Prophet ﷺ: Before Receiving Revelation

Introduction

1. A Life of Tranquility and Family Happiness
   He grew up under the care of his grandfather ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib and later his uncle Abu Ṭalib, who both loved and protected him. As a young man, he earned his living through honest trade, never relying on deceit or unfair dealings. His marriage to Khadījah, a noble and respected businesswoman, was filled with love, trust, and support. Their home was one of tranquility, mutual respect, and faithfulness.
2. Respected by His Community
   Even before prophethood, he was widely known as al-Ṣadiq (the Truthful) and al-Amīn (the Trustworthy). The Quraysh entrusted him with their valuables and judged him fit to settle disputes. During the rebuilding of the Kaʿbah, he was chosen to resolve the conflict about who should place the Black Stone — a decision all accepted because of their trust in his fairness.
3. His Purity of Character
   • He never worshipped idols, unlike most of his people.
   • He never attended drinking gatherings or immoral parties.
   • He was never known to lie, cheat, or deceive in speech or trade.
   • His behavior reflected honesty, dignity, and self-restraint, even before the laws of Islam were revealed.
4. His Inner Search for Truth
   While he lived with honor in society, he was also disturbed by the corruption, oppression, and idolatry of Makkah. He would often seek solitude in the cave of Ḥira, reflecting on creation and seeking guidance to the truth. This habit of reflection was a divine preparation for the moment when revelation would descend.

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Prophet ﷺ: After Receiving Revelation

Introduction

1. True Dreams:
   Before Angel Jibril appeared to him, the Prophet ﷺ began experiencing true dreams, which came to pass exactly as he saw them. This was a gentle and gradual beginning of revelation that continued for about six months.
2. The First Revelation:
   While in the cave of Ḥira, Angel Jibril came to him with the command “Read” (Qur’an, Surah 96, ayahs 1–5), marking the start of prophethood.
3. Christian scholar:
   Returning from the cave in a state of fear and trembling, the Prophet ﷺ was comforted by his wife Khadijah, who then took him to her cousin Waraqah ibn Nawfal, a learned Christian scholar. After hearing what had happened in the cave, Waraqah confirmed that the one who came to him was the same angel who had come to Prophet Moses. Resource: Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Revelation, Hadith 3
   

   Narrated by Aisha:
   After the first revelation in the cave of Hira, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ returned to Khadijah trembling and said: “Cover me, cover me!” They covered him until his fear passed, then he told Khadijah everything that had happened and said: “I fear something may happen to me.” Khadijah replied:
   “Never! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good relations with your family, you bear the burden of the weak, you help the poor and needy, you serve your guests generously, and you assist those stricken by calamity.” Then Khadijah took him to her cousin Waraqah ibn Nawfal ibn Asad, who had embraced Christianity during the pre-Islamic era. He used to write the Gospel in Arabic as much as Allah willed, and he was an old man who had lost his eyesight. Khadijah said to Waraqah:
   “O my cousin, listen to the story of your nephew.” Waraqah said:
   “O my nephew, what have you seen?” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ told him what had happened. Waraqah said:
   “This is Al-Namoos (meaning Angel Jibril) whom Allah sent to Moses. I wish I were young and strong; I wish I could live to see the day when your people will drive you out.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked:
   “Will they drive me out?” Waraqah replied:
   “Yes. No man has ever brought what you have brought except that he was opposed. If I live to see that day, I will support you strongly.” But Waraqah died soon afterward, and then the revelation paused for a time.

   Note: The word al-namoos in the Arabic language means “secret” or “the keeper of a secret.”
   Waraqah referred to Angel Jibrīl (Gabriel) as al-Namoos, meaning the keeper of the Divine secret.
4. The Secret Call:
   The Secret Call:
   For about three years, the Prophet ﷺ invited people quietly, starting with his family and close companions, many of whom became the first Muslims.
5. The Public Call:
   After three years of secretly calling, the Prophet ﷺ was commanded to proclaim the message openly:

   Qur'an surah 26 ayah 214 (Interpretation of the Meaning)
   And warn your closest relatives

