Lesson 87Lesson 87Youth and MaturityYouth and Maturity

[[66 ] ]His (SAWS) travel with his (SAWS) uncle His (SAWS) travel with his (SAWS) uncle AbuAbu-Tâlib-Tâlib to the Levant (old Syria) to the Levant (old Syria)

When Abu-Tâlib wanted to travel to Syria on When Abu-Tâlib wanted to travel to Syria on business, the Prophet (SAWS) wanted to business, the Prophet (SAWS) wanted to

accompany himaccompany him . .

Therefore, the uncle took Muhammad (SAWS) Therefore, the uncle took Muhammad (SAWS) on that trip, and he was at the age of twelve on that trip, and he was at the age of twelve

thenthen . .

When they reached Busrâ, the first Syrian city When they reached Busrâ, the first Syrian city from the direction of the Arabian Peninsula, from the direction of the Arabian Peninsula,

they met a Christian monk called Bahîrâ who they met a Christian monk called Bahîrâ who had a hermitage therehad a hermitage there . .

He asked them about a Prophet of the Arabs who He asked them about a Prophet of the Arabs who was going to appear in that timewas going to appear in that time..

When he watched the young Muhammad When he watched the young Muhammad (SAWS) carefully and talked to him, he knew (SAWS) carefully and talked to him, he knew

that this boy is the Prophet whom Mûsâ that this boy is the Prophet whom Mûsâ (Moses) (SAWS) and `Îsâ (Jesus) (SAWS) (Moses) (SAWS) and `Îsâ (Jesus) (SAWS)

had told abouthad told about . .

He told the uncle that this boy would be of great He told the uncle that this boy would be of great concern, and he advised him to take the young concern, and he advised him to take the young boy back, and to beware lest the Jews might boy back, and to beware lest the Jews might

harm himharm him..

Accordingly, Abu-Tâlib did not stay for long, Accordingly, Abu-Tâlib did not stay for long, and returned to Makkah as soon as he finished and returned to Makkah as soon as he finished

his businesshis business . .

Muhammad (SAWS) stayed in Makkah. He Muhammad (SAWS) stayed in Makkah. He became an example of perfection, stayed away became an example of perfection, stayed away

from the moral flaws of the from the moral flaws of the JJââhiliyyah hiliyyah (Pre-(Pre-Islamic period), and was chivalrous and Islamic period), and was chivalrous and

courageouscourageous . .

He witnessed with his uncles the War of Al-FijârHe witnessed with his uncles the War of Al-Fijâr and and Hilf Al-FudHilf Al-Fudûûll (the Alliance of the (the Alliance of the

Virtuous) at the age of twentyVirtuous) at the age of twenty..

As to Al-Fijâr war, it broke out between Kinânah As to Al-Fijâr war, it broke out between Kinânah tribe, in alliance with Quraysh, and the Qays tribe, in alliance with Quraysh, and the Qays

tribetribe . .

It started in the area between Makkah and At-It started in the area between Makkah and At-Tâ’if, and it reached the Ka`bah. As a result, Tâ’if, and it reached the Ka`bah. As a result,

the sanctity of this house which the Arab the sanctity of this house which the Arab regarded as sacred was violatedregarded as sacred was violated . .

For this reason, it was called the War of Al-Fijâr For this reason, it was called the War of Al-Fijâr (Arabic: Immoral or unlawful, as it broke (Arabic: Immoral or unlawful, as it broke

during the prohibited months, Al-Ash-hur Al-during the prohibited months, Al-Ash-hur Al-Hurum)Hurum)..

As to As to Hilf Al-FudHilf Al-Fudûûll (the Alliance of the (the Alliance of the Virtuous), it was in the wake of this war. It Virtuous), it was in the wake of this war. It

was a pledge held by the chieftains of Quraysh was a pledge held by the chieftains of Quraysh to restore rights to the wronged people in to restore rights to the wronged people in

Makkah, whether natives or strangersMakkah, whether natives or strangers . .

[[77 ] ]His second trip to the Syria on a trade His second trip to the Syria on a trade caravan for Khadcaravan for Khadîîjah bint Khuwaylid (may jah bint Khuwaylid (may

Allah be pleased with her)Allah be pleased with her)

For Quraysh, trade was the main means of For Quraysh, trade was the main means of livelihood. Khadîjah bint (daughter of) livelihood. Khadîjah bint (daughter of)

Khuwaylid (the descendant of Asad son of Khuwaylid (the descendant of Asad son of `Abdul-`uzzâ, son of Qusayy) was a wealthy `Abdul-`uzzâ, son of Qusayy) was a wealthy lady who used to entrust men to trade on her lady who used to entrust men to trade on her

behalfbehalf . .

