View Full Version : Prophet Muhammed's Difficult Journey
In reading about the life of the Prophet Muhammed, may peace and blessing be always upon Him, two things strike me as significant:
* The prophetic experience seems to have been agonizing. In fact, it sounds horrible. It doesn't sound like something that anyone would choose to undergo.
* It also seems to me, and I'm not a Muslim so please forgive me if I'm mistaken, that Islam owes almost as much to Khadijah as it does to the Prophet Himself for the formation and realization of Islam. It seems as though Khadijah's love and support made it possible for Muhammed to survive the prophetic experience.
Some questions:
* What does Islam say about the difficulty of the Prophet's experience of revelation? Why did God make it so terrible?
* What does Islam say about Khadijah? Was she, too, a prophet?
The reason I ask this is because she believed that Muhammed's prophetic experiences were legitimate. Was this blind faith? Was this simply love? Or did she have a prophetic understanding of Muhammed's experiences?
Khubaib
15-12-06, 03:51 AM
In reading about the life of the Prophet Muhammed, may peace and blessing be always upon Him, two things strike me as significant:
* The prophetic experience seems to have been agonizing. In fact, it sounds horrible. It doesn't sound like something that anyone would choose to undergo.
* It also seems to me, and I'm not a Muslim so please forgive me if I'm mistaken, that Islam owes almost as much to Khadijah as it does to the Prophet Himself for the formation and realization of Islam. It seems as though Khadijah's love and support made it possible for Muhammed to survive the prophetic experience.
Some questions:
* What does Islam say about the difficulty of the Prophet's experience of revelation? Why did God make it so terrible?
* What does Islam say about Khadijah? Was she, too, a prophet?
The reason I ask this is because she believed that Muhammed's prophetic experiences were legitimate. Was this blind faith? Was this simply love? Or did she have a prophetic understanding of Muhammed's experiences?
Cashew
Yes, Khadija may Allah be pleased with her was a role model for all of the Muslim women of this ummah. She was the first person to accept Islam and comforted the messenger when he asked her to after receiving the first revelation and told him that Allah would not harm him. She took him to her Christian cousin who told the prophet (SAW) that he was the messenger and he would be rejected and face persecution. Khadija stuck by the prophet and during the boycott of the muslims in the early years of the message she died along with the prophets uncle and Rasulullah was very sad. She is indeed a wonderful partner for our beloved prophet. She was not a prophet herself though. This was not simple love but since the arabs did believe in Allah (while worshipping him through idols) and they also knew that Allah had sent prophets in the past. Muhammad was known as the truthful in Makkah and when Khadija proposed marriage to him after he handled one of business transactions with honesty this was one of the reasons why. So, it was natural out her love and faith in her husband she would accept what he said. There are women in Islam though that are honored above most men. They are one level underneath prophethood- Mary mother of Esa was one such person and the best of women. The first revelation was difficult and it inspired and struck fear into Muhammad (SAW) of his Lord as well as gave him understanding about what Allah expected of him, and one of the favors of Allah to mankind (Read in the name of your Lord who created. Created man from a blood clot. Read and your Lord is the most bounteous. Who teacheth by the pen. Teacheth man which he knew not).
All of the messengers faced hardship, but Allah provided comfort to Muhammad in subsequent revelations. The process of receiving revelation was definitely very burdensome and draining. This is the will of Allah, he chooses his prophets, the prophets do not choose themselves.
I think I speak for all the muslims on this forum when I say we appreciate your questions.
My brothers and sisters please correct me if I have said anything incorrect.
Allah knows best.
Keep searching for truth Cashew, you will find it God willing.
Tahiyah
15-12-06, 06:00 AM
In reading about the life of the Prophet Muhammed, may peace and blessing be always upon Him, two things strike me as significant:
* The prophetic experience seems to have been agonizing. In fact, it sounds horrible. It doesn't sound like something that anyone would choose to undergo.
