what is the best biography of prophet muhammad

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6 Best Biographies of the Prophet Muhammad

I have personally read each of the following biographies of Prophet Muhammad. Some are certainly better than others.

One should also be aware that there are many more books of seerah (biography of the Prophet) that I have not yet read. If you have read another and would like to share what you thought of it, please drop a comment to this entry so others can read your recommendation.

1- Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources by the late Dr. Martin Lings

This is arguably one of the very best and most approachable biographies on the Prophet. This book reads more like a novel; it’s fast moving and always interesting.

At the same time, Dr. Lings attempted to make an accurate telling based on the earliest sources. One may also be interested to know that it was during the research for this book that Dr. Lings accepted Islam .

2- Muhammad the Prophet by Maulana Muhammad Ali

This book is one of my personal favorites. Written by an esteemed Muslim from Lahore, Pakistan, this small book is packed with information.

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It is interesting to note that while the author attempts to give an accurate portrayal, you will not find much mention of supposedly miraculous accounts beyond the miracle of the Quran itself.

This is a very straightforward version. Though I was surprised—being used to reading accounts that include such as miracles of the Prophet Muhammad.

Maulana Muhammad Ali is also an interesting writer from whom you will find interesting comments within this book.

“Truth does not depend upon force for its maintenance”.

This is a particularly good choice for non-Muslims.

Those that may be more likely to be skeptical and consider discussion of miracles to be embellishment will appreciate and be moved by this telling.

3- The Life and Work of Muhammad   by Yahiya Emerick

A present day Muslim convert in the U.S., Yahiya Emerick is an excellent writer. He serves as a vice principal at an Islamic school and as President of the Islamic Foundation of North America. This highly readable account covers a wealth of information, based on traditional sources of information.

Mr. Emerick also utilizes a lot of geographical, historical and cultural information that you may not find in other biographies to give a clear picture of the setting and relate the significance of certain choices and situations the Prophet dealt with. You will also learn more about the history of Arabia in an accessible way.

4- When the Moon Split: A Biography of Prophet Muhammad   by Shaikh Safier Rahman Mubarakpuri

Shaikh Mubarakpuri makes it clear in the beginning of his book that he is not an apologist and will not attempt to make the story palatable to those who may be confused or offended by aspects of Muhammad’s story.

This book is definitely best read by Muslims who are already relatively familiar with the life and mission of the Prophet.

The book covers the miraculous events in detail including certain events that would be questionable by modern standards.

Unfortunately, no corresponding explanation is given to help one understand why the choices were correct for the time and place, so non-Muslims, skeptics and others who do not have sufficient background knowledge should steer clear of this book.

That said, it is based on authenticate early sources. It strives for accuracy, and presents the differing versions of several accounts. To Muslims, this book is one of the best books of seerah , next to The Sealed Nectar .

5- Muhammad by Michael Cook

This tiny book is not a critical analysis. And it doesn’t include any consideration of the validity or effect of the message of the Prophet. Instead it is a simple and straightforward account of what the monotheist message was and how Muhammad brought it to Arabia.

6- Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet by Karen Armstrong

This book is written by a British scholar of Islam who is not a Muslim. Of particular interest is her assertion that she is no longer a practicing Christian either, but has not chosen to follow Islam; she seems to still be searching. She is, however, sympathetic to Islam and highly knowledgeable of history.

Ms. Armstrong gives a wonderful accounting of historical background and puts choices, situations, and issues into a clear perspective of surrounding norms and expectations.

In this way, even skeptics and those who continue to find Islamic injunctions not meeting modern day conceptions can see how much of an improvement the Islamic injunctions were in their own time.

Ms. Armstrong also makes an effort to show how these injunctions are in fact more natural and not as at odds with modern thinking as some seem to feel they are, and explains how if they seem to not meet modern needs it may be because modern needs are wrong. She also displays a clear knowledge of the difference between Islamic law and cultural practice.

Read: Authenticity of the Prophet’s Biography

The one downside is the tone that Ms. Armstrong uses that implies she may not really believe that Muhammad was in fact divinely inspired.

She refers to him as a great man, a reformer and statesman. But she seems to feel that he was a self-made man who accomplished amazing things and made choices based on the best decision of the moment, rather than by being inspired by divine intervention and instruction.

This may be difficult for Muslims to read, but if one can see past it and recognize that she is not a Muslim, one can still enjoy the book. That said, Ms. Armstrong is remarkably respectful of the message of Islam and its validity.

She is obviously in great awe of the Prophet and desires to make him understandable to the non-Muslim public. This is a great book for the historical background and contextual explanations alone.

(From Reading Islam archive.)

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10 best books on the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

( The Companion recommends ten important books on the life of prophet Muhammad that you can read yourself and can give to others. This list is not exhaustive. The Companion does not necessarily agree with the views of the authors.)

1). The Messenger: The Meanings of the Life of Muhammad by Tariq Ramadan  

The life of the Prophet Muhammad, to whom the Angel Gabriel revealed the verses of the Quran, has inspired Muslims for hundreds of years.

Interspersed with spiritual and philosophical meditations, this profound and stimulating biography shows how Muhammad’s message can be used to address some of today’s most controversial issues – from the treatment of the poor and the role of women to the interpretation of jihad and relations with other religions. It offers Muslims a new understanding of Muhammad’s life and introduces non-Muslims to the story of the Prophet and to the riches of Islam.

Perhaps this book is unmatchable to any other biography of the Prophet written so far. Atypical in its presentation. A spiritual reading of the Prophet’s life will give its reader a completely new taste and approach. The learned author aptly summed up the whole thing with this one sentence: “He who cannot love cannot understand.”

2). Meeting Muhammad by Omar Suleiman

Do you ever wonder what it would be like to be in the presence of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, as his companions were? What would it be like to see him, to host him in your home, pray behind him, and have him as a teacher and friend? Through 30 beautifully detailed chapters with narrations from companions, take a journey from only knowing about him to knowing him and loving him and feel what it was like to be a companion of his in this life and strive to be companions of his in the next.

3). Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources by Martin Lings  

Martin Lings’ biography of Muhammad is an internationally acclaimed, comprehensive, and authoritative account of the life of the prophet. Based on the sira, the eighth- and ninth-century Arabic biographies recount numerous events in the prophet’s life. The book has been published in 12 languages and has received numerous awards, including acknowledgement as the best biography of the prophet in English at the National Seerate Conference in Islamabad.

This is probably the best lucid biography of the Prophet Muhammad in the English language so far. The reverted author Martin Lings beautifully presents the life and times of Muhammad (peace be upon him).

4). Muhammad: His Character and Conduct by Adil Salahi

Muslims all over the world see Muhammad as God’s last messenger to mankind, and, for every community that wants to live under God’s guidance, the Prophet Muhammad’s character and conduct are the light showing the way to God’s pleasure. At a time when the Prophet is much maligned by writers, cartoonists and various other detractors, this book aims to show Muhammad’s true character in detail, both in its most every day and most extraordinary moments. 

This book is a successful attempt to clarify some of the most controversial and misunderstood (at the same time) issues such as war, marriage, treatment with other faiths etc. The author of this book approaches the life of the Prophet from the modern understanding of history and presents a very beautiful and logical interpretation of the Prophet’s life.

5). The Leadership of Muhammad by John Adair

The Leadership of Muhammad is a very personal study of the life-story and leadership skills of the Prophet. John Adair served with a Bedouin regiment in the Arab Legion and this story is full of fascinating detail of desert life and Bedouin beliefs. A business book that crosses boundaries it highlights the key leadership skills displayed by Muhammad and allows you to share in his wisdom. John Adair weaves the story of Muhammad’s life together with aspects of Bedouin culture and ancient proverbs to provide key points for leaders and aspiring leaders. He discusses tribal leadership and essential attributes such as integrity, moral authority and humility.

