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Biography- Prophetic - Understanding the 's Biography- (Lesson 10-57): Devine Revelation and Prophetic Missionary

Praise be to , the Lord of Creations, and Peace and blessings be upon our prophet , the faithful and the honest. Oh, Allah, w e know nothing but w hat You teach us. You are the All- Know er, the Wise. Oh Allah, teach us w hat is good for us, and benefit us from w hat You taught us, and increase our know ledge. Show us the righteous things as righteous and help us to do them, and show us the bad things as bad and help us to keep aw ay from them. O Allah our Lord, lead us out from the depths of darkness and illusion, unto the lights of erudition and know ledge, and from the muddy shallow s of lusts unto the heavens of Your Vicinity.

What does the age of forty years mean?

Dear honorable brothers, w ith a new lesson of Fiqhsira-prophetic autobiography. The subject w e w ill be discussing today is the revelation and the prophetic missionary. The revelation started descending on Prophet Mohammad-peace be upon him-w hen he reached forty years of age. We w ill focus on the w ord “forty years” because it is the age of maturity. Allah says:

"Did We not give you lives long enough, so that whosoever w ould receive admonition, - could receive it? And the w arner came to you".

[Surat Fatir, 37]

Imam Al-Qurtubi said: “The Warner” is the age of forty, so w hoever reaches forty as if he is approaching the grounds of the hereafter. And the Prophet PBUH says:

(( whoever reaches forty years and his goodness did not overcome his evil, then let him prepare for a station in hell-fire)).

[Published by the Azdy from the narration of Abd-Allah Bin Malik al-Harawi]

The difference between Revelation and Heritage:

This is dear brothers the age of maturity. And the story of the starting of revelation is documented from a true Hadeeth from Urw a Bin Al-Zubair. There are some people w ho think that is a “heritage”. Heritage is associated w ith earth but Islam is a revelation from the sky. There is a great difference betw een the cultures w hich are man-made and betw een the Divine revelation w hich is from the Creator of all creations. Moreover, the superiority of Allah’s speech on the beings’ speech is like Allah’s superiority upon His creatures. The difference here is like the difference betw een earth and sky: If w e say a revelation from the sky it means no false surrounds it, it is an explicit truth w ith no fault or doubt and does not accept amend, change, substitute, development, omitting nor addition. There are some people w ho call for “the renew al of the religious speech”. They may mean deletion of it or to vacate it from its real context because there is no other inclusive prohibitive definition for the concept of “renew al in religion” but that to take from the religion all w hat is stuck in it that is not from it. Religion is from Allah Almighty. Therefore, scholars said that the default of the w orshipping ceremonies and Islamic doctrine is prohibition. So there is no imposed w orshipping unless it has clear and conclusive evidence. On the other hand, the origin in this life is permission, and nothing is prohibited unless it has clear and conclusive stable evidence.

The start of revelation upon the Messenger of Allah:

As for the true Hadeeth narrated from Urw a narrated by Aysha-may Allah be pleased w ith her-she said:

((The first thing that the Prophet –peace be upon him- started from revelation w as the true dream during sleep. Thus never had he a dream, but it came like the daybreak)).

[Agreed upon Muslim from Ibn Abbass]

So Ibn Abbas said: The Messenger-peace be upon him-revealed the curtain w hile people w ere standing in row s behind and said:

((Oh, people, nothing is left from the good prophetic omens but the good true dream seen by the Muslim.))

[Agreed upon, from Ibn Abbass]

It may be a good omen or draw ing attention tow ards something. Anyw ay, the true vision is a straight path betw een Allah and His slave and it might be from the honoring of Allah tow ards the humans. Back to Aysha’s narration-may Allah be pleased w ith her-she said ((then he liked loneliness)) solitary, meditation and contemplation. -may Allah pleased w ith her-continued in her narration: ((He used to be in solitary in Hira Cave for a religious devotion for many nights before he gets back to his family to Khadija to supply him w ith his needs to go back to Hira Cave.)) Sometimes man gains everlasting happiness because of a true meditating moment. Allah Almighty says:

(Verily! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding.(191)Those w ho remember Allah (alw ays, and in prayers) standing, sitting, and lying dow n on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth, (saying): "Our Lord! You have not created (all) this w ithout purpose, glory to You! (Exalted be You above all that they associate w ith You as partners). Give us salvation from the torment of the Fire.)