* It also seems to me, and I'm not a Muslim so please forgive me if I'm mistaken, that Islam owes almost as much to Khadijah as it does to the Prophet Himself for the formation and realization of Islam. It seems as though Khadijah's love and support made it possible for Muhammed to survive the prophetic experience.
Some questions:
* What does Islam say about the difficulty of the Prophet's experience of revelation? Why did God make it so terrible?
* What does Islam say about Khadijah? Was she, too, a prophet?
The reason I ask this is because she believed that Muhammed's prophetic experiences were legitimate. Was this blind faith? Was this simply love? Or did she have a prophetic understanding of Muhammed's experiences?
terrible experience?? hmmmmm........ i dont think the Prophet ever saw his mission as terrible? Afterall, he was sent as a mercy to the entire universe. He had to experience what he went through in order to achieve the level Allah decreed for him. Allah knows best.
The Prophet (saw) is called Habib Allah, which means Allah's Beloved. The Prophet use to turn in repentance more than 70 times a day, he use to stay and pray all night long. when his wife asked him why he did this, as he was already guaranteed paradise ~ he replied shouldn't he be most thankful?
All Prophets experienced difficult times and their lives have many examples for us. Allah alone knows why he chose who he chose. They will also be the highest rewarded, they are closest to Allah.
Prophets were examples of patience in times of struggle. I dont think the Prophet Mohammad saw his situation as agonizing. rather he was delighted that he was chosen by Allah (swt)... the struggles of this life are temporary, the rewards of the hereafter are eternal.
Khadijah was his beloved wife and a very noble woman. She was very dedicated to her husband. She comforted and reassured her husband. Allah (swt) alone knows best why this wife was best for him. Her Uncle Waraqa (or was he her cousin?..sorry cant recall at the moment).. anyhow he was a true Christian and very knowledgeable, she took the Prophet to see him so that her Uncle could also verify that he was the Prophet to come. the Christians knew this.
The Prophet was a trusted, and very humble being. He was most humbled before his main love. Allah.
fyi..
*(we learn that in Islam, when the people see the level of paradise for those who suffered, illnesses, etc. and were patient believers.... they will wish they can return to suffer, illnesses, loss..etc.) a muslim says "alhamdulillah" in times of hardship, as well as in times of ease. you thank Allah for your struggles and difficult experiences as Allah alone knows what is best for us. The Quran says, you may like a thing that is bad for you and dislike a thing that is good for you.
Tahiyah, in what I've read regarding the life of the Prophet, his initial revelatory experiences were pretty terrifying.
When the Prophet encounters Gabriel, the Spirit of Truth, He doesn't encounter some cute little cherub holding a bouquet of flowers. The Prophet encounters an enormous entity that "fills the horizon."
The experience leaves the Prophet shaken and in awe.
Khadhijah seems to have been a great source of comfort to the Prophet after encounters such as this.
Tahiyah
15-12-06, 06:45 AM
Enduring a Life Full of Hardship
by, Adil Salahi, Arab News
Sometimes accusations are leveled at the advocates of Islam, raising doubts about their motives and alleging that they use Islam in order to achieve some worldly gain, such as position, wealth or even good reputation. While ulterior motives could influence people’s actions, even when they claim to serve a noble cause, it is often the case that advocating Islam is associated with enduring hardship, rather than making gains and enjoying benefits. This has been true ever since the first prophet advocated the divine faith. Indeed most prophets endured a hard life. As far as we know, the exceptions are Joseph, who achieved a high position in government after spending several years in prison; Shuayb, who was a prosperous man in an affluent trading community; David and Solomon, who were kings. Today, we find the advocates of Islam being subjected to much hardship and a great variety of pressures. In order to be able to endure such hardship, they need to have some earlier and practical examples, so that they will be reassured that their predecessors in Islamic advocacy suffered similar hardship.
