with

My Name is:

My Lord, increase me in 
knowledge
 deeds were commonplace in the holy city of
Makkah at that time. The most terrible of these
being the worship of idols rather than worshipping
This book narrates a true story Allah - the one true God and Creator of mankind.
about the life of a youngster who
was to become the greatest It was during the worst of times that
human being that ever walked Allah chose one man to be the best
the earth. of all mankind. Allah chose him as
a perfect teacher and guide - a
His name? Muhammad . Come, let us follow in prophet and messenger. The best in
the footsteps of his amazing journey through life. the ranks of the best people.

Muhammad  was born into the noblest of His actions would become the
families, a direct descendent of Prophet Ibrahim  Sunnah. His words would become
though his son Prophet Isma’il . Hadith. His message would last
until the Day of Judgement. His love
His father passed away before he was born. Both would endure forever. Through him, billions upon
his mother and grandfather also sadly passed away billions would enter Jannah.
when he was still very young. We cannot imagine
how he must have felt growing up Is it any surprise that Allah called Prophet
as an orphan, without the people Muhammad  “a Mercy for Mankind”?
who loved him most dearly.
This book is a window into the life and times of our
To make matters worse, many bad actions and beloved Prophet Muhammad .
p
p
 This was a business journey from Makkah to Syria.
People would take goods from Makkah to sell in
Syria. Sometimes, they would travel
Our story begins when a to Yemen instead.
wonderful young lady
called Aaminah was
getting married. From the money they would make,
they would buy more goods from
You can imagine how excited she was. the great markets of Syria.

She was getting married in Makkah to a young man

called Abdullah. Abdullah’s father, Abdul Muttalib, They would bring these goods back with them to
was the chief of Makkah. sell in Makkah.

It was such a happy day for Abdullah and Aaminah. People used to travel on camels. They would use
The people of Makkah, the Makkans, celebrated the camels to carry their goods. Groups travelling
and everyone was overjoyed. like this were called caravans. It would take a
caravan weeks to travel to Syria
and back.
A short while later, Abdullah was
told to join a trade caravan that
was leaving Makkah soon.

p
Aaminah missed Abdullah. She was very sad Aaminah was heart broken
because they had only been married when she found out.
for a short while.

However, there was some

Abdul Muttalib was also very sad happiness: Aaminah was expecting a
that Abdullah had to leave so baby.
quickly. Abdul Muttalib had many sons, but
Abdullah was extra special to him. Sadly, this baby would never meet his father.

A few months passed and a

On the way back beautiful baby boy was born.
from Syria, the trade
caravan stopped at
Yathrib. Everyone was overjoyed and they took the baby
boy to his grandfather, Abdul Muttalib.

Abdul Muttalib was at the

Abdullah was not feeling well. In fact he Ka’bah at the time. He was
was really ill. Abdullah’s illness got so happy and named his new
worse. He died in Yathrib and was grandson, Muhammad .
buried there.
p
No one had named their child Aaminah named her baby
Muhammad before now. It Ahmad (The one who praises
was an unusual name. Allah). Abdul Muttalib named
him Muhammad  (The praised
1. Aaminah must have been so happy one).
Muhammad and excited when she married
means ‘the Abdullah! Do you remember who Both of these
Praised One’. Abdullah’s father was and his role in qualities were
Makkah? found in
Muhammad .
2. Why did Abdullah have to leave
Makkah so soon after marrying
This had been an extraordinary Aaminah? Makkah was on the caravan trade
year. It was known as ‘The Year of route between Yemen and Syria. It
3. Can you describe what a caravan is?
the Elephant’. became a very busy and wealthy city.
4. Aaminah and Abdul Muttalib were
heart broken and sad, do you Many people also travelled to
Why was this remember why? Makkah to perform the pilgrimage.
They had been coming to make Hajj
year given
5. What was the special gift Allah had from the time of Ibrahim .
such an
blessed Aaminah with?
unusual name? Prophet Ibrahim  had built the
6. Do you remember who named our Ka’bah and dedicated this to
beloved Prophet Muhammad  ? worshipping Allah. However, over
This is another story to explore time, people had put 360 idols in
next time, insha Allah. and around the Ka’bah.

p
p
 However, the people still went to
Makkah. They still prayed at the
Ka’bah.

Abraha was a ruler in Yemen. No one came to his new

cathedral. No one came to San’aa in Yemen.

He would see all the people

going to Makkah to visit the Abraha was angry. He
Ka’bah. He saw them make the decided to go to Makkah
Pilgrimage to this sacred place. and destroy the Ka’bah.

Abraha was jealous, he wanted people to come to Abraha got his huge army
San’aa (‫ )صنعاء‬in Yemen instead. together. There were
many soldiers and even some elephants in his army.
They all began marching towards Makkah.

Abraha decided to build a huge

cathedral for people to visit. He When people saw the huge army they were scared.
wanted people to pray there They were afraid of the number of soldiers. They
instead. were even more frightened of the elephants. No
one had the courage to try to stop the army.
p
After a big long march, Abraha finally arrived near Ka’bah you are worried about
Makkah. your camels?”

People were scared to stand up to Abraha and his

army, so Abraha took what he wanted. Abdul Muttalib replied, “The
camels belong to me so I have to
look after them.”

“The Ka’bah has its owner (Allah). He will look

after it.”
Abraha saw some camels which actually belonged
to Abdul Muttalib. He told his men to take them. Abraha gave Abdul Muttalib
his camels back.

Abdul Muttalib was the chief of Makkah. Allah gave

Abdul Muttalib courage. He went to Abraha and The Makkans went to the mountains
asked him for his camels back. for safety. They could not fight such a big army.
They could not defend the Ka’bah.

