THE YEAR OF SORROW
As the years of hardship passed, Abu Talib became weak and fell sick on the tenth year of Rajab. On his sickbed, the leaders of Quraish continued their negotiations with him, but they never succeeded. Despite all his efforts to protect his nephew and support Islam, Abu Talib never recited the Shahada (declaration of faith). The Prophet (pbuh) tried repeatedly to convince him to accept Islam, but he refused.
In another narration, when Abu Talib was about to die, the Prophet (pbuh) entered his room, where Abu Jahl and Abdullah bin Abu Umaiya were also present. The Prophet (pbuh) tried again to convince his uncle, saying, "Please, uncle, just say that you affirm the oneness of Allah. I am indeed a messenger, and I shall bear testimony that you died as a believer." However, Abu Jahl intervened, saying, "O Abu Talib, are you going to denounce your father's (Abdul Muttalib's) religion?" Unfortunately, Abu Talib succumbed to this pressure and died without embracing Islam, denouncing Allah in his final moments.
The prophet pbuh said that: "O uncle I am going to ask for Allah's mercy for you until it becomes forbidden for me." Then Allah reviled, Quran 9:113
مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِىِّ وَالَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡاۤ اَنۡ يَّسۡتَغۡفِرُوۡا لِلۡمُشۡرِكِيۡنَ وَ لَوۡ كَانُوۡۤا اُولِىۡ قُرۡبٰى مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمۡ اَنَّهُمۡ اَصۡحٰبُ الۡجَحِيۡمِ
"It is not proper for prophet and those who believe to ask Allah forgiveness for the disbelievers and even though they be of kind, after it has become clear to them that they are dwellers of the fire."
Meaning that Muslims cannot ask for Allah mercy to disbelievers. And was also said to Muhammad pbuh that, Quran 38:56
اِنَّكَ لَا تَهۡدِىۡ مَنۡ اَحۡبَبۡتَ وَلٰـكِنَّ اللّٰهَ يَهۡدِىۡ مَنۡ يَّشَآءُؕ وَهُوَ اَعۡلَمُ بِالۡمُهۡتَدِيۡنَ
"It is true thou wilt not be able to guide every one, whom thou lovest; but Allah guides those whom He will and He knows best those who receive guidance."
Al-Abbas bin Abdul-Muttalib, one of the Prophet's uncles, narrated that he said to the Prophet (pbuh), "You have not been of any use to your uncle. By Allah, he used to protect you and get angry on your behalf." The Prophet (pbuh) replied, "He is in a shallow fire, and if not for me, he would have been at the bottom of the fire."
Khadija, the Prophet's wife, the first to accept Islam, and the mother of the believers, became weak due to the many years of hardship. She passed away two months after Abu Talib's death, at the age of sixty-five, in Ramadan, during the tenth year of the Prophet's prophethood. The Prophet (pbuh) deeply mourned her death, saying, "She believed in me when none else did, she embraced Islam when people disbelieved in me, she helped and comforted me with her person and wealth when there was none else to lend me a helping hand, and I had children from her only."
The Prophet (pbuh) had lost the two outstanding pillars in his life, Khadija and Abu Talib. Abu Talib had served as his protector, and now he was gone. This led Muhammad (pbuh) to name the year the "Year of Sorrow".
The disbelievers rejoiced and their leaders declared a moment of severe harassment and torture on the Muslims. The torturing was so serious that Abu Bakr tried to flee to Abyssinia, but Ibn Ad-Daghanah saw him and brought him back to Makkah under his protection. The Prophet (pbuh) wondered if Islam would progress again and decided to go to Ta'if. He spoke to many people, but no one would listen to him. He even spoke to the leaders of the two prominent families, but they insulted him and told their people to humiliate and pelt him with stones.
