Prophethood of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ was formally revealed in the year 610 CE when he was 40 years old, but Muslims widely believe that his Prophethood existed even before the creation of the first human, Prophet Adam عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ, which is more like a spiritual belief. In worldly sense, the Prophethood of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ was established in 610 CE, when he was 40 years old.
There are quite a few Hadiths and traditions on this important matter. Hadith 3609 of Jami At-Tirmidhi narrates that in response to a question, Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ said that he was a Prophet when Adam عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ was between the state of body and soul:
Translation
Narrated Abu Hurairah: “They said: ‘O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)! When was the Prophethood established for you?’ He said: ‘While Adam was between (being) soul and body.'”
As for the Prophethood, it is divinely conferred on the chosen ones, by Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ one of them. It is believed that Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ sent around 124000 Prophets since the creation of humankind, right from the era of Prophet Adam عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ. However, only 25 of them are mentioned in the Quran by name. Likewise, there are only five Prophets who were also Messengers of Allah, Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلسَّلَامُ and finally, the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, who is also known as the “Seal of the Prophets”, which further means the Prophethood had ended with him and that he is the last Prophet sent by Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ.
The Prophethood of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, as attributed to have existed even before the creation of mankind, is also evident from different verses of the Quran, such as verse 7 of Surah Al-Ahzab, where Prophet Muhammad is mentioned before the other four great Prophets and Messengers, whose name appear in the chronological order:
Translation
And call to mind, (O Prophet), when We took the covenant from all Prophets; and also from you and Noah and Abraham, Moses, and Jesus the son of Mary. We took from them a solemn covenant.
In another context, the 81st verse of Surah Al e Imran describes the superiority and importance of the Prophethood of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ as under:
Translation
And recall when Allah took a covenant from the Prophets: ‘This is the Book and the Wisdom which I have given you. But should a Prophet come to you confirming that which is already with you, you shall believe in him and shall help him. So saying, Allah asked: ‘Do you agree and accept to take up the burden of the covenant?’ They answered: ‘We agree,’ He said: ‘Then bear wirness; and I will be with you among the witness.
So, the Prophethood of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ was not only established side by side with the creation of this Universe by Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ but it was also given a superior status among all the Prophets and Messengers. That’s why the life of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, right from his birth had been unique, unprecedented, and quite different from the prevalent culture of that era, as he was predestined for the esteemed status of Prophethood. A Prophet must be infallible, with unblemished character and righteous conduct, and above all, free of all sins. Hence the life of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ was perfect, which was also acknowledged by the majority of the Meccans, in the context of giving him the title Al-Ameen (Trustworthy) and As-Sadiq (Truthful).
Prophethood Conferred on the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ
With this backdrop, the destined moment arrived in the year 610 CE. Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ used to isolate himself from the evil society of the Meccans, in a nearby cave, on the Mount Hira, commonly known as “Cave of Hira.” It was his routine to come here for meditation and prayers and spend 2-3 days and nights in the quest for the creator of this universe and then go back to Meccas to look after his family. On one such night, the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ was formally declared the Prophet when the Angel Jibril عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ brought down the first Divine revelations on him.
It is mainly believed that the first revelation was received by the Prophet Muhammad in 610 CE when he was 40 years old. It is also believed that this was between the last days, probably the 27th of Ramadan, per the Islamic date system.
On this night, he was in the Cave of Hira, as per his routine, when the Angel Jibril suddenly appeared before him. The Angel asked him to “Read” (Iqra’اِقْرَا). Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ said “I cannot read”. The Angel grasped him and squeezed him along his chest and again said, “Read.” Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ again said “I cannot read.” Angel again squeezed him along his chest and repeated, “Read.” This conversation was repeated three times. Finally, the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ recited the words revealed by the Angel, which are the first five verses of Surah Al-Alaq and are the first divine revelations, delivered to the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, through the Angel Jibril عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ:
اِقْرَاْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِيْ خَلَقَ
Recite in the name of your Lord Who created
خَلَقَ الْاِنْسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ
created man from a clot of congealed blood
اِقْرَاْ وَرَبُّكَ الْاَكْرَمُ
Recite: and your Lord is Most Generous
الَّذِيْ عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ
Who taught by the pen
عَلَّمَ الْاِنْسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ
taught man what he did not know
It is also believed that the Angel told the Prophet Muhammad that I am Jibril and you are the Prophet and Messenger of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ.
Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ Discusses the Event with His Wife Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا
The impact of this event was so severe on the Prophet that he started shivering and immediately went back to his home in Mecca. When at home, he asked his wife Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا to cover him with some blanket; Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا did so. When he got settled a bit, he shared the entire event with Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا. Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا instantly said that you are a righteous person and believe in the Oneness of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, so He will not leave you alone.
Then she went to his cousin Waraqa Bin Naufal, who was an old man and expert in the ancient scriptures of Christianity and Judaism. After listening to the entire conversation between the Angel and the Prophet, he exclaimed that it was Angel Jibril, who also came to Prophet Musa عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ. He further said that Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ has been chosen as the Prophet. He also wished to live till such time the entire Arab accepts the Message of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ and the Prophethood of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ but he died soon after this event.
Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا was convinced that Prophethood has been conferred on Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ; hence she instantly accepted Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ as the Prophet and embraced Islam. She is therefore, considered the first one to become a believer.
Divine Command to the Prophet to Spread the “Message”
After the first revelation, there was a gap of some time, during which the Prophet used to hide himself in a robe in his home. So, the second revelation came down through the Angel Jibril عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ, asking the Prophet to rise and start spreading the “Message” of Allah صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, as narrated in first verses of Surah Al-Muddassir:
Translation:
- O you enveloped in your cloak!
- Arise, and warn
- and magnify the glory of your Lord,
- and purify your robes
- and shun uncleanness
- and bestow not favor in order to seek from others a greater return
- and persevere for your Lord’s sake
So, the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ started inviting the close family members and friends to the Divine Message. While the first individual to follow the Prophet was Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا, the first adult man was Abu Bakar رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ, a close friend of the Prophet and a renowned and wealthy merchant and one of the influential members of the tribe. The first among the children was his cousin Ali Ibn Abu Talib رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ. Similarly, his adopted son Zayd Ibn Haritha رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ was also among the first four persons who embraced Islam in the earliest days of the Prophethood of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ.
Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ Invites his Uncle Abu Talib to Islam
Sometimes later, when the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ was offering prayers along with his wife Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا and cousin Ali رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ, his beloved Uncle Abu Talib came across and asked what new religion you are following. The Prophet replied it is the true and perfect religion of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ. The Prophet invited Abu Talib to join the true faith.
Abu Talib patiently and compassionately listened to him. He agreed that he was on the right path but showed his inability to enter the ambit of Islam with the reason that he could not leave the religious beliefs of his ancestors and the members of his clan. He, on the other hand, also assured the Prophet of his full support and assistance against any possible oppressive and retaliatory acts of the Meccans, especially the Quraysh. He further assured his nephew that no one can harm you, while Abu Talib is there. Abu Talib stood firm on his commitment to protect the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, till his last breath. Many ups and downs came during this entire period, but Abu Talib strongly defended the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّم against all the persecutions of the Quraysh.
Meanwhile, he whole heartedly allowed his son Ali رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ to accept Islam and go with the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ.
Early Years of Prophethood
The Prophet Muhammad continued inviting his close friends to the Message of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, convincing them to worship only Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ and discontinue the idolatry. For the initial three years, the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ quietly but firmly kept his mission going. He mainly focused on individuals with personal interactions with them.
This was a daunting task, as the generations-old traditions of idolatry were so deeply rooted in the Arab society that it was hard to convince them of the monotheistic approach, especially the tribe of Quraysh, whose elders had their vested financial interests in idolatry. But the Prophet continued his preaching. So, in the first three years of his Prophethood, around 30 persons accepted Islam.
Though 30 people accepting Islam in the first three years seems to be a small number, it was a good achievement under the prevailing circumstances, mainly when the preaching was restricted to individual contacts. At this juncture, the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ decided to launch the second phase of his mission. He decided to expand the scope of his preaching. This was the phase of his Prophethood when he planned to directly address the general public, which would be another challenging task.