Abraha said to Abdul Muttalib, “I

have come to destroy the Ka’bah Abraha decided that it was time
and you are in charge of the it. to march towards the Ka’bah and
Instead of worrying about the destroy it.
p
When the army got ready, The birds had small stones in their beaks
Abraha’s elephant, and claws.
Mahmood, would not
move towards the
Ka’bah. The birds dropped the stones
onto the army. Whoever the
stones hit, would get hurt and die.
He would happily go in any other direction. As soon The army was being destroyed.
as they would turn him towards the Ka’bah, he
would stop!
The soldiers in the army tried to run away.
The elephants tried to run away.
They hit Mahmood with metal Some soldiers tried to get
poles, but Mahmood would not back home to Yemen. But
move forward. no one can hide from Allah’s
punishment.

They poked him with spikes, but Mahmood would Allah destroyed Abraha’s army and Allah
not move forward. saved the Ka’bah.

Then suddenly, Allah sent a flock

of birds towards the army. This is why this year was named, ‘The
Year of the Elephant.’
p
 Yathrib was renamed Madinah
after the Hijrah.
Madinah is approximately 210
miles north of Makkah.

1. Why did Abraha decide to build a Abraha’s army approached Makkah so

big cathedral in San’aa? Tell me about the Makkans hid in the mountains.
Abdul Muttalib went to the Ka’bah and
made Dua to Allah, and Allah alone, to
2. Why did Abraha get angry and  Aaminah protect the Ka’bah.
want to destroy the Ka’bah?
 Abraha
Throughout Arabia this incident became
3. Abraha got a huge army together.  Abdul Muttalib famous. Allah protected the Ka’bah with
What was his army made up of? birds to destroy an army that no one
 Abdullah was able to face.
4. Abraha stole some camels; who  Mahmood
Allah reminds people about this
did these camels belong to?
incident in the Qur’an.

5. Why did Abdul Muttalib go to see

Abraha, and what did he say? Abraha challenged Allah, so
Muhammad  was born on 12th
Allah destroyed him. Rabi Al-Awwal, 571 CE in Makkah.
6. What happened when Abraha’s This year was also known as the
Year of the Elephant.
army went to destroy the Ka’bah? We should respect
Allah and all
7. How did Allah protect the Ka’bah
those things San’aa was the capital city of
and defeat the army? Yemen in our Prophet’s  time.
connected
San’aa is the largest city in Yemen.
to Him. It is 500 miles south of Makkah.

p
p
 The parents would be very
generous to the foster
Let me introduce you to a very special lady. Her parents.
name is Halimah Sa’diyyah.

In the desert, the children

Halimah Sa’diyyah lived would grow up healthy and
in the desert with her strong. They would also learn the purest
tribe. She was a form of Arabic from the bedouins.
bedouin.

Halimah Sa’diyyah would go with her tribe to the Halimah Sa’diyyah

big cities. They would look for babies to take back loved her foster
with them. children. She cared for
them. She fed and clothed them.

People would give their babies to the bedouins so After two years, the babies would
that they could look after them. They would make be returned to their mums and
the bedouins their baby’s foster parents for about dads.
two years.
p
Halimah Sa’diyyah was poor. She was hungry. She The foster mums had not taken Muhammad 
did not have any food to eat, nor milk to drink. because his dad was not alive.

Aaminah was not very rich, so the bedouins

She had a donkey and an old thought they wouldn’t get much money for their
she-camel. The donkey was hard work.
very slow and the she-
camel did not give milk. Halimah Sa’diyyah felt very
sad and sorry for
Muhammad . She was
Her tribe was travelling to Makkah to collect new very kind hearted. She
born babies. decided to take him.

Halimah Sa’diyyah was far behind the rest of her

tribe because of her slow donkey. She was the last When she collected Muhammad  she was very
person to arrive in Makkah. happy. Immediately, she felt great love for
Muhammad .

All the babies

had been taken Amazingly, her donkey
by the other started to go fast. She was faster
foster mums. The than the rest of her tribe.
only baby left was Muhammad .
p
The she-camel started giving lots of milk. Her family Two years passed and the children were returned to
drank the milk and were happy. their parents. Halimah Sa’diyyah was sad. She loved
Muhammad . She would
miss him a lot.
Baby Muhammad  was very
happy with Halimah Sa’diyyah.
She was a really good foster mum. Halimah Sa’diyyah
took Muhammad 
back to his mum,
Even when they got home, Allah gave them lots of Aaminah. Aaminah had missed Muhammad  so
blessings. Halimah’s goats would go into the desert much over these two years. He had grown up so
to graze. When they would come back, they would much in such a short time!
be full and would give lots of milk.

Halimah asked Aaminah if she could take

Halimah Sa’diyyah and her family lived happily with Muhammad  back for another short while.
Muhammad . She knew Muhammad  was a Aaminah refused at first, but eventually agreed.
special little boy.

Halimah Sa’diyyah brought

Allah had given Muhammad  back to her
Halimah Sa’diyyah so home. They continued
many blessings living happily.
because of him.
p
 One day, Angel Jibra’il  came to Aaminah and Muhammad  lived
Muhammad . He took out happily in Makkah. The people
Muhammad’s  heart and purified it loved Muhammad  and so did
with Zamzam. He then put it back his grandfather - Abdul Muttalib.
into Muhammad’s  body.

There was so much love and happiness.

Halimah’s son saw this and was very scared. However, a very sad thing happened to our lovely
He ran to Halimah Sa’diyyah and told her Muhammad .
what had happened.

I think that's a story for next time, insha Allah.

Halimah was also

frightened and quickly
took Muhammad 
back to Aaminah.

