01
CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENCE
Birth-2 years old:
Muhammad had no brothers or sisters. His
father died before he was born. His mother sent him out of
Makkah to be breastfed by a wet nurse called Halima (this was
an old Arab custom).
2-6 years old:
He lived with his mother Aaminah until she died
in 576 CE.
6-8 years old:
He lived with his grandfather Abdul-Muttalib
until he died.
8-25 years old:
He lived with his paternal uncle (Abu-Talib)
who had 10 children.
02
WORKING LIFE
Working life
Childhood to
mid-twenties
He worked as a shepherd (looking after sheep
and goats for others). In addition, he worked in
trading with his uncle Abu-Talib.
According to authentic narrations, Muhammad
was 12 years old when he joined his uncle
Abu-Talib in a trading trip to Syria.
Mid-twenties
to 40 years
old
He worked as a merchant or a trader for a
wealthy woman called Khadijah who had a
general trading business (they used to buy
commodities from one area and sell them in
another).
He was famous for his fidelity, integrity and
trustworthiness. It was not long before he
earned the title of As-Sadiqul Ameen, which
means “the truthful and the trustworthy”.
40-63 years
old
When he was 40 years old 610 CE) Muhammad
received the divine revelation and dedicated
his life to conveying God’s Message to all
people (the Qur’an). He succeeded to unite
Arabia and bring people back to monotheism.
This is the word Muhammad in Arabic, written in
artistic way to look like leaves from a tree. - Farid Al Ali
03
MARITAL STATUS
Muhammad married Khadijah, who was a respected woman in her community.
Muhammad worked for her for two years before she proposed marriage to him through a third party. She found him a loyal, honest and ethical person.
Although Khadijah was 15 years older than Muhammad, both of them came from a similar social class in the community.
The age difference was no obstacle to the establishment of a successful marriage that lasted for 25 years until Khadijah died in 619 CE at the age of 65.
Muhammad and Khadijah had four daughters (Zaynab, Ruqayya, Um Kulthoum and Fatima) and two sons (Al- Qassim who died when he was 3 years old and Abdullah who died at the age of 4).
Muhammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of God and last of the prophets. God is all-knowing of all things.
Quran, 33:40
Say, [O Muhammad], “O People!
Indeed I am the Messenger of God to you all. To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. There is no deity except Him; He is the one Who gives life and causes death." So believe in God and His Messenger, the unlettered prophet, who truthfully believed in God and His words. Follow him that you may be guided.
Quran, 7:158
Say [O Muhammad], “O people
I am only a clear Warner to you." So those who believed [in the Message of God] and did righteous deeds, for them is forgiveness and generous provision. But the ones who strove against the signs and words of God will be the companions of Hellfire.
Quran, 22:49-51
The following are extracts from chapter 10,Jonah (Surah Yunus).
When Our verses are recited to them as clear evidence, those who do not expect the meeting with Us say: “Bring us a Quran other than this or change it."
Say: “It is not for me to change it on my own accord. I only follow what is revealed to me. I fear, if I disobeyed my Lord, the punishment of a tremendous Day."
Say: “If Allah had willed, I would not have recited it to you, nor would He have made it known to you. I lived with you and dwelled among you a lifetime before it. Will you not understand?
So who is more unjust than he who makes a lie about God or denies His Signs? Indeed, the criminals will not succeed.
Quran, 10:15-17