Role
in the Construction of the Kabah
Therefore, the Quraysh started this
construction work collectively. The Beloved Prophet (صَلَّى
اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم) also participated in this construction
and brought stones for it.
Different tribes divided different
parts of the building of the Ka’bah between themselves, but when the time for
placing Hajar al-Aswad arrived, differences arose. The tribes showed bitter
disagreements with each other.
These are the images of Hajar
al-Aswad. Hajar al-Aswad is a stone which was sent down from Paradise with
Sayyiduna Adam (عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام).
To touch and kiss this stone erases sins. The Arabs considered this stone to be
extremely sacred. This stone is embedded in the wall of the Ka’bah even today.
Referance:
¹ Seerat al-Halbiyyah, vol. 1, p. 204, briefly
Every tribe wanted to have the
honour of placing the Hajar al-Aswad, and (their approach was such that) if any
tribe becomes an obstacle in it, then it should be stopped by the force of the
sword.
Four days were spent discussing as
to who would place the Hajar al-Aswad. In order to prevent this discord, an
elderly person made the following suggestion: “We will get the first person who
enters the sanctuary tomorrow morning to decide this case for us. Whatever
decision he makes, all the tribes will accept it.” All the tribes agreed on
this.
Glory be to Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ)! The person who first entered the
sanctuary in the morning was the Beloved Prophet (صَلَّى
اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم). Seeing him, they all were overjoyed, and
said: “He is Ameen; whatever decision he makes, we will accept it.”
With great wisdom, the Beloved
Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم)
resolved this discord. He (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ
وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم) said: “The tribes that want to place Hajar al-Aswad should
choose one chief each.”
They chose their chiefs. He (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم) then spread his
blessed shawl and placed Hajar al-Aswad on it and told the chiefs that they all
should lift Hajar al-Aswad by holding the shawl.
Everyone did so, and when Hajar
al-Aswad was taken near its place, the Beloved Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم) lifted the sacred
stone and placed it at its place with his blessed hands. In this way, by virtue
of his wisdom, the rising flames of discord and conflict were extinguished,
bringing joy and happiness to everyone’s heart.¹
Referance:
¹ Seerat al-Nabawiyyah, vol. 2, p. 13, summarised
His
Sublime Character so Far
The entire life of the Final
Messenger of Allah (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ
وَسَلَّم) was a paradigm of sublime character and noble habits even
before the declaration of Prophethood. Whether it was veracity, honesty,
loyalty, keeping promises, respecting elders, being affectionate towards the
young, ones having sympathy for the weak, kindness, generosity, well-wishing
for others, mercifulness, or softness, he (صَلَّى
اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم) was matchless and incomparable in every
virtuous deed and noble habit. He (صَلَّى اللهُ
عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم) was free from every type of ill habit,
like greed, deception, lying, breaking promises, drinking alcohol, dancing,
singing, plundering, theft, obscene conversation, etc., which were very common
in the era of ignorance [pre-Islamic era]. In fact, his eminent grandeur is
such that even in the debased society of the Arabs of that time, his nobility,
honesty, trustworthiness and truthfulness were highly acclaimed far and wide.
The people of Makkah had special
reverence for him in their hearts due to his noble character. He reached the
age of 40, but remained pure of all immoral, pagan and ignorant activities.
Idolatry was so common in Makkah
that in the sacred Ka’bah alone, 360 idols were kept that were worshiped, but
he (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم)
never bowed down before them.
It was the excellence of his
previously spent life that after his declaration of Prophethood, his enemies
tried their utmost to find even a minor flaw in any era of his life, or prove
any weakness in his so-far-spent life so that they could tarnish the honour and
dignity of the Holy Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ
وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم) and prove him inferior before the people, but thousands of his
enemies were rendered unsuccessful in this regard and could not bring forth
even a single incident which they could use to point fingers at his sublime
character.
Therefore, as soon as he declared
his prophethood, fortunate individuals devoted themselves to him after reciting
his Kalimah.
Worship
in the Cave of Hira
When the Final Messenger of Allah (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم) reached the age of
40, a new transformation took place in him. The passion of Divine love and
worshipping the Almighty took him to a cave, taking him out of the busy life of
Makkah.
He (صَلَّى
اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم) would stay alone there and remain
engrossed in the worship of Allah Almighty. Situated at a short distance from
the blessed Ka’bah, he (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ
وَسَلَّم) would go to the Cave of Hira with the food provisions of many
days, and remain busy in worship and contemplation in the peaceful environment
of the cave. When food would run out, he would sometimes come home himself to
get it or at times, Sayyidatuna Khadija (رَضِیَ اللهُ
عَنْهَا) would send it there.
This luminous cave is still present
in its original state today.
Beginning
of Revelation and the Declaration of Prophethood
Revelation began with true dreams.
Whatever dream the Beloved Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ
عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم) would have in his sleep at night, its
interpretation would later become clear like the brightness of the day and the
light of the sun.
Six months passed by in this state.
In the blessed month of Ramadan, when he (صَلَّى اللهُ
عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم) was in seclusion in the Cave of Hira, one
night, Sayyiduna Jibraeel (عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام),
the chief of all angels, brought the first exalted message of Allah Almighty in
the form of a revelation.¹
Referance:
¹ Irshad-us-Saari, vol. 1, p. 103, Under the Hadith 3
Then, the Divine revelation stopped
for a while. After some time, he (صَلَّى اللهُ
عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم) was going somewhere, and someone called him
by addressing him as ‘Ya Muhammad’. When he looked at the sky, he found
Sayyiduna Jibraeel (عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام),
who had come in the cave, now sitting on a chair between the earth and the sky.
He (صَلَّى
اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم) was overcome with fear; he went home and
lay down, covering himself with a blanket. At that time, the following verses
of the Quran were revealed:
یٰۤاَیُّهَا الْمُدَّثِّرُۙ(۱) قُمْ
فَاَنْذِرْ۪(۲) وَ رَبَّكَ فَكَبِّرْ۪(۳) وَ ثِیَابَكَ فَطَهِّرْ۪(۴) وَ الرُّجْزَ
فَاهْجُرْ۪(۵
O
you who is enveloped in a cloak, (i.e. the Prophet Muhammad) Stand up and then
warn. And proclaim the Purity of only your Lord. And keep your clothes pure.
And keep away from the idols.¹
Referance:
¹ [Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 29, Al-Muddassir,
Verses 1 to 5)
The Cave of Hira is situated in
Mount Noor which is at a distance of approximately 4 kilometres from Masjid
al-Haraam. This cave is approximately more than 350 meters above the ground
level. The special thing about this cave is that one can view the sacred Ka’bah
directly from this cave. It is located at such an angle that the rays of the
sun do not enter it. The cave is approximately 4 metres in length and 1.5
meters in width. The grandfather of the Holy Prophet (صَلَّى
اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم), Sayyiduna Abdul Muttalib (رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُ), would also come to
this cave in the blessed month of Ramadan to perform worship. Even today, the
fortunate devotees of the Prophet soothe their hearts and eyes by visiting this
cave.
Having received this command from
His Lord, the Beloved Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ
وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم) made a firm intention to raise the flag of truth and enlighten
the world with the refulgence of monotheism [tawheed].¹
Referance:
¹ Bukhari, vol. 1, p. 9, Hadith 4
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