Learning and leadership go hand in hand. You are not born a leader, but you can become one and it is never too late to learn. John Adair’s study or Muhammad and the tribal tradition of leadership is an essential addition to the leadership debate.

6). Muhammad, Man of God by Seyyed Hossein Nasr

This modern biography contains the teachings of the Messenger and their practical effects on human life in addition to his biography. Recommended for 12th graders.

7). The Sealed Nectar (Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum) Biography of the Prophet by Sheikh Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarkpuri

A complete authoritative book on the life of Prophet Muhammad (S) by Sheikh Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarkpuri . It was honored by the World Muslim League as the first prize winner book. Whoever wants to know the whole lifestyle of the Prophet in detail must read this book.

8). Muhammad: A very short introduction by Jonathan A.C. Brown  

Muhammad is one of the most influential figures in history. The furor surrounding the Satanic Verses and the Danish cartoon crisis reminded the world of the tremendous importance of the prophet of Islam, Muhammad. Learning about his life and understanding its importance, however, has always proven difficult. Our knowledge of Muhammad comes from the biography of him written by his followers, but Western historians have questioned the reliability of this story in their quest to uncover the ‘historical Muhammad’. As modern controversies have shown, whatever the truth about Muhammad’s life, his persona has taken on numerous shapes and played a crucial role in Muslim life and civilization. 

This Very Short Introduction provides an introduction to the major aspects of Muhammad’s life and its importance, providing both the Muslim and Western historical perspectives. It also explains the prominent roles that Muhammad’s persona has played in the Islamic world, from the medieval to the modern period.

9). The Life and Work of the Prophet of Islam by Dr Muhammad Hamidullah

Dr Muhammad Hamidullah, one of the most widely read and known scholars of Islam in the modern Muslim world, has introduced a host of new avenues in the study of Life of the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) and has produced fairly a sizeable volume of literature on the subject, characterized by the novelty of its approach, extensive nature of its treatment and the originality of its content.

This important book on the life of prophet Muhammad is written by Dr Muhammad Hamidullah and translated by Mahmood Ahmad Ghazi in English.

10) . Muhammad: A Prophet for All Humanity by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

 In the book entitled Muhammad: A Prophet for All Humanity, the author Maulana Wahiduddin Khan explains that in making Prophet Muhammad the greatest figure, and consequently one of the most resplendent landmarks in human history, God has bestowed his greatest favor on mankind. Whoever seeks guidance cannot fail to see him, for he stands out like a tower, a mountain on the horizon, radiating light like a beacon, beckoning all to the true path. It is inevitable that the seekers of truth will be drawn up to the magnificent pinnacle on which he stands.

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The Biography of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

Sep 19, 2021 | Books and Publications , Mawlid , Stories of the Prophets | Last updated on Aug 03, 2023

Ch 1.The Ancestry of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

Ishmael’s second wife was Lady Ra^lah ( 1) , daughter of Mudad from the tribe of Jurhum. She delivered twelve (12) male children for him. From them came Nabit and Qaydar, and from these two in particular, God made a group of Arabs multiply. Continue Reading

Ch 2.The Birth of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

Prophet Mu h ammad ﷺ was born in Makkah in the year when the Abyssinian (Ethiopian) Abrahah tried to destroy the Ka^bah. lnstead, Allah destroyed Abrahah and his army. At that time in Makkah, the people named years by major events. Therefore, it is said that the Prophet ﷺ was born in the ”Year of the Elephant”. It was the year 571 of the Western calendar. Continue Reading

Ch 3.The Nursing of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

Aminah nursed her son, Mu h ammad ﷺ, for a short time. Then another woman nursed him. Her name was H alimah. Lady H alimah was the main nursing mother of Prophet Mu h ammad, ﷺ. In those days in Makkah, women wanted their children nursed by Bedouins who lived outside of the city. They believed that their children would be healthier if they were raised in the desert. Continue Reading

Ch 4.Some Events in the Prophet’s Early Life

Our Prophet Mu h ammad ﷺ , was about five years old when he went back to live with his mother and grandfather. Aminah was very happy. Continue Reading

Ch 5.The Blessed Household of the Messenger of God, peace be upon him

We know from our beloved Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, that he was a shepherd at some time in his life. Our Prophet said that every prophet tended sheep. Being a shepherd helped to prepare the prophets for the great task of caring for and guiding people. By the time Prophet Mu h ammad ﷺ was 25 years old, he was known in Makkah by the name of ”al-Amin” (The trustworthy), because of his good traits. Continue Reading

Ch 6.The Trusted Mediator Receives the Revelation

When our Prophet was thirty-five an incident occurred. Quraysh sought to rebuild the Ka^bah. This happened about five years before the Revelation came to the Prophet, ﷺ. As a young man, Mu h ammad ﷺ was known for his truthfulness and honesty. In addition to calling him Mu h ammad, many people called him as- Sa diq the truthful, or al-Am i n, the trustworthy. When he said something, people believed him… Continue Reading

Ch 7.The Early Converts

In this chapter, we present vignettes of several of our Prophet’s early followers. The early followers have the distinction of believing in the truth from our Prophet, before embracing Islam became popular in the Arabian Peninsula. Additionally, many of them suffered severe torture from the blasphemers, simply because they believed our Prophet loved God and worshipped their Creator correctly. Continue Reading

Ch 8.The Public Call and Immigration to Abyssinia

After three years of Prophethood, fearlessly calling to and teaching people Islam with skilled tactics, God ordered Prophet Mu h ammad ﷺ, to make a public call. God revealed ayah (214) of ash-Shu^ara’ in which God ordered Prophet Mu h ammad ﷺ to warn his relatives, calling them to Islam. Continue Reading

Ch 9.The Year of Sorrow and Trip to Ta'if

Meanwhile, the Muslims in Makkah suffered many tight conditions. They were isolated into a particularly rocky area outside of Makkah (a place where people would not normally live). Additionally, no one was allowed to buy from or sell to them. They were patient, seeking the reward from God. Continue Reading

Ch 10.The Miracles of Our Prophet ﷺ

While the Prophet ﷺ lived in both Makkah and Madinah, his followers and the blasphemers were witnessing magnificent miracles that God bestowed on him. Prophet Mu h ammad ﷺ had never told a lie. In addition, God made Prophet Mu h ammad ﷺ perform awesome miracles, the likes of which the people with him had never seen before. Continue Reading

Ch 11.Isra' (The Night Journey)

After all the hardships of the boycott, the deaths of family members, and the reaction at Ta’if, God blessed our Prophet ﷺ with a magnificent honor and experience. Two years before immigrating to Madinah, when Prophet Mu h ammad ﷺ was fifty-one (51) years old, he left Makkah, from the house of Lady Umm Hani’, his paternal cousin, on a night journey (Isra’). Continue Reading

Ch 12.Mi^raj (The Ascension)

Our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was at al-Masjidul-A q sa. Then, he rose up to the heavens. He ascended the stairs called al-Mir qa h. Continue Reading

Ch 13.The People of Yathrib Believe

At the time of Hajj (done in an invalid way by the blasphemers at the time), the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to meet with the various tribes and call them to Islam. Continue Reading

Ch 14.The Hijrah (Migration) to Madinah

After our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, left his house, he went to our Master Abu Bakr’s house and told him that he had been given permission to migrate. Abu Bakr asked the Prophet if he could accompany him and the Prophet ﷺ agreed. Abu Bakr then cried out of happiness. Continue Reading

Ch 15.The Top Jewish Scholar of Madinah Converts

What a great blessing from God was the arrival of the Prophet in Madinah! Before accepting Islam, the two Arab tribes of Madinah, al-Aws and al-Khazraj were fighting frequently. Then, God made the hearts of both tribes inclined to Islam and love for God and His Messenger, blessings and peace be upon him. Continue Reading

Ch 16.Good Confronts Evil at Badr

Prophet Mu h ammad ﷺ was calling the people to Islam just by talking to them, because he had not been ordered to go to battle yet. After his immigration the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was permitted to fight the blasphemers. Continue Reading

Ch 17.Reflections on the Prophet ﷺ and Companions

God made the Companions of our Prophet of mercy the same in belief, but diverse in characteristics. This “unity despite diversity” is what is so appealing about our Muslim nation. Continue Reading

Ch 18.Dealing with Banu Qaynaqa^

After the great Battle of Badr God exposed the treachery of the Jewish tribes of Madinah who had made a treaty with the Muslims. They were jealous, felt threatened by the victorious Muslims. Hence, they began to break the terms of the treaty. Continue Reading

The Nursing of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

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Biography of the Prophet Muhammad's Early Life

Timeline of the Prophet's Life Before the Call to Prophethood

Melissa Snell/Public Domain

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The Prophet Muhammad , peace be upon him , is a central figure in the life and faith of Muslims. The story of his life is filled with inspiration, trials, triumphs, and guidance for people of all ages and times.

