The first months after revelation

1. The first months after revelation

2. Let’s imagine and visualize . . . • The Prophet (saws) first week after the experience with Jibril (as). • Do you see him shivering and running down the mountain in fear. • Do you see him, he has reached home tired, sweating and crying out for his wife, "Cover me, cover me"! Can you imagine what the Prophet was feeling?

3. Prophet (saw) had no clue . . . • This only proves that he had not yet known that he was a Prophet or that the creature he met was Jibril (as). • He did not even know whether what happened to him was good or bad. • He was scared because Jibril (as) came to him in his angelic form. He did not come in his human shape. It must have been truly fearful for him especially when we remember the ayah, " Had we send this Qur’an upon a mountain, You would have seen it humbled, Shattered from the fear of Allah." (59:21)

4. Khadija (raa) asks him . . . He told her,” I was afraid for my self” and he started relating to her the strange experience. He was afraid that he had been touched by the Jinn.

5. How did Lady Khadija respond? • She was quick and firm in dispelling his fears. She said, “No, By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you! You foster family relations; you bear the burden of the weak; you help the poor and the needy; you entertain the guests and endure hardships in the path of truthfulness.”

6. A wife’s role . . . • It was reported that the Prophet (saw) upon hearing her words relaxed and calmed down. A wife is where a husband finds comfort ! Are your homes “oases of comfort” where your husbands stop to recharge to face the challenges of the outside world. • What did lady Khadija (raa) do, though she did not have a solution for him? She firmly reassured him; she boosted his morals. She boosted him with the energy he would need. Glory be to Allah (SWT) who created such integration. • Khadija (raa) listened to him, without any reproach. A husband who finds himself criticized by his wife every time, he would stop telling her about his troubles or his feelings, and would seek someone away from home to talk to, and you know where that can lead him sometimes.

7. She shared his interests . . . • The third thing she did was to share his interests. How can you get closer to your husband when you do not have anything in common? When he was in the Cave of Mt. Hira', she could have sent him food with the slaves instead of going herself, but she wanted to share with him this experience. Therefore every ten days, she would go and stay with him two or three days. She did not want the gap between them to get larger. Busy lives today—couples grow apart.  

8. Real love—lasted 25 yrs after her death • Note that the Prophet loved Khadija (raa) long after her death because of these traits. Note on what she focused when she praised the Prophet (saws). She did not insist on the fact that he was religious, but rather that he was good mannered. Good manners are very important in a husband—he is religious BUT manners are COMPLETELY lacking!

9. Two types of people nowadays! • religious but bad mannered, • or good mannered but not religious. Both are not good. The religious one will put people off religion by his bad manners. The second will give people a wrong impression and make them believe that religion is not important as long as manners are good. Why can't we be both?

10. What did Khadija do next? • A narration tells us that she took him by the hand and said, “We are going to consult someone. I have a cousin, his name is WaraqaIbnNawfal, an old man near ninety years. But he is a learned man, who has studied the Torah and the Gospel very well.”

11. WaraqaIbnNawfal • He was a very old man, • who had lost sight from excessive reading of the Torah and the Gospel. • He was the only Christian in Makkah. He was not interested in the idols of Quraysh. He believed in true Christianity. • May be Allah made him reach that old age just for him to say the words he was about to say to the Prophet (saws). Glory to Allah who blessed him with the love to learn the truth and say it. Glory is to Allah Who made the first man to give the prophet the glad tidings of Prophet hood, a Christian.

12. Prophet (saw) relates his story . . . • He told him about the strange creature he saw; • he did not say he was an angel because he did not know that yet. • Waraqa listened, amazed and smiling. Why? He was listening to what he had read in the holy books about the last prophet who was to come.

13. Waraqa responded with 4 sentences • The first sentence, “You are the prophet of the final age. You are this nation's prophet.” • The second sentence, “You have been visited by the same one who keeps the secrets (angel Gabriel) whom Allah had sent to Musa ‘Moses’.” • The third sentence, “ Your people will belie you, hurt you, beat you, fight you and expel you.” • The fourth sentence, “I wish I were young and could live up to the time when your people would expel you.” [Note: It was a short meeting not enough time for Orientalist to claim that the Prophet learned about religion from Waraqa]

14. The Prophet interrupts . . . . He asked Waraqa, “Will they expel me?” Waraq said, “Yes, anyone who came with something similar to what you have brought was treated with hostility. And if I witness your days I shall help you wholeheartedly.” Look at his intention !!!! Intend to do good in events that are yet to come in the ahadeeth of the Prophet (saw)

15. Waraqa answer our question today… • Today, Muslims ask why does the world gang up against us Muslims? Do you know how many times they attempted to kill the prophet (saws)? 9 times. How can Waraqa say it with certainty? Such is the path of truth. The path of truth simply crosses the interests of the oppressors. They will not let truth and good prevail, and they will use all their means to suppress it [media, weapons, politics, etc.]