She told Aaminah what had happened. Aaminah

replied, “Muhammad  is very special. Nothing
bad will happen to him.”
p
 Have a look
ZAMZAM WATER
for these
pictures Zamzam is special water.
It is so special that it was used
1. Halimah was a Bedouin; what is a to wash our
bedouin? Prophet’s  heart.
2. Why did people in Makkah give their
If we drink
babies to the bedouins?
Zamzam for a
3. Why was Halimah last amongst her certain reason,
tribe to reach Makkah? Allah will make it
happen.
4. The last baby left was Muhammad
. Why do you think that was ? The Bedouins spoke the purest Arabic.
Many Scholars would spend time with
5. Can you remember some of the the Bedouins to improve their Arabic!
amazing things that happened to
Halimah after taking Muhammad ? As a baby, Muhammad 
6. After 2 years when Halimah had to
stayed with his foster mother
return Muhammad , how did Halimah Halimah Sa'diyyah. She took
feel? good care of
Muhammad 
7. Who came to see Muhammad  Can you
and Allah took
when he was a small child? remember the
good care of
different stories
connected to them? her family.
p
p
 In fact, her family still lived there.

This is a sad story, so you

Yathrib
If you remember, Yathrib was also
need to promise not to cry! the place where Abdullah died and
where he was buried.

Muhammad  and Aaminah

were really happy in Makkah. Aaminah travelled to Yathrib with Muhammad 
and Umm Ayman.
Abdul Muttalib loved
Muhammad . Muhammad
 reminded him of his son
Abdullah. This made Abdul Umm Ayman was a
Muttalib more affectionate servant who lived with Muhammad  and
towards him. Aaminah.

When Muhammad  was six years As Allah had willed, Aaminah got sick on the way
old, Aaminah decided to visit Yathrib. back to Makkah and she passed
Yathrib is also know as Madinah. away. Muhammad  was heart
broken. With tears in her eyes,
Yathrib was a very special place, Umm Ayman took Muhammad 
because Aaminah used to live there. back to Makkah with her.
p
This was another sad event after his father had Abu Talib was Muhammad’s  uncle.
passed away. He was an orphan with no parents. He decided that he would be his
guardian and look after him.

Abdul Muttalib had great

affection and love for his
grandson Muhammad . He Abu Talib was not a rich person, but he had a big
decided that he would love heart. He looked after Muhammad 
and protect Muhammad . along with his other children.
He would care for him and Muhammad  helped by
look after him. looking after herds of goats
on the outskirts of Makkah.

Muhammad  was fond of his grandfather. They

spent a lot of time together. Abdul Muttalib knew From a young age Muhammad  started working.
Muhammad  was special. He helped his family by working as a shepherd.

Two happy years had passed and Soon after, Abu Talib was going on a
Muhammad  was eight years old. trade journey and
Abdul Muttalib passed away leaving decided to take
Muhammad  alone and sad. He Muhammad 
only had Umm Ayman, his caring with him.
friend with him.
p
He didn’t expect anyone to
recognise Muhammad . He
didn’t know that he would have
to send Muhammad  back to
Makkah.
Tell me about 1. How old was Prophet Muhammad
 when Aaminah took him to
Yathrib?
 Abu Talib
 Umm Ayman 2. Why was Yathrib special to
Aaminah?
 Halimah Sa’diyyah
 Jibra’il  3. Who else went to Yathrib with
Aaminah and Muhammad ?
I think this is a story for next
Everyone respected Abdul 4. What happened on the way back
time, in sha Allah. Muttalib very much. His family from Yathrib?
would put out a couch for him
Aaminah became ill on the under the shade of the Ka’bah.
journey to Makkah and was 5. Our Prophet Muhammad  was 8
buried at Abwa.
Out of respect for Abdul Muttalib, years old when he lost another very
no one would dare to sit on it. special person. Who was it?
Prophet Muhammad  spent
his first two years with Halimah. Abdul Muttalib would seat the
Aaminah, his mother, passed Prophet  on the couch beside 6. Who looked after Prophet
away when he was six years old.
him. He would say that Muhammad  after this?
Muhammad  would have a
The name of Umm Ayman (the
mother of Ayman) was Barakah. special future!
p
p
 Bahira had read about a
special person in his books.
Bahira looked out into the desert He read that this special person
like he did every morning. He would pass by this very place. Perhaps
stayed in a monastery by himself, this is why Bahira lived here.
where he would worship Allah.

He quickly got some food together.

He sent a message to the caravan,
Bahira watched the caravans regularly, but today inviting them to come and visit him.
was different. He saw the most unusual thing. In
the distance, the caravan was travelling on its way
to the markets. The caravan was Abu
Talib’s. They accepted
this generous offer and
went to Bahira's
monastery.

The caravan had a cloud above it sheltering it from

the hot desert sun. Whenever the caravan stopped, As the people from the caravan
the cloud stopped as well. sat down, Bahira looked at their
faces. He couldn’t see the
person he was looking for.
p
Bahira asked one of the people from Bahira’s books said that Muhammad  would be
the caravan if anyone was missing recognised by this oval mark on his back.
from the group. He was told that
one of the youngsters was left
outside to look after the camels. Bahira told Abu Talib
that this young boy
will be the leader of
Bahira asked them to all men. He will be
bring the youngster the final prophet of
inside as well, as the food Allah.
was for everyone. The
young Muhammad  came
in to join them. Bahira was worried. He
thought that if someone else
As soon as Bahira saw Muhammad’s  face he was recognises Muhammad  they might try to
overjoyed. harm him.