[ Surat Al-Imran, 190-191]

If the Prophet-peace be upon him-meditated in Hira Cave for a number of nights, each believer should have some time to meditate daily on the creation of the heavens and the earth.

The Core of understanding religion is to know the One who made the Decrees.

If the noble has a verse that contains an order that means you should obey and if it has a prohibition, you should avoid it. If it has a scene from Judgment Day, it means that you should strive to do deeds w hich lead you to heaven and keep you aw ay from hell-fire. If it includes stories from the ancient nations, it means that you should learn the lesson and avoid the reasons of the destruction of these nations. If there w ere 1,300 verses about the Universe in the noble Quran, it means that you should mimic your Prophet-peace be upon him-as he meditated in Hira Cave because these verses are methodology of searching for Allah through the universe. He-peace be upon him- used to sit in solitary in Hira Cave. Some scholars said that “he w ho did not have a startling beginning w ill not have a bright end” When you admire the signs that show Allah’s Might, you w ill know Allah,-know ing Him is the base of religion. And alike, the origin of religion is to know Him. The problem that occurs in the Islamic World from deviations and distress is not due to the ignorance of the in the Islamic commandments, but because of their ignorance in know ing Allah. So if you know the commander and get the command, you w ill devote yourself in obedience. But if you know the command but not the commander, you w ill diversify in disobedience.

How should a true Believer live in this world?

Our master Nuaim Bin Masoud the leader of Ghatafan tribe came to to fight the Prophet-peace be upon him-in the Ditch Invasion-Alkhandaq Battle. He w as sitting in his tent unable to sleep and feeling very restless, he said to himself: “Oh Nuaim, w hat brought you to Medina? Is it to fight this good man? w hat did he do? Did he violate anyone’s honor? Did he steel money? Did he kill anyone? Where is your mind Nuaim? I w ish that each one of you has a moment w ith himself to think; w ho am I? What is my goal in this life? What is there after death? What have I done for the life after? Concentrate on your deeds, on your gaining and spending money, on raising your children. Does your satisfy Allah or not. You should not be driven by the ornaments of this w orldly life. Allah Almighty describes the believers:

“And the servants of ((Allah)) Most Beneficient are those w ho w alk on the earth in humility “

[ Surat Al-Furqan, 63]

What is the meaning of “humility”? It w as not reported that the Prophet-peace be upon him- had ever w alked in humility. Aisha – may Allah be pleased w ith her, said; May Allah have mercy on : I have never seen anyone more ascetic, w hen he w alked, he w alked quickly, and w hen he fed others, he fed a satisfying meal, and if he hit, he hit w ith causing pain. So w hat is the meaning of the above verse? It means that they w alked,w ith a slow meditating mind not allow ing this w orldly life to take them aw ay or make them forget their goal in this life. Not allow ing disasters to oppress or despair them. He w ould be aw are, optimistic and confident in his w alk.

The First phase in which the reveleation descended on the Prophet in a clear visible form:

((He used to be in solitary in Hira Cave for religious devotion for many nights before he w ent back to his family to Khadija to supply him w ith his needs to go back to Hira Cave. Till the truth came by - the angel – and said: Read. The prophet answ ered: I am not of a reader. The prophet said: then he took me and squeezed me-so that no one thinks that it w as just a dream or meditation, revelation w as something material- then he let go of me. Then he squeezed me another time till I felt fatigue so he let go of me and said: Read. I told him: I am not of a reader. Then he squeezed me for the third time then let go of me and said:

“1.Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists), 2. Has created man from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood). 3. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous, 4. Who has taught (the w riting) by the pen [the first person to w rite w as Prophet Idrees ()], 5. Has taught man that w hich he knew not.”

