslim
after the conquest of Makkah.
When
the Messenger
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) reached Madeenah, the
Muslims exclaimed Allaahu akbar! with joy at his coming. Men, women
and children came out to meet him, rejoicing. He stayed in Quba, where
he and the Muslims built the mosque of Quba. He stayed there for over
ten nights, then he rode on Friday and prayed Jumuah amongst Bani
Saalim ibn Awf, then he rode his camel and entered Madeenah, with the
people all around him taking the reins of his camel so that he would
come and stay with them. The Messenger
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told them to leave her, for
she would be guided (by Allaah), so she walked on until she sat down in
the place where the Mosque is today.
Allaah
made it possible for His Messenger to stay with his maternal uncles near
the mosque, so he stayed in the house of Abu Ayyoob al-Ansaari, then the
Messenger of Allaah
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) sent someone to bring his
family and his daughters, and the family of Abu Bakr, from Makkah, and
thus he brought them to Madeenah.
Then
the Prophet
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and his companions started
to build his mosque in the place where the camel had sat down. He made
the qiblah facing towards Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem). Its pillars were
made of tree trunks and its roof was made of palm branches. Then the
qiblah was changed to the Kabah more than ten months after he had come
to Madeenah.
Then
the Messenger
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) established
brotherhood (muaakhkhah) between the Muhaajireen and the
Ansaar. The Messenger
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) made a treaty with the Jews
and wrote a document agreeing to peace and to defend Madeenah. The
Jewish scholar Abd-Allaah ibn Salaam became Muslim but most of the Jews
insisted on remaining kaafirs. In that year the Messenger
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) married Aaishah
(may Allaah be pleased with her).
In
the second year, the adhaan was prescribed, and Allaah changed the
qiblah to the Kabah, and the fast of Ramadaan was enjoined.
The
Messenger
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) remained in Madeenah and
Allaah supported him with His help. The Muhaajiroon and Ansaar
consolidated their ranks around him, and their hearts were devoted to
him. The mushrikoon, Jews and hypocrites came together to oppose him;
they slandered him and fabricated lies against him, and they declared
war on him, but Allaah commanded him to be patient, forbearing and
tolerant. When their evildoing became too intense, Allaah gave the
Muslims permission to fight, and the aayah was revealed (interpretation
of the meaning):
Permission
to fight (against disbelievers) is given to those (believers) who are
fought against, because they have been wronged; and surely, Allaah is
Able to give them (believers) victory
[al-Hajj
22:39]
Then
Allaah enjoined the Muslims to fight those who fought against them:
And
fight in the way of Allaah those who fight you, but transgress not the
limits. Truly, Allaah likes not the transgressors
[al-Baqarah
2:190 interpretation of the meaning]
Then
Allaah commanded them to fight all the mushrikeen:
and
fight against the Mushrikoon (polytheists, pagans, idolaters,
disbelievers in the Oneness of Allaah) collectively as they fight
against you collectively
[al-Tawbah
9:36 interpretation of the meaning]
The
Messenger
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and his companions began to
call people to Allaah and to strive in jihaad for the sake of Allaah. He
foiled the plots of their enemies and relieved the oppression of the
oppressed. Allaah supported them with His help, until the religion was
all for Allaah. He fought the mushrikeen at Badr in 2 AH, in Ramadaan,
and Allaah granted him victory over them and he defeated them. In 3 AH
the Jews of Bani Qaynuqaa committed treason by killing one of the
Muslims, so the Messenger
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) expelled them from Madeenah
to Syria. Then Quraysh avenged their dead who were slain at Badr. They
camped around Uhud in Shawwaal of the year 3 AH. Battle raged and the
archers disobeyed the command of the Messenger, so the Muslims did not
achieve victory, but the mushrikoon went back to Makkah without having
entered Madeenah.
Then
the Jews of Bani al-Nudayr committed treason and resolved to kill the
Messenger
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) by throwing a rock on him,
but Allaah saved him. Then he besieged them in 4 AH and expelled them to
Khaybar.
In
5 AH the Messenger
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) attacked Bani al-Mustalaq
in order to repel their aggression. He was victorious over them, and
took their wealth and their women and children as booty. Then the Jewish
leaders tried to incite the Confederates (al-Ahzaab) against the
Muslims, in order to put an end to Islam in its heartland. So the
mushrikoon, al-Ahbaash and the Jewish tribe of Ghatafaan gathered around
Madeenah, but Allaah foiled their plot and granted victory to His
Messenger and the believers:
And
Allaah drove back those who disbelieved in their rage: they gained no
advantage (booty). Allaah sufficed for the believers in the fighting (by
sending against the disbelievers a severe wind and troops of angels).