This was the prophet that was

promised in his scriptures. He SYRIA Bahira told Abu Talib that
looked at Muhammad’s  Muhammad  was not safe here.
back and noticed a mark. MAKKAH He advised Abu Talib to take
This was the seal of Muhammad  back to Makkah.
prophethood.

p
Abu Talib took Bahira’s advice. He Prophet Muhammad  was
sent Muhammad  back with twelve years old when he went on
the trade journey with his uncle
some members of the caravan. Abu Talib.

1. What was unusual about the Allah made the Prophet’s 

caravan Bahira saw? trade journey as pleasant as
At least Muhammad  was safe possible for him.
in Makkah. 2. Where was the caravan travelling
to and why? Whilst on the journey, Allah sent a
Muhammad  cloud to shade the Prophet  from
continued to 3. How did Bahira know that a the heat of the sun.
live with special person would pass by here?
Abu Talib in
Syria was an important trade
Makkah and tend 4. What offer did Bahira make to the centre. People would travel from all
to the herds for Abu Talib. caravan? over the world to buy and sell there.
It was on the ancient ‘Silk Road’

5. Which special person was

travelling with the caravan? Many hundreds of years before
Muhammad  was born, Allah had
The big question is,
6. Why was Bahira overjoyed when already informed people
how did this young
he saw Muhammad ? that He will send
boy become the Muhammad .
most important
7. What advice did Bahira give to
person to walk Abu Talib regarding Muhammad ? Allah had even
the face of this given his
earth? description.

p
p
 Khadijah  would then share the profits with this
person.

Let me introduce you to another wonderful lady, Khadijah  was looking for
her name was Khadijah . someone to send on a trade
journey. She had heard
Khadijah  was a 40 year old about an honest and truthful
widow. Her husband had man called Muhammad .
passed away a long time
ago. Many people wanted
to marry her. She had Muhammad  was 25 years old and was already
refused them all so far. known for his good, honest
character.

Khadijah  was a business woman, a merchant if Khadijah  offered

you like. She was very good at business and very Muhammad  the job, and he
well respected. Like the other traders in Makkah, accepted.
She would send her caravans to Syria and Yemen.
Maysarah was Khadija’s servant. He was going to
accompany Muhammad  throughout the journey.
Khadijah  would not go with
the caravans herself. She
would hire someone to go The caravan set off on its
for her. long journey.
p
When the caravan reached Syria, Muhammad 
went to the market and began to sell the goods he Khadijah  asked Maysarah all
brought from Makkah. about the trip. Maysarah said that
he had never seen such a
trustworthy and decent person.

Maysarah also mentioned that once he

noticed two angels in the shimmer of
He was very fair and sold lots of things in the light. The angels were shading
market. With the money, Muhammad  bought Muhammad  from the sun.
more goods from the markets. These goods would
later be sold in Makkah.
Maysarah told her about a strange monk called
Nestor who lived on the way to Syria.

£
The caravan had returned to
Makkah. Khadijah was pleased with
Muhammad . She had made a After speaking to Maysarah,
lot more money with this Nestor told Maysarah that
caravan than before. he recognised Muhammad .

He said that Muhammad  was

She was especially happy with Muhammad’s  actually a prophet of Allah.
good manners, honesty and sincerity.
p
 Khadijah  was very happy with the Muhammad  and Khadijah 
trade, she also liked Muhammad’s  had a baby boy called Qasim.
good manners and character.

Qasim passed away when he

Khadijah  decided to send a message to was just a toddler. Muhammad
Muhammad . She sent her friend Nufaysah to ask  also had four wonderful daughters.
him if he would like to marry Khadijah .

Muhammad  was happy to

marry Khadijah . He
discussed it with his uncle, Abu A few years later, the tribes in Makkah had a
Talib. Abu Talib agreed with disagreement. They were ready to go to war over it.
Muhammad . They were ready to take out their swords and fight.
That was until Muhammad  walked in.
Khadijah’s  uncle and Abu Talib met. They spoke
with each other and made all the arrangements.

What was going on? That’s a

‫دمحم‬ Muhammad  and Khadijah  story for next time, insha Allah.
got married. Allah blessed their
‫خديجة‬ marriage and they lived
together happily.
p
 Muhammad  was 25 years old
when he married Khadijah 
Khadijah  was a widow who
was 40 years old at the time.

Prophet Muhammad  was

1. Can you describe Khadijah’s  blessed with four daughters
profession?

2. Why did Khadijah  choose

Fatimah 
Prophet Muhammad  to work for
Umm
her?
Tell me about
Kulthum 
3. What happened on Prophet  Khadijah 
Muhammad’s  trip to Syria?
 Bahira Ruqayyah 
4. How did Khadijah  feel about  Maysarah
the job Muhammad  did for her?
 Nestor Zaynab .
5. What did Khadijah  ask her  Nufaysah
friend Nufaysah to do? Remember their names, we
will meet them soon,
6. How old was Khadijah  and Khadijah  admired the beautiful
character and honesty of Prophet insha Allah.
Muhammad  when they got
married? Muhammad .

Prophet Muhammad  was given the Kunya (nick name or title) Abul Qasim.
Abul Qasim means father of Al Qasim. People were titled after their oldest child.
p
p
 The Ka’bah was the house of Allah. They wanted to
use money that was earned in a good and pure way.
They did not accept money earned through
The Ka’bah is an ancient building. It stealing, robbery, or any other wrong way.
was first built by Adam , then
rebuilt by Prophet Ibrahim  and
his son, Prophet Isma’il . It was The time had now come to rebuild the
built thousands of years ago. Ka’bah and the first step was to demolish the
walls.
At the time of Muhammad ,the Ka’bah was
already old and its walls had begun to crack and The people slowly started dislodging the stone
weaken. Flooding had also bricks. When the first stone was
caused some damage over dismantled, there was a loud rumble,
the centuries. and the stone fell back in
place.
The tribes in Makkah
gathered to discuss
what should be done The people got scared. They
about the Ka’bah. They decided that they would didn't know if they should
rebuild the Ka’bah. continue to demolish the
Ka’bah. Waleed stepped
forward and made a du’a to
They collected funds for the huge task Allah. He said that he didn't
of rebuilding the Ka’bah. intend any harm to the Ka’bah.
p
He started to knock down When rebuilding the Ka’bah, the people decided to
one of the walls. This time make the door higher off the ground.
there was no loud This would protect the Ka’bah
rumble. from flooding.