[Surah 96. Al-‘Alaq, 1-5]

(( So the Prophet-peace be upon him- retuned home with his heart shivering and said: ‘cover me, cover me’. So they did till he calmed dow n)).

[Albukhari narrated by Aisha]

Allah Almighty says:

(29. And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth)

[ Surah 42. Ash-Shurah,:29)

(37. Among His Signs are the Night and the Day, and the Sun and the Moon)

[ Surah 41. Fussilat, 37]

(21 And among His Signs is this, that He created for you w ives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people w ho reflect.)

[ surah 30Ar-Rum, 21]

The greatest of the great on this earth, the master of ’s sons, and the beloved of the Creator of the universe w as calmed dow n by his w ife. This is to emphasize the great role of w oman. Our mother Khadija w as his internal support so the year she died in w as called the Year of Grieve.

(( Until he calmed dow n, then he told Khadija w hat had happened, he said: I feared for myself! But Khadija told him: ‘No, don’t fear.” ))

[Al-Bukhari from Aisha’]

Dear brothers, there w as no revelation, no tradition nor judgments. Khadija said the w ord from instinct: Definitely not. Allah w ould never disgrace you. For you visit the people of kinship, help the needy, support the poor, you w elcome and are generous to the guest and help on the disasters of life. [Al-Bukhari from Aisha] Dear Muslim, Allah w ill never let you dow n as long as you are as Allah and His Messenger w ant you to be: Dear brothers, young brothers, as long as you follow the straight path, keep your sight from the forbidden, tell the truth, honest in w hat you are entrusted for and obey your parents, Allah w ill not let you dow n, and you w ill have the good omen w hich is a law , that applies in any era, any place, any country and any circumstance. As the poet says:

Be w ith Allah and He w ill be w ith you Leave the others and beware of your greed If He gives you, w ho w ould stop Him But w ho w ould give you if He prevents you

The Role of a sensible woman in a marriage:

So our mother Khadija w as indeed the Messenger’s internal support. By the w ay, if marriage w as based on only a person’s desires only, that is to fulfill one’s eyes w ith the beauty of the other partner w ithout any consideration to the intellectual aspect of the other partner, this marriage w ould not be successful and very soon, each partner w ill be bored of the other. But if the w ife is educated and there is mutual sharing of information and ideas, sharing ambitions and desires understanding man’s principals, and supporting him w hen he is w orried, that is likely to be a successful marriage that w ill make you happy. Therefore, if you teach a man you teach but one, but if you teach a w oman, you teach a w hole family. The clearest evidence is that w hen the Prophet-peace be upon him- invaded he w as invited to stay in the houses of the most significant figures of Mecca, rather he said: Pitch me a tent at Khadija’s grave. And he –peace be upon him –implanted the flag of victory in front of her grave for the w hole w orld to see till the end of this w orld that this great w oman-our mother Khadija-may Allah be pleased w ith her-is his partner in victory and success. This is the eminent kind of marriage w here your w ife shares w ith you your ambitions, fears, principals and goals.

The detailed meaning deduced from Waraqa Ibn Nawfal’s stroy

And the narration continues ((So Khadija took him immediately to her cousin Waraqa Ibn Naw fal Ibn Asad Ibn Abd Al-Uzza and he w as a person w ho became a Christian during the Age of Ignorance and he used to w rite the Bible in Hebrew . He w ould write from the Gospel in Hebrew as much as Allah w ished him to w rite. He w as a very old man w ho had lost his eyesight. Khadija said: Oh cousin, hear from your nephew-meaning Mohammad-peace be upon him. Warqa asked him: What do you have O nephew . So the prophet told him w hat had happened to him. Waraqa said: This is definitely the Angel that came to . I w ish I w ere young and could live up to the time when your people w ould get you out." Allah's Apostle asked, "Will they drive me out?" Waraqa replied in the affirmative and said, "Anyone (man) w ho came w ith something similar to w hat you have brought w as treated w ith hostility; and if I should remain alive till the day w hen you w ill be turned out then I w ould support you strongly.)) So the battle betw een truth and untruth is everlasting since the start of creation till the Day of Judgment for Allah w ants to test the believers. But for this conflict, there w ould be no heaven. Isn’t Allah capable of making the unbelievers in a continent and the believers in another? There w ould not be any battles like Badr, Uhod the Ditch, or the . Each w ould live peacefully in their continent so there w ould be no need for heaven. Allah says:

(214. Or think you that you w ill enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed aw ay before you? They w ere afflicted w ith severe poverty and ailments and w ere so shaken)

[Surah2. Al-Baqara, 214]

"When they came upon you from above you and from below you, and w hen the eyes grew w ild and the hearts reached to the throats, and you were harbouring doubts about Allah.11. There, the believers were tried and shaken w ith a mighty shaking."

[Surah 33. Al-Ahzab, 10]

Thus w hen there are ordeals, gifts w ill follow . Whenever there is hardship, dragging tow ards Allah is follow ed. In a museum in Istanbul there is a diamond the size of an egg estimated at $150 million. If w e consider the origin of the diamond, w e see that it is originally from coal. If you have a piece of coal the same size of that diamond how much is it w orth, Five cents or even one? So w hat is the difference betw een the tw o pieces? The first one w as under immense pressure and heat that changed it into diamond. Thus, pressure and hardships make real men and heroes. And it may be a w ay to enter Paradise. This w orldly life is not a place for rew ards nor comfort; rather it is a place of pressures and tests. So, the Beautiful name of Allah “The Just” applies partially in this life but on The Day of Judgment it w ill apply fully. Allah Almighty says:

"Say: "Allah originates the creation and then He repeats it "

[Surah 10. Yunus, 34] "15. "Verily, the Hour is coming and My Will is to keep it hidden that every person may be rewarded for that which he strives"

[Surah 20. Ta-ha, 15]

The decisive lesson is not to avoid the disasters but to confront the disasters you face w ith the correct solutions in a correct w ay.

Quranic evidence that the revelation is real and it is independent of the the Prophet:

1 – The period in which the revelation ceased descending on the Messenger of Allah (after the first time)

Then Waraqa died and the Divine Inspiration paused for a w hile. The Prophet w as very sad but Gabriel appeared from time to time to support him and to tell him: O, Mohammad, you are really the Messenger of Allah. Allah says:

“1. By the forenoon (after sun-rise);2. And by the night when it is still (or darkens);. Your Lord (O Muhammad) has neither forsaken you nor hated you.)”

[Surah Ad-, 1-3]

The greatest gift for you is to be sincere w ith Allah: "

"Verily, those w ho believe [in the Oneness of Allah and in His Messenger] and work deeds of righteousness, the Most Beneficent (Allah) w ill bestow love for them (in the hearts of the believers).

[Surah 19 Mariam, 96]

The Prophet PBUH w as in his utmost happiness w hen the revelation came to him and very sad w hen it paused for a w hile. What is the w isdom from this pause? The w isdom is that it is not the prophet’s w ill to bring this revelation or to stop it. It is a separate entity from the Prophet-peace be upon him.

2 – The Incident of the Slander:

The clearest example on this issue is that w hen the first Lady, our mother Aysha- may Allah be pleased w ith her- w as accused w ith the most important and valuable thing that a w oman ow ns w hich is her chastity, the Prophet had no evidence to deny or prove this matter. He w as in distress and people started to talk and spread the gossip in Madina: the first lady chastity w as questioned.

"Verily! Those w ho brought forth the slander (against 'Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) the wife of the Prophet are a group among you. Consider it not a bad thing for you. Nay, it is good for you."

[Surah 24. An-Nur, 11 ]

Believers w ere truly examined, the real strong believers thought good things about the w ife of their prophet and did not believe the gossip and said-as Allah says: "Why then, did not the believers, men and w omen, w hen you heard it (the slander) think good of their ow n people and say: "This (charge) is an obvious lie?"