Life in Makkah

Since ancient times, Makkah has been a central city on the trade route from Yemen to Syria. Traders from all over the region stopped through to buy and sell goods, and visit religious sites. The local Makkan tribes thus became quite wealthy, particularly the Quraish tribe.

Arabs had been exposed to monotheism, as a tradition passed down from the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), peace be upon him. The Ka’aba in Makkah, in fact, was originally built by Ibraham as a symbol of monotheism. However, over generations, most of the Arab people had reverted to polytheism and had begun using the Ka’aba to house their stone idols. The society was oppressive and dangerous. They indulged in alcohol, gambling, blood ​feuds, and trading of women and slaves.

Early Life: 570 C.E.

Muhammad was born in Makkah in the year 570 C.E. to a trader named ‘Abdullah and his wife Amina. The family was part of the respected Quraish tribe. Tragically, ‘Abdullah died before his son was born.  Amina was left to raise Muhammad with the help of her son’s paternal grandfather, ‘AbdulMuttalib.

When Muhammad was only six years old, his mother also passed away.  He was thus orphaned at a young age. Only two years after that, ‘AbdulMuttalib also died, leaving Muhammad at the age of eight in the care of his paternal uncle, Abu Talib.

In his early life, Muhammad was known as a calm and sincere boy and young man.  As he grew older, people called upon him to arbitrate in disputes, as he was known to be fair and truthful.

First Marriage: 595 C.E.

When he was 25 years old, Muhammad married Khadija bint Khuwailid, a widow who was fifteen years his senior. Muhammad once described his first wife as follows:  "She believed in me when no one else did; she accepted Islam when people rejected me, and she helped and comforted me when there was no one else to lend me a helping hand."  Muhammad and Khadija were married for 25 years until her death. It was only after her death that Muhammad married again. The wives of the Prophet Muhammad are known as the " Mothers of the Believers ."

Call to Prophethood: 610 C.E.

As a calm and sincere person, Muhammad was disturbed by the immoral behavior he observed around him.  He would often retreat to the hills surrounding Makkah in order to contemplate. During one of these retreats, in the year 610 C.E., the angel Gabriel appeared to Muhammad and called him to Prophethood.

The first verses of the Qur’an to be revealed were the words, “Read! In the name of your Lord who created, created man from a clot. Read! And your Lord is Most Bountiful. He, Who taught by the pen, taught man what he knew not." (Qur’an 96:1-5).

Later Life (610-632 C.E.)

From humble roots, the Prophet Muhammad was able to transform a corrupt, tribal land into a well-disciplined state.

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Biography Online

Prophet Muhammad – Biography, achievements and teachings

Prophet Muhammad (570–632) Founder of Islam. Whilst in seclusion in a mountain cave, Muhammad reported receiving a series of revelations from God; these revelations form the verses of the Qu’ran, regarded by Muslims as the “Word of God” and around which the Islamic religion is based. Muhammad was a significant religious, political and military leader who helped to unite Arabia under the new religion of Islam.

Cave of Hira – location of Muhammad’s first revelation.

In the year 610, at the age of 40, Muhammad was undertaking a retreat of pray and meditation in the desert. During his prayer, he began hearing a luminous voice who commanded him to write down the word of God. At first, Muhammad was very uncertain about his experience, but after sharing with his first wife Khadijah and her cousin, he gained confidence that it was a divine voice, which he later revealed to be Angel Jibreel (Gabriel). For quite a few years, Muhammad only shared these recitations with his close companions who later served as scribes, writing down the revelations. He was aware that preaching a new monotheistic religious teaching may incur the wrath of the existing authorities. An important feature of the teachings of the Qu’ran was that there was only one God, and the essential aspect of life was to submit to his will.

Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem where Muhammad is believed to have ascended to Heaven

In the beginning, he attracted a small number of followers, who were deeply moved by the teachings Muhammad imparted. This gave him the confidence to speak to other people in Mecca. However, the followers of Muhammad were viewed with hostility by other Meccan tribes who generally believed in a pantheistic world view (although there were small numbers of Christians and Jews). In 619, both his wife Khadijah and uncle (effective guardian Abu Talib) died. In this time, of personal difficulty, he had an important spiritual experience, where he felt his spirit transported to Jerusalem and then to Heaven where he saw himself with other prophets such as Moses and Jesus amidst the divine throne of God.

In 622 because of ongoing hostility, Muhammad with some of his followers, migrated to the city of Yathrib, now known as Medina. This migration is known as the Hijrah and marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar.

In Medina, Muhammad succeeded in uniting various tribes. He used his skill as an arbiter to smooth over tensions, and increasingly he was viewed as an adept and inspirational leader – combining strength and military skill with a compassionate and devout nature. At the Battle of Badr, just 313 Muslims under Muhammad’s leadership defeated a force of 1,000 Meccans. After this victory, Muhammad negotiated a peace treaty with the Meccan tribes.

During the remainder of his life, he was able to unite most of Arabia under the new religion of Islam. In 632, he gave his final sermon to 20,000 people – showing the extent of his influence and popularity. He died later in the year after suffering from a fever that lasted several days. His last words were:

O Allah, to Ar-Rafiq Al-A’la (exalted friend, highest Friend or the uppermost, highest Friend in heaven)

After his death, he was succeeded by his father-in-law and close associate, Abu Bakr. For the next 100 years, Islam spread rapidly becoming the dominant religious and political force of the middle-east. By 750, Muslim influence stretched from India to Spain and was strongly established as a major world religion.

The Qu’ran

Early Quran manuscript

From his first experiences in the cave, Muhammad reported receiving messages from God throughout his life. These messages form The Qu’ran – which to Muslims is the word of God. Muslims believe Muhammad to be the final prophet in a tradition stretching back to Moses, Abraham and Jesus.

As well as the Qu’ran, Muslims study the Sira (Muhammad’s life) and traditions of the time (Sharia law).

The essential message of the Qu’ran is that there is no God but Allah, and followers should lead their lives in submission to the will of Allah as described in the Qu’ran.

Muhammad also believed religion was not just a private matter of conscience but something that affected the whole society. He instigated social reforms, which included the better treatment of all classes of people and the reduction of aristocratic privileges. The Qu’ran mentioning an alms tax. (zakat) which sought to reduce inequality in society. Muhammad insisted that new tribes who wished to ally with himself should apply this tax.

For his time, Muhammad instigating progressive reforms. He condemned some customs such as female infanticide and excessive privilege. He enhanced the rights of slaves, though did not abolish it completely

Muhammad taught the concept of Jihad. First and foremost ‘jihad is the internal struggle against man’s weaknesses such as lust, envy and hatred, and the struggle to become a better devout person. Jihad could also involve the outer battle against enemies who wished to prevent the devout from practising their faith.