The best example is always provided by God’s messenger, Prophet Muhammad, (peace be upon him). He endured all sorts of hardship, even after he established the first Muslim state in Madinah and was its ruler. During this period, he rarely had enough to eat. Al-Numan ibn Basheer questioned some people who were complaining about various things, saying: “Do you not have whatever you want of food and drink? I have seen your Prophet unable to find a meal of even the worst type of dates.” (Related by Muslim and Al-Tirmidhi.) Umar ibn Al-Khattab makes a similar statement, wondering how people were enjoying life’s comforts in plenty: “I saw the Prophet feeling the pangs of hunger the whole day. He could not have a meal of even the worst type of dates.” (Related by Ahmad and Ibn Majah.) A similar report about the Prophet’s poverty is given by Abu Hurayrah, who says: “I went to the Prophet and found him offering his prayers while seated. I said: ‘I see that you are praying seated. Do you complain of something?’ He said: ‘It is hunger!’ I was in tears, but he said to me: ‘Do not cry, Abu Hurayrah! A person who endures hunger in this life accepting it as God’s will and resigns himself to it will be spared hard questioning and reckoning on the Day of Judgment.’”
Why would the Prophet be left to endure such hard life when he was the man best loved by God? Of course God could have easily provided him with a comfortable life in which he would lack nothing and could enjoy whatever he wished. Indeed the unbelievers demanded that he should have such a life so that they would recognize that he was dear to God. Islam, however, stresses that a person’s fortunes in this life cannot be considered a measure by which we know his position with God. Indeed, God allows all sorts of people to have any amount of wealth, luxury, position and power. We see criminals enjoying a life of ease, power and luxury. This is by no means an indication of a favorable position with God. What indicates that is the way they use such blessings. By the same token, it is the way the poor and the weak endure their lot that indicates their position with God. A person who uses his wealth and position for the benefit of his family and community, helping those in need, will earn rich reward from God. Similarly, one who endures hardship accepting God’s will and realizing that the life to come is the one to mark one’s position with God will have similar rewards. We must always remember that in this life, we all go through a test, which may vary in nature, and it is how we perform in this test that determines our future life.
Cashew, consider this for a moment. If you were in the prophet's shoes wouldn't you come down from that cave at least questioning your sanity after the experience of meeting Gibreel? To recieve a direct communication from an angel would at least be disconcerting for any sane individual.
Now all contemporary accounts of Muhammed(SAW) say that before the revelation of Gibreel, he was known as being a very honest and spiritual man of unquestionable integrity. These were the qualities that first attracted Khadhijah to him so when he told her what he had seen, she did not question his integrity or his character.
Tahiyah
15-12-06, 07:03 AM
Tahiyah, in what I've read regarding the life of the Prophet, his initial revelatory experiences were pretty terrifying.
When the Prophet encounters Gabriel, the Spirit of Truth, He doesn't encounter some cute little cherub holding a bouquet of flowers. The Prophet encounters an enormous entity that "fills the horizon."
The experience leaves the Prophet shaken and in awe.
.
He (saw) was about to realise that he was the one sent to all of mankind as a mercy. the one who would deliver a perfected message to all of mankind. completed and sealed. Jibreel is Allahs "assistant"...Allah is very mighty.. not a cutsie wutsie. When Moses (saw) asked Allah to show himself, Allah crumbled an entire mountain to dust and told Moses the mountain saw just a tiny tip.. like a tiny tip of your finger. The mighty mountain could not handle the sight of Allah, so how about Moses..a human? Allah is most powerful, so much more that what we are...
do you really think a cute little cherub would do the trick?
honestly, i dont understand what your having trouble with. if anything, what the Prophet (saw) experienced is more proof of the beauty and truth of Islam, of this perfected lifestyle.
I'm not having trouble with anything.
I was just saying that the revelatory experience seems pretty hair-raising and not something that anyone would choose.
And, secondly, I was noting Khadhijah's role in the story of this revelatory experience.
Again and again I've read how she loved, comforted, and supported the Prophet.
It seems to me, as I said, that she played the most crucial role, after that of the Prophet, in the advent of Islam.
After reading about this, I wondered if Islam considered her, too, as a kind of prophet.