16. Waraqa knew Quraysh, archetype of today’s enemies of truth . . . He understood Quraysh—who had placed 360 idols around the Ka’ba for their own interests: • To be the “super power” among the various tribes—in the form of religious leadership. • Quraysh had economic interests with the tribes of Yemen and Shaam. That is why it brought their idols and placed them around the Ka'aba—manifested alliances. • It secured their financial interests--their caravans to Shaam and Yemen.

17. Waraqa advises Khadija (raa) . . . He told her “Tell him to stay firm!” –a wife helps to her husband stay firm, because road ahead needed patience and sacrifice. You too should take Waraqa’s advise—know that to be a Muslim, and strive to be one of quality is a road that requires steadfastness, patience and sacrifice . . .

18. The role of the youth . . . Waraqa said, “I wish I were young and strong.” It was as if Waraqa was telling the Prophet (saw) that his message needed the youth. The mission requires youth to stand by Muhammad (saw) and support the cause. The amazing thing is that, Waraqa died a few days later, as if Allah (SWT) made him live that long (90 years) only to explain to Muhammad what was to come. He fulfilled the purpose assigned to him by Allah—it was his ARROW which HIT THE TARGET !!!!

19. After Waraqa died • ,Muhammad (saw) waited for Jibril to descend again to confirm what Waraqa had told him since he was not yet certain that he was right. • However, Jibril did not descend for a few days/some narrations even more than just days but rather months. Why?

20. Allah (SWT) wanted Muhammad to decide . . . • whether he was willing to take on this difficult mission. • to long to see Jibril (as) • To know that his mission is reforming the whole earth. Always allow yourself to think things over, before giving your “word.”

21. Muhammad (saw) sees Jibril again… Muhammad saw him after a while sitting on a throne between the earth and heavens filling the entire horizon and telling him, “Muhammad, you are Allah’s messenger and I am Jibril from heavens.” 

22. Another hadith about Jibril (as) The Messenger of Allah said, describing Jibril: "I saw Jibril descending from heaven, and his great size filled the space between heaven and earth." (Reported by Muslim, no. 177).

23. Hadith about Jibril (as) ‘AbdullaahibnMas‘ood, who said: “the Messenger of Allah saw Jibril in his true form. He had six hundred wings, each of which covered the horizon. There fell from his wings jewels, pearls and rubies, only Allah knows about them."

24. What is the first lesson Jibril (as) taught the Prophet (saw) . . . Jibril (as) took the Prophet (saw) outside of Makkah. He hit the earth with his wing and a spring of water came forth. Then, he started performing wudu and the prayers while Muhammad (saw) watched, memorized and imitated. Afterwards, Jibril told him to pray two Raka’as (units of the prayer) in the morning and two Raka’as in the evening. This is how prayers started based on the simulation (imitation) method.

25. Prayer developments . . . • Following the incident of Al-Israa and Al-Mi’raj (the night journey of Prophet Muhammad (saw) from Makkah to Jerusalem and his ascension to the seventh heaven), Allah enjoined the prayers on the Muslims five times a day but still in the form of two Raka’as at a time. • Following the Hijrah (the immigration from Makkah to Madinah) the number of Raka’as became adjusted to what we know now (two, four, four, three, and four).

26. Realize the importance of prayer . . . The Prophet (saw) said in the following hadith about prayer: “Islam is the head of the matter; and prayer is its pillar.”

27. Another hadith . . . Narrated Ibn 'Umar, Allah's Apostle, “Islam is based on (the following) five (principles): • To testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad is Allah's Apostle. • To offer the (compulsory congregational) prayers dutifully and perfectly. • To pay Zakat (mandatory alms-giving) • To perform Hajj. (Pilgrimage to Mecca) • Fasting during the month of Ramadan.

28. Not praying means . . . That you can’t find it in yourself to—out of arrogance—to come down on your hands and knees and put your forehead on the ground for Allah (SWT). It is simple as that. Your “arrogant self” can’t seem to be able to bring itself to do that. No matter how much one claims they are humble and down to earth—”down to earth” means towards Allah (SWT) and not towards people.

29. Pillar . . . House analogy—if you break the walls it’s not a huge problem, but when you break the foundation of the home there is no doubt that it will fall.

