Makkah – Location and Geography:
• Located in the SW corner of Hijaz, amidst a double range of barren and dry hills.
• Dry, waterless, barren desert on all sides, intense heat.
• Agriculture not possible, industry not feasible.
• Trade was the source of livelihood for most people.
• Makkah located on major trade routes and was the most important way-station for transit trade between Yemen, Syria, Iraq etc.
• Close to port of Jeddah, so trade also possible by sea.
Foundation of Makkah:
• When Hazrat Ibrahim and Hazrat Ismail constructed Kaaba, Makkah did not exist.
• For many centuries afterwards, it was just a camping ground for neighboring nomadic tribes.
• In circa 1 AD, the tribe of Bani Jurhum took guardianship of the Kaaba and founded the city of Makkah.
• Bani Jurhum ruled over Makkah, until overthrown by the migrating southern tribe of Bani Khuza.
• Bani Khuza were overthrown by the Quraish.
The Rise of Quraish:
• Descendants of Fihr (3rd Century AD), whose surname was Quraish.
• Fihr had a descendent named Qussai (5th Century AD); died in 480 AD.
• Qussai married his daughter to a Khuzarite chief. When the chief died, Qussai drove out Bani Khuza and took over as Makkah’s ruler. He invited his family to live in Makkah.
• In Muhammad (PBUH)’s time, there were ten clans within the Quraish tribe.
• Some rich clans: Mukhzum, Naufal and Umayya.
• Some poor clans: Hashim and others.
• Qussai laid down the foundation of the religious and political power of the Quraish.
• Down from Qussai, the Quraishi leader(s) had the following functions in their power:
Power Description
Hijaba Power to hold the keys to Kaaba
Liwa Power to command the Quraishi army. Liwa was the standard of the Quraish
Nadwa Power to summon the council of Quraishi leaders
Rifadha Power to receive an annual poor-tax to feed poor pilgrims Siqaya Power over the wells and water sources in or near Makkah.
Reasons for the rise of Makkah:
• Contains the historic Fountain of Zam-Zam, a major attraction for nomadic tribes and passing caravans.
• Contains Kaaba, which became the pantheon of idols of Arabic gods and goddesses, which reached its peak in the Jahiliya Period. Contained 360 idols.
• Located on major trade routes between Yemen, Syria and Iraq.
Ancestors of Muhammad (PBUH):
• Muhammad (PBUH) is a descendant of Hazrat Ibrahim.
• Hashim was a rich merchant who traded with Syria. He died in 510 AD.
Abdul Muttalib:
• After his uncle Muttalib’s death in 520 AD, succeeded as chief of Banu Hashim.
• Re-discovered the well of Zam-Zam.
• He was the custodian of Kaaba and was responsible for providing pilgrims with food.
Birth of Muhammad (PBUH) and his childhood:
• Muhammad (PBUH)’s father, Abdullah, died on a commercial mission to Syria. He was buried in Yathrib, only 25 years old.
• Four months after Abdullah’s death, Muhammad (PBUH)’s mother Amina gave birth to Muhammad (PBUH) on Monday 12 Rabiul-Awwal, 30 August 570 A.D. (some say it was 571 A.D. the year of the Elephant)
• Since his birth till reaching the age of five, Muhammad (PBUH) lived with a nursemaid named Halima Sadia of the Bedouin tribe of Banu Saad.
• Muhammad (PBUH)’s mother died on the way during their trip to Yathrib. His nurse, Umme Aiman, brought him back and put him in the custody of Abdul Muttalib.
• Abdul Muttalib, 90 years old, died after two years. Muhammad (PBUH) passed into the custody of his uncle, Abu Talib.
• Muhammad (PBUH) tended the sheep and goats of his uncle and others.
Boyhood and Youth of Muhammad (PBUH):
• Abu Talib was a perfume and cloth merchant.
• At the age of 12, Muhammad (PBUH) accompanied his uncle on a trade trip of many months to Syria.
• On the way, a Christian hermit named Bahira predicted the prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH).
Harb-ul-Fijr:
• Sacrilegious war fought during holy months between the Quraish-Kinana alliance and Hawazin tribe.
• At the start of the war, Muhammad (PBUH) was 16 years old.
Half-ul-Fuzul:
• Harb-ul-Fijr war revealed the lack of a real authority in Makkah. The weak were oppressed in Makkah and clans failed to punish the wrongdoers.
• Several Quraishite tribes (including Bani Hashim) joined a league to protect the oppressed.
• The league was actually formed by the weaker tribes against the more powerful and richer tribes.
• The pledge was taken at the house of Abdullah ibn Judan.
Marriage with Hazrat Khadija:
• Khadija bint Khuwalid was one of the richest women in Makkah.
• At the time of marriage, Muhammad (PBUH) was 25, Khadija was 40.
Incident of Hajr-e-Aswad:
• In 605 AD, Kaaba was rebuilt.
• Muhammad (PBUH) arbitrated and possibly stopped a war.
Bestowing of Prophethood on Muhammad (PBUH):
• Cave of Hira is located in Mount Hira, now called Jabl-e-Noor.
• Muhammad (PBUH) meditated in this cave and prayed to the God of his ancestor and prophet, Hazrat Ibrahim.
• As time passed by, Muhammad (PBUH)’s every dream at night became true in the coming morning. This was one of the signs of the coming prophethood.
• One night in 610 AD, Muhammad (PBUH) received the first revelation from Allah.
• At this time, Muhammad (PBUH) was in his 40th year.
• Muhammad (PBUH) was meditating in the cave when the angel Jibrail came to him holding a piece of silk brocade with some words written on it.
• The angel told Muhammad (PBUH) to ‘read’. When Muhammad (PBUH) told him that he could not read, Jibrail embraced him and asked the same question. This happened three times. Then, Jibrail helped Muhammad (PBUH) recite the Surah al-Alaq (The Embryo):
The Embryo
Read in the name of thy Lord who created Man from blood coagulated Read! Thy Lord is wondrous kind Who by the pen has taught mankind
Things they knew not, being blind.
• This incident unnerved the Prophet (PBUH), who returned home and said to Hazrat Khadija that he feared for himself, and that maybe he was possessed by a spirit. Hazrat Khadija consoled him.
• That night, Hazrat Khadija slept very uneasily, mumbling prayers and keeping watch.
• Next morning, Hazrat Khadija took Muhammad (PBUH) to her Christian cousin Warqa bin Naufal, who was a ‘hanif’. Warqa confirmed that the angel that came to Muhammad (PBUH) was the same one that had come to Hazrat Musa. He further stated that if he lived, he would join the true religion of Muhammad (PBUH). However, he died a few days later of old age and natural causes.