“A strong person is not the person who throws his adversaries to the ground. A strong person is the person who contains himself when he is angry.” – Sunni Hadith

The name Muhammad means “Praiseworthy.” Muslims he was not a divine figure, but was close to a perfect man.

In the list of 100 most influential people in the world , Michael Hast chose Muhammad to be number one, arguing that Muhammad was influential in both the religious and secular world. Muhammad changed the course of history by creating a strong monotheistic religion amongst the Arab world and unifying the disparate tribes. The teachings of the Qu’ran act as a major influence on Islamic society. Like all religions, the teachings of Muhammad have often been misinterpreted and used in the justification of fanaticism – in particular the concept of Jihad is open to different interpretations as to what is meant by defending the faith. Also, quite a few Muslim practises, such as women wearing the veil came in – many years after he had died.

Citation:  Pettinger, Tejvan . “Biography of Muhammad”, Oxford, www.biographyonline.net, Last updated 14 March 2020. Originally published 23/05/2014.

Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources

Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources at Amazon

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Full Biography of the Prophet Muhammad (Seerah)

The biography of the Prophet Muhammad is a timeless and profound story that has influenced millions. In these chapters, we'll journey through his life, from humble beginnings to his pivotal role in Islam's development. His legacy continues to inspire and guide people worldwide.

Biography Chapters of the Prophet Muhammad

Arab Lands Before Islam

By Who Muhammad Is. on September 5, 2023

Mecca, the Kaaba, and the Quraysh

Muhammad From His Birth to His Marriage

From Marriage to the Prophetic Mission

From the Resurrection to the Islam of Omar

The Story of the Cranes

Quraish and Attempts to Limit the Spread of Islam

From Refutation of the Scroll to Isra and Mi'raj

The Pledge of Al-Aqabah

The Migration of the Prophet

The Beginning of the Covenant in Yathrib

By Who Muhammad Is. on September 7, 2023

The Raids and Early Skirmishes

Muslims Victory in the Battle of Badr

By Who Muhammad Is. on September 8, 2023

Between Badr and Uhud

Why Were the Muslims Defeated at Uhud?

The Consequences of the Battle of Uhud

By Who Muhammad Is. on September 10, 2023

The Lives of the Prophet's Wives

The Battle of the Trench and the Tribe of Qurayza Story

From the Two Campaigns to Al-Hudaybiyyah

Negotiations at Hudaybiyyah and the Call to Hajj

By Who Muhammad Is. on September 11, 2023

Khaybar and the Messengers to the Kings

By Who Muhammad Is. on September 14, 2023

Umrah of Obligation

By Who Muhammad Is. on September 19, 2023

The Period After Hudaybiyyah Leading t Mu'ta

The Violation of the Treaty & Conquest of Mecca

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Hunayn and Al-Taif

By Who Muhammad Is. on September 28, 2023

Ibrahim and the Prophet's Women

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Tabuk and the Death of Ibrahim

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Exclusive insights into the life of the Prophet, Inspirational stories and reflections, and much more.

Life Story of Prophet Muhammad: the Last Messenger of God in Islam

by World History Edu · October 9, 2019

“There is no god except Allah and Prophet Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” | The Muslim profession of faith, inscribed on the Topkapi Palace (Turkey).

The Prophet Muhammad is widely regarded as the bedrock of the Islamic religion. Muslims across the world hold him in high regard and view him as a righteous messenger to whom God (Allah) revealed the Quran (Koran). Growing up in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Muhammad’s date of existence is usually quoted as roughly 570-632 CE. Below, we present the full life story of the Prophet Mohammad (Peace be on to Him):

The Prophet Muhammad’s Birth

The Islamic founder’s birth occurred in the year  570 CE, Mecca. He was born to Abdallah ibn Abd al-Muttalib and Aminah bint Wahb. Unfortunately, Muhammad never saw his father with his own eyes – his father died before he came into the world. His family background and tree can be traced to the Quraysh tribe.

After the Prophet’s birth, his mother immediately knew that she had given birth to a great son. Aminah shared memories of the day she put the baby Muhammad down on the floor. According to her, the child directed his head towards the sky and gazed at the horizons, prophesizing one God (Allah). A voice then spoke out to her – ” you have given birth to a great one, he shall be called Muhammad”.

Muhammad’s paternal grandfather was called to pay a visit to the newborn. When he arrived, Abdul-Mutalib took the baby to the Kaaba and said some prayers to Allah. The Kaaba is a cube-shaped stone building in Mecca. Upon Muttalib’s return from the Kaaba,  the great baby boy was named Muhammad.

Less than 7 years after his birth, Muhammad was fully orphaned when Aminah passed away. His grandfather Muttalib took care of him as a guardian. Fully aware of the child’s great religious future, Muttalib specially treated Muhammad with all the goodness he could afford. It has been said that Muttalib even cared for Muhammad better than his own wards. This was because he had high faith in him.

At about age 8, another disaster struck little Muhammad. His grandfather Muttalib was called to eternal rest. For the rest of his upbringing, Muhammad was then cared for by Abu Talib, Muhammad’s uncle. His uncle was very protective of Allah’s messenger – he stood by him during his trying times until death separated them.

Early Life in Mecca

Muhammad’s family lines had strong trade ties and political influence in Mecca. During Muhammad’s birth era, most of the Arabians were nomadic people who traded goods across the desert. Their religious beliefs were largely that of polytheism. They believed and worshiped all sorts of gods (idols).

Deep within the city of Mecca, idol worshiping was no exception. Dozens of temples and shrines served as worshiping grounds for devout worshipers who either had no idea or didn’t believe in one God.

Of all the worshiping sites, the Kaaba was the most famous ground.  Islam followers believe that the Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) was the one who built the Kaaba. In Arabic, Kaaba means “a cube”. Though numerous gods were worshiped in Mecca, Allah stood tall among the rest. He was the only true God that was not affiliated with idols.

During his teenage days, Muhammad partook in the nomadic lifestyle of his people. They used camels and crisscrossed deserts to trade for their livelihood. To some extent, Muhammad came from a less privileged family background. He joined his uncle on commercial voyages to Syria, and across the Mediterranean and then the Indian Ocean. Muhammad’s trustworthiness earned him the name “al-Amin”.

Prophet Muhammad Marries Khadijah

When he reached his twenties, Muhammad worked with a rich businesses woman by name Khadijah. Muhammad was 15 years younger than her. Their merchant dealings soon progressed into a strong bond of affection.

Khadijah, a wealthy widow, was all in to having Muhammad as a spouse, so she proposed marriage to him. Muhammad welcomed the idea and their union was blessed with plenty of fruits. However, not all their children made it into adulthood. Some died prematurely.

Controversially, in his energetic youthful days, Khadija was Muhammad’s only wife. His monogamous marriage was very unusual at that time, given the widespread polygamy that characterized his immediate environment. However, he later remarried other women when his first wife Khadijah died.

One daughter of his (Fatima) lived on and married Ali ibn Talib, a cousin to Muhammad. An Islamic branch called the Shi’ite Muslims have long maintained that Ali was the true successor of Prophet Muhammad.

Life and Meditation in the Cave

Muhammad grew up and loved to explore religious realms. He was far advanced in seeking to know Allah and truly understanding Allah’s mercies. In one such journeys, Muhammad discovered a cave called Hira in the mountain Jabal al-Nour. He found the cave convenient for religious meditations. He frequently visited the isolated hideout and got himself lost in contemplation of the Almighty and Magnificent Allah.

It has been alleged that Angel Gabriel visited Muhammad at the cage. The cave in someway manifested Muhammad’s level of spiritual commitment. Seated at the north of the mountain’s top, the question of how Muhammad discovered that isolated world is one that can’t be answered by an ordinary mind. To discover such a wonderful cave, many Islamic scholars and religious authors believe that it definitely took divine guidance and mercy.