30. The Prophet (saws) said, “Narrated 'Abdullah: I asked the Prophet ‘Which deed is the dearest to Allah?’ He replied, ‘To offer the prayers at their early stated fixed times.’ I asked, ‘What is the next (in goodness)?’ He replied, ‘To be good and dutiful to your parents.’ I asked again, ‘What is the next (in goodness)?’ He replied, ‘To participate in Jihad (religious fighting) in Allah's cause.’ 'Abdullah added, ‘I asked only that much and if I had asked more, the Prophet would have told me more.’”

31. Ensuing 3 verses reveal importance of prayer . . . Surat Al-Muzzammil(Muffled): “You who are muffled in our garments! Up and wake in the might, all but a little! The half of it, or diminish it a little! Of add to it! And chant the Qur’an in a plain chant.” (73:1-4)

32. 3rd verse: SuratAl-Muddaththir “You who are enfolded in your garments, stand up and warn! Magnify your Lord! Purify your garments! And abandon your impurity! And give not, hoping to gain more! Be Steadfast to your Lord!” (74:1-7)

33. Surat Al-Fatihah “Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds: Merciful to all, Compassionate to each! Lord of the Day of Judgment, It is You we worship, and upon You we call for help. Guide us to the straight path, The path of those upon whom Your grace abounds, Not those upon whom anger falls, Nor those who are lost.” (1:1-7)

34. Video about relevance of prayer . . . CHARGE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPPbQF2kZiA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l-uYzpLnfk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ex4ZzKGk1OA

35. Requirements for the great reform . . . • You will need knowledge (Recite), • Spiritual power (Al-Muzzammil), • Being active (Al-Muddaththir), • Need a plan—where is the plan?

36. In Surat Al Fatiha [main features] • Audience? Universal • From whom? Most Merciful • Purpose? For this World and the Hereafter • Goals? Taking the straight path, not of those who have gained Allah’s wrath, or strayed from the straight path as will be revealed. • Among the tools—in addition to knowledge, spiritual power through prayer, being active—dua [can’t do it alone]

37. Revelation stoppped . . . Having informed Muhammad of these requirements, the revelation stopped for two months in order for Muhammad to set a plan for his mission since this was his task not Jibril’s. During these two months, the Prophet got really worried thinking that he had done something wrong and that Allah (SWT) had abandoned him—he (saw) got depressed.

38. Muslim Prozac . . . Allah’s (SWT) kind words were revealed to comfort him in Surat Ad-Duha, in which Allay says, “By prime of morning, and night when it settles! Your Lord has not abandoned you, nor disdains. The Last is before for you than the First. Your Lord shall give you, and you shall be content . . .

39. Did He not find you an orphan and sheltered you? And you found you erring, and guided you? And found you dependent and enriched you?” (93:1-10)

40. Do you know how the Prophet started? • He did not start with knocking down the idols around the Ka’ba. Today many of us start by being judgmental! • He did not start by declaring the message off a mountain. No one would have listened—but rather started strengthening his Eman and forming a support group. • To form the support group he chose among every family in Quraysh those who were successful in their practical life (committed people but not necessarily rich or descendants of great families). Those who had moral conduct. Would he have chosen you?

41. Salim bin `Abdullah bin `Umar bin Al-Khattab (raa) reported, on the authority of his father, that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said, "What an excellent man `Abdullah is! If only he could perform optional prayers at night.'' Salim said that after this, (his father) `Abdullah slept very little at night."

42. Abu Umama al-Bahili (raa) reports that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said, “Hold fast to night prayer, for it was the way of the righteous before you, a way of drawing closer to your Lord, an expiation for wrong deeds, and a shield from sin.” In some narrations, there is an addition, “And it repels sickness from the body.”

43. Formed nucleus of distinguished people... Committed to the message and would support him: • One of these people was Abu-Bakr, a 38 years-old successful trader, who was cherished by Quraysh and was an expert in the genealogies of the Arabs of the Arabian Peninsula. • Another person was Khadijah, not because she was his wife, but because she was distinguished. • The third person was Ali Ibn Abu-Taleb (raa), a 10 years-old thoughtful cousin who was living in Muhammad’s house at that time.

44. How did Ali (raa) accept Islam . . . He said he wanted some time to think about it. Then the following day, when the Prophet asked him what his decision was, Ali answered, “Repeat what you said yesterday.” Having thought it over, he embraced Islam and uttered Al-ShahadaTwo days later, Abu-Taleb saw Ali praying and asked him about it, to which he answered, “I followed Muhammad and committed myself to the true way. This is the true way.” Abu-Taleb said, “Stay as you are. Muhammad would never command you except with what is right.” 

45. Discussion forum . . . Check the discussion forum for questions on today’s lectures . . . http://nabiyunna.proboards.com/index.cgi