Seerah of the Beloved Prophet ﷺ | Lecture 2

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was created as a light (noor) before the creation of the heavens, the earth, and all of humanity. This light was passed through a lineage of pure and honorable ancestors, from Adam alaihis-salam to Abdullah, and finally into the womb of Amina. The Prophet ﷺ was not a prophet by his own striving or worship, but was chosen and fixed by Allah for this purpose before his birth. His life was marked by irhasat—miraculous occurrences that took place before his formal announcement of prophethood at age forty—distinct from the mu'jizat that occurred afterward.

The birth of the Prophet ﷺ was accompanied by extraordinary signs, including the extinguishing of the sacred fire in Persia, the collapse of the palaces of Kisra, and the drying up of worshipped waters. Upon his birth, he immediately prostrated and declared his prophethood. He was known as Ummi, meaning he was taught directly by Allah rather than by any human, school, or teacher, which served as a wisdom to demonstrate the divine origin of the Qur'an. Throughout his childhood, he exhibited supernatural growth, intellect, and the ability to command the moon with his finger. His presence brought immense blessings (baraka) to those who cared for him, transforming the poverty of his foster mother, Halima, into prosperity.

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Key topics & takeaways

The nature of the Prophet ﷺ

• Pre-existence of the Prophet ﷺ — the Prophet ﷺ was created as a light before the creation of the heavens and the earth ▸0:00
• Purpose of creation — all of creation exists for the sake of the Prophet ﷺ ▸0:00
• Divine selection — prophets and messengers are fixed by Allah and cannot attain their status through personal striving ▸3:33
• The title of Ummi — the Prophet ﷺ was known as Ummi because he was taught directly by Allah, ensuring no human could claim to be his teacher or the source of his knowledge ▸25:47
• Superiority over creation — the Prophet ﷺ is superior to the Kaaba, which is a creation of brick and mortar ▸13:47

Miracles and signs

• Definition of miracles — miracles occurring before the announcement of prophethood are called irhasat, while those occurring after are mu'jizat ▸10:50
• Signs at birth — the mother of the Prophet ﷺ witnessed a light that allowed her to see the palaces of Syria, and the stars gathered above her house ▸8:03
• The stamp of prophethood — the Mohar of Nubuwwah was a physical mark on the back of the Prophet ﷺ, stamped by angels at his birth ▸19:07
• The moon as a toy — as an infant, the Prophet ﷺ would move his finger, and the moon would follow its direction ▸33:57
• Blessings of his presence — the presence of the Prophet ﷺ caused the foster mother's animals to become healthy and productive, and his touch was used to cure the sick ▸36:35

Lineage and early life

• Transmission of light — the noor of the Prophet ﷺ shone from the foreheads of his ancestors until it was passed to his father, Abdullah ▸5:11
• The proposal of Fatima — a Persian princess proposed to Abdullah due to the light shining from his forehead, but she withdrew the proposal once the light passed to Amina ▸6:31
• Foster care — Sayyida Halima was the foster mother who took the Prophet ﷺ to the tribe of Bani Sa'd to be raised in the pure air of the desert ▸21:48
• Fairness in infancy — as an infant, the Prophet ﷺ refused to drink from the left breast of his foster mother, leaving that share for his foster brother, Hamza ▸25:47
• Rapid development — the Prophet ﷺ grew, walked, and spoke at a rate significantly faster than other children ▸32:39

Historical and spiritual context

• Knowledge of the People of the Book — Jews and Christians were aware of the signs of the final prophet from their scriptures ▸15:08
• Recognition by the Jews — a Jewish resident of Makkah recognized the signs of the final prophet and warned that prophethood had shifted from the Bani Israel to the Quraish ▸16:27
• The Kaaba's reverence — when Abdul-Muttalib took the infant Prophet ﷺ to the Kaaba, it appeared as though the Kaaba itself was seeking blessings from the child ▸12:18
• The testimony of Sayyiduna Abbas — the uncle of the Prophet ﷺ stated he accepted Islam after witnessing the infant Prophet ﷺ commanding the moon ▸35:15