Prophet Muhammad’s Spiritual Encounter with the Divine

Once he entered the cave, Muhammad lived in a separate world of his own. Apart from the sky view and the mountain surroundings, nothing else was visible to the naked eye. Shielded from external acoustic interference, everything was between Muhammad and the Merciful Allah. This gave the Prophet Muhammad’s mind the right atmosphere to think about things beyond the materialistic world.

At 40 years old, Muhammad was still in the mysterious cage when he had a spiritual encounter with Allah. It was here that he was presented with verse 1 of the Qur’an. After this revelation, Muhammad didn’t remain the same. It was a turning point in Islamic history.

In the space of 2-3 years after the Quranic revelation, Muhammad preached monotheism to his people. At first, he preached privately to people he trusted.  He later mustered courage and took Allah’s messages to the streets. And bingo, the Islamic religion was birthed. More and more people slowly joined Muhammad in praising Allah. They embraced Allah as the ever Merciful and the ever Gracious.

Sanctions and Persecutions

Since his new religion was founded in the hearts of an idol-worshiping society, it didn’t exist without some sort of hindrance or persecutions. The expansion of Islam brought forth life-threatening hostilities towards the Prophet and his followers. Not everyone saw him as a God-sent messenger.

From the onset, Muhammad was an enemy to many sections of idol worshipers in Mecca. They abused him verbally, physically and in many other ways. But his uncle Abu Talib had his back and defended Muhammad. So he carried on with his evangelism ( Jihad ).

By choosing Allah against the will and traditions of the inhabitants of Mecca, things took a dangerous turn in the form of sanctions, persecutions, and wars, after the revelation. Some of the Islamic converts who were held as slaves were tortured or murdered.

The Prophet Muhammad flees to Abyssinia

The idol-worshipers rose up against the Prophet Muhammad’s followers. By 614 CE, the severity of the persecution forced Muhammad to direct his fellow Muslims to flee to Abyssinia for protection. Abyssinia was a Christian Kingdom in Ethiopia. They had a just king who was hospitable to the Muslims. The Quraysh people reportedly tried to bribe the Abyssinian king to sacking the Muslims, but their wicked efforts failed.

A year after the successful migration of some Muslims to Abyssinia, the Quraysh people put up sanctions and targeted Prophet Mohammed’s family, his activities, and his followers. As a result of the sanctions, Muslims moved and settled at the site of a Meccan mountain. The sanctions flopped in 618-619 CE, after 3 years.

More Troubles, plus the Loss of His Wife and Uncle

Soon afterward, Muhammad lost his dear wife Khadijah. More troubles set in when his uncle also passed away. The Prophet suffered more persecutions from the enemies who were hell-bent on eroding Islam. The intensified persecutions necessitated a pilgrimage in 622 CE. The Prophet met with elderly leaders from Yathrib City and they pledged their protective support to Muhammad.

When the plan leaked out to the Quraysh people, the Yathribs had to quickly move back to their home. Sensing the impending threat, the Prophet instructed his people to secretly emigrate to Yathrib. In response, the Qurayshites plotted to have him killed as soon as possible. The Quraysh tribes collectively planned to carry out the murder in the night time when the Prophet would be asleep.

The Prophet Muhammad’s Pilgrimage from Mecca to Medina

Fortunately, Allah saved Muhammad from death at the last minute.  On the night of the planned murder, Allah instructed him to leave Mecca immediately and make his way to Yathrib. The Prophet did as Allah had instructed. When he safely departed from Mecca to Yathrib, Yathrib was renamed as “al-Madina” or Medina.  This famous emigration of the Prophet is called the Hijra .

The date of this important event is given as 622 CE. It happened about 12 years after the revelation of the first Quranic verses. The Prophet’s escape to Medina has significant implications in the Islamic world. It helped the Islamic religion to establish a strong foundation. The prophet lived in Medina for up to 10 years, before he left the world.

Significant Battles and Treaties

In the following years (624-628 CE), many battles were fought by the Muslims for their lives. The most significant battles were the Battle of Badr and the Battle of the Trench. These were followed by the Siege of Medina, which resulted in a peace treaty between the Meccans and Muhammad’s followers.

When the Meccans broke the treaty, another war broke out.  In 630 CE, Muhammad’s Muslim army was able to counter and defeat the Meccans pagans without fighting to the extreme.

By this time,  Muslim numbers had grown significantly. Prophet Muhammad pardoned his oppressors. As a sign of good fate, or perhaps with Allah’s intervention, the Prophet’s former foes willingly converted to Islam. The Muslim community then collected and destroyed all pagan items (idols) close to the sacred Kaaba.

Death of Prophet Muhammad and His Burial Place

“Prophet Muhammad, the Messenger of God” inscribed at the entrance of the Prophet’s Mosque (Al-Masjid an Nawabi) in Medina, Saudi Arabia.

After resolving the conflicts with the pagans, Prophet Muhammad ( peace be unto him ) took his pilgrimage back to Mecca. In March of 632 CE, on Mount Arafat, the Prophet gave out his last sermon. He later went back to Medina. There, a deadly illness attacked him and he sadly never recovered.

On 8th June 632, the Prophet Muhammad (in his early 60s) took his last breath. There are conspiracy theories that the Prophet was poisoned. To date, there is no evidence to support such claims. Prophet Muhammad was buried at a mosque in Medina, the al-Masjid an Nawabi (present day Medina, Saudi Arabia).

He is regarded as the “Last Prophet”. Muhammad teachings are summarized as the Hadiths. With regard to the Sunnah, they talk about the prophet’s exemplary lifestyle. Muslims believe that Muhammad was the only Prophet who saw both heaven and hell before dying.

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What is Seerah? The Life Journey of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Explained

Understanding the Seerah, the biography of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), is paramount to comprehend the essence of Islamic teachings and the underpinnings of Muslim culture. This blog post vividly narrates the extraordinary life journey of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), articulating the significance, historical impact, and enduring lessons of his Seerah.

Explore Our Seerah Books Category and Enrich Your Knowledge!

Understanding Seerah: The Biographical Study of a Mercy to Mankind

Seerah, in Islamic terminology, refers to the study of the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the final messenger of Islam. It encompasses his birth, early life, prophethood, the revelation of the Quran, his struggles, establishing the Muslim community, his moral teachings, and his enduring legacy.

The Importance of Studying Seerah

• Comprehensive Islamic Knowledge: The Seerah furnishes context for the Quranic revelations, which enhances understanding of Islam.
• Model for Moral Conduct: Prophet Muhammad's life serves as an exemplar for ethics and behavior.

Navigating the Phases of The Prophet's (PBUH) Life

• Early Life and Character: Known for his truthfulness and trustworthiness, even before receiving the revelation.
• Proclamation of Prophethood: Detailing the transformative moment when he was divinely chosen at the age of 40.
• Meccan Period: The years of the message's delivery, persecution endured, and the moral fortitude exhibited.
• Hijrah to Medina: The pivotal migration that marked the beginning of an Islamic state and society.
• Medinan Period: The consolidation of the Islamic community and statehood, with foundational governance principles laid out.

Prophetic Birth and Early Years: The Beginnings of a Leader

Born into the tribe of quraysh.

Historical pedigree and the honorific upbringing of Muhammad (PBUH) in the tribal society of Arabia.

A Youth of Exceptional Character

Stories and anecdotes reflect the young Muhammad's (PBUH) developing qualities of honesty, integrity, and spiritual inclination.

The Dawn of Revelation: Prophecy and Perseverance

The night of decree.

An in-depth look at the first revelation in the Cave of Hira and the immense responsibility bestowed upon Muhammad (PBUH).