The people were still scared. They They decided to make the
didn’t know if they should join Ka’bah’s walls taller and to put a
in or not. They decided to wait roof on the Ka’bah. This way, any
to see if Waleed was alive valuable items inside the Ka’bah would be
the next morning. If he was protected.
alive, they would join in and
help him. They were forced to make the
Ka’bah building slightly smaller
because the funds were low.
They built the Hateem to mark
The next morning Waleed continued to demolish the original size of the
the Ka’bah. Soon everyone joined in. Ka’bah.

All the different tribes had worked hard to rebuild

The people demolished the Ka’bah. They had built the walls, the door, and
the Ka’bah, and now the roof. There was only one job left. The Black
it was time to Stone (Al-Hajar Al-Aswad) had to be put back into
rebuild it. its place.
p
Each tribe wanted the honour of putting the Black Muhammad  listened to everyone carefully and
Stone into its place. then told them to bring a cloth. They put the cloth
on the ground and put Al
Hajr Al Aswad in the
middle.

The people from all the

tribes lifted the cloth
They argued and argued but could not agree on together. Muhammad  then put the stone in place
who should put it back into its place. They were with his own hands.
ready to take their swords out and start fighting!
Everyone was delighted and
thanked Muhammad .
Finally, someone Muhammad  had saved so
suggested that the next many lives by preventing any
person to enter the Haram fighting.
should decide who should put
the Black Stone back in its place. In the mean time, things were troubling
Muhammad . He started to spend some time
away by himself in the cave of
Just then Muhammad  walked in, and people Hira on a mountain called Jabal
began to cheer, "Al-Ameen is here! The Noor. Mount Noor was on the
Trustworthy One is here!" They all trusted outskirts of Makkah.
Muhammad  and knew he would be fair.
p
Strangely, sometimes
Muhammad 
would walk by,
and a voice would
say "Assalamu
What can you tell me about the
alayka, Ya Rasool Allah.” Ka’bah?
When he looked around, there
was no one there! 


He would have vivid dreams
which would come true! 
What was going on? We will find

out next time, insha Allah.

Prophets Ibrahim  and Isma’il  

 rebuilt the Ka’bah in Makkah
 

many centuries before
Muhammad .

p
 Muhammad  was 35 years old
when the Ka’bah was rebuilt.
Originally, the Ka’bah was built
at this place by Prophet Adam .

1. Why did the tribes decide to

rebuild the Ka’bah?
 Bedouin
2. Where did they get the money Before Islam, this was a dark time in
from to rebuild the Ka’bah?
 ZamZam the history of mankind.
 Marriage This was know as the Days of
3. What happened when the first
 Desert Ignorance (Jahiliyyah). People did
stone was removed?
 Miracle many bad things which included:
4. What did Waleed do?  Slave  Worshipping Idols
 Drinking & Gambling
5. What changes did the people  Bloodshed & Fights
make to the Ka’bah? “ Prophet Muhammad  had the  Oppressing the Weak
best character. Even before he
 Treating others badly
6. Why were the tribes arguing and became a prophet, he had so many
 Robbery & Stealing
ready to fight? noble qualities and he
 Cruelty & Injustice
never did a bad thing.
7. How was the problem solved and  Killing newborns
fighting prevented? Everyone who met
When Islam came, it put an end to
him, loved and
this ignorance and those same
respected him. ”
people became the best of people.

p
p
 Muhammad  did not go to school. He
did not know how to read or write. In
fact, in those days, very few people
Muhammad  would often spend a few nights in knew how to read or write.
Cave Hira. From there he could see the Ka’bah in
the distance. He would sit in the cave and think Muhammad  replied, "I can't read!"
about life. Angel Jibra’il  took hold of Muhammad  and
squeezed him tight. It was so tight that Muhammad
It was the month of  thought he would pass out.
Ramadhan. Muhammad 
climbed Mount Noor and
went into Cave Hira. He The angel again said, "Iqra!"
sat there as he usually would, but this time it was and Muhammad  again
different. replied, "I can't read!"

The angel  squeezed Muhammad  again.

Muhammad  was alone, when a person appeared
in the cave! This person was Then, for the third time, he said to Muhammad ,
actually Angel Jibra’il  in the "Iqra!" and again, for the third
form of a man. time, Muhammad  replied, "I
can't read!"

Angel Jibra’il  said to Angel Jibra’il  squeezed

Muhammad , "Iqra!" This means ‘Read!’ in Arabic. Muhammad  for a third time.
p
He squeezed him so tight that Muhammad  found As Muhammad  was returning home, he heard a
it hard to breathe. voice coming from above him.
He looked up to see where
The angel then recited the the voice was coming
first five verses revealed of from.
the Holy Qur'an, "Iqra bismi
rabbika..."
When Muhammad  looked up,
he saw Jibra’il  again. This time Jibra’il  was
When Muhammad  heard these verses, he not in the form of a man, but in his natural form. He
repeated them after Angel Jibra’il . These was huge and had 600 wings!
beautiful words were in his heart forever.