The Prophet (pbuh) left the city and found a place near a wall on the edge of town, where he prayed: "O Allah, to thee I complain of my weakness, helplessness, and loneliness before man. O most merciful, thou art the lord of the weak, and thou art my lord. To whom wouldn't leave my fate? To a stranger who insulted me or to an enemy to whom thou hast given power over me? If thou art not angry with me, I care not what happens to me, for thy favor alone is my objective. I take refuge in the light of thy countenance, by which the darkness is illumined, and on which this world and the other depends, lest thy anger descend upon me or thy wrath light upon me. It is for thee to be satisfied until thou art well pleased. There is no power and no might save through thee."
The wall beside which the Prophet (pbuh) sat belonged to two brothers, who felt sorry for him upon hearing his prayer. They sent their slave, Addas, to give him food. Before he began to eat, he said, "Bismillah" (In the name of Allah). Addas was surprised and said, "This is not the way the people of this country talk." The Prophet (pbuh) asked, "Then which country are you from?" Addas replied, "I am a Christian from the same country as Jonah."
The Prophet (pbuh) asked Addas how he knew Jonah, and Addas replied that he was from the same country as Jonah. The Prophet (pbuh) said, "Jonah is my brother, he was a prophet, and I am also a prophet." Addas was deeply moved and quickly kissed the Prophet's head, hands, and feet, realizing that he was indeed a prophet. From that moment on, the Prophet (pbuh) felt a sense of courage and renewal.
After his encounter with Addas, the Prophet (pbuh) continued his mission in Ta'if, but the harassment and torture from the disbelievers only intensified with each passing day. The Muslims asked the Prophet (pbuh), "When will Allah's help come?" They were eager for relief from the suffering they were enduring.
Then instantly a revelation came. Allah says;
Quran 2:214
اَمۡ حَسِبۡتُمۡ اَنۡ تَدۡخُلُوا الۡجَـنَّةَ وَ لَمَّا يَاۡتِكُمۡ مَّثَلُ الَّذِيۡنَ خَلَوۡا مِنۡ قَبۡلِكُمۡؕ مَسَّتۡهُمُ الۡبَاۡسَآءُ وَالضَّرَّآءُ وَزُلۡزِلُوۡا حَتّٰى يَقُوۡلَ الرَّسُوۡلُ وَالَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا مَعَهٗ مَتٰى نَصۡرُ اللّٰهِؕ اَلَاۤ اِنَّ نَصۡرَ اللّٰهِ قَرِيۡبٌ
Or do ye think that ye shall enter the Garden (of bliss) without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? they encountered suffering and adversity, and were so shaken in spirit that even the Messenger and those of faith who were with him cried: "When (will come) the help of Allah?" Ah! Verily, the help of Allah is (always) near!
INTRODUCTION OF ISLAM TO MADINESS
During the pilgrimage season, people from all over the world gathered in Makkah. The Prophet (pbuh) and his companions seized this opportunity to share the message of Islam with visitors from other countries. The Prophet (pbuh), accompanied by his two truthful companions, Abu Bakr and Ali, encountered a group of people from Yathrib (Madina) at Aqabat Mina. They met six individuals from the Khazraj tribe who had converted to Islam. These six people mentioned that the Jews in Yathrib had been saying that the time had come for a prophet to arise among the Arabs.
The Prophet (pbuh) engaged with them in conversation, and they readily accepted Islam. They promised to spread the message of Islam to their people. The following year, these six individuals returned to Makkah for pilgrimage, accompanied by seven new Muslims. The Prophet (pbuh) observed that Islam was spreading faster in Yathrib than in Makkah. He then asked Mus'ab bin Umayr to go to Yathrib and teach the new Muslims about the Islamic way of life.
Mus'ab bin Umayr returned to Makkah with more than sixty new Muslims in less than six months. This marked the beginning of Islam's growth in Yathrib (Madina), and it became clear that the light of Islam had started shining brightly in that city.