[Surah 24. An-Nur, 12 ]

As for the hypocrites, they w ere interested in talking and spreading this lie. A question that could be asked, is w hy w as the revelation late ( it stopped for about 40 days) to clear Aysha from this accusation? This is to show that the revelation is not in the Prophet’s hand and it is a separate entity from the Prophet. So if Mohammad-peace be upon him-controlled the revelation, this lie w ould not have spread for forty days and Aysha w ould be have been cleared the moment the lie started. This is to show that our religion is a religion from a revelation; So it neither a heritage nor a culture.

The responsibility of the Prophet towards his nation:

Dear brothers, it is narrated that our mother Khadija asked the Prophet to have some rest after w hat he had been through. He answ ered her w ith a w ord that w henever I mention my skin quivers. He said: the time of sleep has expired O Khadija. Do you carry the burdens of Muslims? Are you concerned w ith w hat concerns them? Does it ever occur to you to relieve them in any w ay? Have you ever thought of solving a man’s/girl’s problem for getting married, helping one in need, curing a sick person? Do you feel happy for Muslims w hen they are happy, and do you grieve w hen they are in grief? Or does it not concern you w hatever happens to them. By Allah, if w e live for ourselves and do not think of others and try to solve their problems, w e become w orthless to Allah.

The prophet peace be upon him used to say: "If you know w hat I know you w ould’ve cried more and laughed less."

[ In Tabarani’s book Al-Kabeer and Hakim and Baihaki narrated from Abu-Addarda’]

Because he-peace be upon him-carried the burdens of humanity. And your status to Allah is higher if you are more concerned for others. Allah says:

"1. Ta-Ha.These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur'an, and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings.]2. We have not sent dow n the Qur'an unto you (O Muhammad to cause you distress,3. But only as a Reminder to those w ho fear (Allah)."

[Surah 20. Ta-ha, 1-3]

This is the sacred heavy and full of distress mission.

The Second Period of the revelation after it ceased descending on the Prophet:

The revelation started to come to Mohammad w ith the first verses of Quran the beginning of Iqra’- Surah- Read-is a turning point to all humanity. It turned the darkness and delusion into light and the straight w ay of Allah that leads to survival in this w orldly life and in the hereafter. The Prophet says: While I w as w alking, I heard a sound coming from the sky. I looked up to see the Angel w ho appeared to me in Hira cave sitting on a chair betw een the earth and the sky. I w as terrified that I fell on my knees. I w ent home and said: cover me, cover me! And they did. So Allah Almighty says in the noble Quran:

“1. O you (Muhammad enveloped (in garments)!2. Arise and w arn! 3. And your Lord (Allah) magnify! 4. And your garments purify! 5. And keep aw ay from Ar-Rujz (the idols)!”

[Surah 74. Al-Muddathir, 1-5]

Therefore dear brothers, it is proven that the revelation started to come to the Prophet-peace be upon him-on Monday during the month of Ramadan. Allah Almighty says:

"185. The month of Ramadan in w hich w as revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and w rong)."

[Surah 2. Al-Baqara: 185)]

The revelation that came to the Prophet Peace be upon him, w as the peer of the Divine revelation to the previous .. Allah Almight says:

“Verily, We have inspired you (O Muhammad) as We inspired Nuh () and the Prophets after him; We (also) inspired Ibrahim (), Isma'il (), Ishaque (), Ya'qub (), and Al-Asbat [the twelve sons of Ya'qub (Jacob)], 'Iesa (), Ayub (Job), Yunus (), Harun (), and Sulaiman (), and to Daw ud () We gave the (Psalms).”

[Surah 4. An-Nisa, 163]

A Muslim’s responsibility towards his relatives and those he cares about:

Your relatives have an advantage over others in that there is no barrier betw een you and them. For example if you w ere w alking in the street, you w ouldn’t hold someone’s hand telling him to accompany you to the . But your relative, w hether he’s your brother, nephew , cousin, friend, colleague, or neighbor he has a special situation that you can take advantage of your relationship w ith him and your trustw orthiness.

" 214. And w arn your tribe (O Muhammad) of near kindred"

[Ash-Shu’ara, 214]

Therefore, Allah Almighty says:

"2. Arise and w arn! 3. And your Lord magnify!”