Early Converts and Opposition

• Initial Secret Phase: The first believers and the strategic, cautious approach to inviting others.
• Public Proclamation and Persecution: The shift to an open call and the ensuing challenges faced by the Prophet (PBUH) and his followers.

The Migration (Hijrah): A New Chapter

Establishing the muslim community.

The journey to Medina and the establishment of brotherhood between Muhajirun (immigrants) and Ansar (helpers).

Building the First Muslim Society

• Socio-Political Foundations: The drafting of the Constitution of Medina as a framework for governance and justice.
• Religious and Cultural Unification: Steps toward building a singular, cohesive Muslim identity.

The Medinan Years: Battles, Treaties, and Expansion

The major battles.

Detailed narrations of significant confrontations such as the Battles of Badr, Uhud, and the Trench, clarify their strategic outcomes.

The Treaty of Hudaybiyyah

The truce recognized the Muslim state's presence and catalyzed the spread of Islam due to newfound peace and stability.

The Farewell Pilgrimage

A final directive to Muslims about equality, rights, economics, and spirituality, is captured within the farewell sermon, Khutbah Hajjatul Wida.

The Prophet's (PBUH) Character: A Living Quran

Ethical and moral benchmarking.

Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) everyday life is a practical application of Quranic decrees.

Leadership and Compassion

His administrative and diplomatic skills combined with empathy and justice.

Seerah’s Implications Today: Life Lessons and Modern Reflections

Seerah in contemporary society.

Applying the timeless values and principles derived from the Seerah to contemporary challenges.

Educational and Spiritual Growth

Utilizing Seerah to strengthen one's faith and understanding of Islamic heritage.

Conclusion: The Seerah's Role in Islamic Identity

The Seerah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) provides a holistic, multi-dimensional blueprint for Muslims to emulate. From embodying societal values to individual character development, studying the Seerah is to walk in the footsteps of the Prophet in search of wisdom, guidance, and spiritual upliftment.

FAQs About the Seerah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Why is the seerah of prophet muhammad (pbuh) important.

The Seerah is important as it helps Muslims understand the context in which the Quran was revealed, learn from the Prophet's moral virtues, and apply his teachings to contemporary life.

How can the Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) influence a Muslim's daily life?

By providing real-life examples of integrity, resilience, and compassion, the Seerah influences a Muslim's daily actions, interactions, and personal growth.

What lessons can we learn from the Hijrah in the Seerah?

The Hijrah teaches lessons about sacrifice, establishing community, embracing change, and strategic planning for the greater good.

Can non-Muslims benefit from studying the Seerah?

Yes, non-Muslims can benefit from studying the Seerah as it offers insights into Islamic history, the Prophet's exemplary character, and the foundations of the Islamic way of life.

How does the Seerah relate to the concept of Islamic leadership?

The Seerah provides a model for Islamic leadership characterized by ethical decision-making, justice, consultative governance, and concern for community well-being.

The Seerah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) encompasses universal lessons valuable for all humanity. In understanding his life story, one gains deeper insights into his honorable standing as a leader, a prophet, and a guide for all times.

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'Taking power back': Salman Rushdie speaks of stabbing that almost claimed his life

The attack lasted just 27 seconds, but writer Salman Rushdie said in that short amount of time he experienced the worst and best of humanity.

In an interview Monday with ABC News' "Good Morning America" co-host George Stephanopoulos, the 76-year-old author of "The Satanic Verses" recounted the 2022 attack on him at a lecture in Chautauqua, New York, allegedly by a 24-year-old man bent on carrying out a Fatwa imposed on Rushdie in 1989 by Ruhollah Khomeini, the former supreme leader of Iran.

Rushdie said he believed he was going to die, but then people who witnessed the attack rushed to protect him. He said a new book he has written chronicles the doctors who saved his life and how his wife, Eliza, became the heroine of his story for nursing him back to health.

"No question," he told Stephanopoulos. "I mean, lying there in this lake of blood, which was mine and was expanding, I remember thinking in a completely calm way, Oh yeah, I think I'm dying. And then, fortunately, I was wrong."

In his long road to recovery, Rushdie said he felt compelled to write a memoir about the horrific experience -- "Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder'' -- which will be available in bookstores on Tuesday. He said writing the book was his way of "taking the power back."

"It became my way of controlling the narrative if you'd like," Rushdie said. "What I felt is that the book itself, I mean, it's about a knife but it also kind of is a knife. I don't have any guns or knives, so this is the tool I use. And I thought I would use it to fight back."

On Aug. 12, 2022, Rushdie was speaking at the Chautauqua Institution about violence against writers when the alleged knife-wielding suspect, Hadi Matar, charged the stage and stabbed the writer more than a dozen times. Matar has pleaded not guilty to second-degree attempted murder and assault charges in connection with the attack.

It had been more than three decades since Rushdie faced death threats after his novel, "The Satanic Verses," which was inspired by the life of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and was published in 1988. The book was deemed blasphemous by Khomeini and an insult to Islam. Khomeini issued a fatwa, or death sentence, against Rushdie.

Rushdie said Monday that he believed threats against his life had faded and all but forgotten. He conceded that he had let his guard down.

"I've been living here, George, close to 25 years in New York City and in that time, I've done hundreds of public events, you know, book tours, literary festivals, reading, lectures," Rushdie told Stephanopoulos. "And there's never been a hint of a problem until this time."

While his book is largely about the assassination attempt on him, he said it is also a love story.

"I always thought there were three people in this book. There's me, there's him, who I refuse to use his name," he said of the suspect. “And there’s my wife, Eliza. We had met five years before this attack took place."

Describing his marriage as the "happiest relationship of my life," Rushdie said his wife has been his rock, the guiding force behind his recovery.

"She was just astonishing in taking care of me and then looking after things and taking charge of things," said Rushdie, adding, "and bringing me back."

In the "GMA" interview, Rushdie said he had a premonition of the attack that came to him in a "bad dream."

"You can explain the bad dream because the place I was giving the lecture was called an amphitheater. So I had a dream about being in an amphitheater, except in my dream it was like the Colosseum. It was like a Ridley Scott movie," Rushdie said. "And there was a gladiator with a spear stabbing downwards and I was rolling around on the ground. And I woke up from the dream quite alarmed and, at first, I thought, Oh, I don’t want to go. And then I thought it was a dream."

Rushdie, who bears scars from the attack on his face and is blinded in his right eye, recalled how time "became a very weird thing" during the stabbing and its immediate aftermath.

"It seemed to go very fast at moments ... and to me like an eternity at other times," Rushdie said. "I had a very weird experience of time in that extreme situation."

A longtime atheist, Rushdie said the near-death experience made him briefly believe in the supernatural.

"For a minute it did, and then it didn't, and maybe it should have," Rushdie said.

As far as his health goes, he told Stephanopoulos, "I'm alright. I think I'm, to my surprise and I think to everybody else's surprise, pretty well."

Matar, of New Jersey, was initially scheduled to go on trial in January, but his attorney was granted a delay to review the manuscript of Rushdie's book.

Rushdie said he plans to testify at the trial whenever it occurs.

"I believe the DA wants me to testify and so I will," Rushdie said. "That's OK. There's nothing I will say on the witness stand that I haven't already said in this book."

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The Life of Prophet Muhammad (In Makkah)

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The Prophet’s Birth Muhammad, son of Abdullah, son of Abdul Muttalib, of the tribe of Quraysh, was born in Makkah fifty-three years before the Hijrah. His father died before he was born, and he was protected first by his grandfather, Abdul Mutta lib, and after his grandfather’s death, by his uncle Abu Talib.