THE PROPHET'S MARRIAGE TO SAWDA & THE THIRD FACE OF THE CALL
After the passing of his beloved wife Khadija, the Prophet (pbuh) felt a deep sense of loneliness. The Muslims, noticing his sorrow, suggested that he marry Sawda, and he accepted. This marriage took place in the tenth year, during the month of Shawwal. Sawda was one of the early Muslims who had suffered greatly for her faith. Her influence had even led her husband, As-Sakan bin Amr, to accept Islam. Unfortunately, he passed away on their return journey from Abyssinia to Makkah.
THE THIRD FACE OF THE CALL
In Shawwal, the beginning of June 619 AD, during the tenth year of his prophethood, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) began inviting people outside of Makkah to Islam. He traveled to Ta'if, a city 60 kilometers away from Makkah, accompanied by his freed slave and adopted son, Zaid bin Haritha.
In Ta'if, the Prophet (pbuh) preached to individuals, groups, and tribal leaders, including the leader of the Umair family, who were considered nobles in the town. However, they ignored him, insulted him, and instructed their people to pelt him with stones. Despite staying in Ta'if for ten days, the Prophet (pbuh) faced continuous harassment and was eventually forced to flee the city, with blood flowing from his body and Zaid injured in his head.
The Prophet (pbuh) then prayed to Allah for protection, and according to Aisha's (R.A.) narration, he said that after the prayer, two angels, Angel Gabriel and another, appeared and said, "Allah has answered your prayer, and He sent you His greetings. Give us permission to bury the town between Al-Akhshabain, the two mountains flanking Makkah." However, the Prophet (pbuh) ignored this offer and instead said that he hoped for someone from the town to worship Allah without associating any partners with Him. This demonstrates the Prophet's (pbuh) extraordinary patience, love, and concern for humanity.
AL-ISRA AND AL-MIRAJ
As the Prophet (pbuh) lay beside the Kaaba, where his grandfather Abd Al-Muttalib used to sit, Angel Gabriel (Malayka Gebreil) appeared and opened the Prophet's (pbuh) chest. He then removed the Prophet's heart and washed it with Zamzam water. Afterward, the heart was replaced, and Angel Gabriel took the Prophet (pbuh) on a celestial animal called Al-Buraq, which resembles a horse. According to some Hadith, Al-Buraq moved at an incredible speed, transporting the Prophet (pbuh) from Masjid Al-Haram in Makkah to Masjid Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem, and then from Masjid Al-Aqsa to the heavens.
سُبۡحٰنَ الَّذِىۡۤ اَسۡرٰى بِعَبۡدِهٖ لَيۡلًا مِّنَ الۡمَسۡجِدِ الۡحَـرَامِ اِلَى الۡمَسۡجِدِ الۡاَقۡصَا الَّذِىۡ بٰرَكۡنَا حَوۡلَهٗ لِنُرِيَهٗ مِنۡ اٰيٰتِنَا ؕ اِنَّهٗ هُوَ السَّمِيۡعُ الۡبَصِيۡرُ
Glory to (Allah) Who did take His servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the farthest Mosque, whose precincts We did bless,- in order that We might show him some of Our Signs: for He is the One Who heareth and seeth (all things).
Angel Gabriel nocked the gate of the first heaven and the angel who guides the gate asked: 'who are you?'
Gebreil;’is Gebreil’
Angel: ‘who are you with’?
Gebreil: ‘The messenger of Allah’
Angel: ‘Has he been called to guide mankind’?
Gebreil: ‘yes’
Then the Malayka quickly opened the gate and said to the prophet pbuh. 'It is a blessed day to meet you’.
In the first heaven, the Prophet (pbuh) and Angel Gabriel encountered Prophet Adam (AS). The Prophet (pbuh) greeted him with "Asalaam alaikum warahmatullah wabarkaatul" (Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings). Prophet Adam (AS) responded with the same greeting. He affirmed the Prophet's (pbuh) prophethood and was delighted to meet him, the best of his descendants. They conversed briefly and continued their journey.
In some narrations, Prophet Adam (AS) was seen sitting, smiling when he looked to his right, but crying when he looked to his left. This symbolizes that those on his right are the obedient ones, while those on his left are the disobedient ones.