And Allaah is Ever All Strong, All Mighty
[al-Ahzaab
33:25 interpretation of the meaning]
Then
the Messenger
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) besieged the Jews of Bani
Qurayzah, because of their betrayal and their breaking the treaty.
Allaah granted him victory over them so he killed their men, took their
women and children prisoner, and took their wealth as booty.
In
6 AH, the Messenger
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) resolved to visit the
Kabah and perform Tawaaf around it, but the mushrikoon prevented him
from doing so. He entered into a treaty with them at al-Hudaybiyah, to
stop the fighting for ten years, during which time the people would be
safe and could choose what they wanted. Then the people entered Allaahs
religion in crowds [cf. al-Nasr 110:2].
In
7 AH, the Messenger attacked Khaybar in order to put an end to the
Jewish leaders who were harming the Muslims. He besieged them, and
Allaah gave him victory over them. He took their wealth and land as
booty, and he sent letters to the kings of the earth, inviting them to
Islam.
In
8 AH, the Messenger of Allaah
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) sent an army, led by Zayd
ibn Haarithah, to deal with the aggressors. But the Romans gathered a
huge army and killed the Muslim commanders, but Allaah saved the rest of
the Muslims from their evil.
Then
the kuffaar of Makkah broke the treaty, so the Messenger
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) headed towards them with a
great army and conquered Makkah. He cleansed the Kabah of idols and and
freed it from the custodianship of the kuffaar.
Then
came the campaign of Hunayn in Shawwaal of 8 AH, to repel the aggression
of Thaqeef and Hawazen. Allaah defeated them and the Muslims captured a
lot of booty. Then the Messenger
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) continued his march to
al-Taaif and besieged it, but Allaah did not decree that it should be
conquered, so the Messenger
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) prayed for them, then went
away. They subsequently became Muslim, then he went back and distributed
the war-booty. Then he and his companions performed Umrah, then they
went back to Madeenah.
In
9 AH the campaign of Tabook came at a time of difficulty, hardship and
intense heat. The Messenger
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) went to Tabook in order to
defeat the plots of the Romans. He camped there, but no fighting took
place, but he made a treaty with some of the tribes. He captured
war-booty, then he came back to Madeenah. This was the last
military campaign in which he
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) fought. In the same year
delegations came from the tribes, wanting to enter Islam. Among them
were the delegations from Tameem, Tayy, Abd al-Qays and Bani Haneefah.
They all became Muslim, then the Messenger
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) commanded Abu Bakr to lead
the people in Hajj that year. He sent Ali (may Allaah be pleased with
him) with him and told him to recite Soorat Baraaah [al-Tawbah]
to them, to declare disavowal (baraaah) of the mushrikoon. He
told him to call out to the people, so Ali said on the Day of
Sacrifice: O people, no kaafir will enter Paradise, and no mushrik will
perform Hajj after this year, and no naked person shall perform Tawaaf
around the Kabah. Whoever has a treaty with the Messenger of Allaah,
then the treaty will stand until it expires.
In
10 AH, the Messenger
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) resolved to perform Hajj,
and he called the people to do likewise. Many people from Madeenah and
elsewhere performed Hajj with him. He entered ihraam at
Dhul-Haleefah and reached Makkah in Dhul-Hijjah. He performed Tawaaf
and Saee, and he taught the people their rituals. He gave a great and
comprehensive sermon at Arafaah, in which he affirmed the just rulings
of Islam. He said:
O
people, listen to my words, for I do not know if I will meet you again
after this year. O people, your blood, your wealth and your honour are
sacred to you as the sanctity of this day of yours, in this month of
yours, in this land of yours. Every practice of the jaahiliyyah is
beneath my feet and the blood feuds of the jaahiliyyah are cancelled.
The first claim of blood that I abolish is that of Ibn Rabeeah ibn
al-Haarith, who was suckled among the tribe of Bani Sad and was killed
by Hudhayl. The ribaa of the jaahiliyyah is abolished, and the first
ribaa that I abolish is that of Abbaas ibn Abd al-Muttalib. It is
abolished completely.