She obviously had absolute trust in Muhammed's experiences, which made me ask if she had some sort of prophetic, or spiritual, understanding of the revelations.
I don't know where you guys get the idea that I'm criticizing any of this. I'm just trying to understand it. Questions of course come up. And, believe me, poking around on the Web for answers isn't as easy as it would appear.
I'm not having trouble with anything.
I was just saying that the revelatory experience seems pretty hair-raising and not something that anyone would choose.
And, secondly, I was noting Khadhijah's role in the story of this revelatory experience.
Again and again I've read how she loved, comforted, and supported the Prophet.
It seems to me, as I said, that she played the most crucial role, after that of the Prophet, in the advent of Islam.
After reading about this, I wondered if Islam considered her, too, as a kind of prophet.
She obviously had absolute trust in Muhammed's experiences, which made me ask if she had some sort of prophetic, or spiritual, understanding of the revelations.
I don't know where you guys get the idea that I'm criticizing any of this. I'm just trying to understand it. Questions of course come up. And, believe me, poking around on the Web for answers isn't as easy as it would appear.
No worries :D
In fact I appreciated it because it was something that I hadn't considered.
Narrated 'Ali: I heard the Prophet saying, "Mary, the daughter of 'Imran, was the best among the women (of the world of her time) and khadija is the best amongst the women. (of this nation)."
(sahih bukhari)
:love:
Tahiyah, in what I've read regarding the life of the Prophet, his initial revelatory experiences were pretty terrifying.
When the Prophet encounters Gabriel, the Spirit of Truth, He doesn't encounter some cute little cherub holding a bouquet of flowers. The Prophet encounters an enormous entity that "fills the horizon."
The experience leaves the Prophet shaken and in awe.
Khadhijah seems to have been a great source of comfort to the Prophet after encounters such as this.
masha Allah and if this is what its like just to see one angel can u imagine being before almighty Allah ta ala, where his throne is held by 70,000 angels, where there is not a footspace free in the heavens because the angels are prostrating to Allah ta ala constanly. mindblowing stuff huh subhanAllah :) I think this is just the difference between how we percieve God in the christian faith ( ie: Jesus a mere man walking and talking and looking a lot like us with little cheubs flitting by looking like babies all athorophmorphic qualities ) and Almighty Allah whom there is nothing like unto Him,and his angels who can fill the whole horizon, hope u see what i mean insha Allah,for me this is the reality of a truely Almighty God, it blows my mind everytime i think about it.
As for khadijah radiallahu anha,she was a beleiving woman who worshipped Allah alone and who knew there was a prophet to come, remember at the time of the prophet Muhammad there were others also who knew about the expected Prophet there were signs of his coming, salallahu alleyhi wa salam, for example the christian monk Bahira reconised him as the prophet of the scriptures, salaman Al farsi who had studied with the christians, and knew the christian scriptures, also knew this was the expected Prophet, this is the beauty of True Prohethood, many of the Jews, rabbis and scribes and students of the Torah reconised him too, but many denied this was him, as they had denied that Jesus, peace be upon him, was the Prophet of Allah, before Muhammad peace be upon him, so that it is foretold in the previous books ( the Torah and the injeel) and till today they are still contained within the Torah and the Injeel, but as Allah ta ala says in the Quran they deny what is in their books and try to hide it. And as you know to this day the jews still deny Jesus peace and blessings be upon him.
So just as we have the signs of the return of the messiah Jesus peace be upon him, who will come again in the future , there were signs that Muhammad peace be upon him was the expected Prophet and khadijah radiallahu anha knew this was him,from scriptural revelation, and she comforted him,at these times, as his wife,( of course natural for any wife to do this) as she beleived in the word of almighty Allah. ( and no shes not a prophet, a prohet gives prophecy, revelation from Allah, and she did not have such revelations )
Khubaib
15-12-06, 01:00 PM
I'm not having trouble with anything.
I was just saying that the revelatory experience seems pretty hair-raising and not something that anyone would choose.