When she heard about the Prophet’s (SAWS) When she heard about the Prophet’s (SAWS) honesty and faithfulness, as he was well honesty and faithfulness, as he was well

known as “the trustworthy”, she sent for him known as “the trustworthy”, she sent for him offering to send him to Syria on trade with her offering to send him to Syria on trade with her

moneymoney..

She promised to give him more profit than She promised to give him more profit than anyone else. The Prophet (SAWS) then anyone else. The Prophet (SAWS) then accepted her offer and traveled with her accepted her offer and traveled with her

servant, Maysarah. He traded and returned servant, Maysarah. He traded and returned with enormous profitswith enormous profits..

On this trip, Maysarah witnessed many of the On this trip, Maysarah witnessed many of the Prophet's blessings, and witnessed Allah Prophet's blessings, and witnessed Allah

((SWTSWT) honorings to him) honorings to him . .

When the Prophet (SAWS) reached Syria, he When the Prophet (SAWS) reached Syria, he stopped under the shade of a tree, near a stopped under the shade of a tree, near a

monk's hermitagemonk's hermitage . .

The monk told Maysarah that nobody sat under The monk told Maysarah that nobody sat under this tree but Prophets. Maysarah used to this tree but Prophets. Maysarah used to

witness the Prophet (SAWS) on his camel witness the Prophet (SAWS) on his camel shaded from the hot sun, even though he had shaded from the hot sun, even though he had

no umbrellano umbrella..

[[88 ] ]His marriage to KhadHis marriage to Khadîîjah bint-Khuwaylidjah bint-Khuwaylid

Maysarah, on returning, told the wise and Maysarah, on returning, told the wise and resolute resolute KhadKhadîîjahjah, what he saw of the , what he saw of the

Prophet’s (SAWS) blessings, and Allah's Prophet’s (SAWS) blessings, and Allah's honorings to himhonorings to him . .

She sent to the Prophet (SAWS) saying “O! She sent to the Prophet (SAWS) saying “O! Cousin, I wish to marry you, for kinship and Cousin, I wish to marry you, for kinship and

for your truthfulness and honestyfor your truthfulness and honesty”.”.

She addressed him “cousin”, as it was the habit She addressed him “cousin”, as it was the habit of Arabs in calling the relatives from the of Arabs in calling the relatives from the

father’s side, and they both descended from father’s side, and they both descended from QusayyQusayy . .

Khadîjah mentioned what Maysarah told her to Khadîjah mentioned what Maysarah told her to her cousin Waraqah ibn Nawfal, who was her cousin Waraqah ibn Nawfal, who was

versed in the scriptures and storiesversed in the scriptures and stories . .

Waraqah said: “Muhammad is the Prophet of Waraqah said: “Muhammad is the Prophet of this nation. I knew there was an expected this nation. I knew there was an expected

Prophet for this nation and it is about time for Prophet for this nation and it is about time for him to appearhim to appear”.”.

Khadîjah (may Allah be pleased with her) was Khadîjah (may Allah be pleased with her) was sought after for her noble lineage as well as sought after for her noble lineage as well as

her high rank among her peopleher high rank among her people . .

The Prophet (SAWS) consulted his uncles about The Prophet (SAWS) consulted his uncles about the marriage, and they approved it. They the marriage, and they approved it. They headed to her with him, and concluded the headed to her with him, and concluded the

contract of marriagecontract of marriage . .

`̀Amr ibn Asad, Khadîjah’s uncle, was her Amr ibn Asad, Khadîjah’s uncle, was her representative in the contract, while the representative in the contract, while the

Prophet’s (SAWS) uncle, Abu-Tâlib, was his Prophet’s (SAWS) uncle, Abu-Tâlib, was his representativerepresentative..

Khadîjah’s dowry was twenty firstborn camels. Khadîjah’s dowry was twenty firstborn camels. Khadîjah was forty, while the Prophet Khadîjah was forty, while the Prophet

(SAWS) was 25 years old then(SAWS) was 25 years old then . .

The Prophet (SAWS) did not marry any other The Prophet (SAWS) did not marry any other woman before her deathwoman before her death . .

Before him she was married to a man called Before him she was married to a man called “Hind”, and she had a son called “Hâlah”, who “Hind”, and she had a son called “Hâlah”, who

became the step-son of Prophet Muhammad became the step-son of Prophet Muhammad (SAWS)(SAWS) . .

After his marriage to Khadîjah, the Prophet After his marriage to Khadîjah, the Prophet (SAWS) kept working in trade and kept his (SAWS) kept working in trade and kept his devoutness to Allah, until Allah (devoutness to Allah, until Allah (SWTSWT) sent ) sent

him as a Messenger and a mercy for mankindhim as a Messenger and a mercy for mankind..