Fear
Allaah concerning women, for you have taken them on the security of
Allaah and have made their bodies lawful to you by the words of Allaah.
Your right over them is that they should not allow anyone whom you
dislike to sit on your bed. If they do that, then hit them, but not
severely. Their rights over you are that you should be kind to them and
clothe them properly.
I
have left you with something which, if you adhere to it, you will not go
astray after I am gone: the Book of Allaah. If you were asked about me,
what would you say? They said: We would bear witness that you have
conveyed (the message), fulfilled (the trust) and advised us sincerely.
Then he pointed with his index finger towards the sky and then towards
the people, and said, O Allaah, bear witness, O Allaah bear witness,
three times.
When
Allaah perfected this religion and its basic principles had been
established, Allaah revealed to him in Arafaah:
This
day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon
you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion
[al-Maa'idah
5:3 interpretation of the meaning]
This
Hajj is called Hujjat al-Wadaa (the Farewell Pilgrimage) because in it
the Messenger
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(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) bade farewell to the
people, and he did not perform Hajj after that. Then after completing
his Hajj, the Messenger
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) returned to Madeenah,
In
11 AH, in the month of Safar, the Messenger of Allaah
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(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) fell sick. When the pain
became too intense, he told Abu Bakr (may Allaah be pleased with him) to
lead the people in prayer. In Rabee al-Awwal, his sickness became worse
and he
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) died in the morning of
Monday 12 Rabee al-Awwal 11 AH. The Muslims were grief-stricken by
that. The Prophet
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(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was washed (ghusl) and the
Muslims offered the funeral prayer for him on the 13th, in
the evening, and he was buried in the house of Aaishah. The Messenger
died, but his religion will remain until the Day of Resurrection.
Then
the Muslims chose the one who had been his companion in the cave and
during the Hijrah, Abu Bakr (may Allaah be pleased with him) to be their
khaleefah. After him, the position of khaleefah passed to Umar, then to
Uthmaan, then to Ali. These are the Khulafaa al-Raashidoon
(the Rightly-Guided Khaleefahs), may Allaah be pleased with them all.
Allaah
blessed His Messenger Muhammad greatly and enjoined upon him noble
characteristics, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
Did
He not find you (O Muhammad) an orphan and gave you a refuge?
And
He found you unaware (of the Quraan, its legal laws and Prophethood)
and guided you?
And
He found you poor and made you rich (self sufficient with self
contentment)?
Therefore,
treat not the orphan with oppression.
And
repulse not the beggar.
And
proclaim the Grace of your Lord (i.e. the Prophethood and all other
Graces)
[al-Duhaa
93:6-11]
Allaah
honoured His Messenger with noble characteristics which were not
combined in any other person, to the extent that his Lord praised him
for these characteristics:
And
verily, you (O Muhammad) are on an exalted standard of character
[al-Qalam
68:4 interpretation of the meaning]
With
these noble and praiseworthy characteristics, he
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(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was able to bring people
together and soften their hearts, by Allaahs leave:
And
by the Mercy of Allaah, you dealt with them gently. And had you been
severe and harsh hearted, they would have broken away from about you; so
pass over (their faults), and ask (Allaahs) forgiveness for them; and
consult them in the affairs. Then when you have taken a decision, put
your trust in Allaah, certainly, Allaah loves those who put their trust
(in Him)
[Aal
Imraan 3:159 interpretation of the meaning]
Allaah
sent His Messenger Muhammad
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(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to all of mankind. He
revealed to him the Quraan and commanded him to call people to Allaah,
as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
O
Prophet (Muhammad)! Verily, We have sent you as witness, and a bearer of
glad tidings, and a warner,
And
as one who invites to Allaah [Islamic Monotheism, i.e. to worship none
but Allaah (Alone)] by His Leave, and as a lamp spreading light (through
your instructions from the Quraan and the Sunnah
the legal ways of the Prophet
[al-Ahzaab
33:46]
Allaah
favoured His Messenger Muhammad over the other Prophets in six ways, as
the Prophet
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(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
I
have been favoured above the other Prophets in six ways: I have been
given the ability of concise speech; I have been supported with fear [in
the hearts of my enemies]; war booty has been made permissible for me;
the earth has been made pure and a mosque [place of worship] for me; I
have been sent to all of mankind; and I am the seal of the Prophets.