   In obedience, he stood upon Mount Ṣafa and called the tribes of Quraysh together, warning them that he was sent as a Messenger of Allah and a warner of severe punishment.
6. Persecution in Makkah:
   As the message of Islam spread, the Quraysh reacted with hostility. The Prophet ﷺ was mocked, insulted, and accused of being a liar, a sorcerer, and a madman. Many of his companions were tortured; some, like Sumayyah, became the first martyrs of Islam. He himself was stoned until blood ran down his face, had dirt and filth thrown upon him while praying, and faced repeated attempts on his life. The Quraysh boycotted the Prophet ﷺ and his companions for nearly three years in the valley of Shaʿb Abi Ṭalib. Shiʿab is the plural of shaʿb, which means a mountain pass or narrow valley between two mountains. In Shaʿb Abi Ṭalib, they suffered hunger and thirst, surviving on leaves and whatever little they could find. Despite these trials, the Prophet ﷺ and his followers remained patient and steadfast, never abandoning the truth.
7. The Migration to Madinah:
   The migration to Madinah is known in Islamic terms as the Hejrah. After years of persecution and increasing danger in Makkah, including assassination plots against him, Allah gave the Prophet permission to migrate. The people of Madinah (then called Yathrib) had already embraced Islam and pledged their support to him at what is known as the Pledge of Al-Aqabah. As his followers migrated gradually, the Prophet and his close companion Abu Bakr secretly left Makkah. Their journey was full of danger: they hid in the cave of Thawr for three nights while search parties scoured the desert for them. The Quraysh, along with their knights, placed a very high reward for anyone who could bring the Prophet ﷺ back to them. This tempted skilled bounty hunters, experienced in tracking travelers across the desert, to pursue him. For a more detailed explanation about why they could not find the Prophet ﷺ, and the story of his encounter with the bounty hunter, Suraqa, who found them, click Islam 101 → Prophet Muhammad ﷺ → Prophet Miracles and see slide number three. By Allah’s protection, they safely arrived in Madinah, where the Muslims welcomed them with joy. This migration marked the beginning of a new chapter for Islam, laying the foundation of an Islamic society and becoming the starting point of the Islamic calendar.
8. Building the Community:
   In Madinah, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ first established the mosque, which became the center of worship, learning, and community life. From there, he built unity among the Muslims, who were from different tribes and backgrounds, by making them brothers in faith. He also created strong bonds between the emigrants from Makkah and the residents of Madinah, teaching them to support and care for one another. To organize society, he established the Constitution of Madinah, a historic charter that guaranteed religious freedom, mutual defense, and justice for Muslims, Jews, and other groups living in the city. Through this, he laid the foundations of a peaceful, just, and cooperative society, showing how faith, law, and compassion could work together to build a thriving community.
9. Trials and Battles:
   In Madinah, the Muslims were forced to defend themselves against repeated attacks from the Quraysh and their allies. The Prophet ﷺ faced many battles, beginning with the Battle of Badr, where a small Muslim army was given victory despite being outnumbered. Later came the Battle of Uhud, where the Muslims suffered painful losses and the Prophet ﷺ himself was wounded, yet he remained steadfast. At the Battle of the Trench, Madinah was besieged by a massive coalition, but through patience, strategy, and reliance on Allah, the Muslims were saved. Beyond these, there were many smaller struggles, treaties, and tests of faith. Through every hardship — whether hunger, loss of companions, betrayal, or wounds — the Prophet ﷺ displayed patience, courage, and unwavering trust in Allah. His response to trials became an example for all believers on how to endure suffering while remaining firm upon the truth.
10. Mercy and Victory:
    After years of persecution, exile, and war, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ returned to Makkah as a conqueror with an army of 10,000 soldiers. Yet, instead of revenge, he entered the city with humility, lowering his head in gratitude to Allah. After cleansing the Holy House, the Kaʿbah, by destroying all the idols and restoring it as a sanctuary for the worship of the One and Only God — the pure monotheism of Abraham — the people of Makkah gathered around the Prophet ﷺ.

    He looked at them and asked, “What do you think I will do with you?”
    They replied, “You are a noble brother, the son of a noble brother.”
    The Prophet ﷺ then declared, “No blame will be upon you today. Go, for you are free.”

    This act of unmatched mercy transformed enemies into followers and demonstrated the true character of Islam — justice balanced with forgiveness, power tempered with compassion. His conquest of Makkah was not marked by bloodshed but by mercy, worship, and the cleansing of the Kaʿbah from idols, restoring it as a sanctuary for the worship of the One God alone.
11. The First pilgrimage (Hajj):
    After the Conquest of Mecca and cleaning the Holy place from the idol, prophet Muhammad ﷺ and Muslims performed the first Pilgrimage (Hajj) in Islam history. Allah in that pilgrimage revealed Qur’an surah 5 ayah 3.