[[99 ] ]The Prophet witnesses the building of the The Prophet witnesses the building of the Ka`bahKa`bah

The Ka`bah is the first house to be appointed for The Ka`bah is the first house to be appointed for worship on earth. It was built by Prophet worship on earth. It was built by Prophet Ibrâhîm (Abraham) (SAWS) and his son Ibrâhîm (Abraham) (SAWS) and his son

Ismâ`îl (Ishmael) (SAWS)Ismâ`îl (Ishmael) (SAWS) . .

It was rebuilt three times afterwards; it was built It was rebuilt three times afterwards; it was built of stones, and was just higher than a man's of stones, and was just higher than a man's

height. It is also said that the Ka`bah was first height. It is also said that the Ka`bah was first built by Adam (SAWS) the father of mankindbuilt by Adam (SAWS) the father of mankind..

When Quraysh was going through the basis of When Quraysh was going through the basis of the Ka`bah, they reached the foundations laid the Ka`bah, they reached the foundations laid by Prophet Isma`îl (SAWS), where it was said by Prophet Isma`îl (SAWS), where it was said that some papers were found, which included that some papers were found, which included

aphorisms for people to comeaphorisms for people to come . .

Quraysh’s nobles were very keen to put only Quraysh’s nobles were very keen to put only pure money into the building of the Ka`bah, so pure money into the building of the Ka`bah, so

they excluded the dowry of prostitutes and they excluded the dowry of prostitutes and usuryusury . .

When they had shortage of pure money to When they had shortage of pure money to complete the building on the foundations of complete the building on the foundations of Prophet Ibrâhîm (SAWS), they excluded the Prophet Ibrâhîm (SAWS), they excluded the HijrHijr and built a short wall over it to indicate and built a short wall over it to indicate

that it belongs to the Ka`bahthat it belongs to the Ka`bah..

When Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) turned 35 When Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) turned 35 years old, it is reported that a great flood hit years old, it is reported that a great flood hit

Makkah, the thing that added to the weakness Makkah, the thing that added to the weakness to the walls of the Ka`bah, which were already to the walls of the Ka`bah, which were already

weak after a fireweak after a fire . .

Therefore, tribes of Quraysh assembled and Therefore, tribes of Quraysh assembled and demolished thedemolished the Ka`bah in order to rebuild it Ka`bah in order to rebuild it

higher than beforehigher than before . .

Their noblemen were competing to move the Their noblemen were competing to move the stones and to carry them on their own stones and to carry them on their own

shoulders. The Prophet (SAWS) was one of shoulders. The Prophet (SAWS) was one of those who carried the stones to the building those who carried the stones to the building location together with his uncle, Al-`Abbâs location together with his uncle, Al-`Abbâs

(may Allah be pleased with him)(may Allah be pleased with him)..

The Ka`bah was built to the height of eighteen The Ka`bah was built to the height of eighteen cubits then; nine cubits higher than its original cubits then; nine cubits higher than its original size. The door was raised, so it could not be size. The door was raised, so it could not be

reached except by using laddersreached except by using ladders . .

When the building was completed, the nobles of When the building was completed, the nobles of Quraysh disagreed on the person who would Quraysh disagreed on the person who would

put the black stone in place, and they remained put the black stone in place, and they remained at odds for four daysat odds for four days . .

Abu-Umayyah (Al-Walîd ibn ul-Mughîrah), the Abu-Umayyah (Al-Walîd ibn ul-Mughîrah), the oldest of Quraysh, suggested that they choose oldest of Quraysh, suggested that they choose

someone whom they agree on as judgesomeone whom they agree on as judge . .

They agreed that the judge would be the first one They agreed that the judge would be the first one to pass by to pass by As-SafAs-Safâ gate (i.e. from the direction â gate (i.e. from the direction

where this gate was after building the Holy where this gate was after building the Holy Mosque; not built by then)Mosque; not built by then) . .

The first to come was the Prophet (SAWS). The first to come was the Prophet (SAWS). That was a relief for them, for they knew about That was a relief for them, for they knew about

his wisdom, honesty, and faithfulness to the his wisdom, honesty, and faithfulness to the truthtruth..

They said: "We accept the judgment of the They said: "We accept the judgment of the trustworthy Muhammad." When he reached trustworthy Muhammad." When he reached them and they told him about the matter, he them and they told him about the matter, he spread his garment out on the floor, put the spread his garment out on the floor, put the

black stone on it, and said: "Let each tribe hold black stone on it, and said: "Let each tribe hold an edge of the garment, then lift it together to an edge of the garment, then lift it together to

its prescribed placeits prescribed place ." ."

Then the Prophet (SAWS) put it with his own Then the Prophet (SAWS) put it with his own hands. Thus, the problem that might have led hands. Thus, the problem that might have led

to war between them endedto war between them ended..