Seerah | Lecture 1 | The Creation & Birth of the Noble Prophet ﷺ

The creation of the Prophet Muhammad is described as the primary act of Allah, who brought forth the noor (light) of the Prophet before all other things. This light is not a portion separated from the essence of Allah, but a creation brought into existence through His power and attribute of creation. From this initial light, Allah subsequently created all other entities, including the Arsh (Throne), the Pen, the Tablet, the elements, and the Kaaba. The Prophet is identified as the source of light for all creation, and his existence as a prophet preceded the creation of Adam, who was formed while the Prophet was already a prophet in the knowledge of Allah.

The historical context preceding the birth of the Prophet is characterized as a period of extreme moral darkness and ignorance. During this era, female infanticide was practiced, women were treated as property without rights or inheritance, and slavery was widespread. Religious traditions, including those of Judaism and Christianity, had largely disintegrated, and idolatry was rampant, with people even consuming the idols they worshipped. The birth of the Prophet is presented as the arrival of a savior intended to revolutionize humanity and eradicate these practices.

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Key topics & takeaways

The nature of the Prophet’s light

• The first creation — the Prophet stated that Allah created his light before all other things ▸04:52
• Meaning of light from light — the phrase "light from His light" signifies that the Prophet's light was created by Allah's power, not that it was a part of Allah's own essence separated from Him ▸05:23
• The Prophet as the source — all subsequent creations, including the heavens, earth, and the Kaaba, were brought into existence from the light of the Prophet ▸08:32
• The star of Jibril — the Prophet identified himself as the star that Jibril observed shining once every 70,000 years, indicating his existence prior to the creation of time ▸06:16
• The status of the word noor — the term noor was originally established for the light of the Prophet, and its application to other things is secondary ▸07:27

The lineage and pre-birth signs

• Transmission of the light — the Prophet’s light was passed through a lineage of pure individuals, including Adam, Ibrahim, and Abdul Muttalib, before reaching his mother, Amina ▸10:08
• Protection of Ibrahim — the fire into which Ibrahim was cast did not burn him because the light of the Prophet was present within him ▸10:46
• The incident of the elephants — Abraha attempted to destroy the Kaaba to divert worship to his own church, but his army was destroyed by birds (Ababil) carrying stones of baked clay ▸16:07
• Abdul Muttalib’s role — as a monotheist and protector of the Kaaba, he refused to beg for the Kaaba's safety, asserting that Allah would protect His own house, while he only requested the return of his stolen camels ▸18:31

The birth of the Prophet

• Miraculous birth — the Prophet was born on the 12th of Rabiul-Awwal at the break of dawn, and his mother experienced no labor pain ▸23:30
• Visible light — at the moment of birth, a light emanated from the Prophet’s mother that allowed her to see the palaces of Syria ▸23:44
• Angelic attendance — angels took the infant Prophet away, dressed him in silk, and displayed him to all of Allah's creation to establish his status as the final messenger ▸27:41
• Cessation of false worship — upon his birth, the sacred fire in Persia that had burned for centuries was extinguished, and idols throughout the world fell from their places ▸29:12
• Physical purity — the Prophet was born already circumcised, with the umbilical cord already cut, and in a state of cleanliness ▸30:56

The Prophet’s first words and mission

• Prostration at birth — the Prophet entered into sajda (prostration) immediately upon birth ▸31:35
• Supplication for the Ummah — the Prophet’s first words included a prayer for the forgiveness of his followers ▸32:09
• Prophethood before creation — the Prophet stated he was a prophet while Adam was still between water and clay, though he did not announce his mission until the age of 40 ▸33:30
• Moral revolution — the Prophet’s mission was to transition humanity from a state of animalistic behavior and ignorance to a life of rights, justice, and proper character ▸36:40
• Responsibility of the follower — Muslims are expected to reflect the Prophet’s character by avoiding lies and deception, acting as true representatives of his teachings ▸37:51