And, secondly, I was noting Khadhijah's role in the story of this revelatory experience.
Again and again I've read how she loved, comforted, and supported the Prophet.
It seems to me, as I said, that she played the most crucial role, after that of the Prophet, in the advent of Islam.
After reading about this, I wondered if Islam considered her, too, as a kind of prophet.
She obviously had absolute trust in Muhammed's experiences, which made me ask if she had some sort of prophetic, or spiritual, understanding of the revelations.
I don't know where you guys get the idea that I'm criticizing any of this. I'm just trying to understand it. Questions of course come up. And, believe me, poking around on the Web for answers isn't as easy as it would appear.
One additional consideration Cashew. Allah the most Merciful said that if the Quran was revealed to a mountain, the mountain would crumble. This is the power of the Quran, so imagine the experience the Messengers peace be upon them went through when the message came to them. As Tahiyah said the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was not in pain, but it was his burden to bear as was facing persecution and carrying the message in all directions.
I never really thought about any of those questions before but the answers have been very informative.
Tahiyah
15-12-06, 04:32 PM
I'm not having trouble with anything.
I was just saying that the revelatory experience seems pretty hair-raising and not something that anyone would choose.
And, secondly, I was noting Khadhijah's role in the story of this revelatory experience.
Again and again I've read how she loved, comforted, and supported the Prophet.
It seems to me, as I said, that she played the most crucial role, after that of the Prophet, in the advent of Islam.
After reading about this, I wondered if Islam considered her, too, as a kind of prophet.
She obviously had absolute trust in Muhammed's experiences, which made me ask if she had some sort of prophetic, or spiritual, understanding of the revelations.
I don't know where you guys get the idea that I'm criticizing any of this. I'm just trying to understand it. Questions of course come up. And, believe me, poking around on the Web for answers isn't as easy as it would appear.
i do apologize cashew for coming across the way i did. i realize that you are just trying to understand. i actually really appreciate the questions and comments you add to this forum. they always make me think. :up:
i pray that your frustrations are eased and that you are blessed with the understanding of this beautiful Deen. May Allah (swt) guide you into the light and grant you his mercy.
I'm not having trouble with anything.
I was just saying that the revelatory experience seems pretty hair-raising and not something that anyone would choose.
And, secondly, I was noting Khadhijah's role in the story of this revelatory experience.
Again and again I've read how she loved, comforted, and supported the Prophet.
It seems to me, as I said, that she played the most crucial role, after that of the Prophet, in the advent of Islam.
After reading about this, I wondered if Islam considered her, too, as a kind of prophet.
She obviously had absolute trust in Muhammed's experiences, which made me ask if she had some sort of prophetic, or spiritual, understanding of the revelations.
Its proberly because The Prophet :saw: never told a lie before even receiving the revelation and he was known as the trustworthy one... ect. 40 years living your life without ever telling a lie and he :saw: was respected for who he was by everyone .. proberly the reason why she had no doubt.
Allahu Alam.
Mashallah good to see at least your reading the biography of the Prophet :saw: :D
Could the Muslims in this forum please explain the way the roles of Khadhija and Aisha are understood by the majority of Sunni Muslims?
What I mean is, how were their roles different?
(And how do you spell Khadhija correctly in English???)
Could the Muslims in this forum please explain the way the roles of Khadhija and Aisha are understood by the majority of Sunni Muslims?
What I mean is, how were their roles different?
(And how do you spell Khadhija correctly in English???)
in what way cashew? u mean how are they important to us? or how did they support the prophet as his wives peace be upon him.sorry just to clarify so i understand your question correctly
in what way cashew? u mean how are they important to us? or how did they support the prophet as his wives peace be upon him.sorry just to clarify so i understand your question correctly
Well, both issues. But dont let my questions constrain you. Feel free to respond however you wish. You probably have something very interesting to say.
How was Khadhijah's role different from Aisha's?
How was Aisha's role different from Khadhijah's?