(Narrated
by Muslim, 523)
All
of mankind must believe in him and follow his shareeah in order to
enter the Paradise of their Lord:
and
whosoever obeys Allaah and His Messenger (Muhammad) will be admitted to
Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise), to abide therein, and
that will be the great success
[al-Nisaa
4:13 interpretation of the meaning]
Allaah
praises those among the People of the Book who believe in the Messenger,
and He gives them the glad tidings of a two-fold reward, as He says
(interpretation of the meaning):
Those
to whom We gave the Scripture [i.e. the Tawraat (Torah) and the Injeel
(Gospel)] before it, they believe in it (the Quraan).
And
when it is recited to them, they say: We believe in it. Verily, it is
the truth from our Lord. Indeed even before it we have been from those
who submit themselves to Allaah in Islam as Muslims (like Abdullâh
bin Salâm and Salmân Al Farisî).
These
will be given their reward twice over, because they are patient, and
repel evil with good, and spend (in charity) out of what We have
provided them
[al-Qasas
28:52-54]
The
Prophet
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(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: There are three who
will be given a two-fold reward: a man from among the People of the Book
who believed in his Prophet then lived until the time of the Prophet
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(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and believed in him and
followed him he will have two rewards&
Whoever
does not believe in the Messenger Muhammad
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(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is a kaafir, and the
punishment of the kaafir is Hell, as Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
And
whosoever does not believe in Allaah
and His Messenger (Muhammad), then verily, We have prepared for
the disbelievers a blazing Fire
[al-Fath
48:13]
The
Prophet
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(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: By the One in Whose
hand is the soul of Muhammad, no one among this ummah, Jew or Christian,
hears of me then dies not believing in that with which I have been sent,
but he will be one of the people of Hell.
(Narrated
by Muslim, 154)
The
Messenger
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(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was a human being who did
not know anything except that which Allaah taught him. He did not know
the unseen and he had no power to benefit or harm himself or anyone
else, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
Say
(O Muhammad): I possess no power over benefit or hurt to myself except
as Allaah wills. If I had the knowledge of the Ghayb (Unseen), I should
have secured for myself an abundance of wealth, and no evil should have
touched me. I am but a warner, and a bringer of glad tidings unto people
who believe
[al-Araaf
7:188]
Allaah
sent him with Islam so that it might prevail over all other religions:
He
it is Who has sent His Messenger (Muhammad) with guidance and the
religion of truth (Islam), that He may make it (Islam) superior to all
religions. And All Sufficient is Allaah as a Witness
[al-Fath
48:28 interpretation of the meaning]
The
mission of the Messenger was to convey the message with which he was
sent; guidance is in the hand of Allaah:
But
if they turn away (O Muhammad, from the Islamic Monotheism, which you
have brought to them). We have not sent you (O Muhammad) as a Haafiz
(watcher, protector) over them (i.e. to take care of their deeds and to
recompense them). Your duty is to convey (the Message)
[al-Shoora
42:48 interpretation of the meaning]
Because
of the great favour that the Messenger
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(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) has done to the rest of
humanity, by calling them to this religion and bringing them forth from
darkness into light, Allaah forgave him all his past and future sins,
and commanded us to send blessings upon him on many occasions. Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning):
Allaah
sends His Salaah (Graces, Honours, Blessings, Mercy) on the Prophet
(Muhammad), and also His angels (ask Allaah to bless and forgive him). O
you who believe! Send your Salaah on (ask Allaah to bless) him
(Muhammad), and (you should) greet (salute) him with the Islamic way of
greeting (salutation, i.e. AsSalaamu Alaykum).
[al-Ahzaab
33:56]
The
Prophet
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(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) strove to spread this
religion, and his Companions strove with him, so we have to follow his
example and his Sunnah, and adhere to his teachings, as Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
Indeed
in the Messenger of Allaah (Muhammad) you have a good example to follow
for him who hopes for (the Meeting with) Allaah and the Last Day, and
remembers Allaah much
[al-Ahzaab
33:21]
Islam
is the religion of the fitrah (natural state of man) and
justice, the religion which Allaah has chosen for all of mankind. It
includes basic principles and minor issues, etiquette, acts of worship
and rulings on interaction with others. The ummah can never succeed
unless it follows Islam and Allaah will not accept any other religion
from people, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
And
whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of
him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers
[Aal
Imraan 3:85]
O
Allaah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as
You sent blessings upon Ibraaheem and upon the family of Ibraaheem, for
You are the Praiseworthy, Full of Glory.