Let them know the Glory of Allah. Say: Allah is the Great. We alw ays say these w ords but make sure to say it believing in that Allah is the only one w ho is w orth of obedience or else these w ords w ill be empty in their content and meaningless. Nonetheless, if a man says: Allah is the Great, but he obeys a creature to disobey Allah it is as if he hasn’t said it at all. If he repeats them thousands of times these w ords are not considered because he thinks that the obedience of this creature is w orth much more than the obedience of Allah. That applies to those w ho obey their w ives in matters that do not satisfy Allah. It applies to those w ho cheat others and then they perform the prayers-because this man considers the amount of money that he gains for cheating people is greater in value than Allah Who is the Great.

Some of the descriptions of the revelation.

The Prophet-peace be upon him- suffered w hen the revelation came to him: sw eat dripped from his forehead even on the coldest day, his face w ould changse from exhaustion and he w ould have fever. Zaid Ibn Thabit said: Once w e w ere sitting w ith the Prophet and I w as beside him–peace be upon him-and his thigh w as on mine w hen the revelation came to him. His thigh became very heavy that I feared that it w ould bruise my thigh.. He-peace be upon him-w as concentrating fully to memorize the noble Quran therefore he w ould move his tongue and lips. Allah Almighty then said:

"16. Move not your tongue concerning (the Qur'an, O Muhammad) to make haste therew ith.17. It is for Us to collect it and to give you (O Muhammad) the ability to recite it (the Qur'an),18. And w hen We have recited it to you [O Muhammad through Jibrael (Gabriel)], then follow you its (the Qur'an's) recital.19. Then it is for Us (Allah) to make it clear to you,"

[Surah 75.Al-Qiyama, 16-19]

The Messenger w as not only concerned about receiving the Quran from the revelation but he w as very concerned in delivering w hat had been revealed w ith great passion. This is w hat the noble Quran show ed in this verse:

"114. And be not in haste (O Muhammad) w ith the Qur’an before it’s revelation is completed to you, and say: “My Lord! Increase me in know ledge.”"

[Surah Taha, 114]

The Prophet clarified how the revelation came to him w hen he said: “Sometimes it comes to me like the sound of the bell-sounded like the iron crushing w ith each other-and it w as the hardest on me, as it goes aw ay I am aw are of w hat he said. And some other times the angel appears to me as a man w ho speaks to me and I am aw are of w hat he says It came to him w hile he w as aw ake as the authentic narrations show s, and continued delivering to the Messenger for 23 years: 13 years in The Honorable Mecca as it is w ell know n, and 10 years in Madina as it is agreed upon.

Explanation of the Phenomenon of the Revelation

The revelation is a miracle w hich is unearthly and violates the law s of nature through w hich the Prophet received the w ords of Allah w hich is the noble Quran by the Angel Gabriel-peace be upon him. Hence, there is no connection in any relation w ith the revelation by inspiration, nor internal meditation nor interior telepathy. The revelation is therefore out of the entity of Mohammad-peace be upon him-w ho receives it and it is w ithout any influence from the Prophet in the composition or meaning. The noble Quran is a narrated revelation and the missions of the Prophet-peace be upon him- w ere to receive the revelation, remembrance of w hat have been revealed and then convey it. As for the explanation of it, the Prophet is the one w ho did that w ith his ow n w ay using his ow n w ords, as the authentic narration show s, w hich are totally different from the w ords of the noble Quran. Our religion is based on revelation w hich is an absolute truth. Religion is neither a tradition nor a culture; rather it is a divine revelation. Allah says:

"3.This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion."

[Surah 5. Al-Ma’idah, 3]

The scholars of elaboration said: the perfection is numeral and the completion is according to the kind. That is the number of the issues that the revelation discussed is perfect in number and the w ay these issues w ere dealt w ith w as complete in its kind. Thus, any addition to this religion is as accusing it by deficiency and on the other hand any deletion to it is as accusing it w ith excess. We w ill continue the events that the Prophet-peace be upon him-w ent through in series in other lessons in Al-Sira.

Translation : Shatha Abed Mansi Auditing : Ghada Homad