The Sealed Nectar | Biography of Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

by Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri

The king summoned the Muslims to the court and asked them to explain the teachings of their religion. So they gathered there, determined to speak the truth before him. He asked them, ``What is this religion that has caused you to separate from your people, to not enter my religion or any of the others’?’’ Ja`far bin Abi Talib stood up and addressed the king in the following words: “O king! We were an ignorant people. We worshipped idols and ate the meat of dead carcasses. We were accustomed to lewd behavior, to severing the ties of kinship, neglecting our neighbors, and the strong among us consumed [the property of] the weak. This is how we were, but then Allah sent a Messenger to us. We were aware of his lineage, his truthfulness, that he was trustworthy, and chaste. He began inviting us to Allah, that we single Him out and that we worship him. So we left the religion of our forefathers that we had followed previously, we left the worship of stones and idols, of all others besides Allah. He also commanded us to be truthful in our speech, fulfill trusts, nurture the ties of kinship, be kind to our neighbor, and to refrain from spilling blood unlawfully. He forbade us from lewd behavior, from obscene speech, from consuming the orphan’s wealth, and from slandering chaste women. He commanded that we worship Allah Alone without associating anything with him, he commanded us to perform the prayer, give charity, and fast” -- and he listed the Islamic injunctions. He continued, `...

In Makkah, they used to strive for one collective target, but physically, they were scattered, overpowered and abandoned. They were helpless in terms of pursuing their new course and their means, socially and materially, fell short of establishing a new Muslim community. Correspondingly, the Makkan Chapters of the Noble Qur’an were confined to describing the Islamic principles, establishing legislations pertaining to the believers individually, enjoining good and piety and forbidding evils and vices, as well as vivid descriptions of Paradise and Hell.

So al-Juhani yelled, ``O Helpers,’’ while Jahjah yelled, ``O Emigrants,’’ so Allah’s Messenger (May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: ``Do you use the slogans of pre-Islamic ignorance while I am yet among you? Leave it, for indeed it is detestable.’’

He expressed his feelings in the following words: ``I have been to Chosroes, Caesar and Negus in their kingdoms, but never have I seen a king among a people like Muhammad among his Companions. If he performs ablution, they would not let the water from it fall to the ground; if he expectorates, they compete for the mucus which they would rub on their faces; if he speaks, they would lower their voices. They will not abandon him for anything in any case. He offers you a reasonable plan, so do what you please.’’

As they reached above Khaibar and looked down upon it he said, ``Halt.’’ The army halted and he said: ``O Allah! Lord of the seven heavens and what they cover, Lord of the seven earths and what they include, Lord of the devils and what they mislead: Indeed we ask You for the good of this town, the good of its people, the good that is in it. We seek refuge with You from the evil of this town, the evil of its people, and the evil that is in it. Proceed in the Name of Allah.’’

One night he secretly he approached the camp of the Muslims and saw two people stationed as guards. He shot one of them with an arrow, whose name was `Abbad bin Bishr (May Allah be Pleased with him), while he was offering the prayer. However, he did not stop his prayer, rather he simply pulled out the arrow [and continued praying]. He was then hit by two other arrows, but he still did not break his prayer. After he performed the closing salutations, he awoke his companion, `Ammar bin Yasir (May Allah be Pleased with him), who protested at him not alerting him sooner, to which ‘Abbad replied that he was half way through a Chapter and did not wish to have it interrupted.

News of the Muslim army had reached Heraclius who had mobilized a hundred thousand troops together with another hundred thousand men from Lakhm, Judham, Balqain, Bahra’ and Bali, all who were Arab tribes allied to the Byzantines. The Muslims, on their part had never thought of encountering such a huge army. They were at a loss about what course to follow, and spent two nights debating these unfavorable conditions. Some suggested that they should write a letter to the Prophet seeking his advice. `Abdullah bin Rawahah(May Allah be Pleased with him) was opposed to their unwillingness [to confront the enemy] and so he addressed the Muslims saying: ``I swear by Allah that the very object which you are trying to avoid is the one you have set out seeking, martyrdom. In our fight we do not count on number of soldiers or equipment, but rather on the faith that Allah has honored us with. Hasten to win either of the two, victory or martyrdom.”

