Before Prophethood
What three deaths occurred in the life of the Prophet (SAW) during his childhood and in what order did they occur?
His father, Abdullah, passed before his birth and his mother, Aminah, passed away when he was 6.
He was then put under the care of his grandfather, Abdul Mutallib, who passed away when he was 8.
Describe how the Prophet SAW became a prophet and what was first surah revealed?
He SAW went to the Cave of Hira where Jibril AS appeared and asked him to read. He SAW said that he couldn't read, and Jibril AS squeezed and asked him to read again. This repeated 3x total, until Jibril AS revealed the verses from Surah Al Alaq (Iqra' bismi rabbikalathee khalaq).
Who is the biggest enemy of Islam in Makkah who the Prophet SAW compared to Firawn (Pharoah)?
Abu Jahl.
He killed some of the weak Muslims who accepted Islam, abused the Prophet SAW, and went to war with the Prophet SAW later.
The Prophet SAW was a Prophet for 23 years. How many of these years were in Makkah? How many were in Medinah?
13 in Makkah. 10 in Medinah.
What was the treaty of Hudhaibiyyah?
This was treaty between the Muslims of Medinah and the Quraish. There would be no war between the two groups or their allying tribes, and the Muslims would be able to make umrah the year following the treaty. Muslims who fled to Medinah would also have to be sent back to Makkah.
You must answer all these questions correctly:
Under who's care did the Prophet SAW grow up during his teenage years?
What was their relationship?
Did this person protect or harm the Prophet SAW during his life?
Did this person accept Islam?
The Prophet SAW grew up under his uncle, Abu Talib, during his teenage years.
He was the uncle of the Prophet SAW.
He protected him (SAW) during his life.
No, he did not accept Islam.
What was the Prophet SAW initial reaction to receiving revelation? Who comforted him?
He was afraid of what he had experienced when receiving revelation from Jibril AS. Khadijah RA comforted him.
Name one sahabi (companion) of the Prophet SAW.
Any correct answer is acceptable.
Examples: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali
What was the hijrah?
This was an event in which the Muslims migrated from Makkah, where they were abused, to the city of Medinah, where they were accepted.
What was the conquest of Makkah?
After Quraish broke their peace treaty, the Muslims conquered Makkah with a huge army. After this, Islam spread very fast.
What job did the Prophet SAW have during his teenage years which every prophet also had?
Shepherding
What was the main message that the Prophet SAW taught to the people of Makkah (Hint: Think of a word that starts with 't')
How did this differ to dawah given to Medinah?
The Prophet SAW taught about tawheed, the belief that Allah SWT is the only God and the only one that is to be worshiped. He SAW also taught about the Day of Judgement and Jannah and Jahannam. This is because Quraish were mainly idol worshipers who did not believe in an afterlife.
This differed from Medinah, where dawah was given to people of the book (Jews/Christians) and revelation focused on how to worship Allah (rules of Fasting, Zakah, Hajj) and laws related to society/life.
What was the 'boycott' of the Muslims?
The Quraish agreed to not trade or have anything to do with the Muslims for a period of 3 years. The Muslims had to leave the city and lived with little access to food, water, money, or resources. This was a period of great difficulty for the Prophet SAW and the Muslims.
What was the Battle of Badr?
This was the first war between the Muslims and Quraish. Approximately 313 men from the Muslims defeated an army of 1000+ from Quraish after back and forth skirmishes involving caravan raids from the Muslims.
What are the names given to the following two groups of Muslims:
- The Muslims who went from Makkah to Medinah
- The Muslims who already lived in Medinah and helped the Prophet SAW after he made hijrah
- Muhaajiroon
- Ansaar
What job did the Prophet SAW have when he had grown into an adult and which significant person in his life did he meet during this work?
He worked as a merchant and traded good for a Quraishi woman named Khadijah RA. She was significant for several reasons:
- She became married to the Prophet SAW for approximately 24 years until her death.
- She was the mother of the Prophet SAW's children.
- She was the first person to accept Islam from the Prophet SAW and supported him when he gave dawah in Makkah.
Did the Prophet SAW give dawah privately or publicly in the first years of Islam? What happened when calling people to Islam became public?
People were called to Islam privately initially. After a few years, people were called to Islam publicly. This resulted in more people becoming Muslim, but also Muslims being abused and even killed by the evil people of Quraish.
During the 'year of sorrow', the Prophet SAW lost two people beloved to him and then went through the incident of Ta'if.
Who were these people that died? What happened in Taif?
What miracle did Allah SWT give the Prophet SAW after this?
Abu Talib and Khadijah RA died.
The Prophet SAW went to Ta'if to find a place near Makkah that the Muslims might be able to move to since the Quraish were becoming too oppressive.
However, when he tried calling Taif's people to Islam, they rejected him and had people stone him to the point that his blood soaked his shoes.
Allah SWT sent Jibril A.S. to the Prophet SAW to take him on the night journey (Isra wal miraj). The Prophet SAW ascended to heaven, spoke with prophets, and spoke with Allah SWT and received the commandment of Salah.
What was the Battle of Uhud? What mistake occurred during this battle?
True of False:
By the time the Prophet SAW passed away, the Qur'an was fully revealed, the message of Islam was complete, and his companions began spreading Islam to the rest of the world.
True
What characteristics did the people of Quraish believe about the Prophet SAW BEFORE he was a Prophet?
Which event proves this? (Hint: Think about Mount Safa)
He was known as honest and trustworthy.
Event that proves this:
The Prophet SAW ascended upon Mount Safa and began to call out to the tribes of Quraish.
When a crowd from Quraish gathered, the Prophet SAW then said: "Tell me, if I were to inform you that there is an army by the valley, which intends to attack you, would you believe me?"
They said: “Yes! We have only experienced truthfulness from you!”
He said: "Indeed, I am most definitely warning you of a severe punishment ahead!"
Abu Lahab then said: “May destruction come to you for the rest of your life! Have you merely gathered us for this?"
The following verses were then revealed: “May the hands of Abu Lahab be destroyed, and may he be destroyed! Neither his wealth nor the things he earned shall benefit him! [Surah Lahab]”
Who was Bilal ibn Rabah RA and what was his story?
What does this show about how the weak people and slaves who became Muslim were treated by Quraish?
Bilal was a slave who accepted Islam. His master tortured him by putting him in burning sand and having others put huge rocks on him to make him give up Islam, but he remained firm and kept saying that Allah is one.
This shows that the weak people and slaves who became Muslims were beaten, tortured, and killed in Makkah by the evil people of Quraish.
The first treaty involved a small group of people from Medinah who came to Makkah during hajj season. They accepted Islam and promised the Prophet SAW not to worship anyone except Allah SWT and to not do evil deeds like killing.
The second treaty happened a year later with a larger group of people from Medinah. They promised to make the Prophet SAW their leader in Medinah and to protect him.
What was the Battle of Khandaq?
Who was the greatest companion of the Prophet SAW who would become the leader of the Muslims after the Prophet SAW died?
Abu Bakr RA