In the second heaven, Angel Gabriel knocked, and the gate was opened after he identified himself and his companion. There, they met Prophet Yahya (John) (AS) and Prophet Isa (Jesus) (AS). The Prophet (pbuh) greeted them, and they responded, affirming his prophethood and expressing happiness at seeing him.
In the third heaven, they met Prophet Yusuf (Joseph) (AS), who also affirmed the Prophet's (pbuh) prophethood and was pleased to see him. In the fourth heaven, they encountered Prophet Idris (Enoch) (AS), who similarly affirmed the Prophet's (pbuh) prophethood and was happy to meet him.
In the fifth heaven, they met Prophet Harun (Aaron) (AS), who also affirmed the Prophet's (pbuh) prophethood and was pleased to see him. In the sixth heaven, they met Prophet Musa (Moses) (AS), who greeted them and affirmed the Prophet's (pbuh) prophethood. However, Prophet Musa (AS) was weeping because he said that many of the Prophet's (pbuh) followers would enter Paradise, while fewer of his own followers would.
Finally, in the seventh heaven, they met Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) (AS), who greeted them and affirmed the Prophet's (pbuh) prophethood. He was happy to see him, as the Prophet (pbuh) was from his descendants.
Angel Gabriel then took the Prophet (pbuh) to a mosque called Al-Baytu Al-Ma'mur. The Prophet (pbuh) narrated that more than 70,000 angels worship Allah there every day and never return. He also mentioned that a replica of this mosque is on earth, which is the Ka'ba.
In some narrations, the Prophet (pbuh) described the heaven as a place where every space, equal to the width of four fingers, is occupied by an angel worshiping Allah. Angel Gabriel then took the Prophet (pbuh) to a place where he saw a tree called Al-Sidratu Al-Muntaha, a lote tree whose roots generate four rivers. Two of these rivers are hidden, while the other two are visible on earth, namely the Nile and Euphrates.
From this place, the Prophet (pbuh) was shown the road ahead to Allah, but Angel Gabriel said he was not authorized to walk any further. The Prophet (pbuh) then went on and stood in front of Allah. When the Prophet (pbuh) was telling his companions about this experience, one of them asked, "Did you see Allah?" The Prophet (pbuh) replied, "Allah's face was covered with light, so I did not see Him."
Allah then ordained fifty daily prayers for the Prophet (pbuh). When he descended to the sixth heaven, Prophet Musa (AS) told him that his followers could not perform fifty daily prayers, so he should go back and beg Allah for a reduction. Allah, being a merciful Lord, deducted ten prayers, leaving forty. This process repeated until the remaining prayers became five.
Prophet Musa (AS) asked the Prophet (pbuh) to go back and beg Allah for a further reduction, but he (pbuh) felt shy to do so. Just then, they heard a voice echoing, "Anyone who is able to pray the five daily prayers will gain the same reward as praying fifty prayers."
Some companions narrated that during the Prophet's (pbuh) absence, they searched for him everywhere but did not find him. When he returned to Makkah, he went straight to Ummu Ayman's (Baraka's) house to rest. He then told Baraka that he had been taken to heaven, and she instantly believed him.
The next day, as the Prophet (pbuh) was taking a walk, Abu Jahl approached him and asked, "Is there any lie you want to tell us?" The Prophet (pbuh) replied, "Yes, Allah took me to heaven for the past two days." Abu Jahl then went around shouting, "Everybody come and listen to Muhammad's (pbuh) lies!"
Within minutes, Abu Jahl assembled the people of Quraish, and the Prophet (pbuh) told them about his experience. However, almost all of them, including believers and non-believers, found it difficult to believe him. They asked questions, and one of them asked the Prophet (pbuh) to describe Jerusalem, which he had passed through on his way to heaven. This was a challenging task because the Prophet (pbuh) had not noticed the place during his hurried journey.
From other narrations, Allah showed him Jerusalem in the form of a picture, and he described it to them. After that, those who had been to Jerusalem testified that his description was true. Despite this, the people still found it difficult to believe.