What do Muslims learn as important from each woman?
As-Sideeq
18-12-06, 02:23 PM
Asalaamu 'ala man itbaa alhuda
Saheeh Bukhaari
Narrated 'Ali: I heard the Prophet saying, "Mary, the daughter of 'Imran, was the best among the women (of the world of her time) and khadija is the best amongst the women. (of this nation)."
Narrated Ismail: I asked 'Abdullah bin Abi Aufa, "Did the Prophet give glad tidings to khadija?" He said, "Yes, of a palace of Qasab (in Paradise) where there will be neither any noise nor any fatigue."
Narrated 'Aisha: I never felt so jealous of any wife of Allah's Apostle as I did of khadija because Allah's Apostle used to remember and praise her too often and because it was revealed to Allah's Apostle that he should give her (khadija) the glad tidings of her having a palace of Qasab in Paradise .
.: Anna :.
18-12-06, 11:07 PM
Well, both issues. But dont let my questions constrain you. Feel free to respond however you wish. You probably have something very interesting to say.
How was Khadhijah's role different from Aisha's?
How was Aisha's role different from Khadhijah's?
What do Muslims learn as important from each woman?
They are both from the best of women, and both are a great example and role model for us... as well as many other women such as the other wives of the prophet :saw: and also his daughters and other islamic personalities...
Aisha and Khadijah (r) are both often mentioned and thought about alot because these two wives have been known to be the best loved ones of the prophet :saw:
Khadijah (r) when she was rasoolallah :saw: wife, she was his only wife... she was a great source of comfort and support for him thru difficulties, at the time of the first revelations of course it would be something which needs support because this is a huge mission and a huge undertaking, and the prophet :saw: faced a lot of adversity from those around him. No Khadijah (r) herself is not a prophet, but this doesnt make her any less respected. There are many hadeeths about the love which the prophet :saw: had for her, and even Aisha felt jealous about that love at times, because it was very much. Also there is hadeeth where Jibreel alayhi salam gave his salam to Khadijah and also gives the news of a house which is prepared for her in Paradise... so we see she is someone loved by the messenger of Allah :saw:, loved by Allah :swt: and loved by the angels... and hence she is loved by the Muslims :) She has an important place as she was the first to accept the revelation that came to her husband :saw: and hence the first to accept al islaam.
Aisha (R) is also very important, and she is different from Khadijah (r) firstly in that her time was different, and she was the wife of the prophet :saw: in madina, and as a part of polygamy not as a lone wife. So the situation in madina and makkah was different for the muslims and for the prophet :saw: and so the role of his wifes would be different slightly because of that. Now Aisha (r) also has the huge importance of being a scholar because she has narrated many hadeeths and is a great source of information and learning for us. The prophet :saw: love for Aisha is also extremely apparent and there are hadeeths about this, such as when he :saw: was asked who do u love most he has responded Aisha :) And also Allah :swt: has sent down ayaat of the Quran to defend the name of Aisha (r) so we can see that Allah swt also loves Aisha, and the sincere muslims also love Aisha (r) and we learn from both of them :)
Here's two Haidth about their relationship.
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Gabriel came to the Prophet :saw: and said, "O Allah's Apostle! This is Khadija coming to you with a dish having meat soup (or some food or drink). When she reaches you, greet her on behalf of her Lord (i.e. Allah) and on my behalf, and give her the glad tidings of having a Qasab palace in Paradise wherein there will be neither any noise nor any fatigue (trouble) . "
Narrated 'Aisha:
Once Hala bint Khuwailid, Khadija's sister, asked the permission of the Prophet :saw: to enter. On that, the Prophet :saw: remembered the way Khadija used to ask permission, and that upset him. He said, "O Allah! Hala!" So I became jealous and said, "What makes you remember an old woman amongst the old women of Quraish an old woman (with a teethless mouth) of red gums who died long ago, and in whose place Allah has given you somebody better than her?"
vBulletin® v3.7.2, Copyright ©2000-2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.