Early Life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ faced immense personal challenges in his early years, losing his father, mother, and later his grandfather. Despite these hardships, many view these experiences as a form of divine preparation, shaping his character. They fostered in him a sense of independence, resilience, and deep compassion, traits that would later define his leadership and prophethood.

As a child, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ embarked on a journey to Syria with his uncle Abu Talib. During this significant trip, they encountered a Christian monk named Bahira. According to some accounts, Bahira noticed divine signs surrounding the young Muhammad ﷺ, such as clouds offering him shade. Bahira is said to have predicted his future role as a prophet. However, the historical accuracy of this story has been questioned by scholars like Imam al-Dhahabi and Ibn Kathir, who point out inconsistencies and unreliable narration chains.

In his youth, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ worked as a shepherd, a humble occupation shared by many prophets before him. This experience instilled in him valuable qualities such as patience, responsibility, and courage. Managing a flock also taught him how to understand and care for individuals with diverse needs. The solitude of shepherding offered the Prophet time for contemplation, helping him grow spiritually. Moreover, his role as a shepherd illustrated the importance of humility and earning an honest living.

The Fijar Wars and Hilf al-Fudul

As a teenager, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ participated in the Wars of Fijar, assisting his uncles by collecting arrows during these battles. These wars violated the sanctity of the sacred months and the holy sanctuary of Makkah, earning them their name.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also took part in the Hilf al-Fudul, a pact formed by Makkan tribes to defend the rights of the oppressed. This pact was initiated after a man from the Zubaid tribe was wronged by a Makkan chieftain. Muhammad’s involvement in this agreement demonstrated his early commitment to justice and his concern for societal issues, long before his prophethood. The Hilf al-Fudul highlights the importance of standing up for justice and protecting the oppressed, regardless of social or tribal affiliations.

From a young age, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ earned a reputation for his honesty and integrity, becoming known as Al-Amin (the trustworthy) and Al-Sadiq (the truthful). These qualities set him apart in his community, and they remained central to his character throughout his life.

Trading and Marriage to Khadijah

As he grew older, Muhammad ﷺ became a trader, working for a wealthy widow named Khadijah. His honesty and fairness in business quickly earned him respect, and Khadijah was so impressed by his character that she proposed marriage through a mutual friend. At the time of their marriage, Muhammad ﷺ was 25 years old, and Khadijah was older—though her exact age is debated, with some scholars suggesting she was 28, while others estimate she was between 25 and 35.

Despite the age difference, their marriage was filled with mutual respect, love, and support. Khadijah played a crucial role in Muhammad’s ﷺ life, providing emotional and financial support, particularly during the early years of his prophethood.

Together, Muhammad ﷺ and Khadijah had several children: daughters Zainab, Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthum, and Fatimah, and sons Qasim and Abdullah, who sadly passed away in infancy. The Prophet’s ﷺ deep love and respect for Khadijah lasted throughout their marriage and even after her death, making their relationship one of admiration and unity, distinct from the societal norms of the time.

Rebuilding the Kaaba

When the Prophet ﷺ was about thirty-five years old, the Ka‘bah was badly damaged—first by a fire that burned its cloth and weakened its walls, and then by a flood that brought down its roof and structure. At the same time, a Roman ship carrying wood, marble, and craftsmen was wrecked near Jeddah, and the Quraysh purchased its materials and hired the builders to reconstruct the Ka‘bah. Though fearful of demolishing Allah’s House, they took courage when Al-Walid ibn al-Mughira struck the wall without harm, and each tribe took a share in rebuilding the walls. 

When the time came to place the Black Stone, a fierce dispute broke out between the rival clans, Banu Abd Manaf and Banu Makhzum, and the matter nearly escalated to war. At that moment, Abu Umayya ibn al-Mughira, the oldest man in Makkah, advised that the next person to enter from the ‘major area’ should be chosen to decide the issue. By Allah’s will, it was the Prophet ﷺ who entered, and since all the tribes trusted him, they readily agreed. With wisdom, he placed the Black Stone on a cloth and asked representatives of each tribe to hold its edges and raise it together. Once it reached its place, he himself set it firmly into position, settling the dispute peacefully.

The Quraysh rebuilt the Ka‘bah higher and squared it rather than keeping its original rectangular foundation from Ibrahim عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ, raised its door, and added a water spout. Later in life, the Prophet ﷺ expressed his wish to restore it to Ibrahim’s foundations but refrained, fearing it might unsettle new Muslims.

The Story of Zaid ibn Haritha

One touching story that highlights Muhammad’s ﷺ character is that of Zaid ibn Haritha, a boy kidnapped and sold into slavery, who ended up in the household of the Prophet ﷺ. When Zaid’s father and uncle found him in Makkah, they offered him the choice to return to his family. Zaid chose to stay with Muhammad ﷺ, showing the Prophet’s exceptional kindness. Muhammad ﷺ later freed and adopted Zaid, calling him Zaid ibn Muhammad, though a Quranic revelation later instructed that adopted children should be called by their biological fathers’ names.