Seerah | Lecture 7 | Announcement of Prophethood

The life of the Prophet Muhammad is characterized by a period of forty years of preparation, during which he lived among the people as a perfect role model, establishing his character and wisdom before receiving the first revelation. This mission was designated to begin in Makkah, a region known at the time for its harshness and the stone-hearted nature of its inhabitants, making the propagation of the message particularly challenging. The Prophet Muhammad received his first revelation at the age of forty, marking the beginning of a mission that surpassed all previous prophetic missions in its difficulty. The first verses revealed, beginning with Iqra, emphasized the importance of knowledge, reading, and writing, signaling the eradication of the era of jahiliyya (ignorance) through divine guidance.

The Prophet Muhammad was taught solely by Allah, and he did not require a human teacher or the intercession of the angel Jibril to acquire knowledge; rather, Jibril served as a messenger to deliver the wahi (revelation). Revelation occurred in several ways, including the sound of ringing bells, which was the most severe form, and through direct communication from Allah. The physical experience of receiving revelation was intense, often causing the Prophet to sweat even in cold weather due to the immense weight of the divine message. To prepare him for this burden, his chest was opened and his heart washed with the water of Zamzam on four occasions.

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Key topics & takeaways

The nature of the Prophet

• Humanity and status — the Prophet was sent as a human being to serve as a relatable role model, yet he was created from noor (light) and possessed no shadow, as he was a reflection of divine light (▸27:09, ▸28:31, ▸29:41).
• The meaning of ummi — the term refers to one who is taught exclusively by Allah, negating the need for any human instructor (▸10:03, ▸11:23).
• The state of sleep — unlike other humans, the Prophet’s wudu did not break while resting because his heart remained awake even when his eyes were closed (▸15:03, ▸15:32).
• The Shaqqe Sadr — the opening of the Prophet's chest and the washing of his heart occurred four times to honor his stature and prepare him for the weight of revelation ▸20:17.

Revelation and the Quran

• The first revelation — the initial verses revealed were from Surah al-Alaq, emphasizing the importance of education and the use of the pen (▸7:03, ▸7:25).
• Methods of wahi — revelation came in various forms, including the sound of ringing bells, through the angel Jibril, and via direct communication from Allah (▸12:02, ▸14:03, ▸15:55).
• The weight of the Quran — the revelation was so powerful that it would have shattered a mountain, and its impact on the Prophet was physically visible through sweat on his forehead (▸17:33, ▸18:09).
• The role of Jibril — Jibril acted as a courier for the revelation but was not the teacher of the Prophet, as the Prophet often understood the message before Jibril could explain it (▸11:01, ▸14:10).

Early supporters and events

• Waraqa bin Naufal — an expert in previous scriptures who confirmed that the Prophet was the final messenger foretold in earlier texts and identified the angel of revelation as the same one who visited Musa (▸22:06, ▸23:29).
• The Fatratul Wahi — a period of time where revelation paused to allow the Prophet to grasp and prepare for the subsequent messages ▸31:19.
• The first believers — the first to accept the message were Sayyida Khadija, Abu Bakr Siddiq, Ali, and Zaid ▸35:08.
• The status of Abu Bakr Siddiq — he accepted the message without hesitation and supported the Prophet with his entire wealth and life, earning the Prophet's declaration that his faith outweighed that of all others combined (▸35:39, ▸36:22).
• The command to preach — after the initial revelation, the Prophet was ordered to "stand and warn," initially focusing on his close friends and family (▸34:21, ▸34:54).

Words the reader recites

• Dua for the Prophet — recited as a tribute of respect and faith.

  ﷻ Dua· Durud Sharif

  اللهم صل على سيدنا ونبينا ومولانا محمد معدن الجود والكرم ومنبع العلم والحلم والحكم وعلى آله وصحبه وبارك وسلم

  O Allah, send blessings upon our master, our prophet, and our leader Muhammad, the mine of generosity and nobility, and the source of knowledge, forbearance, and wisdom, and upon his family and companions, and send peace.

• The declaration of Abu Bakr Siddiq — spoken in the presence of the Prophet to affirm total devotion.

  ﷻ Dua· Affirmation of loyalty

  يا رسول الله، ما أنا ومالي إلا لك

  O Messenger of Allah, my life and my wealth are not but for you.