    Qur'an surah 5 ayah 3 (Interpretation of the Meaning)
    This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.

    This verse was revealed during the Farewell Pilgrimage on the Day of Arafah, while the Prophet ﷺ was standing at mountain Arafah. The scholars unanimously agreed that it is among the final verses revealed from the Qur’an. The meaning of “I have perfected your religion for you”:
    It does not mean that the religion was perfected only through the performance of Hajj. Rather, it signifies that the entire legislation of Islam had been completed: acts of worship, financial dealings, legal rulings, creed, and all other aspects of the religion. Hajj was the last pillar of Islam to be practically fulfilled. After the Prophet ﷺ completed the rites of the Farewell Pilgrimage, this verse was revealed, indicating that the religion had reached perfection—requiring neither addition nor alteration. In summary:
    • The occasion of revelation was the performance of Hajj during the Farewell Pilgrimage.
    • The broader meaning is that Allah perfected the entire legislation of Islam for the Muslims, completed His favor upon them, and chose Islam as a comprehensive and final way of life.
    The broader meaning is that Allah had perfected the entire religion of Islam, completed His favor upon the Muslims, and chosen Islam as a comprehensive way of life. This verse thus signifies the completion of the religion, whose foundation is built upon the five pillars of Islam. That completion was realized when every capable Muslim was now able to perform Hajj freely—something previously impossible. The five pillars of Islam are:
    1. The testimony of faith (Shahada),
    2. Establishing prayer (Salah),
    3. Giving alms (Zakah),
    4. Fasting in Ramadan (Sawm),
    5. Pilgrimage to Makkah (Hajj).
    The first four pillars had already been practiced by Muslims. However, the fifth pillar—Hajj—could not be performed earlier because Makkah was under the control of the polytheists, who barred the Muslims from performing pilgrimage and making ṭawaf (circumambulation of the Ka‘bah). After the Prophet ﷺ conquered Makkah and purified the Ka‘bah from idols, he led the pilgrimage alongside the Muslims. That pilgrimage completed the fifth pillar of Islam. It was then that Allah revealed surah 5 ayah 3, declaring the perfection of the religion and affirming that nothing more would be added to its foundation. The meaning of "approved for you Islam as religion" is:
    So accept Islam wholeheartedly for yourselves, for it is the religion that Allah has loved and approved.
12. The Passing of the prophet ﷺ:
    When Qur’an 5 ayah 3 was revealed, Abdullah ebin Abbas wept. When asked why, he replied:

    This verse signals the completion of the mission. And nothing remains after completion except decline — it means the Prophet’s ﷺ time is nearing its end.

    In addition to Qur’an, Surah 5, ayah 3, Allah revealed other verses alluding to the Prophet’s approaching departure from this world. One of the most direct is found in Surah al-Nasr:

    Qur’an surah 110 ayah 1-3 (Interpretation of the Meaning)
    When the help of Allah comes and the victory (is attained),
    And you see the people entering Allah’s religion in crowds,
    Then glorify the praises of your Lord and seek His forgiveness. Indeed, He is ever Accepting of repentance.

    The scholars (including Ebin Abbas) explained that this chapter was not only about the conquest of Makkah, but also a signal that the Prophet ﷺ had fulfilled his mission — and that his time on earth was nearing its end. Not long after this, the Prophet ﷺ fell ill. His Last Will:
    The Prophet ﷺ did not leave behind a written will in the worldly sense, but during his final illness in Madinah, in the house of Aisha, he gave his last will to the Muslims. He repeatedly emphasized the importance of prayer (Salah), urging them never to neglect it, and he advised them to show kindness and good treatment to women, especially their wives. He also instructed them to care for and deal justly with servants, treating them with dignity and compassion. In addition, he urged the Muslims to remain firm upon the Qur’an and his Sunnah, to maintain unity, and to avoid division. Among his final instructions was the command to expel polytheism from the Arabian Peninsula and to honor trusts and bonds of brotherhood. These final words, along with his earlier comprehensive advice in the Farewell Sermon during his last pilgrimage, reflect his deep concern for the preservation of faith, justice, compassion, and unity within the Muslim community. At the age of 63, in Madinah, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ peacefully returned to his Lord, leaving behind the greatest legacy of guidance, mercy, and truth for all of humanity.