As a young boy he traveled with his uncle in the merchants’ caravan to Syria, an d some years afterwards made the same journey in the service of a wealthy widow named Khadijah. So faithfully did he transact the widow’s business, and so excellent was the report of his behavior, which she received from her old servant who had accompanied him, that she soon afterwards married her young agent; and the marriage proved a very happy one, though she was fifteen years older than he was. Throughout the twenty-six years of their life together he remained devoted to her; and after her death, when he took other wives he always mentioned her with the greatest love and reverence. This marriage gave him rank among the notables of Makkah, while his conduct earned for him the surname Al-Amin, the “trustworthy.”

The Makkans claimed descent from Abraham through Isma`il and tradition stated that their temple, the Ka`bah, had been built by Abraham for the worship of the One God. It was still called the House of Allah, but the chief objects of worship here were a number of idols, which were called “daughters” of Allah and intercessors. The few who felt disgust at this idolatry, which had prevailed for centuries, longed for the religion of Abraham and tried to find out what had been its teaching. Such seekers of the truth were known as Hunafa (sing. Hanif), a word originally meaning “those who turn away” (from the existing idol-worship), but coming in the end to have the sense of “upright” or “by nature upright,” because such persons held the way of truth to be right conduct. These Hunafa did not form a community. They were the non-conformists of their day, each seeking truth by the light of his inner consciousness. Muhammad son of Abdullah became one of these.

The First Revelation

It was his practice to retire often to a cave in the desert for meditation. His place of retreat was Hira’, a cave in a mountain called the Mountain of Light not far from Makkah, and his chosen month was Ramadan, the month of heat. It was there one night toward the end of his quiet month that the first revelation came to him when he was forty years old.

He heard a voice say: “Read!” He said: “I cannot read.” The voice again said: “Read!” He said: “I cannot read.” A third time the voice, more terrible, commanded: “Read!” He said: “What can I read?” The voice said:

      “Read: In the name of thy Lord Who createth.       “Createth man from a clot.       “Read: And it is thy Lord the Most Bountiful       “Who teacheth by the pen,       “Teacheth man that which he knew not.”

The Vision of Cave Hira’

He went out of the cave on to the hillside and heard the same awe-inspiring voice say: “O Muhammad! Thou art Allah’s messenger, and I am Jibril (Gabriel).” Then he raised his eyes and saw the angel, in the likeness of a man, standing in the sky above the horizon. And again the dreadful voice said: “O Muhammad! Thou art Allah’s messenger, and I am Jibril (Gabriel).” Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) stood quite still, turning away his face from the brightness of the vision, but wherever he turned his face, there stood the angel confronting him. He remained thus a long while till at length the angel vanished, when he returned in great distress of mind to his wife Khadijah. She did her best to reassure him, saying that his conduct had been such that Allah would not let a harmful spirit come to him and that it was her hope that he was to become the Prophet of his people. On their return to Makkah she took him to her cousin Waraqa ibn Nawfal, a very old man, “who knew the Scriptures of the Jews and Christians,” who declared his belief that the heavenly messenger who came to Moses of old had come to Muhammad, and that he was chosen as the Prophet of his people.

His Distress To understand the reason of the Prophet’s diffidence and his extreme distress of mind after the vision of Hira’, it must be remembered that the Hunafa, of whom he had been one, sought true religion in the natural world and regarded with distrust the intercourse with spirits of which men “avid of the Unseen” sorcerers and soothsayers and even poets, boasted in those days. Moreover, he was a man of humble and devout intelligence, a lover of quiet and solitude and the very thought of being chosen out of all mankind to face mankind, alone, with such a message, appalled him at the first.

Recognition of the Divine nature of the call he had received involved a change in his whole mental outlook sufficiently disturbing to a sensitive and honest mind, and also the forsaking of his quiet, honored way of life. The early biographers tell how his wife Khadijah “tested the spirit” which came to him and proved it to be good, and how, with the continuance of the revelations and the conviction that they brought, he at length accepted the tremendous task imposed on him, becoming filled with enthusiasm of obedience which justifies his proudest title of “the Slave of Allah.”

First Converts

For the first three years, or rather less, of his mission, the Prophet preached to his family and his intimate friends, while the people of Makkah as a whole regarded him as one who had become a little mad. The first of all his converts was his wife Khadijah, the second his first cousin Ali, whom he had adopted, the third his servant Zayd, a former slave. His old friend Abu Bakr also was among those early converts.

Beginning of Persecution

At the end of the third year the Prophet received the command to “arise and warn,” whereupon he began to preach in public, pointing out the wretched folly of idolatry in face of the tremendous laws of day and night, of life and death, of growth and decay, which manifest the power of Allah and attest His sovereignty. It was then, when he began to speak against their gods, that Quraysh became actively hostile, persecuting his poorer disciples, mocking and insulting him. The one consideration which prevented them from killing him was fear of the blood-vengeance of the clan to which his family belonged. Strong in his inspiration, the Prophet went on warning, pleading, threatening, while Quraysh did all they could to ridicule his teaching, and deject his followers.

The Flight to Abyssinia

The converts of the first four years were mostly humble folk unable to defend themselves against oppression. So cruel was the persecution they endured that the Prophet advised all who could possibly contrive to do so to immigrate to a Christian country, Abyssinia . And still in spite of persecution and emigration the little company of Muslims grew in number. Quraysh were seriously alarmed. The idol worship at the Ka`bah, the holy place to which all Arabia made pilgrimage, ranked for them, as guardians of the Ka`bah, as first among their vested interests. At the season of the pilgrimage they posted men on all the roads to warn the tribes against the “madman” who was preaching in their midst. They tried to bring the Prophet to a compromise offering to accept his religion if he would so modify it as to make room for their gods as intercessors with Allah, offering to make him their king if he would give up attacking idolatry; and, when their efforts at negotiation failed, they went to his uncle Abu Talib offering to give him the best of their young men in place of Muhammad, to give him all that he desired, if only he would let them kill Muhammad and have done with him. Abu Talib refused.

Conversion of Omar

The exasperation of the idolaters was increased by the conversion of Omar, one of their stalwarts. They grew more and more embittered, till things came to such a pass that they decided to ostracize the Prophet’s whole clan, idolaters who protected him as well as Muslims who believed in him. Their chief men caused a document to be drawn up to the effect that none of them or those belonging to them would hold any intercourse with that clan or sell to them or buy from them. This they all signed, and it was deposited in the Ka`bah. Then for three years, the Prophet was shut up with all his kinsfolk in their stronghold which was situated in one of the gorges which run down to Makkah. Only at the time of pilgrimage could he go out and preach, or did any of his kinsfolk dare to go into the city.

Destruction of the Document

At length some kinder hearts among Quraysh grew weary of the boycott of old friends and neighbors. They managed to have the document which had been placed in the Ka`bah brought out for reconsideration; when it was found that all the writing had been destroyed by white ants, except the words Bismik Allahumma (“In thy name, O Allah”). When the elders saw that marvel the ban was removed, and the Prophet was again free to go about the city. But meanwhile the opposition to his preaching had grown rigid. He had little success among the Makkans, and an attempt which he made to preach in the city of Ta’if was a failure. His mission was a failure, judged by worldly standards, when, at the season of the yearly pilgrimage he came upon a little group of men who heard him gladly.

The Men from Yathrib

They came from Yathrib, a city more than two hundred miles away, which has since become world-famous as al-Madinah, “the City” par excellence. At Yathrib there were Jewish tribes with learned rabbis, who had often spoken to the pagans of a Prophet soon to come among the Arabs, with whom, when he came, the Jews would destroy the pagans as the tribes of ‘Aad and Thamud had been destroyed of old for their idolatry. When the men from Yathrib saw Muhammad they recognized him as the Prophet whom the Jewish rabbis had described to them. On their return to Yathrib they told what they had seen and heard, with the result that the next season of pilgrimage a deputation came from Yathrib purposely to meet the Prophet.