Jibra’il  said, “O Muhammad ! You are the

When Angel Jibra’il  disappeared, Prophet messenger of Allah, and I am Jibra’il.”
Muhammad  ran out of the cave. He started
running down Mount Noor, and soon he was on his
way home. Muhammad  ran
back home to
Khadijah  and
asked her to wrap
him up. He was out of
breath and shivering.

p
Muhammad  was worried Waraqah said that Muhammad  had been chosen
and told Khadijah  about as a prophet of Allah. He said that if he was
everything that happened. younger, he would have joined Muhammad  and
supported him.
Khadijah  reminded him
that he was a very good Waraqah warned Muhammad  that the people
person. He was always helpful and very generous to would chase him out of
people. She said that Allah would never let anything Makkah. He said that the
bad happen to him. people of every prophet
gave their prophet a
difficult time.
Khadijah  took
Muhammad  to see her
cousin, Waraqah ibn Nawfal.
Waraqah was an old man who The Makkans loved Muhammad
knew about the previous . They respected him and
scriptures and books. knew he was truthful and
trustworthy.

Waraqah carefully listened to what had happened Would these people change? Would they give
with Muhammad . Waraqah told Muhammad  Muhammad  a hard time? We will need to wait
that he had in fact seen the same angel that was and see.
sent to the other prophets.
p
 Have a look
at these
pictures
 Syria
 Yemen
1. Why would Prophet
Muhammad  visit Cave Hira?  Yathrib
2. What happened in the cave
 Makkah
during Ramadhan?  Abwa
3. What happened after Prophet
Muhammad  left the cave?

4. Where did Muhammad  go Angel Jibra’il  was given the job

from the cave and what did he of bringing revelation (Wahi) to
see? the prophets.
Angel Jibra’il  continued to
5. Who was the first person bring verses of the Qur’an to
Muhammad  spoke to and what Prophet Muhammad  until the
did they say? whole Qur’an was revealed.

6. What did Waraqah say to This took 23 years.

Muhammad ? Can you
remember the Prophet Muhammad  was 40
years old when he  became a
different stories prophet and Angel Jibra’il 
connected to them? brought him the first 5 verses.

p
p
 Once when Jibra’il  came to
visit Muhammad , Jibra’il 
Prophet Muhammad  told his struck a rock with his heel and
family and friends about Islam. He water began to gush from the
said to them that Allah is One. He rock. Jibra’il  taught Muhammad
said to them that worshipping idols  how to do wudhu with this water. He
is wrong. then taught Muhammad  how to perform Salah.

Muhammad  explained to them that Allah had

chosen him to be a prophet and messenger. Allah Muslims would sometimes perform salah
wanted him to guide mankind. alone. Other times they would get
together to perform salah in secret.

Muhammad’s  close Abu Talib saw Muhammad  and the Muslims

family and friends praying. He became pleased with
accepted Islam. They Muhammad . He loved
became Muslims. Muhammad  very much,
but sadly Abu Talib did not
accept Islam. He did not
The Angel Jibra’il  would visit Muhammad . He want to leave the religion of
would sometimes bring verses from the Qur’an. his forefathers.
p
 Allah commanded His Muhammad  asked, “If I told you that there is an
Prophet, Muhammad , to army behind this mountain ready to attack you,
 start calling everyone to would you believe me?”
Islam. This was a big step.
Until now, the Prophet
Muhammad  had only told his close
family and friends about Islam. Until now, the
Muslims had kept their religion a secret. The Makkans used to call Muhammad  Al-Saadiq
(Truthful) and Al-Ameen (the trustworthy). They
knew that Muhammad  would never lie so they all
At the Prophet’s  time, when anyone had to warn replied, “Yes! We would.”
the Makkans about something,
they would climb up Mount
Safa. They would shout out to The Prophet Muhammad 
the Makkans to tell warned the Makkans about
them about the Allah’s punishment. He told them to
danger. accept Islam and to save themselves. Everyone
became quiet. There was silence.

Muhammad  climbed up Mount Safa. He called Abu Lahab was another uncle of
out to the Makkans. The Makkans began to gather Prophet Muhammad . Abu
around to listen to Muhammad . Lahab broke the silence by saying
bad things to our Prophet .
p
 He would hurt him in the most horrible
This made Allah angry, and ways, hoping that Bilal  would leave
Surah Lahab was revealed Islam.
about Abu Lahab’s punishment
in the Hereafter. Bilal  loved Islam and Allah. He would
never leave the truth and he would never
worship idols. Even at the hardest times, Bilal
Bilal Habshi   would say, “Ahad, Ahad…” Allah is one.

Bilal  was one person the

message did reach. He was a It was hard for the Muslims to
slave and when he heard the see Bilal  suffering so much. The
message of Islam and about the generous Abu Bakr  purchased
oneness of Allah, he was amazed. Bilal  and set him free.

The message touched his heart and he immediately

knew that this was the truth. His heart told him Many other slaves and poor people suffered in the
that Muhammad  was the messenger of Allah. same way. There were people in
Makkah who did not want Islam
Bilal’s  master was a wicked man. He to succeed. They worked very
was very angry with him when he hard to hurt the Muslims and
found out that Bilal  had accepted stop people entering Islam.
Islam.
More next time, insha Allah.
p
 Ali  was he son of Abu Talib.
He lived in the Prophet’s 
household and already knew
his  character very well.
1. Who were the first group of Ali  was the first youngster to
people Muhammad  preached to? Tell me about accepted lslam.