Another narration says that the Prophet (pbuh) went to Abu Bakr's house and asked him if he believed what he was saying. Abu Bakr replied, "If the Prophet (pbuh) says he went to heaven, then there is nothing to argue about." This was why Abu Bakr was given the title "As-Siddiq," meaning the truthful person, because he believed while others found it difficult to believe.
MARRIEGE TO AISHA R.A
In Shawwal of the same year, the Prophet (pbuh) performed a marriage contract with Aisha (r.a.), also known as "the truth verifier," when she was six years old. However, the marriage was consummated in Shawwal when she was nine years old, in Madina.
Note that some scholars, based on their analysis of certain hadiths, believe that Aisha was older than nine when the marriage was consummated.
It's important to acknowledge that this topic is a subject of debate among scholars and has different perspectives. Additionally, it's crucial to approach this topic with sensitivity and respect, considering the cultural and historical context in which the events took place.
MUS'HAB BIN UMMAY IN MADINA
As mentioned earlier, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) introduced Islam to six individuals from Madina who had come to Makkah for pilgrimage. These individuals accepted Islam after conversing with the Prophet (pbuh) and recognizing the truth in his message. They pledged to propagate Islam to their people and returned to Makkah the following year with six newly converted Muslims for pilgrimage.
This development led the Prophet (pbuh) to send Musab bin Umayr, considered the first ambassador of Islam, to Madina to teach the new Muslims about the etiquettes of Islam.
Musab bin Umayr did exceptionally well in teaching and propagating Islam to the people of Madina. Every day, a new person from Madina would convert to Islam. Musab bin Umayr continued to spread the message of Islam, and one day, while teaching and preaching to the Muslims, the chiefs of the Khazrak and Awls tribes heard him. Usaid bin Hudair approached him and ordered him to stop, but Musab bin Umayr calmly invited him to sit and listen if he was truly interested. He patiently preached to Usaid, inviting him to Islam and reciting verses from the Quran to prove the genuineness of the message. Usaid accepted Islam and told them that there was one man whose people would never forsake him, and if this man accepted Islam, many of his people would follow. Usaid then went with Musab bin Umayr and another Muslim to meet Sa'd. When Sa'd saw Usaid, he noticed a change in him. Usaid told Sa'd that there were two men who were ready to do whatever he ordered them to do, creating a favorable atmosphere for inviting Sa'd to Islam. After talking to the two men, Sa'd accepted Islam and immediately announced to his people that he would only associate with those who accepted Islam. By nightfall, all of his people had accepted Islam, except for Al-Usairim, who accepted Islam on the day of the Battle of Uhud. Through Musab bin Umayr's efforts, Islam spread rapidly in Madina, and soon every household in the city had embraced Islam.
THE TREATY OF AQABA
In the thirteenth year of prophethood, seventy-three men and two women from Madina traveled to Makkah for pilgrimage. These new Muslims held a meeting and discussed the need to protect the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) from the dangers and tortures he faced in Makkah. They decided to send a message to the Prophet (pbuh) asking him to meet them at a spot called Aqaba, on the outskirts of Makkah, at night.
The meeting took place during the middle days (11th, 12th, and 13th) of Dhul Hijjah. According to Ibn Hisham, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) arrived at the meeting under the protection of his uncle, Al-Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib, who was not yet a Muslim. Al-Abbas spoke first, saying, "Muhammad is the most beloved, trustworthy, and respected person in Makkah, and we have been protecting him to the best of our ability. If you can protect him to the extent of risking your own lives, then we will not object to your plan. However, if you intend to take him with you and hand him over to his enemies, then it is better to leave him now, as he is protected here."
After Al-Abbas finished speaking, one of the leaders of the Madinese, Sa'd, asked the Prophet (pbuh) to talk. The Prophet (pbuh) preached the words of Allah and recited some verses from the Quran to them. Two men from the early twelve converts, Al-Abbas bin Nadlah, warned their people about the gravity of what they were about to do and the consequences if they failed.
