The life of Muhammad SAW

The Life Of Muhammad SAW

 The Life Of Prophet Muhammad SAW

Prophet Muhammad SAW was born on 571 AD at Makkah (now in Saudi Arabia). His father died before he was born and he was raised first by his grandfather and then his uncle. he belonged to noble family of Quraysh tribe. The family was active in Makkah politics and trade.
Many of the tribes living in the Arabian Peninsula at the time were nomadic, trading goods as they crisscrossed the desert. Most tribes were poly theistic, worshipping their own set Gods. The town of Makkah was an important trading and religious center, home to many temples and worship sites where the devoted prayed to the idols of these Gods. The most famous site was the Kaaba (meaning cube in Arabic). It is believed to have been built by Abraham (Ibrahim to Muslims) and his son Ismail. Gradually the people of Mecca turned to polytheism and idolatry. Of all the gods worshipped, it is believed that Allah was considered the greatest and the only without an idol. 
In his early teens, Muhammad worked in a camel caravan, following in the footstep of many people his age, born of meager wealth. Working for his uncle, he gained experience in commercial trade traveling to Syria and eventually from the Mediterranean sea to the Indian Ocean. In time Muhammad earned a reputation as honest and sincere, acquiring the nickname "al-Amin" meaning faithful or trustworthy. 
In his early 20s, Muhammad began working for a wealthy merchant woman named Khadijah, 15 years his senior. She soon became attracted to this young, accomplished man proposed marriage. He accepted and over the years the happy union brought several children. Not all lived to adulthood. but one. Fatima, would marry Muhammad's cousin, Ali ibn Abi Talib, whom Shi'ite Muslims regard as Muhammad's successor. 

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) 

Muhammad was also very religious, occasionally taking journeys of devotion to scared sites near Mecca. On one of his pilgrimages in 610, he was meditating in a cave on Mount Jabal al-Nour. The Angel Gabriel appeared and relayed the word of God: " Recite in the name of your lord who creates, creates man from a clot! Recite for your lord is most generous...." These words became the opening verses of surah (chapter) 96 of the Qur'an Most Islamic historians believe Muhammad was initially disturbed by the revelations and that he didn't reveal them publicly for several years. However, Shi'a tradition states he welcomed the message from the Angel Gabriel and was deeply inspired to share his experience with other potential believers. 
Islamic tradition holds that the first persons to believe were his wife, Khadija and his closed friend Abu Bakr (regarded as the successor to Muhammad by Sunni Muslims). Soon, Muhammad began to gather a small following, initially encountering no opposition. Most people in Mecca either ignored him or mocked as just another prophet. However, when his message condemned idol worship and polytheism, many of Mecca's tribal leaders began to see Muhammad and his message as a threat. Besides going against long standing beliefs, the condemnation of idol worship had economic consequences for merchants who catered to the thousands of pilgrims who came to mecca ever year. This was especially true for members of Muhammad's own tribe, the Quraysh, who were the guardians of the Kaaba. Sensing a threat, Mecca's merchants and leaders offered Muhammad incentives to abandon his preaching, but he refused. 
Increasingly, the resistance to Muhammad and his followers grew and they were eventually forced to emigrate from Mecca to Medina, a city 260 miles to the north in 622. This event marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar. There Muhammad was instrumental in bringing an end to a civil war raging amongst several of the city's tribes. Muhammad SAW settled in Medina, building his Muslim community and gradually gathering acceptance and more followers.
between 624 AD and 628 AD, The Muslims were involved in a series of battle for their survival. in the final major confrontation, the battle of the Trench and siege of  Medina, Muhammad SAW and his followers prevailed and a treaty was signed. The treaty was broken by Meccan allies a year later. By now, Muhammad SAW had plenty of forces and the balance of power had shifted away from the Meccan leaders to him. In 630, The Muslim army marched into Makkah, taking the cities with the minimum causalities. Muhammad SAW gave amnesty to many of the Meccan leaders who had opposed him and pardoned many others. Most of the Meccan population converted to Islam. Muhammad SAW and his followers than proceeded to destroy all of the statues of Pagan gods in and around the Kaaba.