2. What kinds of things did the Angel  Waraqah When Muhammad

teach Prophet Muhammad ?
 Abu Lahab  was made a
prophet, he told his good
3. What did Abu Talib see and how  Angel Jibra’il friend Abu Bakr . Abu Bakr
did he feel?
 Abu Bakr   immediately accepted and
became a devoted Muslim.
4. Why did Prophet Muhammad   Bilal 
climb Mount Safa?
Abu Bakr  was one of the
first people to accept Islam.
5. How did the people react to the Bilal  was a slave and his master
message from Muhammad  on treated him very badly. Allah Many people became Muslims
Mount Safa? saved him and gave his a very when Abu Bakr 
important job. told them about
6. Who was Bilal  and why was he
Bilal  became Islam.
treated so badly?
the Muadhin
For 3 years Muhammad  taught
7. How was Bilal  saved? and would call
his family and friends about Islam.
all the people After this, Muhammad  was
to salah. commanded to teach everyone.

p
p
 For some Muslims, things were so
difficult that they decided to leave
Makkah.
The people of Makkah, the
Makkans, were against The Prophet  advised them to make
Muhammad  and his Hijrah (migration) to Abyssinia, which had a just
followers. They started to bully king called Najjashi (Negus). He would allow the
and hurt the Muslims. Muslims to live peacefully and pray to Allah.

The Muslims left early in the morning for the Red

Sea port to catch a ship to Abyssinia.
Muhammad  told the people
to be good and only worship When the Makkans found out,
Allah. The Makkans wanted to they sent people after them.
worship Idols and continue their However, the Muslims had
bad habits! already boarded a ship and were on
their way to Abyssinia.

However, many people continued to see the beauty Hamzah ibn Abdul Muttalib 
of Islam and accepted Islam. Many new
Muslims would keep it a secret so that Hamzah  was an uncle of Prophet Muhammad  .
they did not suffer at the hands of the The Makkans respected Hamzah . He was strong
Makkans. and very brave.
p
 Hamzah  was returning from Hamzah  told them there and
a hunting trip. He always went then that he was now a Muslim.
to the Ka’bah after hunting,
but today he was stopped by a
woman. Hamzah  became a great
Muslim who dedicated his life to
being a good person and following
She told him that his nephew, Muhammad , had Islam fully in his life.
come earlier to the Ka’bah and Abu Lahab had been
very rough with him and extremely rude.
Umar ibn al-Khattab 
This really upset Hamzah . He
went straight to Abu Lahab, who Umar  was a tough fellow. In fact, many people
was sitting with his friends near were scared of Umar . Not only was he strong
the Ka’ bah. Hamzah  used and brave, but he had a fiery temper!
his bow and hit him across the
head with all his might.
He was also very clever and
could be one of the
Abu Lahab’s friends were horrified but knew better kindest and fairest people
than to cross paths with Hamzah . Abu Lahab in Makkah.
also did not say anything because he knew that he
was wrong to treat Muhammad  so badly.
p
One day, Umar  was angry. In fact, he was very
angry! He didn’t want things Umar  didn't know that his own
to change in Makkah. sister had become a Muslim and
that she now loved Islam more
He didn’t care that than anything else.
people worshipped
idols. After all, his tribe
had been worshipping idols for many generations! Umar  marched to his sister Fatimah’s house. As
he approached, he heard some
words being recited.
He took his sword and was marching down the It was Khabbab ibn
street. People knew to keep out of his way. al-Arat  who was
Someone was in big trouble. teaching them some
verses of the Qur’an.

He was stopped by Nu’aym ibn As Umar  knocked on the door, Khabbab  found
Abdullah who asked Umar  a place to hide, whilst Fatimah  hid the pages.
where he was going. Umar 
replied that he was going to put a
stop to Islam. When Fatimah  let him in.
Umar  began to hit her
Nu’aym suggested that maybe he and her husband for
should sort his own family out first, becoming Muslims.
because some of them had become Muslims.
p
When Umar  saw the blood on his Umar  went to see Prophet
sister’s face, he became ashamed of Muhammad  and recited the
his actions. His anger went away. Shahadah.

Umar  then asked them what they

were reading. His sister Fatimah  1. Why did some Muslims leave
told him that she was reading the Makkah and perform the first
Qur’an. She said that he could not Hijrah?
touch the pages until he had a bath
and became clean. Prophet Muhammad  had 2. What did Muhammad  ask
made du’a to Allah to the Makkans to do?
strengthen Islam with Umar 
or Abu Jahl. 3. How did some Muslims get
away from the bad treatment?
Allah had guided Umar  to
Islam and blessed him with 4. What upset Hamzah  and
Umar  had a bath, and when he imaan. what did he do?
read the verses, he was so touched
by the words that he knew these All the Muslims of Makkah were 5. Why was Umar  angry?
words were from Allah. extremely happy at this news.
6. Why made Umar  decide
He truly believed that Muhammad It was into the sixth year of to become a Muslim?
prophethood that Umar  and
 was indeed the true prophet of Hamzah  both accepted Islam.
Allah. They were both good Muslims.

p
p
 It was almost Hajj time and
many people would be
coming to Makkah. The
Prophet Ibrahim  had built Makkans did not want
the Ka’bah for people to only people to find out about
worship Allah. Prophet Islam. They had a meeting to
Ibrahim  had also invited stop the people from learning about Islam.
the people to make the Hajj.

People would come from far

From his time, people had been coming to Makkah and wide to worship the
for Hajj. So, for many centuries, people had made idols. Through the Hajj, the
this sacred journey to Makkah. Makkans were held in high
respect and they also made
lots of money.
However, the Makkans had put 360 idols
in and around the Ka’bah for people to
worship. When people came for The Makkans were worried that if people stopped
Hajj, they worshipped the worshipping idols, they would lose their wealth and
idols as well as Allah. status.