The Madinese showed their readiness and promised to protect the Prophet (pbuh) and the Muslims from whatever they protected their families from, to fight for the Prophet (pbuh) when he was in danger, and to make his stay with them a memorable one. They assured him that he would never regret joining them and that they would stand by him.
They inquired about what they would receive in return, and the Prophet (pbuh) told them that paradise would be their reward. They also asked the Prophet (pbuh) not to abandon them if he were to gain power over his people. The Prophet (pbuh) promised to remain with them until his death, which indeed came to pass.
Then, they all extended their hands and took the pledge. However, the two ladies took their pledge with the Prophet (pbuh) verbally, as it is considered improper to shake hands with a woman who is not a mahram (Sahih Muslim 2/131). Twelve people were also chosen to propagate Islam in Madina when they returned.
The leaders of Quraish learned about the agreement between the Prophet (pbuh) and the Madinese. The Prophet (pbuh) knew that it was Satan who had leaked their agreement, as he was present at Al-Aqaba. The Madinese were prepared to fight, but the Prophet (pbuh) told them that Allah had not given Muslims permission to fight and asked them to return to their camps.
The leaders of Makkah went to the Madinese camp to verify what they had heard, but the Madinese denied it. It was only when they left that the Makkans realized that the Madinese had indeed taken the pledge and had lied to them.
MIGRATION OF THE MUSLIMS TO MADINA
After the pledge between the Prophet (pbuh) and the Madinese, the Prophet (pbuh) asked the Muslims to migrate to Madina of their own accord. These Muslims, who were citizens of Makkah, had to leave their homeland for safety. The demerits of this migration included not only leaving behind the land they loved but also their businesses, wealth, and loved ones. However, the Muslims realized that without peace of mind, they could not enjoy their wealth and land. Therefore, they began to migrate.
The Makkans were disturbed by this migration, knowing its disadvantages, and tried to stop those who wanted to leave. Some Muslims developed strategies to leave peacefully, while others suffered before they could depart from Makkah. The first person to migrate was Abu Salamah, whose migration occurred a year before the Second Aqaba Pledge. When he intended to migrate to Madina, his in-laws imprisoned his wife, took his son away, and broke his hands. However, a relative interceded, and she was able to join her husband the following year.
Another person, Suhayb, faced difficulties when he tried to migrate. The Makkans ordered that he not be allowed to leave, insulted him, and told him that he had come to Makkah with nothing and had become wealthy due to the town's blessings. Suhayb offered to give all his wealth in exchange for a peaceful departure, which they accepted. When the Prophet (pbuh) heard this, he said, "Suhayb is the winner, Suhayb is the winner, after all!"
Another incident occurred when Umar bin Khattab, Ayas bin Abu Rabia, and Hisham bin Al-Asi agreed to meet at a designated place one morning to leave for Madina. Umar and Ayas met, but Hisham was detained by the Makkans. Umar and Ayas set off, but later, Abu Jahl and his companions discovered their departure and chased after them. They caught up with them and tricked Ayas into returning by mentioning his mother. Umar recognized the trick and warned Ayas not to fall for it, but Ayas was blinded by his love for his mother and went back with them. On their way back, Abu Jahl stopped Ayas with another trick, tied him up, and sent him back to Makkah.
In other narrations, before Umar met Ayas at the agreed-upon point, he first went to the Kaaba and announced loudly, holding his sword in the presence of the leaders, including Abu Jahl, "I'm on my way to Madina. Whoever is a man like me should stop me." No one dared to approach him. The Muslims left for Madina gradually in groups. Additionally, it was reported that most of the Muslims in Ethiopia (Abyssinia) returned to Makkah and then left for Madina.
Within two months of the Second Aqaba Pledge, all the Muslims had left for Madina, leaving Makkah with many empty houses and markets. Only the Prophet (pbuh), Abu Bakr, Ali, and a few family members remained. They had prepared for their journey while awaiting Allah's permission for the Prophet (pbuh) to leave.
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