Conclusion

Non-Muslim Voices on Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

1. “…a mass of detail in the early sources shows that he was an honest and upright man who had gained the respect and loyalty of others who were likewise honest and upright men.” Reference: Encyclopedia Britannica, 15th Edition, Vol. 12.
2. “My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world’s most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular level.” Reference: Michael H. Hart, The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History, New York: Hart Publishing, 1978, p. 33.
3. “Head of the state as well as the Church, he was Caesar and Pope in one; but, he was pope without the pope’s claims, and Caesar without the legions of Caesar… The simplicity of his private life was in keeping with his public life.” Reference: R. Bosworth-Smith, Mohammed & Mohammedanism, London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1874 (reprint 1946).
4. “Philosopher, orator, apostle, legislator, warrior, conqueror of ideas, restorer of rational dogmas… the founder of twenty terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire—that is Muhammad. As regards all standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask, is there any man greater than he?” Reference: Alphonse de Lamartine, Histoire de la Turquie, Paris, 1854, Vol. II, pp. 276–277.
5. “He must be called the Savior of Humanity. I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it much needed peace and happiness.” Reference: George Bernard Shaw, The Genuine Islam, Vol. 1, No. 8, Singapore, 1936.
6. “The personality of Muhammad… What a dramatic succession of picturesque scenes. There is Muhammad the Prophet; Muhammad the Warrior; Muhammad the Businessman; Muhammad the Statesman… All in all these magnificent roles, in all these departments of human activities, he is alike a hero.” Reference: K. S. Ramakrishna Rao, Muhammad the Prophet of Islam, 1989.
7. “I wanted to know the best of one who holds today undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of mankind… It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet, the scrupulous regard for his pledges, his intense devotion… These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle.” Reference: Mahatma Gandhi, Young India, 1924.
8. “How one man single-handedly could weld warring tribes and wandering Bedouins into a most powerful and civilized nation in less than two decades.” Reference: Thomas Carlyle, Heroes and Hero Worship, London: James Fraser, 1841.
9. “Muhammad was the soul of kindness, and his influence was felt and never forgotten by those around him.” Reference: D. C. Sharma, The Prophets of the East, Calcutta, 1935, p. 12.
10. “The league of nations founded by the prophet of Islam put the principle of international unity and human brotherhood on such universal foundations as to show candle to other nations.” Reference: C. Snouck Hurgronje, quoted in Speeches & Table Talks of the Prophet Muhammad.
11. “He is a prophet and not a poet and therefore his Koran is to be seen as Divine Law and not as a book of a human being, made for education or entertainment.” Reference: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Noten und Abhandlungen zum Westöstlichen Divan, WA I, 7, 32.
12. “The greatest success of Mohammad’s life was effected by sheer moral force without the stroke of a sword.” Reference: Edward Gibbon, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, London, 1776.
13. “It is impossible for anyone who studies the life and character of the great Prophet of Arabia… to feel anything but reverence for that mighty Prophet, one of the greatest messengers of the Supreme.” Reference: Annie Besant, The Life and Teachings of Muhammad, Madras, 1932.
14. “The Prophet of Mecca, without other instrument than his strong faith, created a nation, founded a state, and established a religion which has endured for centuries.” Reference: Sir William Muir, Life of Mahomet, London, 1861.
15. “The Prophet’s simple life, his forgiveness of enemies, his care for the poor and the weak, his devotion to his friends, his piety, and his absolute trust in God are all proofs of his greatness.” Reference: Stanley Lane-Poole, Speeches and Table-Talk of the Prophet Muhammad, London, 1882.
16. “With regard to the difficult question of the sincerity of Mohammed… it is impossible for anyone acquainted with his history to doubt his honesty.” Reference: John Davenport, An Apology for Mohammed and the Koran, London, 1869.
17. “Muhammad has always stood higher in my estimation… He was a prophet, a reformer, and a great man who brought a whole nation to the light of truth.” Reference: Leo Tolstoy, quoted in Collected Works and Letters, early 20th century.
18. “In order to appreciate the success of Mohammed, one must remember the state of Arabia before him, and the tremendous change effected by him in so short a time.” Reference: D. S. Margoliouth, Mohammed and the Rise of Islam, London: Putnam, 1905.

Conclusion

Qur’an surah 68 ayah 4 (Interpretation of the Meaning)
And indeed, you are of a great moral character