The Prophet again said: ``But by Allah, you might have answered and answered truly, for I would have testified to its truth myself: `You came to us belied and rejected and we accepted you; you came to us helpless and we helped you; you were a fugitive and we took you in; you were poor and we comforted you.’ You Helpers, do you feel anxious for the things of this world, while [with it] I have sought to incline these people to the Faith in which you are already established? Are you not satisfied, O group of Helpers, that the people leave with ewes and camels while you leave with the Messenger of Allah to your dwellings. By Him in Whose Hand is my life, had there been no migration, I would have been one of the Helpers. If the people would go through a valley and passage, and the Helpers go through another valley and passage, I would go through the valley and passage of the Helpers. Allah! Have mercy on the Helpers, their children and their children’s children.’’ The audience wept until tears rolled down their beards and they said: ``Yes, we are satisfied, O Prophet of Allah, with our lot and share.’’

The Jews are those whose portion is wrath, and the Christians are those who have gone astray,’’ the Prophet said. ``I am a Muslim and I believe in one God (Allah),’’ `Adi finally proclaimed with a joyous face.

But the Prophet made `Ali (May Allah be Pleased with him) return to Madinah saying: ``Would it not suffice you to be my successor in the way that Aaron (Harun) was to Moses?’’ Then he said: ``But no Prophet will succeed me.”

Their chief was Al-Ashaj Al-`Asari, to whom Allah’s Messenger said: ``You have two qualities that Allah likes: farsightedness and tolerance.”

``I am to precede you and I have been made witness upon you. By Allah, you will meet me at the Hawd (Tank) very soon. I have been given the keys of the treasures of the earth or the keys of the earth. By Allah, I do not fear for you a return to polytheism after me, but I do fear that you will compete with each other in acquiring worldly riches.’’

He entered it with his head wrapped, sat on the pulpit and gave a speech to the people who were gathering around him. He said: ``The curse of Allah falls upon the Jews and Christians as they made their Prophets’ graves places of worship.’’ Then he said: ``Do not make my grave a worshipped idol.’’

A Day Before His Death On Sunday, a day before his death, the Prophet freed his slaves, donated in charity the seven dinars, which he owned, and gifted his weapon to the Muslims. So, when night fell `Aishah had to borrow some oil from her neighbor to light her oil-lantern. Even his coat of armor was deposited as security to a Jew for thirty Sa’ of barley.

In another version it is said: ``So he brushed his teeth as well as he could.’’ There was a water pot available close to his hand with some water in it. He put his hand in it and wiped his face with it and said: ``There is no God but Allah. Death is full of agonies.’’

Besides these, he had two female slaves. The first was Mariyah the Coptic (an Egyptian Christian), a gift from Al-Muqawqis, the ruler of Egypt. She gave birth to his son Ibrahim, who died in Madinah while still an infant, on the 28th or 29th of Shawwal, 10 A.H., corresponding to the 27th of January, 632 C.E. The second one was Rehanah bint Zaid bin `Amr bin Khanafah bin Sham’un bin Zaid An-Nadriyah or Quraziyah,

The Seal of Prophethood, which was similar in size to a pigeon’s egg, was between his shoulders on the left side having spots on it like moles.

Hind bin Abi Halah described him: ``Allah’s Messenger was always contemplative, thinking. He had no rest (i.e., for long). He only spoke when it was necessary. He would remain silent for a long time and whenever he spoke, he would talk speak his entire mouth and clear words, he never suppressed the words by speaking out of the corners of his mouth. His speech was comprehensive. He spoke inclusively and decisively. It was not excessive nor was it short of meaning. It was friendly. It was in no way dishonoring. He glorified the bounty of Allah; even if it were little. If he had no liking for some food, he would neither praise nor criticize it.

His laughter was mostly a smile.