First Pact of al-‘Aqabah

These swore allegiance to him in the first pact of al-‘Aqabah. They then returned to Yathrib with a Muslim teacher in their, company and soon “there was not a house in Yathrib wherein there was not mention of the messenger of Allah.”

Second pact of al-‘Aqabah

In the following year, at the time of pilgrimage, seventy-three Muslims from Yathrib came to Makkah to vow allegiance to the Prophet and invite him to their city. At al-‘Aqabah, by night, they swore to defend him as they would defend their own wives and children. It was then that the Hijrah, the flight to Yathrib, was decided.

Plot to Murder the Prophet

Soon the Muslims who were in a position to do so, began to sell their property and to leave Makkah unobtrusively. Quraysh had wind of what was going on. They hated Muhammad in their midst, but dreaded what he might become if he escaped from them. It would be better, they considered, to destroy him now. The death of Abu Talib had removed his chief protector; but still they had to reckon with the vengeance of his clan upon the clan of the murderer. They cast lot and chose a slayer out of every clan. All these were to attack the Prophet simultaneously and strike together, as one man. Thus his murder would be blamed on all Quraysh. It was at this time (Ibn Khaldun asserts, and it is the only satisfactory explanation of what happened afterwards) that the Prophet received the first revelation ordering him to make war upon his persecutors “until persecution is no more and religion is for Allah only.”

The Hijrah ( June 20th, 622 C.E.)

The last of the able Muslims to remain in Makkah were Abu Bakr, Ali and the Prophet himself. Abu Bakr, a man of wealth, had bought two riding camels and retained a guide in readiness for the flight. The Prophet only waited for God’s command. It came at last. It was the night appointed for his murder. The slayers were before his house. He gave his cloak to Ali, bidding him lie down on the bed so that anyone looking in might think Muhammad lay there. The slayers were to strike him as he came out of the house, whether in the night or early morning. He knew they would not injure Ali. Then he left the house and, it is said, blindness fell upon the would-be murderers so that he put dust on their heads as he passed by-without their knowing it.

He went to Abu Bakr’s house and called to him, and they two went together to a cavern in the desert hill and hid there till the hue and cry was past, Abu Bakr’s son and daughter and his herdsman bringing them food and tidings after nightfall. Once a search party came quite near them in their hiding-place, and Abu Bakr was afraid; but the Prophet said: “Fear not! Allah is with us.” Then, when the coast was clear, Abu Bakr had the riding-camels and the guide brought to the cave one night, and they set out on the long ride to Yathrib.

After traveling for many days of unfrequented paths, the fugitives reached a suburb of Yathrib, whither, for weeks past, the people of the city had been going every morning, watching for the Prophet till the heat drove them to shelter. The travelers arrived in the heat of the day, after the watchers had retired. It was a Jew who called out to the Muslims in derisive tones that he whom they expected had at last arrived.

Such was the Hijrah, the Flight from Makkah to Yathrib, which counts as the beginning of the Muslim era. The thirteen years of humiliation, of persecution, of seeming failure, of prophecy still unfulfilled, were over.

By : Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall

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Salman Rushdie Is Again the Toast of Literary Manhattan

Nearly two years after he was stabbed, he was in fine form as he greeted his fellow writers at a party celebrating his candid memoir, “Knife.”

By Alex Vadukul

Three security guards stood along a leafy street in the West Village of Manhattan on Thursday evening, watching as a procession of writers, editors and publishing industry veterans entered the Waverly Inn restaurant for a book party.

The security team was present because this wasn’t just any book party.

It was a gathering for the release of “Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder,” a new memoir by Salman Rushdie, in which he examines how his life was altered by a violent stabbing nearly two years ago, when he was attacked onstage at the Chautauqua Institution in western New York.

The episode temporarily placed Mr. Rushdie on a ventilator and left him blind in his right eye. (The suspect, Hadi Matar , has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and assault.)

When Mr. Rushdie, 76, arrived in the Waverly Inn’s garden, friends and fellow writers hugged him. He wore a pink shirt, a blazer and a pair of eyeglasses with a black-tinted right lens. His wife, the poet Rachel Eliza Griffiths , stood at his side.

The room filled with literary power players, including the agent Andrew Wylie , the writer Marlon James and the editor Graydon Carter, whose digital publication, Air Mail , hosted the event.

The actor and singer Tony Danza was also there for Mr. Rushdie.

“The writing process is catharsis,” Mr. Danza said. “If Salman is using this book to process the horrible thing that happened to him, that takes guts.”

The memoir is under a strict embargo, so there were no copies of the book at the party. And because Anderson Cooper has conducted an interview with Mr. Rushdie set to air on “60 Minutes” on Sunday, he wasn’t fielding many questions from journalists. But he did take a moment to describe why he had decided to write a memoir in the wake of the attack, rather than another novel.

“Well, I tried to write other things afterward, but they were all nonsense,” Mr. Rushdie said. “So I decided that I finally had to pay attention to the elephant in the room.”

The attempt on his life came more than three decades after the leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini , issued a fatwa calling for Mr. Rushdie’s death after the publication of his novel “The Satanic Verses,” which fictionalized parts of the life of the Prophet Muhammad and included depictions that many Muslims considered blasphemous. Major book chains refused to stock the book for a time, and Mr. Rushdie lived in hiding for nearly a decade .

At the party, Gay Talese recalled how, after the fatwa was issued in 1989, writers including himself, Norman Mailer and Susan Sontag participated in a PEN America public reading of selections from “The Satanic Verses” to support him.

“Me and Mailer and Sontag, we wondered if we were going to be shot,” Mr. Talese said. “The question was whether there would be someone in the audience who would avenge further for the Ayatollah.”

“Thirty years of being a marked man of letters, can you imagine living like that?” Mr. Talese added. “I’d only hope to have the same kind of grace that Salman has living with such a circumstance. For a man afflicted with such tragedy and disturbance in his life, he’s still such a cheerful guy.”

Indeed, as the book party got going, Mr. Rushdie seemed in touch with his inner social butterfly. While he made the rounds, guests commented on how his recent trauma hadn’t diminished his reputation as a social literary lion.

Nursing a margarita with a salted rim, the author Gary Shteyngart said that Mr. Rushdie looked undaunted. “Anytime you go to a good party now, there he is, still out there, and God bless him for that,” he said. “It’s a big screw you to anyone out there who would imagine doing something to him.”

Molly Jong-Fast , the writer and political commentator, reminisced about encountering Mr. Rushdie while out and about in London years ago.

“I remember being at parties as a teen in London in the 1990s, and I’d always see him, and I’d think, ‘Wait, doesn’t half the world want to kill this guy right now?’” Ms. Jong-Fast said. “I always thought he was a badass.”

The room grew rowdier as the evening progressed, resembling the gin-soaked Manhattan book parties of old, minus the cigarette smoke. Amid the crowd were also young stars of the city’s literary scene, like Kiara Barrow, a cofounding editor of The Drift , and Karah Preiss , who started the Instagram book club Belletrist with Emma Roberts.

When the party finally died down, guests headed out into a nighttime drizzle. Mr. Rushdie stayed behind to have dinner with friends. His security team kept watch while they ate in an adjacent red leather booth.

The writer Sloane Crosley , a longtime friend of Mr. Rushdie, said that she was glad to see him in such good form. But she remembered when his health seemed more precarious months after the attack, during an intimate gathering celebrating the release of his novel “Victory City.”

“I saw him when he made this appearance not that long after it all happened, but even then he still had his wit and grace,” Ms. Crosley said. “I went up to hug him, but I was nervous, and I didn’t want to squeeze him too hard. I remember he told me, ‘What’s the point of it all if you can’t squeeze too hard?’”

Alex Vadukul is a features writer for the Styles section of The Times, specializing in stories about New York City. More about Alex Vadukul

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