They thought about what they could

Muhammad  had warned the Makkans that this say that would stop the people from
was wrong and that Allah will be angry with them. listening to Muhammad .
p
Some Makkans said that we
should tell the people that Deep down, many Makkans
Muhammad  is telling lies. knew that Muhammad  really
However, everyone knew that was a prophet of Allah.
Muhammad  was the most
truthful person.
They thought of as many lies as they could. They
wanted to trick the people that came for Hajj!
Some Makkans suggested that we
can tell the people that
Muhammad  is using magic Finally, they decided that they
words. But they also knew that would wait at the outskirts of
was not true, and that Makkah and speak to the people
Muhammad  was not a as they came. They would warn
magician! them that Muhammad  used
magic words.

Others suggested that they could tell

the people that Muhammad  is a They would say that the words were dangerous, so
poet and not a prophet. don’t listen to them.
However, they knew that
Muhammad  had never They hoped that this would scare the
made a poem in his people and they would keep away
life! from Muhammad .
p
 He decided that he would listen to Muhammad 
When people came to Makkah, and would not be afraid.
they heard all these lies about
Muhammad . Many of them He followed Muhammad  and then asked him
were scared to listen to him. about Islam.

Muhammad  told him

Tufayl ibn Amr  about Islam and Tufayl ibn
Amr  accepted Islam.

Tufayl ibn Amr  heard all the stories on his way to

Makkah. He was a poet and was scared to listen to Many people learned about Islam in Makkah. A lot
Muhammad . He blocked his ears with bits of of them became Muslims during this Hajj.
cloth so that he would not hear Muhammad .

The Makkans
When he saw were not happy.
Muhammad  They still couldn’t
praying, he heard a understand why so
faint few words of many people were
the Qur’an. He liked still accepting Islam.
what he heard and What could they possibly do to stop this?
became very curious.
p
 Have a look Abyssinia was in the place of
what is now Ethiopia/Eritrea. To go
for these to Abyssinia, people would travel
pictures across the Red Sea on ships.

1. Why did so many people visit 

the Ka’bah?

2. Which prophets built the

Ka’bah and why? Tell me about
£  Umar ibn
3 .What was different at the
Ka’bah since the time of Ibrahim al-Khattab
?
Hamzah
4. Why were the people of  Prophet Ibrahim
Makkah worried and what did  Tufayl ibn Amr
they do?
The Qur’an is the word of Allah. It is
5. How did Tufayl ibn Amr  protected from change until the Day of
learn about Islam? Can you Judgement.
remember the
Even today, these words of the Qur’an are
different stories changing the lives of people. It is making
connected to them? them into great people.
p
p
 The Makkans decided to make a deal with Abu Talib
and Muhammad .
As you can imagine, the Makkans were not happy
with the spread of Islam. They had tried so many
They offered to make Prophet
different ways to stop people following Islam.
Muhammad  their king. They
would do anything for him
and he would be a powerful
They had tried so many things
ruler.
to stop people listening to our beloved Prophet .

They offered to make Muhammad

Now the Makkans became even
 the richest man in Arabia.
more cruel towards the Muslims.
They would gather all their
These Muslims were often slaves,
wealth and give it to him!
poor people or even family members.

However, Muhammad  had some protection from

their evil ways. His uncle, Abu Talib, was the head of
They offered to marry any
the Banu Hashim tribe. Many Makkans didn't dare
woman to him. He just needed
to hurt
to choose anyone from the
Muhammad
whole of Arabia and they would
 because
arrange the marriage!
of this.

p
Muhammad  was not interested They wanted to swap people
in being their king or a powerful around so that Muhammad 
ruler. He wasn’t interested in being would not have Abu Talib’s
rich or getting married. In fact, protection.
Muhammad  rejected all their
offers.
Abu Talib was very angry and upset with this and he
Muhammad  was a prophet of Allah. His mission refused them with the strongest of words.
was to spread the truth and always stand up for the
truth. He naturally refused all their offers.
The Makkans, were not
finished yet. They continued
They even offered to worship Allah for one year and their bullying and cruel
then worship the idols the next. behaviour against the
Muslims. They were making their most
Muhammad  said No! How could evil plan yet.
he do such an evil thing as
worshipping Idols? There is no
compromise in tawheed.
The tribes of Makkah got
together and decided that
The people approached Abu Talib and said they will they would boycott the
give him another person to be his nephew instead Muslims.
of Muhammad .
p
They would not let the Muslims
do business, buy any food or
have relationships
with other people. Allah revealed Surah al-Kafiroon
when the Makkans wanted the
The Makkans all 1. Why were the Makkans unable to Muslims to worship idols for one
signed an agreement harm the Prophet Muhammad ? year.
so that no one could back out. In this surah, Allah shows us that we
They then hung this agreement 2. Why did the Makkans come to see must never worship anybody or
inside the Ka’bah. Abu Talib? anything except Allah. We must stay
away from other kinds of worship!
3. What offers did they make to Abu
Talib?
What would
happen? How would 4. What offer did they make to
the Muslims survive? Prophet Muhammad  about
There are so many questions. worship? The Makkans tried to tempt
Muhammad  by promising him
5. What swap did the Makkans offer things from this world.
to Abu Talib?
Allah had already
promised our Prophet
6. What was the new evil plan the
 a place in
Makkans made?
Unfortunately, we have run out Jannah that is
of pages so let's continue it in the better than the
whole world!
next book, insha Allah.
p
 A Gift Of Love
A way of showing your love towards
someone is by giving them gifts. We
love our Prophet . The best
gift we can give the Prophet
 is sending durud and
salaam upon him.

When we send a single durud

upon the Prophet , Allah loves
this so much that Allah sends 10
blessings upon us as well.

The Prophet  said that the person

who sends the most durud will be the
closest to him on the Day of
Judgement.
